ASK THE PASTOR WITH DALE RATZLAFF |
Q: Can I stay in the church and “make a difference” by teaching the gospel and ignoring the practices and doctrines with which I don’t fully agree?
In the ’80s when I was doing thorough study into my Adventist roots and the issues then facing the church, I lived in the state of cognitive dissonance for many months. At the time I believed Ellen White was an inspired messenger of God to the remnant church. At the same time I read her statements regarding the teachings of William Miller.
Many shepherds of the flock, who professed to love Jesus, said that they had no opposition to the preaching of Christ’s coming, but they objected to the definite time.
Ministers who would not accept this saving message [the acceptance of a “definite time”] themselves hindered those who would have received it. The blood of souls is upon them. Preachers and people joined to oppose this message from heaven and to persecute William Miller and those who united with him in the work (Early Writings, p.233-234).
I was unable to harmonize these statements with the reality of truth. My conclusion was that the pastors who rejected the date setting of Miller were following the teachings of Jesus,1 yet according to Ellen White, Jesus turned away from these pastors. She made the acceptance of date setting a “saving message” that was “from heaven”. This discovery along with many months of study on the sanctuary doctrine convinced me that I could no longer teach at least one of Adventism’s Fundamentals of belief.
These mental conflicts led me into what I now see as an encounter with the “ethics of darkness”. Because of my position as pastor in the Adventist church I had to present the “image” of being fully in harmony with Adventist teachings. After living in this state for some time I decided I could no longer be silent about my conclusions. One of my elders suggested that we see the Chairman of the Department of Religion at Loma Linda University as he had “all the answers”. I, with my elders, had a five hour conversation with this person who suggested that all the Conference President wanted was my loyalty. He asked if there was some way I could carefully choose my words so that it would “appear” I was in harmony with all the doctrines of the church but put my own interpretation on them so I could be honest with my convictions. I was shocked at his suggestion. I now realize that “fronting”—pretending to be something you are not—is a subtle move into the ethics of darkness.
He asked if there was some way I could carefully choose my words so that it would “appear” I was in harmony with all the doctrines of the church but put my own interpretation on them so I could be honest with my convictions.
From personal conversations with many Adventist leaders at all levels of church organization I can tell you that this “fronting” is rampant. It is so subtle and has become so inbred and modeled in the Adventist ministry that it has become the accepted “ethical structure” and thus it often goes unnoticed.
Yes, for many months I lived in the tension of conflicting “truths”2 and started down the road into the ethics of darkness. It is not my intent to condemn those who may be living with cognitive dissonance or who are projecting an image that is not fully congruent with their inner core of convictions. Rather, it is my prayer that if you find yourself facing these very subtle thoughts and practices that you give serious consideration to the reasons behind the conflicting “truths” and realize the danger of starting down the road of ethical darkness. Ask yourself if you are projecting the idea that you are in full harmony with all the teachings of Adventism when secretly you know there are imbedded errors. Do you renounce these errors or simply put them out of sight into the dark, secret basement of your soul?
I know the spiritual stress this creates. And thank God, I also know the joy and freedom experienced when my outward projections match my inner convictions. May God help us each to walk in the transparent light of Christ without cognitive dissonance using only the ethics of light.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (Jn. 8:12).
…keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith (1 Tim. 1:19).
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house (Mt. 5:14-15).
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:5-7).
Endnotes
1. Mt. 24:36, 42.
2. In my case I found that both “truths” turned out to be error.
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