Abstract
Spiritual fanaticism is a complex phenomenon that can manifest in two ways: mischaracterizing genuine spiritual zeal as fanaticism, and creating destructive extremism within religious communities. The key is maintaining balance through humility, mercy, and a focus on core spiritual principles while avoiding rigid, narrow interpretations of faith.
”Beware of fanaticism”
The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost will lead to a revival of true religion and to the performance of many wonderful works. Heavenly intelligences will come among us, and men will speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit of God. But should the Lord work upon men as He did on and after the day of Pentecost, many who now claim to believe the truth would know so very little of the operation of the Holy Spirit that they would cry, “Beware of fanaticism.” They would say of those who were filled with the Spirit, “These men are full of new wine.” {EGW; 2SM 57.1; 1958}
“Fanaticism” is a negative label which will be applied to those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. This mislabeling typically comes from lukewarm Christians.
There are many in the church who at heart belong to the world, but God calls upon those who claim to believe the advanced truth, to rise above the present attitude of the popular churches of today. Where is the self-denial, where is the cross-bearing that Christ has said should characterize his followers? The reason we have had so little influence upon unbelieving relatives and associates is that we have manifested little decided difference in our practices from those of the world. Parents need to awake, and purify their souls by practicing the truth in their home life. When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, straight-laced extremists. “We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” {EGW; RH January 9, 1894, par. 10}
What is the Purpose of Fanaticism?
While true godliness may be labeled as fanaticism, there is also a true fanaticism that can injure the cause of God.
We have found in our experience that if Satan cannot keep souls bound in the ice of indifference, he will try to push them into the fire of fanaticism. When the Spirit of the Lord comes among His people, the enemy seizes the opportunity to work also, seeking to mold the work of God through the peculiar, unsanctified traits of different ones who are connected with that work. Thus there is always danger that unwise moves will be made. Many carry on a work of their own devising, a work which God has not prompted. {EGW; 5T 644.3; 1889}
The fanaticism appears within the work of God, which was not prompted by God, rather by Satan. He can accomplish this through unsanctified people.
As the end draws near, the enemy will work with all his power to bring in fanaticism among us. He would rejoice to see Seventh-day Adventists going to such extremes that they would be branded by the world as a body of fanatics. Against this danger I am bidden to warn ministers and lay members. Our work is to teach men and women to build on a true foundation, to plant their feet on a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” {EGW; GW 316.1; 1915}
The Promise
Those who are close students of the Word, following Christ in humility of soul, will not go to extremes. The Saviour never went to extremes, never lost self-control, never violated the laws of good taste. {EGW; GW 317.2; 1915}
Recognizing the fanaticism
It is the desire and plan of Satan to bring in among us those who will go to great extremes,—people of narrow minds, who are critical and sharp, and very tenacious in holding their own conceptions of what the truth means. They will be exacting, and will seek to enforce rigorous duties, and go to great lengths in matters of minor importance, while they neglect the weightier matters of the law,—judgment and mercy and the love of God. {EGW; RH May 29, 1888, par. 6}
Some had been bringing in false tests, and had made their own ideas and notions a criterion, magnifying matters of little importance into tests of Christian fellowship, and binding heavy burdens upon others. Thus a spirit of criticism, fault-finding, and dissension had come in, which had been a great injury to the church. {EGW; HS 211.4; 1886}
Some were making the matter of dress of first importance, criticizing articles of dress worn by others, and standing ready to condemn everyone who did not exactly meet their ideas. {EGW; Ev 215.4; 1948}
There are some who will not hear. So long have they chosen to follow their own way and their own wisdom, so long have they cherished hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, that they are blind and can not see afar off. By them, principles are perverted; false standards are raised; tests are made that bear not the signature of heaven. {EGW; ST June 24, 1903, par. 13}
Two classes have been presented before me: first, those who are not living up to the light which God has given them; secondly, those who are too rigid in carrying out their one-sided ideas of reform, and enforcing them on others. When they take a position, they stand to it stubbornly, and carry nearly everything over the mark. {EGW; CTBH 56.1; 1890}
Summary
- Stubbornness in their own ideas which are not a great importance
- Making these ideas of minor importance the test and standard
It is essential to have a proper understanding of which truths are of major importance. Learn more in the Present Truth article.
Common Sense
God wants us all to have common sense, and He wants us to reason from common sense. Circumstances alter conditions. Circumstances change the relation of things. {EGW; 19LtMs, Ms 7, 1904, par. 31}
How to find balance?
Those who follow the example of Christ will not be extremists. They will cultivate calmness and self-possession. The peace that was seen in the life of Christ will be seen in their lives. {EGW; GW 317.3; 1915}
Let not anyone be afraid of going to extremes while he is a close student of the Word, humbling the soul at every step. Christ must dwell in him by faith. He, their Exemplar, was self-possessed. He walked in humility. He had true dignity. He had patience. If we individually possess these traits of character, who accept justification by faith, there will be no extremists. {EGW; 6LtMs, Ms 24, 1890, par. 20}
If you err, let it not be in getting as far from the people as possible, for then you cut the thread of your influence and can do them no good. Better err on the side of the people than altogether away from them, for there is hope in that case that you can carry the people with you, but there is no need of error on either side. {EGW; 4LtMs, Lt 57, 1886, par. 5}
What benefit is there in winning an argument but losing your brother?
You would better err, if you err at all, on the side of mercy and forbearance than that of intolerance. {EGW; 4T 64.3; 1885}
If we err, let it be on the side of mercy rather than on the side of condemnation and harsh dealing. {EGW; 5LtMs, Lt 16, 1887, par. 14}
Don’t be extremists. If you err, it would be better to err on the side of the people than on the side where you cannot reach them. {EGW; 4LtMs, Ms 5, 1884, par. 9}
Unity
Some are naturally combative. They do not care whether they harmonize with their brethren or not. They would like to enter into controversy, would like to fight for their particular ideas; but they should lay this aside, for it is not developing the Christian graces. Work with all your power to answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples may be one, as He is one with the Father. Not a soul of us is safe unless we learn of Christ daily His meekness and lowliness. In your labor do not be dictatorial, do not be severe, do not be antagonistic. Preach the love of Christ, and this will melt and subdue hearts. Seek to be of one mind and one judgment with your brethren, and to speak the same things. This talking about divisions, because all do not have the same ideas as present themselves to your mind, is not the work of God but of the enemy. Talk the simple truths wherein you can agree. Talk of unity; do not become narrow and conceited; let your mind broaden. {EGW; 9LtMs, Ms 82, 1894, par. 31}
Divisions
When Are Divisions Justified?
After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the Word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. {EGW; GC88 45.2; 1888}
Divisions are justified when compromises are made regarding the Present Truth.
All should be careful about presenting new views of Scripture before they have given these points thorough study, and are fully prepared to sustain them from the Bible. Introduce nothing that will cause dissension, without clear evidence that in it God is giving a special message for this time. {EGW; GW92 126.3; 1892}
The time has come when things must be called by their right names. The truth is to triumph gloriously, and those who have long been halting between two opinions must take their stand decidedly for or against the law of God. Some will take up with theories that misinterpret the Word of God and undermine the foundation of the truth that has been firmly established, point by point, and sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The old truths are to be revived, in order that the false theories that have been brought in by the enemy may be intelligently met. There can be no unity between truth and error. We can unite with those who have been led into deception only when they are converted. {EGW; 20LtMs, Lt 121, 1905, par. 10}
Sister White referred to the revival of “old truths,” which form the foundation of our faith—fundamental-principles.
The solution
Oh, how much the workers need the spirit of Jesus to change and fashion them as clay is molded in the hands of the potter! When they have this spirit, there will be no spirit of variance among them; no one will be so narrow as to want everything done his way, according to his ideas; there will be no inharmonious feeling between him and his brother laborers who do not come up to his standard. The Lord does not want any of his children to be shadows of others; but he would have each one be his own simple self, refined, sanctified, ennobled by imitating the life and character of the great Pattern. The narrow, shut-in, exclusive spirit which keeps everything within the compass of one’s self, has been a curse to the cause of God, and always will be wherever allowed to exist. {EGW; RH April 13, 1886, par. 5}
In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled. No one is to control another’s mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. {EGW; DA 550.6; 1898}
No one has a right to control another’s mind, and judge for another, prescribing what is his duty. There are certain rights that belong to every individual, in doing God’s service. No man has any more right to take these rights from us than to take life itself. God has given us freedom to think, and it is our privilege to follow our impressions of duty. We are only human beings, and one human being has no jurisdiction over the conscience of any other human being. {EGW; 10LtMs, Lt 92, 1895, par. 38}
Conclusion
Authentic spiritual growth requires rejecting both lukewarm indifference and extreme rigidity. Christians are called to cultivate unity, exercise common sense, and prioritize mercy and love over critical judgment. Individual conscience should remain untrammeled, with each person free to pursue their understanding of faith while respecting the spiritual journeys of others.