Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)
Lt 214, 1903
Magan, P. T.; Sutherland, E. A.
“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California
October 9, 1903
This letter is published in entirety in SpM 328-330. +Note
Dear Brethren Magan and Sutherland,—
I am sure that the Lord will work to bring you upon higher ground, where you will not be so severely harassed or perplexed. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 1
I wish to write you a few words in regard to the employment of Dr. E. J. Waggoner as a teacher in the Berrien Springs school. I have had much confidence in Brother Waggoner, but I know that just now he is in special danger. He is in danger, as many others are, of accepting incorrect views of God, as set forth in the new book Living Temple. Take him into the school at Berrien Springs. My counsel regarding his work is that you help him to place his feet on solid ground, even the Rock of Ages. I believe that he will recover his former clearness and power. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 2
However favorably our physicians and others may view the theories regarding God that are presented in Living Temple, I must tell you that these theories are faulty, incorrect, false. All through the book passages of Scripture are used, but many of these Scriptures are used in such a way that they are misinterpreted. These Scriptures, read in their connection and understood in their simplicity, do not sustain the theories that the writer is endeavoring to maintain. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 3
Those who present such theories are lost in the woods. They know not the danger of the theories that they are handling. I know how dangerous these theories are. Before I was seventeen years old, I had to bear my testimony against them before large companies, and all through my experience for the last fifty years, I have had to meet and oppose these delusive theories. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 4
Soon after Dr. Kellogg first connected with the Sanitarium, I was shown that he was in danger of entertaining false views of God. I labored with him, telling him that his case had been presented to me, and that I had been shown just what the holding of such ideas would lead to. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 5
Dr. Kellogg has not always been led by the Lord. Good seed has been sown in his heart, but he has not always responded to the Lord’s call. While we were in Australia, I saw that the doctor would link up with ministers not in the truth. I heard conversations between him and these ministers, in which he told of the large things that he was planning to do in the cities. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 6
I was instructed that there was danger of Dr. Kellogg’s becoming unsettled in regard to the truth, that he was not standing firm upon the true foundation. He has labored so hard to make the medical missionary work the whole body that he has lost sight of the spirit of the message. I was instructed that he was allowing his mind to depart from the faith and was giving heed to seducing spirits, and that, unless he righted himself, all associated with him would be in danger of being led away by the theories that greatly dishonored God. I was instructed that unless a change came, Dr. Kellogg would discard the testimonies of God’s Spirit, in order to establish theories of his own, and would bring upon himself the condemnation of the Lord. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 7
I have ever done all that I could to save Dr. Kellogg’s soul, but of late I have not written to him as frequently as in former years. I am greatly disappointed that so many of our medical missionary workers seem to be spiritually blind. I cannot regard them as safe teachers. They are sowing tares among the wheat. Those who venture to speak of God as He is spoken of in the Living Temple are on very dangerous ground. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 8
I say, and have ever said, that I will not engage in controversy with any one in regard to the nature and personality of God. Let those who try to describe God know that on such a subject silence is eloquence. Let the Scriptures be read in simple faith, and let each one form his conceptions of God from His inspired Word. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 9
No human mind can comprehend God. No man hath seen Him at any time. We are as ignorant of God as little children. But as little children we may love and obey Him. Had this been understood, such sentiments as are in this book would never have been expressed. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 10
There are men bearing large responsibilities who do not know God. They do not understand the reasons of our faith. They have lost their way. Should I keep these things to myself any longer, I should be afraid that I would be brought under condemnation for suffering our people to be deceived. The enemy has sown his seed in the mind of our leading physician, and he is sowing the same seed in other minds. I should not be clear before God did I keep silent any longer regarding these things. The leaders in the medical missionary work ought to understand in regard to them. 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 11
At this time, just before the close of this earth’s history, we need in the cause of God spiritual-minded men, men who are earnest in principle and who have a clear understanding of what is truth. Immortality is obtained only by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. “Verily, verily I say unto you,” Christ declared, “he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. ... I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ... Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me, and I in him. ... It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” [John 6:47, 51, 54-56, 63.] 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 12
We all need to cling to the Lord Jesus Christ. In regard to the Father, we shall soon understand in regard to His personality. I am bidden to speak these words to our medical workers and to our church members. Be not deceived; God is not mocked. Let those who have need of being converted seek diligently for the truth, else the words spoken by Christ will be applicable to them: “Ye shall seek Me, and shall not find Me; and where I am, thither ye cannot come.” [John 7:34.] 18LtMs, Lt 214, 1903, par. 13