Attitude to New Light
23
The Lord designs that our opinions shall be put to the test, that
we may see the necessity of closely examining the living oracles to
see whether or not we are in the faith. Many who claim to believe the
truth have settled down at their ease, saying, “I am rich, and increased
with goods, and have need of nothing.”—
The Review and Herald,
December 20, 1892
.
How to Search the Scriptures—How shall we search the Scrip-
tures? Shall we drive our stakes of doctrine one after another, and then
try to make all Scripture meet our established opinions? or shall we
take our ideas and views to the Scriptures, and measure our theories on
every side by the Scriptures of truth? Many who read and even teach
the Bible, do not comprehend the precious truth they are teaching or
studying.
Men entertain errors, when the truth is clearly marked out; and
if they would but bring their doctrines to the word of God, and not
read the word of God in the light of their doctrines, to prove their
ideas right, they would not walk in darkness and blindness, or cherish
error. Many give the words of Scripture a meaning that suits their
own opinions, and they mislead themselves and deceive others by their
misinterpretations of God’s word.
As we take up the study of God’s word, we should do so with
humble hearts. All selfishness, all love of originality, should be laid
aside. Long-cherished opinions must not be regarded as infallible. It
[37]
was the unwillingness of the Jews to give up their long-established
traditions that proved their ruin. They were determined not to see any
flaw in their own opinions or in their expositions of the Scriptures;
but however long men may have entertained certain views, if they are
not clearly sustained by the written word, they should be discarded.
Those who sincerely desire truth will not be reluctant to lay open their
positions for investigation and criticism, and will not be annoyed if
their opinions and ideas are crossed. This was the spirit cherished
among us forty years ago....
We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God
and heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never
have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an
opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas
and opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity
for which Christ prayed.