“Also, He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” ’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9–14
In Acts 11, there is an account of Peter’s reporting to the newly-formed Christian church about the conversion of Gentiles into the Christian faith. Verse 1 states, “… the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.”
At this time, the Christian church was developing and organizing, and as you can imagine, there were those who felt the need to cling to as many of the previous rituals as possible—some out of Pharisaical authoritarianism and some simply out of adhering to tradition.
Then we see in Acts 15, after many other miracles occurred showing that the gospel was opened to the Gentiles, Peter and James both participated in sharing this good news with the church, along with the fact that the ceremonial law and the rite of circumcision were no longer to be part of the newly-organized church’s religious practices.
In describing this event, Inspiration states the following:
“Peter’s address [recorded in Acts 15:6–11, regarding the opening of the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles] brought the assembly to a point where they could listen with patience to Paul and Barnabas, who related their experience in working for the Gentiles. ‘All the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.’
“James also bore his testimony with decision, declaring that it was God’s purpose to bestow upon the Gentiles the same privileges and blessings that had been granted to the Jews.
“The Holy Spirit saw good not to impose the ceremonial law on the Gentile converts, and the mind of the apostles regarding this matter was as the mind of the Spirit of God. [In other words, they were yielding to the influence of the Holy Spirit.] James presided at the council, and his final decision was, ‘Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.’ ” The Acts of the Apostles, 194
James’ decision confirmed that the leaders in this “new” movement should not trouble the new converts by requiring adherence to the requirements of the ceremonial law.
The inspired narrative, after refuting the claim of the Catholic Church that Peter was the first pope, continues:
“In this instance, James seems to have been chosen as the one to announce the decision arrived at by the council. It was his sentence that the ceremonial law, and especially the ordinance of circumcision, should not be urged upon the Gentiles, or even recommended to them. James sought to impress the minds of his brethren with the fact that, in turning to God, the Gentiles had made a great change in their lives and that much caution should be used not to trouble them with perplexing and doubtful questions of minor importance, lest they be discouraged in following Christ.” Ibid., 195
Further Examination
It is clear from this passage that dwelling on questions of minor importance can be a source of discouragement for those who have newly turned to Christ.
Mrs. White considers several things to be matters of “minor importance,” including eating, dress, recreation, fashion—each, of course, having an appropriate and important context which provides further clarity to what aspect each of the matters concerns. For example, we see in Gospel Workers, 139, “such matters as eating and recreation are of minor importance,” it is important to determine through further study under what circumstances this statement applies.
Researching the phrase “minor importance” in the writings of Mrs. White, results in such statements as these:
“Vanity, fashion, and matters of minor importance are allowed to absorb the attention, and the physical and moral education of the precious children is neglected.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 60
“It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance.” Counsels for the Church, 335
“Nicodemus came to the Lord, thinking to enter into a long discussion with Him concerning points of minor importance … .” Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 72
“It means that the time usually spent in matters of minor importance should be spent in searching the Scriptures, that you may know how to labor successfully in the work to which you are appointed. It means that you must become acquainted with the Spirit of God. It means that you must do much praying, and have much serious thought as to how you may put to use every capability of your nature, and carry forward the work of God effectively.” Ibid., 68
We can clearly see from the above and following quotations that there is a danger in allowing matters of minor importance to assume more importance and significance than they should.
“The fast-fulfilling signs of the time declare that the great day of the Lord is right upon us. In that day shall it be said of any of us, ‘This man was called by God, but he would not hear, he would not give heed. Again and again, the Spirit moved upon his heart, but he said, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” This man saw the Saviour’s sacrifice in a beautiful light, but some matter of minor importance came in, and his heart was captivated. When the Spirit spoke again, the call was not respected. Every gracious, heavenly influence was dismissed?’ ” The Review and Herald, March 10, 1904
“It is the desire and plan of Satan to bring in among us those who will go to great extremes—people of narrow minds, who are critical and sharp, and very tenacious in holding their own conceptions of what the truth means. They will be exacting, and will seek to enforce rigorous duties, and go to great lengths in matters of minor importance, while they neglect the weightier matters of the law—judgment and mercy and the love of God. Through the work of a few of this class of persons, the whole body of Sabbath keepers will be designated as bigoted, Pharisaical, and fanatical. The work of the truth, because of these workers, will be thought to be unworthy of notice.” Ibid., May 29, 1888
Just as the early Christian church sometimes had challenges in differentiating between saving truths and things of minor importance to those new to the faith, so too did the early Adventist church. How to resolve such situations was addressed in this way:
“We sought most earnestly that the Scriptures should not be wrested to suit any man’s opinions. We tried to make our differences as slight as possible by not dwelling on points that were of minor importance, upon which there were varying opinions. But the burden of every soul was to bring about a condition among the brethren which would answer the prayer of Christ that His disciples might be one as He and the Father are one.
“Sometimes one or two of the brethren would stubbornly set themselves against the view presented, and would act out the natural feelings of the heart; but when this disposition appeared, we suspended our investigations and adjourned our meeting, that each one might have an opportunity to go to God in prayer, and without conversation with others, study the point of difference, asking light from heaven.” Christian Experience and Teachings, 193
The following quotation better explains why it is important not to let matters of minor importance be the all-consuming drive in our religious walk.
“To those who followed Him [Jesus] He explained the word of God so clearly that they loved to be in His company. He led their minds from the inferior things of earth to the holy principles of truth and righteousness. He prepared them to understand what is comprehended in transformation of character after the divine similitude. His words encouraged faith. He carried the minds of His hearers from this world, with its busy cares, to the higher, nobler world, which so many had lost sight of. He showed that every moment of life is fraught with eternal significance. He declared that the things of this world are of minor importance in comparison with the things of the world to come.” Lift Him Up, 90
So, let’s not get worked up about things of minor importance. Let’s turn away from the things of this earth—things of minor importance—and instead, set our minds on things above, not on things here on the earth. Let us be like the tax collector and not the Pharisee.
John R. Pearson is the office manager and a Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.