friend is described in Proverbs 18:24, a false “friend” in Psalm 55:21. A true friend proves himself friendly by his unquestionable, sincerity and loyalty. His friendship is genuine. The false “ friend” speaks “ smooth” and “ soft” words with his mouth, but in his heart—behind the mask he wears—there is “war” ! Under neath the disguise of “ friendship” there are insincerity, deceit, evil designs. This lack of real friendliness he cunningly hides until ------ ! Now let us see if the Adventists are honest in their declared desire to dem onstrate their friendliness for others. In connection with this noble-sounding objective, they have published and are widely distributing an attractive book let, “ Your Friends, the Adventists.” Up to this point, all is, apparently, very fine. However, the brief Preface is all we need examine to discover that here again, through the means of this, an other “ vital missionary effort,” there is the single aim of spreading the fatal heresies of the cult. On this introductory page (just the fourth from the innocent appearing, and to the uninitiated, the heart-cheering cover), the author abruptly abandons the shallow pretense previously employed. Here in the Fore word he tersely explains that in this booklet he will try to tell the story of “ Your Friends, the Adventists” — “to help you understand something of their faith and their message . . . ” / And throughout its remaining pages, this is just what he shrewdly, deceptively, does. So, beneath the camouflage, this is what the great “ friendship” drive of the Seventh-Day Adventists proves it self to be—just another example of their religious skulduggery. On the surface, or on the lips, there are nice sounding words—“ smooth” and “ soft” ; but on the inside, behind the pious mask, there is no genuine friendship at all; just a re appearance of that ingrained “ streak of deception.” For many years it has been under stood, by those familiar with the facts, that every show of “ friendship” by the Seventh-Day Adventists for true evan gelical believers, was insincere. And it is just the same today. There has been no change. The present efforts of Ad ventist workers in many sections to line up (apparently) with representative Christian groups such as fundamental ministerial associations, also with such laudable activities as temperance cam paigns, are deceitful and mischievous. By effecting connections of this sort wherever possible, these tricky intrud ers merely hope somehow to further the interests of what they call “ the cause of truth”—that is, false Seventh- Day Adventism. According to their warped sectarian way of thinking, no higher aim is possible; and any means they may employ for its attainment is justified by the end! Beware of “your friends, the Ad ventists.” (To Be Continued Next Month)
TWO LOADS OF DIRT (Continued from Page 7)
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISM (Continued from Page 15)
Himself with the Jewish people. He would feel as Moses felt, that “the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” It was now a place sanctified by the presence of Israel’s unseen King, by whose power and purity this man had been made whole. Whatever admixture of superstition there may have been (and speculation is rife on that question) there is evi dence of the earnestness of the man to he absolutely loyal and transparently genuine in his new religious life. The same is true in the realm of worship. ' If duty required that he hold the arm of the aged king, Ben-hadad, as he entered the temple of Rimmon to bow before the idol, Naaman would have it known to all that he is no participant in the exercises. If appearances would seem to indicate a vacillating heart he would seek forgiveness of Jehovah, who alone is worthy to receive his adoration and praise. It would be easy enough to criticize this seeming inconsistency, but there are many today who have far less discern ment than Naaman, though they have been brought up in the very midst of unadulterated truth. We might have de manded a complete renunciation of pa triotic duties but the prophet did not. Neither did he condone this apparent compromise. He merely blesses his de parture with a “ Go in peace.” Somehow I feel that Elisha had confidence enough in the man to believe that anyone with that much foresight and such a tender conscience, whose faith is anchored in Jehovah, will not go far wrong. If his spiritual growth in the future was com mensurate with that of the first few hours of his new life, it is possible that he never entered the house of Rimmon again. Two loads of dirt. One might have been sufficient for his needs but two loads would be so much better for the mule. The balanced load would keep him in the middle of the road and prevent his becoming lop-sided. How desperately we need such a bal anced experience today in the ranks of Christendom. Many there are who want to carry loads of dirt (from the land of carnality) into every day life,.and even into their church life. Oh! for simple souls, like Naaman—with tender con science and sincere heart—who will take with them two loads of dirt: pay dirt if you please : sanctified and enriched by the touch and the presence of the Holy Spirit, into every area of life. Only then will Syria (the spiritually untouched) be shocked into a realization of the reality of Christianity. Page Twenty-one
The official promoters of these related ether programs and their affiliated “ Bible Schools” have but one aim—to secure as many enrollees as possible for their “ 20th Century Free Bible Course.” Through the medium of this slick and successful catch, the membership of the movement has increased very consider ably in recent years. And certainly, the paramount objective of the Seventh-Day Adventists as a sect is, by the zealous use of every subtle means at their com mand, to get as many members as pos sible into their group, which, they claim, is “ the remnant church” . . . “the only object on earth on which Christ be stows His supreme regard!” Thus the “ streak of deception” inher ent in Seventh-Day Adventism reveals itself in the radio racket of the system. Here, indeed, is “ deceit in action,” ac companied by “ deceit in doctrine.” The wicked purpose of the cult is to camou flage its numerous heretical doctrines, and thus imperceptibly lead unsuspecting persons to imbibe the errors of those doc trines. And now Christians should be on guard against Adventism’s latest trap— its new television program being widely shown under the pious title of “ Faith for Today.” Our Lord warned, “ Beware!” A corrupt tree (a false religious move ment such as Seventh-Day Adventism) brings forth evil fruit. It cannot bring forth good fruit. The “ Voice of Prophe cy” and “ Faith for Today” branch from a corrupt tree, and believers should be wary of both. (5) The Seventh-Day Adventists’ Na tion-Wide Drive to Demonstrate that They Are “ Your Friends”—the Friends of Everybody! The promoters of this “ friendship” campaign are urging mem bers of the sect to visit as soon as possible every home in their respective communities for the purpose of proving that they, the Seventh-Day Adventists, are friends of their neighbors, in fact friends of everybody. On the surface, this project appears to be all right, for there is far too little old-fashioned friendliness evidenced today. But in making these visits have the Adventists no other purpose than that which they proclaim? In the light of the already considered facts, we should check into this remarkable display of kindly regard for all people—this sud denly conceived and widely announced good-will program—and try to learn just what is going on here. There are two kinds of friends—the true and the false. The Bible refers to both varieties. For example, a true A U G U S T , 1 9 5 1
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