This is not the first time the Adventist Church has had to confront a serious theological problem. None of the doctrines of the church have ever been adopted without earnest, careful study, and sometimes after long periods of discussion, research, and prayer. By comparing their divergent convictions, the pioneers were able to discard erroneous theological concepts at times inherited from various Christian tradition and to set forth clearly the biblical truths as revealed by the Scriptures.
To accomplish this task, the principle applied was consistent with that practiced by the Reformers: sola scriptura. "The Bible, and the Bible alone, is to be our creed. ... Man is fallible, but God's word is infallible. ... Let us lift up the banner on which is inscribed, The Bible our rule of faith and discipline."[1] This was the foundation upon which the fundamental beliefs of the Adventist Church were established--none other.
When the problem of justification by faith was discussed at Minneapolis in 1888, Ellen White thought it necessary to remind the delegates of the only valid method to resolve a doctrinal problem. "Let us take our Bibles, and with humble prayer and a teachable spirit, come to the great Teacher of the world. ... We must search the Scriptures for evidences of truth. ... All who reverence the Word of God just as it reads, all who do His will to the best of their ability, will know of the doctrine, whether it be of God. ... Any other way is not God's way, and will create confusion".[2]
Because the church has not always held strictly to this method in its search for truth, it suffers today from a regrettable state of confusion in regard to Christology. The inevitable result is that the same confusion now appears in relation to the doctrine of justification by faith.[3] It is high time to recognize the seriousness of the situation and to consider a special forum for the express purpose of profound research into the various theological and historical aspects of Christology.
This study was not undertaken to escalate a controversy that unfortunately has already taken its toll. Our purpose is simply to make known the unanimous teaching of the church pioneers from its very beginning to the 1950s, as well as the various interpretations offered by authors of recent decades. Objectivity in this issue requires an understanding of all the related history. The advice of Ellen White whose writings are themselves at the heart of the controversy--should be carefully followed if we expect to ever reach unity: "Let all prove their positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God".[4]
Since I penned this history of Adventist Christology--intention ally limited to the first 150 years of the church (1844-1994)--several works have been published to help resolve the controversy dividing us.[5] Each of these books makes a significant contribution to the discussion, but because of their opposing viewpoints, they also maintain the confusion.
It is important to remember Kenneth Wood's statement: "Before the church can proclaim with power God's last warning message to the world, it must be united on the truth about Christ's human nature".[6] It can never be repeated enough: "The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study".[7]
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