Spirit and Truth Ministries
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DOUBLE-VEILED
Don Hawley
October 8, 1999
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For years I have, over and over, asked myself a particular question. Why is it so difficult to help Seventh-day Adventists embrace truth and leave error? This morning I believe the Lord gave me a simple answer to that query.
Note that the question is twofold. The first part has to do with a strange inability to comprehend truth. That segment I figured out some time ago after studying the following text.
Not only Moses’ face was veiled, but his people’s minds and understanding were veiled and blinded too. Even now when the Scripture is read it seems as though Jewish hearts and minds are covered by a thick veil, because they cannot see and understand the real meaning of the Scriptures. For this veil of misunderstanding can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings their hearts are blind and they think that obeying the Ten Commandments is the way to be saved.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins, then the veil is taken away. The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where he is there is freedom from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God. But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.
2 Corin. 3:14-18.
This text applies to anyone who is counting on their good works to take them to heaven. That’s legalism. So, in this text simply replace the term “Jewish” with “Seventh-day Adventist.” Note that we’re not dealing here with mere stubbornness, but with a “cannot.” People who are counting on keeping the Ten Commandments to save them are behind a thick veil.
Of course those so blinded are incapable of understanding their own condition. I know, because I spent a good share of my life behind that veil. It is only as the truth of the gospel begins to make inroads that the veil starts to slip. Until that time any approach with truth is likely to be unfruitful.
Paul determined to spell out the gospel so clearly that none need be deceived.
Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.
But now God has shown us a different way to heaven—not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. Rom. 3:20-24.
But this is where the plot thickens. If the gospel removes the veil, then why do most Adventists who have found the truth about salvation still cling to the organization? After all, as Paul points out, nothing is so heinous to the Father as declaring the blood of his Son to be insufficient to save to the uttermost.
I am amazed that you are turning away so soon from God who, in his love and mercy, invited you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ; you are already following a different “way to heaven,” which really doesn’t go to heaven at all. For there is no other way than the one we showed you; you are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.
Let God’s curses fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. I will say it again: if anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God’s curse fall upon him. Gal. 1:6-9.
Strong language indeed. This is a matter of life and death, eternal life and death. Never in its entire history has SDAism championed salvation by the blood without mixing works into the equation. So once again, why do so many Seventh-day Adventists cling to the organization even after discovering that salvation is by grace alone?
Perhaps most perplexing of all are the denomination’s intellectuals. Not only are most such individuals able to comprehend grace, but they also use their periodicals to expose widespread corruption at the heart of the organization. But with all their whistle blowing, they don’t leave! Why?
THE SECOND VEIL
The reason even the well informed, who may have embraced a pure gospel, cannot break away is because there is the problem of a second veil. Getting rid of one blindfold is not very effective if there is one equally thick beneath it. That inner veil is the mind-bending indoctrination of a cult. Now I know most SDA’s would be livid if accused of belonging to a cult. But I’ll merely quote the classic definition of a cult presented by Ruth Tucker in her book Another Gospel, and you can decide for yourself.
“A ‘cult’ is a religious group that has a ‘prophet’-founder called of God to give a special message not found in the Bible itself; often apocalyptic in nature and often set forth in ‘inspired’ writings.
“In deference to this charismatic figure or these ‘inspired’ writings, the style of leadership is authoritarian and there is frequently an exclusivistic outlook, supported by a legalistic lifestyle and persecution mentality.”
On target? For an in-depth treatment of the problem see the chapter titled “Beware the Cults!” in my new book THE FINAL TEST—For the Final Generation.
Permit me to give an example of what I’m talking about. I'm personally acquainted with a dedicated couple who has fully embraced the gospel of salvation by grace alone. Not only that, they also have entered fully into the renewal move of the Holy Spirit now in progress worldwide. But while the first veil was cast aside several years ago, the second veil is still firmly in place.
In the cult chapter mentioned above, I point out that one of the most powerful depictions of a cult I’ve ever seen is the movie “The Truman Show.” From beginning to end it shows what it means to be the victim of cultism. However, when the above-mentioned couple saw that film all that registered was that it was good entertainment! The second veil is very effective indeed.
I’ve had personal experience in this area. Most Adventists are careful not to expose themselves to anything that would bring denominational disapproval. However, even exposure is not likely to made a significant difference. When I was a Seventh-day Adventist minister I took pride in the fact that I always read everything I came across that seemed to be anti-SDA.
Did that shake me up? Not at all. It merely confirmed me in my Adventist beliefs. If you already hold a cult attitude that says everything you’ve been taught is “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” then even the facts won’t get in your way.
Someone once said, “ We don’t know who discovered water, but it almost certainly wasn't a fish.” In other words, fish are so immersed in water that it isn’t something they perceive. Just so, cult victims are so immersed in the organization that they’re incapable of looking at it objectively.
There’s another factor that may be the most potent of all. A religious cult stresses that there is no salvation outside of the organization. You leave, you burn. Everything will be all right in the end if one just retains a link to the denomination; after all, “the old ship is going through.” So even when intellectually they know better, many enlightened SDAs are nervous about the tie that binds—and binds, and binds. “I no longer believe, but what difference does it make if my name is still on the church books? Besides, if I stay partially attached I may be able to help others escape.”
I don’t recall God telling Moses to leave a few behind in order to evangelize Egypt. I do recall God saying, “Come out of her, my people.”
Is the matter hopeless? No. Each year a few break away and find freedom in Christ. However, it’s my personal opinion that most will not be able to gain their freedom until they experience a final confrontation with Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit. That is the subject I deal with in the final chapter of THE FINAL TEST.
So love the Seventh-day Adventists; they are good people. But know in advance they’re difficult to help because most are double-veiled, and even those who've shed the first veil likely are still wearing the second.
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