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The 1980 Statement of Belief

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The 1980 Statement of Belief PART ONE OF THREE EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT - WHO WROTE IT - WHAT IT BROUGHT INTO THE CHURCH The 1980 Statement of Belief W A COMPLETE HISTORICAL REPORT M 1 4 AN ASTOUNDING STORY OF LITTLE-KNOWN EVENTS - AND STARTLING RESULTS 7 7 The 1980 Dallas Session had ended in late spring. That same Friday afternoon, as if on schedule, As a result of a sometimes stormy Session, the newly a letter, signed by a large number of faculty mem- revised Statement of Belief had been adopted. bers at Andrews University and addressed to Wil- Not long after the Dallas Session (August 1-15), son, pled with him not to discharge Ford. —Yet many of our church leaders, Bible teachers, and among the signers of that letter were the very Bible editors assembled at our Colorado Conference youth teachers who had so carefully arranged the final camp, known as Glacier View, for a complete ex- wording of the Dallas Statement of Belief! . It was discov- amination of the Desmond Ford case How was it that our denomination so reversed ered that many who attended were fully in the liberal itself, that we went from a position, in our early camp. But, fearing reprisals from leadership, they history, that God’s Word alone was our rule of faith— decided to be cautious. At the end of that turbulent to a few watered-down paragraphs which permit week, on Friday morning, Ford was reluctantly re- liberals to introduce ever-increasing doctrinal er- moved from the Adventist ministry. rors and lowered standards—without fear of being As a last-ditch attempt to avoid that decision, reproved or discharged? that afternoon, Ford walked up to President Neal C. Wilson—and broke the news that he was able to Here is the story of how our current 27-point accept the newly enacted Statement of Belief—so Statement of Beliefs came into being. We will intro- there was no need to fire him! The secret was out. duce this research study with an intriguing quotation Wilson was stunned. from the Adventist Encyclopedia: NEW BOOK NEW BOOK Seventh-day Adventist Statements of Belief The most complete coverage of this subject available anywhere. • Each of the successive statements are quoted. • Each one is compared with the others. • Omissions and changes are noted. • History of the writing of the 1980 (Dallas) Statement. • The Changes made since 1980. Spirit of Prophecy: God’s Word vs. Man’s Creeds. • A basic inspired Statement of Belief source. • Plus: The Standard Baptismal Vow and the 2005 three-paragraph Alternative Vow. • When the Alternative Baptismal Vow was Enacted at St. Louis. A remarkable collection (most of which will soon be sent to you in single-tract mailings) 8½ x 11, 42 pages - Single copy $5.00 + $2.50 HARVESTIME BOOKS - BOX 300 - ALTAMONT, TN 37301 USA DATE OF PUBLICATION: MARCH 2009 OF PUBLICATION: DATE CREDIT CARD ORDERS: 931-692-2777 2 “Throughout their history, Seventh-day Adventists made creeds spring from this world, and have their have affirmed that ‘the Bible and the Bible only’ should origin in the brains of poor erring mortals. ‘As the be the Christian’s creed and that they have no creed heavens are higher than the earth,’ so is our creed, but the Bible. which is the Word of God, higher in perfection and “However, over the years they have issued various real worth than all human creeds.”—Ibid. statements of belief—gradually moving toward the 27 1854—From August 15 to December 19, 1954, fundamental beliefs published in the denominational on the masthead of the Review in five successive is- Yearbook since 1981 and in the Church Manual sues, a list of five ‘leading doctrines taught by the Re- (1990).”—Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, view’ was published. Here is this list: p. 464. “The Bible and the Bible alone, the rule of faith and 1853—In August 1853, James White, editor of the duty. The Law of God, as taught in the Old and New Review, published a reply to an inquiry as to what Testaments, unchangeable. The Personal Advent of our church believed. He wrote that, along with the Christ and the Resurrection of the Just, before the entire Bible, the Sabbath and the commandments Millennium. The Earth restored to its Eden perfection provided an all-inclusive statement of what we be- and glory, the final inheritance of the Saints. Immor- lieved. tality alone through Christ, to be given to the Saints at “As a people, we are brought together from divisions the resurrection.” of the Advent body and from the various denomina- Then the publication of that list ceased. tions, holding different views on some subjects; yet, 1861—In 1861, when Seventh-day Adventist min- thank Heaven, the Sabbath is a mighty platform on isters in the state of Michigan gathered in Battle Creek which we can all stand united. to consider the prospect of adopting a formal organi- “And while standing here, with the aid of no other zational structure, James White introduced the idea creed than the Word of God, and bound together by of a “church covenant.” It would simply say, “We, the the bonds of love—love for the truth, love each other, undersigned, hereby associate ourselves together, and love for a perishing world—‘which is stronger than as a church, taking the name Seventh-day Advent- death,’ all party feelings are lost. We are united in these ists, covenanting to keep the commandments of great subjects: Christ’s immediate, personal second (“Doings of the Advent; and the observance of all the commandments God and the faith of Jesus Christ” of God, and the faith of His Son Jesus Christ, as nec- Battle Creek Conference, October 5 and 6, 1861,” Re- essary to a readiness for His Advent.”—James White, view, October 8, 1861). Review, August 11, 1853. Thus the entire content of this “covenant” would In early December of that same year, James sug- consist of the proposed denominational name and the gested that a “Charter” be prepared for the purpose of words of a very special verse of Scripture (Revelation “gospel order.” But he received numerous complaints 14:12). from readers who said he was in danger of producing But some in the group were suspicious that this a “creed.” was the beginning of a “creed,” and thus a step toward James was quick to reply: “becoming Babylon.” “Is the church of Christ to be left without a rule of John Loughborough was blunt in his response. It faith? We answer that she is provided with a creed is one we should never forget: that is sufficient: ‘All Scripture is given by inspira- “The first step of apostasy is to get up a creed, tion of God.’ ”—Ibid., December 13, 1853. telling us what we shall believe. The second is to “It is the opinion of the mass of professors of reli- make that creed a test of fellowship. The third is to gion that human creeds are indispensable to the main- try members by that creed. The fourth is to denounce as heretics those who do not believe that creed. And tenance of gospel order . But what is the real condi- fifth, to commence persecution against such.”—Ibid. tion of the churches with all their creeds to aid them? They are in a condition but little less than perfect Loughborough had a good knowledge of church confusion . It is evident, therefore, that human creeds history—as well as a clear understanding of the trials do fail to accomplish the work for which men plead and persecution experienced by Millerite believers only their necessity.”—Ibid. a few years earlier. He wanted nothing to do with a “We go for order and strict discipline in the church creed. of Christ. And while we reject all human creeds, or It is ironic that, today, we have a creed that is platforms, which have failed to effect the order set forth called a “Statement of Belief.” It sounds safe, yet in the gospel, we take the Bible, the perfect rule of repeatedly faithful Advent believers have been per- faith and practice, given by inspiration of God. This secuted and disfellowshipped because they chose shall be our platform on which to stand, our creed to remain with historic beliefs which, although not and discipline. clearly stated in the official “Statement,” are very clearly “This will not fail to accomplish the work ‘where- presented in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. unto it was sent.’ It came from above. It has its ori- White responded to Loughborough’s ringing com- gin in the councils of heaven. Its author is the God of ment by explaining that he too was opposed to form- ‘peace’ and order; while the strange confusion of man- ing a creed. He stated it this way: “On the subject of creeds, I agree with Brother power” is important enough that we should here 3 W M Loughborough . Now I take the ground that creeds pause to learn what the Spirit of Prophecy says stand in a direct opposition to the gifts [“The gifts” on this matter. Here are several among many pas- 1 4 was James’ term for the Spirit of Prophecy writings]. sages which could be quoted: 7 Let us suppose a case: We get up a creed, stating just “In the professedly Christian world 7 many turn away what we shall believe on this point and the other, and from the plain teachings of the Bible and build up a just what we shall do in reference to this thing and creed from human speculations and pleasing fables, that, and say that we will believe the gifts, too.
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