In Defense of the Faith

Lack of Scholarship

One of the charges made by Mr. Canright against the Seventh-day Adventists is on the point of their lack of scholarship. They are all an ignorant lot, therefore how can their doctrine be true? Note his words: DOF 377.2

“Mrs. White received no school education, except a few weeks when a child. She ... was wholly illiterate, not knowing the simplest rules of grammar. Not one of the leading men in that work ever graduated from college or university, and many are illiterate as Mrs. White herself.”—Seventh-day Adventism Renounced, p. 35. DOF 377.3

This affords a fair sample of the exaggeration so common in Mr. Canright’s books. Webster defines illiterate as “unlettered; ignorant of letters or books, ... unable to read.” Now to say that Mrs. White was “wholly illiterate” is equivalent to saying that she was unable even to read. But Mrs. White could not only read, but she could read well, as the many thousands who heard her read the Scriptures can testify. And not only did Mrs. White read well, but she read rather widely and very intelligently, as her writings bear witness. DOF 378.1

As to the illiteracy of the leading men among Seventh day Adventists, the charge breaks down before the undeniable facts which Mr. Canright himself admits. DOF 378.2

On page 63 of his book he talks about their “college professors,” and speaks of their colleges in Battle Creek and California and of academies in the East. On page 64 he speaks of their physicians, naming a number of them, and of the sanitariums which they were conducting. DOF 378.3

Think of it! An organization made up of illiterate people, who do not know the simplest rules of grammar, carrying on full fledged colleges, its members acting as college presidents and professors, and receiving recognition in many lands! Think of physicians who have never been to college, registering under the laws of various States and being licensed to practice medicine! Surely this statement is utterly ridiculous. DOF 378.4

Seventh-day Adventists have developed an efficient system of denominational education. They have a chain of colleges, junior colleges, academies, and primary schools that reaches around the earth. Their students now number 150,000. A Grade A medical college is operated in California, whose credits are recognized in most of the countries of the world. A graduate theological seminary was established in Washington, D.C., in 1934. Graduates from these institutions of learning are to be found in every land, where they are serving as ministers, teachers, and physicians. Surely it is strange that such an efficient educational system should be established on a foundation of such profound ignorance! ¹ DOF 378.5

But Seventh-day Adventists do not rely upon their scholarship. The theology of a church should never be tested by the number of college credits which its ministers can muster. The truths of God are established on a far more solid foundation than human learning. When Mr. Canright was naming some of the so-called unlearned Seventh-day Adventist leaders, he might, had he thought to do so, have added to his list such men as Peter, James, John, Matthew, and others whom Jesus chose as His disciples and to whom He committed the affairs of His church. He might have mentioned John the Baptist. One of the charges brought against Jesus Himself was that He was unlearned. In every age there have been those who have trusted in the multitude of their mighty men. (See Hosea 10:13.) “Put not your trust in princes,” said David, (nor in the son of man, in whom. there is no salvation [margin].... Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 146:5. DOF 379.1

The great apostle to the Gentiles also earnestly warned the church against the danger of trusting to worldly wisdom, when he wrote to the Corinthians: DOF 380.1

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For we see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God bath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, bath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:25-31. DOF 380.2

Scholarship, therefore, is no’ safe test of theology. The doctrines of a church are not to be tested by the learning or ignorance of its membership or ministry. A “Thus says the Lord” is the only safe foundation for our faith, and the Word of God is so plain ‘that a wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein. (See Isaiah 35:8.) DOF 380.3

This must not be understood, however, as granting, even for the sake of argument, that Seventh-day Adventists are a company of ignoramuses, or that their ministers come behind those of other Protestant denominations in sound Christian scholarship, for such is not the case. DOF 380.4

Jesus never attended the rabbinical schools of His day, yet the testimony of the most learned of His time was that “never man spake like this man.” DOF 380.5