If you don't like the message, attack the words and declare them irrelevant, out of date, unimportant and then give them another meaning.
This time worn trick of Satan has been repeatedly used on moral reformers, especially those in the temperance movement. "Why, it is obvious this fellow is full of his own subject." A sly dig sometimes even of fellow Christians to spark a laugh subtly undermining the seriousness of the evil caused by intemperance. Thus, temperance, the opposite of intemperance, is targeted as the very object that it is set to overcome.
Well, maybe the word "temperance" is out of date! The facts are, it has never been in date, for intemperance has reigned since Adam and Eve were deceived by Lucifer's denial of God's warning. Adam and Eve were given dominion or control over this world and themselves. Disobedience brought the loss of this control. Temperance, which they had, meaning self control through divine power, was supplanted by intemperance, the loss of moral power.
From cover to cover of the divine revelation, it tells of the results of intemperance and the need and assurance of a return to temperance only through the moral power demonstrated by Messiah Jesus; and that power is now available to all who choose to accept of His life and victory.
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs have been prime objects to enhance the enemy's work of intemperance, weakening the will, blotting out spiritual insight, destroying physical well-being and social relations, thus laying a foundation for moral decay and subjecting the person to continued and increasing deception regarding life, love, and truth as in Jesus Christ.
But is the word itself important? The argument could be made that many key Bible words are out of date or given false meaning in our modern society "justification," "sanctification," "righteousness," "the Sabbath," "the sanctuary," "atonement and reconciliation," "the mark of the beast," to name just a few
Do we then solve the problem by rewriting the Bible or trying to come up with other words to get the message across? This could be another diversionary trap of Satan.
Maybe the problem lies with us and not the word. It is interesting that the Bible is called the Word of God and Jesus the Living Word. Could it be that the Bible words give us the opportunity to explain and teach their true meaning instead of allowing the enemy to take the field with his tactics, thus keeping us from effectively proclaiming and acting out the truth needed for today? It could be the greater the opposition and unclear meaning of a Bible word shows us its value and the need of its understanding and proclamation .
But, significantly we find that "temperance" as a word is well recognized in society through years of education and witness. Surveys have revealed a high percentage recognizing temperance as allied to abstinence, especially when used by Seventh-day Adventists. Others think of it as moderation. And that's not all bad for "true temperance teaches us to abstain entirely from that which is injurious, and to use judiciously only healthful and nutritious articles of food" (Health Reformer, April 1877).
So is there good enough reason to neglect or dispense with the word "temperance"?
Temperance is declared by scripture as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). Temperance was a key word and doctrine in Paul's preaching, allied to righteousness and judgment (Acts 24, 25).
God's end time messenger to the church, Ellen G. White, said Seventh-day Adventists were to be the leaders in the temperance movement and not the tail, that we were to have special organizations for young and old serving those within the church and without. In fact, no other church has ever claimed a special heavensent messenger on this subject. "I was also to speak on the subject of temperance as the Lord's appointed messenger" (E. G. White, Temperance, p. 259).
Ellen G. White, who was so honored by the Lord, wrote profusely on education, medical missionary work, the family, holiness, health and temperance. She made a clear distinction between all those other topics and temperance by pinpointing and explaining temperance as a cause, with life, health and character development a result, recognizing "that temperance alone is the foundation of all the graces that come from God, the foundation of all victories to be gained" ( Temperance, p. 201).
Therefore, temperance was not to be limited or narrowed in its approach, or to be only the counteracting of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, but was to be given as a part of every aspect of the Advent message for "the temperance cause needs to be revived as it has not yet been" (Temperance, p. 257). And "from the light given me, every member among us should sign the pledge and be connected with the Temperance Association" (Temperance, p. 256).
The above information does not sound like Seventh-day Adventists should in any way listen to the insinuation of the enemy about neglecting words or their meaning. Surely the Lord will be more honored if we recognize the God-given privilege to be a reformminded, temperance witnessing, temperance living and temperance victorious people, helping others at this vital hour to come up to God's ideal. If we don't, the time will come when in our failure to be clearly identified as a temperance reform people, the Sunday-honoring people will, in their emphasis on moral reform, call for a Sunday law, and because of our neglect they will "denounce us as the enemies of temperance reform" (Great Controversy, p. 587).
"Brethren and sisters, we want you to see the importance of this temperance question, and we want our workers to interest themselves in it and to know that is just as much connected with the Third Angel's Message as the right arm is with the body. We ought to make advancement in this work" (Temperance, p. 238).
As if to give the final challenge on this subject E. G. White wrote, "I will inquire why some of our ministerial brethren are so far behind in proclaiming the exalted theme of temperance" (Temperance, p. 244).
Dear one, please don't be ashamed of the word or its message. Be faithful to follow God's special message of temperance for real life in Christ Jesus. Make temperance up to date!
Ernest H. J Steed for over 40 years served the Seventh-day Adventist Church as Temperance Director in the South Pacific Division and at the General Conference. He is retired and currently lives in Florida, but continues to lecture and hold office in temperance organizations worldwide.
