A Line of Separation
TimeWatch Editorial
May 18, 2016
Twelve years before Enoch Oliveira a church administrator from Brazil, who served as a General Conference vice president during a period (1980–1990), described major theological turmoil in the church in his speech, entitled “A Trojan Horse within the Church,” Robert H. Pierson, former General Conference president (1966–1979) sounded a clarion note of warning. Shortly before his retirement, he delivered an earnest appeal to the leaders of the world church gathered for an Annual Council meeting on October 15, 1978.
Elder Pierson begins with a description of the simplicity of a movement. His description is a memorial of the simplicity of the apostolic beginnings of the followers of Christ. Note how he puts this.
“They say a sect is often begun by a charismatic leader with tremendous drive and commitment, and that it arises as a protest against worldliness and formalism in a church. It is generally embraced by the poor. The rich would lose too much by joining it, since it is unpopular, despised, and persecuted by society in general. It has definite beliefs firmly held by zealous members. Each member makes a personal decision to join it and knows what he believes. There is little organization or property, and there are few buildings. The group has strict standards and controls on behavior. Preachers, often without education, arise by inner compulsion. There is little concern about public relations.” Robert H. Pierson, “Don’t let it happen,” October 15, 1978.
He then moves on to the next generation. Describing with an uncanny accuracy the events as they have occurred as the church has grown and expanded.
“And then it passes on to the second generation. With growth there comes a need for organization and buildings. As a result of industry and frugality, members become prosperous. As prosperity increases, persecution begins to wane. Children born into the movement do not have to make personal decisions to join it. They do not necessarily know what they believe. They do not need to hammer out their own positions. These have been worked out for them. Preachers arise more by selection and by apprenticeship to older workers than by direct inner compulsion.” Robert H. Pierson, “Don’t let it happen,” October 15, 1978.
The description is amazingly prophetic. As he proceeds to detail the path that opens up before those who were once diligent students of the Word, he shows the political rise of administrative preoccupation, rather than the obsession with truth and discipleship.
“In the third generation, organization develops and institutions are established. The need is seen for schools to pass on the faith of the fathers. Colleges are established. Members have to be exhorted to live up to the standards, while at the same time the standards of membership are being lowered. The group becomes lax about disfellowshipping nonpracticing members. There is a reexamination of positions and modernizing of methods. Attention is given to contemporary culture, with an interest in the arts: music, architecture, literature. The movement seeks to become “relevant” to contemporary society by becoming involved in popular causes. Services become formal. The group enjoys complete acceptance by the world. The sect has become a church!” Robert H. Pierson, “Don’t let it happen,” October 15, 1978.
We now stand 38 years after the delivery of Elder Pierson’s speech, but notice during his time; he defines events already taking place!
“Already, brethren and sisters, there are subtle forces that are beginning to stir. Regrettably there are those in the church who belittle the inspiration of the Bible, who scorn the first 11 chapters of Genesis, who question the Spirit of Prophecy’s short chronology of the earth, and who subtly and not so subtly attack the Spirit of Prophecy. There are some who point to the Reformers and contemporary theologians as a source and the norm for Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. There are those who allegedly are tired of the hackneyed phrases of Adventism. There are those who wish to forget the standards of the church we love. There are those who covet and would court the favor of the evangelicals; those who would throw off the mantle of a peculiar people; and those who would go the way of the secular, materialistic world.” Robert H. Pierson, “Don’t let it happen,” October 15, 1978.
Already, he says, on October 15, 1978, these subtle forces are stirring. Today these forces are no longer subtle, and not just stirring. There are visible and obvious and openly aggressive. A clear line is being drawn between those who hold fast to the original truths of God’s Word and those who seek to be “relevant” and accepted by the surrounding society. That line of separation has been prophesied to become clearer as we draw closer to the return of Christ.
Cameron A. Bowen
