Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 13
September 14, 1961
NUMBER 19, PAGE 10

In Good Reading

Gordon Wilson, Culver City, Calif.

Seventh-Day Adventism Renounced, by D. M. Canright, Baker Book House, $3.50.

This book was first published in 1889, and ran through fourteen editions. Several reprints have been made of the last edition, this latest being by the Baker Book House people, who recognize the classic value of the book. The author was for twenty-eight years a minister for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and held high positions among them as an educator, writer, missionary, and debater. He was at times a board member of their various organizations engaged in evangelism, Sabbath School work, and benevolent enterprises. He evidently renounced that denomination out of conviction, as it meant practically turning his back on associates of a lifetime. This book was written to save other from the errors of Adventism, and is the standard work on the subject.

Seventh-Day Adventists today deny that Mrs. Ellen G. White made any claims to supernatural revelations, or to direct inspiration. Our author cites passage after passage, and occasion after occasion, in proof of the fact that Mrs. White did make such claims. He also shows her supposedly inspired prophecies failed one after another. Through about five chapters the origin, history, and blunders of the Adventist movement are discussed, and the facts brought forth are embarrassing indeed to members of that connection.

As might be expected the question of Sabbath keeping comes in for a great deal of attention. Thirteen chapters are devoted to this. Every important passage in the Bible on the subject is discussed, and the Sabbatarian proof-texts are examined thoroughly. There is a chapter on the history of various attempts to prove that Christians are to keep the Sabbath. Another chapter is titled, "Why Christians Keep Sunday" which, in spite of its misleading title (for Christians do not keep Sunday) contains some very good information as to why the first day of the week is appointed as a day of worship.

The final section of the book deals with "The Nature of Man" and nicely refutes the Adventist doctrines of materialism. Mr. Canright shows the Bible teaching on the immortality of the soul, the conscious state of man between death and the resurrection, and the doctrine of eternal punishment as opposed to annihilation.

It is worth noting that the author first became aware of the unsoundness of his position in Adventism, while preparing for a debate with D. R. Dungan of the Disciples church. The study that this debate required led him along the path of scriptural truth. The book he has written is a convincing indictment of the claims, practices, and spirit of the Seventh-Day Adventist. Church. It ought to be in the library of everyone who may need information to stop the mouths of false teachers. You may order this book from the Gospel Guardian, P. O. Box 980, Lufkin, Texas.

"Between A Rock And A Hard Place"

K. A. Sterling, Napa, Calif.

The drive to put the "college-in-the-budget," which seems to be gaining momentum in some quarters, places many, many good brethren in a rather difficult situation — to use an old country clich — "between a rock and a hard place." They know there is no command, example, or necessary inference in all of God's word for the church to support the teaching of such subjects as Physical Education, Geometry, History, English, etc.; and know further that this is the obligation of the home and not the church. They know too that it is not possible to "speak as the oracles of God," (1 Pet. 4:11) and put the "college-in-the-budget," for though the Bible is taught in these institutions, there is still no scripture for the church to support another organization to do that which God has ordained the church to do — i.e., teach the Bible. However, to come out openly and preach and teach against this — to vigorously oppose it — would result in castigation by brother "Big-Name Preacher" and would possibly even bear the stigma of "anti" (perish--oh PERISH the thought). It would put one at variance with many, many, learned men (among them the author of "We Be Brethren") who believe the "College-in-the-budget" is scriptural.

Many have said that the church support of the orphan home, the sponsoring church arrangement, the Herald of Truth, etc., is (for want of a better expression) a "package deal" — that is to accept one, you must in effect accept all. So now that the "College-in-the-budget" is becoming a reality, there are a whole host of brethren "caught in the middle" — knowing it is unscriptural yet hesitating to openly oppose it and fight against it. It is either (as the dentist frequently says) "open a little wider please" and swallow the whole thing knowing it to be unscriptural or come out and fight! Which will it be, brethren? (1 Pet. 4:11; Jude 3; Phil. 1:17; 2 John 9-11)