LOUIS T. TALBOT
Why Seventh-day Adventism Is Not Evangelical
Dr. Talbot documents SDA’s unorthodox view o f the atonement and their sanctuary, scapegoat and investigative-judgment heresies
I Jast. month I stated my conviction that Seventh- day Adventism never has been, and is not at present, evangelical because of eight unscriptural teachings, and more, that form a part of their creed, namely: 1) That the Lord Jesus Christ in His incarnation assumed the sinful, fallen nature of man 2) That the atonement was not completed on the cross 3) That Christ is at present conducting an “ investi gative judgment” of the records of all who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ, upon which in vestigation their immortality is conditioned 4) That the soul of the believer does not go imme diately into the presence of Christ at death hut “ sleeps” in the grave until the resurrection 5) That souls who reject Christ actually do not “ perish,” that is, endure everlasting punishment but are annihilated eventually 6) That Satan as “ the scapegoat” has some part in the bearing away of our sins 7) That we are not saved by grace alone apart from works of any kind 8) That the seventh-day Jewish Sabbath is God’s test and seal. I declared also that since I believe none of these doctrines have any scriptural support, in all conscience and consistency I cannot extend “ the hand of fellow
ship” to those who propagate them. Fellowship in volves prayer, financial support, a common purpose and united labors. Furthermore, I expressed my judgment that those Christian editors who are espousing the cause of Seventh-day Adventism, while at the same time claim ing not to be in agreement with them on these and other issues, are bringing confusion and harm to the church of Christ, and great unhappiness and eventual disillusionment to themselves. One cannot correct false doctrine by consorting with those who teach it. While I have compassion for those untaught individuals entangled in these systems and pray sincerely for their deliverance, I strongly oppose the teaching of these doctrines and have done so for more than 25 years in a public “ cult ministry” which God has blessed. In April we considered the first of these doctrines of Seventh-day Adventism, the one having to do with the nature of Christ, and quoted three unimpeachable “ official” Adventist sources to prove that this has been their teaching for more than 50 years. If the sect intends to abandon this false view in regard to the humanity of our Saviour, it will be obliged to state unequivocally and officially that Mrs. White, L. A. Wilcox and the authors of Bible Readings for the Home Circle, at least as late as 1944, and others, were
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The King's Business/M ay 1957
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