The Testimony of Jesus

Ministers and Church Faith

A third question closely related to the two preceding ones is worthy of consideration in this connection: Is it consistent for a worker to continue his ministerial labors in the church if he does not believe in the work of Mrs. E. G. White? TOJ 141.3

It surely would be inconsistent. A belief in the doctrine of spiritual gift has characterized the believers in this movement from their earliest days. The Spirit of prophecy has been manifested in the church as one of these gift. The exercise of this gift has had much to do in the shaping and molding of this movement. Under God it has been a very important factor in saving the church from disunion, in safeguarding it from great delusion in times of crisis, in quickening its missionary activities, and in deepening the spiritual consecration and devotion of the membership. TOJ 141.4

Closely identified as this gift has been with the history of this movement from its earliest days, it surely would be inconsistent for any minister who discredits this experience to seek to represent the denomination in an official capacity. Not having faith in the gift which God has placed in the church, he would be unable to pass on to the church the spirit of the instruction coming to the church through that gift. It seems to us that a loss of faith on the part of a minister in this gift, even if it were unknown to his brethren, would lead him as an honest man to surrender his credentials and cease his labors in a representative relationship. His credentials are given him, not for the purpose of representing his own individual ideas, but to preach the gospel; and to preach that gospel, not as held by the Methodists, or Baptists, or Presbyterians, but as taught and believed by Seventh-day Adventists. TOJ 142.1

While a lack of faith in the subject of spiritual gifts might be excused in the rank and file of the membership, it cannot be justly condoned in the case of those chosen for responsible or official positions in the church. Leadership involves solemn responsibility, and the church has a right to demand that those chosen for positions of trust and influence should be examples to the flock, not alone in life and character, but also in religious faith. While, therefore, a member of the church should not be excluded from membership because of his inability to recognize clearly the doctrine of spiritual gifts and its application to the second advent movement, no one should be chosen or retained as a representative of the denomination, either as a minister or as a church or conference official, who does not believe the principles of faith taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The denomination that issues to its accredited representatives ministerial credentials, has a right to expect that in this relationship they will stand for the principles of the people who send them forth and who support them in their work. TOJ 142.2