1863 – The church resolved not to participate in war…
In accordance with this fact we acknowledge the justice of rendering tribute, custom, honor, and reverence to the civil power, as enjoined in the New Testament. While we thus cheerfully render to Ceasar the things which the Scriptures show to be his, we are compelled to decline all participation in acts of war and bloodshed as being inconsistent with the duties enjoined upon us by our divine Master toward our enemies and toward all mankind. SDA’s in Time of War page 24.
I was shown that God’s people… In the army… cannot obey the truth and at the same time obey the requirements of their officers. There would be a continual violation of conscience. Worldly men are governed by worldly principles. They can appreciate – no other. 1T 361.
By the time 1924 came around, this view had changed:
The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald | March 6, 1924
Our European Brethren and Noncombatancy
WILLIAM A. SPICER – President of General Conference
An inquiry concerning the attitude of our brethren in Europe toward noncombatancy and war comes from a brother who has recently heard these brethren denounced by enemies of our cause and work. The information we passed to this inquirer may be of interest to others.
At one of the fullest and most representative meetings of their committee, which our European brethren held in Switzerland, following the comparative stabilizing of affairs in Europe, they adopted a declaration of principles on non-combatancy. It is the first declaration of these principles ever made in our general work in Europe.
It was not difficult, comparatively, for our representatives in the North American Division to counsel together and make proper declaration of principles as the United States was being drawn into the great conflict. Yet our brethren in America who went through these times recall well how carefully and prayerfully these matters of extreme delicacy had to be handled. It was the same in the time of the Civil War, when our people were first led to study this question and to make our first declarations on non-combatancy. Even then the Spirit of Prophecy among us was led to bear stern warning to restrain some whose rash and unbalanced talk and attitude in a national crisis tended to misrepresent the Christian attitude toward civil authority. But then, as also in the recent crisis, it was possible in this country to get together for mutual study and counsel and unity.
All will understand, however, how impossible it was in Europe to secure any such opportunity for counsel or united study. The storm broke suddenly, and in many parts workers even in the same country were unable to counsel with one another. Even now, in some parts, where delicate situations still exist, our brethren need special wisdom and judgment in handling such declarations. From the minutes of the European committee’s proceedings, we copy their statement of noncombatant principles, issued Jan. 2, 1923:
Declaration of Principles
“The executive committee of the European Division of the denomination of Seventh-day Adventists, assembled in conference at Gland, Switzerland, having carefully counselled concerning Sabbath keeping, military service, bearing of arms in time of peace and during periods of war, unanimously declare themselves in harmony with the general teaching of their brethren of that denomination throughout the world, as follows:
“We recognize earthly governments as ordained of God for the purpose of securing to their people the blessings of order, justice, and tranquillity; that in the exercise of their legitimate functions such governments should receive the loyal support of their citizens. ”
We assert the justice of rendering tribute, custom, and honor to earthly governments, as enjoined in the New Testament. ” We revere the law of God contained in the decalogue as explained in, the teachings of Christ and exemplifi6d in His life. For that reason we observe the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) as sacred time; we refrain from secular labor upon that day, but engage gladly in works of necessity and mercy for the relief of suffering and the uplift of humanity; in peace and in war we decline to participate in acts of violence and bloodshed. We grant to each of our church members absolute liberty to serve their country, at all times and in all places, in accord with the dictates of their personal conscientious conviction.”
In ‘addition to this statement a special statement was made by the representatives of the German unions, as follows :
At the Council of the European Division Committee in Gland, Switzerland, Dee. 27, 1922, to Jan. 2, 1923, our position during the war as it had been expressed in different documents was reviewed, and we herewith by our own signatures confirm anew, what had already been declared at Friedensau in 1920, our regret that such documents had been issued. We are in full harmony with the statement adopted by the Council today [Jan. 2, 1923]. ” (Signed) L. R. CONRADI, “P. DRINHAUS, ” H. F. SCHUDERTII, ” G. W. SCHUBERT.”
This additional special note, signed by some of the representatives of our work in Germany, had reference to positions taken by individuals in those early war days when generally the workers were struggling much alone, in the midst of the whirlwind. Others of their associates at ‘the time did not. ‘feel to approve these positions, and when there was opportunity to study the question together, and to learn of the declaration and principles laid down in the early history of our denomination, all united as brethren in regret for faulty conceptions, and in adherence to the principles adopted by our people in the early years of our work.
We give these facts for the information of our people on this side, that all may understand the position of our brethren in Europe. Our brethren in the churches, we know, do not expect us to reply to the complaints of elements that go out from us because they are not of this movement, and seek to draw others after them. When anyone goes about denouncing and accusing brethren, far or near, those who know the gospel. of the third angel’s message will recognise the spirit of this ” other gospel.” “The accuser of our brethren ” (Rev. 12 : 10) is always at the task, and would be delighted to have us take time and space in. these columns to answer charges instead of devoting that time and space to preaching the message and telling the progress of God’s cause.
But when representations regarding brethren far away raise questions in the minds of our people as to how these brethren stand, we feel we ought to pass on information. The brother who made the inquiry of us in this matter asked about a statement that some of the organizations in Germany during the war “allowed” the government to take their surplus funds. It seems inevitable that if organizations had any sur-plus deposits in the banks, the funds must surely have been subject to call by the authorities. The brethren, as Christians, could not resist the powers that be. Ceasar was able to call for anything that bore his image and superscription. I do know personally German brethren who told me how they were constrained to allow a portion and possibly all of their gold deposits to be exchanged for government bond securities; arid naturally as paper values went to the vanishing point, they probably lost their money. The military power in any land may be given the power to commandeer the means or material it requires in any crisis, and no Christian can resist. Following the principles of Christ, he must render ” tribute to whom tribute is due;” as may be demanded by the powers that be
When in Germany during the war, I visited homes of our people where brethren had “allowed ” the authorities to take the brass faucets from sinks and copperware from kitchens. Brethren in our great health food factory in Hamburg were rejoicing in the providence that left them just one copper steam cooker. All other copper boilers had been detached and taken, but this one was in transit to them on the railway at the time when copper was being requisitioned, and so it had escaped, and they were able to continue the preparation of health foods.
Our people in other lands may rejoice that our brethren in Europe love this message and are trying to keep step with their brethren in all the world. And God is wonderfully blessing their soul-winning work by the conversion of thousands every year; yet these accusers, of our brethren assail them. It is surprising what disorderly elements sometimes did in their rage against their brethren. In one part, we are told, as the war broke, they issued a document against militarism and war, putting the name and address of our own German society to it, and thus bringing an order from the military for the complete closing up of our work. But the hand of the Lord delivered. In another part, the brethren tell us, several of our brethren lost their lives in violent persecutions stirred up against our people by accusations of these ” reform ” elements.
The last things are being enacted. We are nearing the end of the journey. As we pray for greater power in our lives and in the message, we well know we must be prepared also for the constant coming and going of this and that element of darkness and disorder. Every wind will be blowing, and every kind of lo here! and lo there ! will be sounding. But those whose feet are established in the message and in the sure pathway up for the advent people, will press together and press onward calmly and steadily and earnestly to the end of the way.
Not often shall we ask for precious space to make explanations about charges against our work. It is space that is all too limited to record the triumphs of the advancing cause of God. But we thought that others besides our inquiring brother might be unaware of the position of our brethren over the sea, as stated in the declaration of non-combatancy quoted.
