The Circle of Present Truth
Eph 2:8-9
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There is nothing wrong with using the term present truth. To begin with, it is a biblical concept: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). Ellen White also affirms that present truth is vital to the spiritual life and health of the church in these last days.
“There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is the 'present truth' that the flock needs now.” {EW 63.1}
Yet we might pause and ask: has this term, precious and biblical as it is, been used in ways God never intended? Could “present truth” be turning into a kind of identity marker, one that divides believers into those deemed truly faithful and others viewed, perhaps unfairly, as apostate?
I do not raise these questions because I have ceased to believe in present truth; that is certainly not the case. Rather, my concern is that a certain toxicity has become attached to the term, one that undermines the very heart of the gospel of Christ, which calls us to love and humility.
Just a few weeks ago, I had a conversation with Bro. Mark Breny from Out of the Cities Ministries, where he rather sarcastically referred to some in the present truth circle as “Present News.” (you can watch it here - Why Present Truth Matters More Than News! It’s important to note that this discussion wasn’t a denial of present truth itself, but rather a fair critique of how some have turned it into something quite different from what it was meant to be.
When Elder Dwayne Lemon visited Advent Media Connect, he opened up about his battle with depression and spoke of an “Ichabod moment,” a time when he felt the glory had departed. What makes his story especially sobering is that it unfolded while he was closely involved with men in the present truth circle. His testimony was not only revealing but also deeply moving. (You can watch it here - Dwayne Lemon’s Raw Admission: ‘I Was Depressed in Present Truth.
I was deeply intrigued by what he was sharing, so I decided to ask him directly: What happened that led you to experience depression while being part of the present truth circle? Elder Lemon responded with honesty and openness, pouring out his heart and revealing some truly disturbing things. Here are a few of them.
Note: It’s important to remember that this is Elder Lemon’s personal experience, and it may not reflect what others have gone through. While he did mention some names during his testimony, he made it clear that he wasn’t placing blame on any individual for what happened to him.
“I became very standards-oriented.”
Elder Lemon talked about God’s standard of truth—His rules and laws—and how we’re called to follow them exactly. At first glance, that sounds right, but he pointed out a problem when this gets tied too closely to salvation. Instead of being part of God’s love, the standard of truth can become like poison that wears down your spiritual life because it focuses too much on what we can do instead of what God’s power can do. Like the Bible says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). Works aren’t wrong, but if they’re separated from faith, they just become self-righteousness. Elder Lemon hinted that the present truth circle sometimes puts God’s standards above His grace, and that’s where things get dangerous, which can lead to spiritual harm.
“I didn’t pay attention to the subject of grace.”
Elder Lemon stated that the subject of grace is often considered weak within the present truth circle. I can attest that this is true for some in that circle, though certainly not for all. The reality remains that the gospel of grace is regarded as weak by some of these men. The emphasis on the message of salvation through the cross of Christ is frequently missing from their presentations.
But as Elder Lemon emphasized, “This is what we are saved by.” He then posed an important question: “If you look at most present truth today, how many sermons do they preach on grace?” The answer, sadly, is very few. But why is that the case when Scripture clearly says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves” (Ephesians 2:8-9)?
Charles Spurgeon warned us to “Beware of self-righteousness. The black devil of licentiousness destroys his hundreds, but the white devil of self-righteousness destroys his thousands.” The danger of self-righteousness lies in its deception, one can be blinded by it, believing and even proclaiming righteousness by faith without truly experiencing it. As Paul declares, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).
Ellen White clearly articulates this truth in Faith That I Live By, page 111:
“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.” {FLB 111.2}
The challenge for many of us is learning to see our own nothingness and to remain in humility. The day we truly grasp that we are nothing without Christ, that all our supposed good works are as filthy rags, is the day we begin to appreciate the immeasurable value of Christ’s saving grace.
As Prophets and Kings states, “Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness, and relies wholly on God.” (pp. 174-175)
Elder Dwayne Lemon seemed to have learned this vital lesson; he saw, perhaps for the first time, his own nothingness.
“From depression to compassion.”
After going through a season of depression, Elder Lemon made the decision to return to God and relearn what it truly means to be a Christian. Approach God as someone that he has never met before. He devoted himself to studying the Word of God, discovering the profound value and significance of grace in his personal life. This revelation transformed him deeply. Through this new understanding, he also learned what it means to have genuine compassion for others, “being touched by the feelings of their infirmities.” As was said to him by someone.
I began to notice years ago that there was something unmistakably different, welcoming, humble, and caring about him. It was obvious to me. I saw it, and heard it in his sermons. I knew that something supernatural had happened in his life. There was a clear change, a divine transformation that was undeniable. Elder Dwayne Lemon had truly experienced the transforming power of God’s saving grace. And that was very attractive.
“Full of grace and truth.”
The challenge among some present truth ministers lies in their lack of grace and compassion for the people. Their message is often solid; they skillfully combine prophecy, Bible truth, and the writings of Ellen White in a balanced way that cannot be denied. However, it often lacks grace, love, and compassion. While it is essential to uphold the final events, prophetic applications, and the standard of righteousness, these truths must never come at the expense of God’s saving grace. Without grace, there is no power available for people to overcome sin and to fully trust in Christ’s perfect robe of righteousness.
As Scripture declares, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Present truth is the vital message for this time.
Many Seventh-day Adventist churches within the conference system have sadly forsaken the message of present truth, while on the other extreme, some of the independent present truth churches have weaponized the message. Why not present the message in its proper context, while exalting the man Christ Jesus? As we are counseled by the testimonies. “Let Daniel speak, let Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, ‘the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star.’” (p. 118) {PaM 136.3}
Some are full of truth but lack grace; others emphasize truth before grace. Yet, “Christ is full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). I firmly believe it is still possible, and necessary, to have both grace and truth within the circle of present truth.
A.M.C | James Desvallons