In the last two weeks of December 2000, Elder James Cress and the editor of Elder's Digest met more than one thousand elders and pastors in training seminars in the territory of the South American Division. Surprisingly it seemed to us that quite a number of elders and pastors are confused about the role and action of some "independent ministries," and what their relationship is to the church and the fundamental teachings of the Adventism. To help elders as well as pastors and members in general to understand the meaning of fundamental teachings or "landmarks," Elder's Digest is reprinting what Ellen G. White wrote about the relation to the receiving and disseminating of advanced light.
"In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was evidence and there was reasoning from the Word that commended itself to the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the 'old landmarks' when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks, but they had perverted ideas of what constituted the old landmarks.
"The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God's people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels' messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, 'The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.' One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God's law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing the old landmarks is all imaginary.
"Now at the present time God designs a new and fresh impetus shall be given to His work. Satan sees this, and he is determined it shall be hindered. He knows that if he can deceive the people who claim to believe present truth, [and make them believe that] the work the Lord designs to do for His people is a removing of the old landmarks, something which they should, with most determined zeal, resist, then he exults over the deception he has led them to believe. The work for this time has certainly been a surprising work of various hindrances, owing to the false setting of matters before the minds of many of our people. That which is food to the churches is regarded as dangerous, and should not be given them. And this slight difference of ideas is allowed to unsettle the faith, to cause apostasy, to break up unity, to sow discord, all because they do not know what they are striving about themselves. Brethren, is it not best to be sensible? Heaven is looking upon us all, and what can they think of recent developments? While in this condition of things, building up barriers, we not only deprive ourselves of great light and precious advantages, but just now, when we so much need it, we place ourselves where light cannot be communicated from heaven that we ought to communicate to others. Never can the heart [be] stirred up with envy, with evilsurmising, with evil reports, but the intellect becomes unbalanced, and cannot decide correctly any controverted point." E. G. White, MS 18, 1889. (See Counsels to Editors, pp. 21, 22,)
If we will but accept them in the right way, the challenge of critics, the attacks of opposers, and the criticism of friends will prove a blessing in disguise by driving us to deeper, more comprehensive study. They will force us to find new evidences, stronger reasons, more invulnerable proofs. Thus our enemies can become our friends though without a benevolent design.
