By The Remnant Herald
“‘A lax theology is the parent of a lax morality.’ Such is its tendency. Such is the depravity of the natural human heart, so prone is it to evil, that it needs all the restraints of a sound theology to check its wayward inclination … A loose age as regards doctrine will be a loose age as regards morals” (Signs of the Times, March 17, 1887, not an Ellen G. White statement).
“Upon those religious leaders whose teachings have opened the door to infidelity, to Spiritualism, and to contempt for God’s holy law, rests a fearful responsibility for the iniquity that exists in the Christian world” (The Great Controversy, p. 404, 1884 edition).
Above all people, Seventh-day Adventists should be able to trace the cause for the moral decline that marks the times in which we live—a decline that is accelerating ever more rapidly year by year. The anti-Christian sentiment prevailing in Western society today is a build-up of forces over the centuries that have undermined the certainty of the Bible, the authority of its teachings, the truthfulness of its declarations, and the influence of its principles. In fact, even in the days of the apostles, a lax theology promulgated by the Nicolaitans (who were known for their libertine, antinomian lifestyle) was having a detrimental effect on those who believed their deceptive teachings. Christ exclaimed that He hated their deeds (Revelation 2:6) and their doctrine (Revelation 2:15). The servant of the Lord wrote on the implications of this Nicolaitan heresy, which is still being taught around the world:
“But the doctrine is now largely taught that the Gospel of Christ has made the Law of God of no effect; that by ‘believing’ we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned…
“Those who are teaching this doctrine today have much to say in regard to faith and the righteousness of Christ; but they pervert the truth, and make it serve the cause of error. They declare that we have only to believe on Jesus Christ, and that faith is all-sufficient; that the righteousness of Christ is to be the sinner’s credentials; that this imputed righteousness fulfils the Law for us, and that we are under no obligation to obey the Law of God. This class claim that Christ came to save sinners, and that He has saved them. ‘I am saved,’ they will re-peat over and over again. But are they saved while transgressing the Law of Jehovah? — no; for the garments of Christ’s righteousness are not a cloak for iniquity. Such teaching is a gross deception, and Christ becomes to these persons a stumbling-block as He did to the Jews — to the Jews because they would not receive Him as their personal Saviour; to these professed believers in Christ, because they separate Christ and the Law, and regard faith as a substitute for obedience. They separate the Father and the Son, the Saviour of the world. Virtually they teach, both by precept and example, that Christ by His death, saves men in their transgressions…
“The Saviour raised His voice in protest against those who regard the divine commandments with indifference and carelessness … Men may talk of freedom, of Gospel liberty. They may assert that they are not in bondage to the Law. But the influence of a Gospel hope will not lead the sinner to look upon the salvation of Christ as a matter of free grace, while he continues to live in transgression of the Law of God. When the light of truth dawns upon his mind, and he fully understands the requirements of God and realizes the extent of his transgressions, he will reform his ways, become loyal to God, through the strength obtained from his Saviour, and lead a new and purer life. ‘Whosoever abideth in Him,’ says John, ‘sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.’”( Signs of the Times, February 25, 1897).
Is not the teaching of the Nicolaitans so much in demand and so eagerly taught in the Christian churches of today (including the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, with its “New Theology”)? What verdict shall our righteous Lord render to the Church for its permissive ways, compromising attitudes, and perpetual backsliding?
“Is it the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness?” (Review and Herald, June 7, 1887).
The overflow of immorality and iniquity seen globally, both in the world and in the church, is evidence of a dramatic breakdown directly linked to the theology of the Nicolaitans. Its laxity in doctrine is followed by its looseness in action. Morality is now divorced from the principles of the Scriptures and is declared to be just a composition of human values that can be changed to incorporate unbiblical ideas, practices, and beliefs:
“So morality is the set of rules we live by that seek to reduce harm and help us live together effectively. We didn’t just discover it. It wasn’t handed to us from above. We had to figure it out for ourselves…we haven’t updated our thinking about morality to purge it of the baggage that came with religion and the rigid cultural conformity of the past” (Website of World Economic Forum: We’re Not Suffering from a Lack of Morality. We Have Too Much. May 14, 2018. Tim Dean. Honorary Associate, Philosophy Department, University of Sydney, Australia).
This is the new morality of today, but, in reality,
“The so-called new morality is too often the old immorality condemned” (The Observer, July 17, 1963. Lord Hartley Shawcross, UK Attorney-General, Attlee Labour Government, 1945–1951, London, United Kingdom).
The servant of the Lord was right when she wrote:
“The human heart has never been in harmony with the requirements of God. Human reasoning has ever sought to evade or set aside the simple, direct instructions of His Word. Those precepts which enjoin self-denial and humility, which require modesty and simplicity in conversation, deportment, and apparel have, in every age, been disregarded, even by the majority of those who professed to be the followers of Christ. The result has ever been the same — the adoption of the fashions, customs, and principles of the world” (Review and Herald, December 6, 1881).
One notable preacher from the 20th century rightly warned about the corruptive effects of a lax theology:
“Statements by Protestant clergymen condoning sexual immorality have given a new license to people everywhere. One teenager frankly told me some time ago, ‘My pastor says sex is all right if it is meaningful to me.’ Many church leaders now advocate a so-called new morality. What they propose is a standard in which the ultimate criterion for right and wrong is not the command of God, but individuals’ subjective perception of what is good for them and their neighbor in each situation. This is not a new morality — this is the old immorality…Would to God that the church would go back to preaching the Bible and quit watering down the Gospel! Would to God that we would lift the standards high and call people to cross-bearing and self-denial!” (Website of Decision: The New Morality. Billy Graham).
It is ironic that ministers who lament the moral declension of our society and decry the lax theology so prevalent in the church will still preach the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which banishes the law of God as having any component in the great plan of redemption:
“Satan will turn the people from the law of God. Not withstanding this, so well will he counterfeit righteousness, that if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect” (Review and Herald, August 17, 1897).
We are to be “a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9), having,
“…the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12
Our lives are to be in sharp contrast with those of the world and an apostate church, for our faith is holy:
“The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth…” Zephaniah 3:13
May God help us to be purified (Malachi 3:2, 3), made white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14), that by His enabling grace (Titus 2:11–14), we can perfectly reflect His image (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69) and go home to that better land (Early Writings, p. 19). Amen!
About: The Remnant Herald is an Australian publication produced by Remnant Ministries. The current editor and author is Elvis Placer, and we have reproduced this article with his permission. You can contact Elvis Placer through email at rh1844@pm.me or call the office clerk at +61 3 9706 2173 to request a FREE subscription to the Remnant Herald.
0
0
0
In Revelation 2:6 “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
It’s one of the few times Christ tells us He hates something,
They taught people you could continue in their sins until Christ returns this is exactly what Apostasied pastors (like Ford) taught & teach still today it is The New Theology doctrine & it’s a curse to whichever church it sticks its head up in,
It’s a full denial of Christ’s power to help us get victory over any and all sins.
2nd Timothy 3:5-7 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
In this essay, the root of the theological conundrum is spelled out quite plainly. Why is it that our leadership is unable to resolve this?
Thank you for this article. It is so needed.