Fanaticism
As the end draws near, the enemy will work with all his power to
bring in fanaticism among us. He would rejoice to see Seventh-day
Adventists going to such extremes that they would be branded by the
world as a body of fanatics. Against this danger I am bidden to warn
ministers and lay members. Our work is to teach men and women to
build on a true foundation, to plant their feet on a plain “Thus saith the
Lord.”
In 1844 we had to meet fanaticism on every hand, but always the
word came to me: “A great wave of excitement is an injury to the work.
Keep your feet in the footprints of Christ.” Under great excitement,
strange work is done. There are those who improve this opportunity to
bring in strange and fanciful doctrines. Thus the door is closed to the
proclamation of sound doctrine.
Those who do the work of the Lord in the cities must close and
bolt the doors against excitement and fanaticism. Ministers are not
to issue notices of meetings so worded as to create an alarm. When
the Lord is ready for the advanced denunciation of wicked cities, He
will let His people know. But this will be after these cities have had an
opportunity to hear and receive the word that is unto life eternal.
Our work now is to enlighten minds in regard to the truths of the
Scriptures. Doors are open for the entrance of truth, and we are to
avail ourselves of every opportunity to reach souls. We are to explain
the truth, as did Christ, in many ways, by figures and parables; but we
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are to discourage anything of a fanatical nature.
The people must be taught to search the word of God for them-
selves. Pastors and teachers must point them to the strong fortress,
into which the righteous may run and be safe. Those who are handling
the great, grand, ennobling truths of the Word, must ever reveal a spirit
deep, earnest, fervent, but calm and full of sound sense that the mouths
of gainsayers may be stopped.
Those who are close students of the Word, following Christ in
humility of soul, will not go to extremes. The Saviour never went
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