The Deity of Christ by Charles Smull Longacre
A thunderous defense of the original Adventist faith and the only-begotten Sonship of Christ. This book, written by Charles Smull Longacre, stands as a warning against apostasy and a call to return to the foundation of the pioneers.
Why This Book Matters Today
featured
The Deity of Christ is not just a historical treatise—it is a living challenge to modern Adventism and Christianity. Longacre’s work calls readers to examine the foundation of their faith: Who is Christ? What does it mean that He is the only-begotten Son of God? In an era when the identity of Christ and the nature of God are often blurred or redefined, this book returns to the original, pioneer understanding—rooted in Scripture and the lived experience of the 1844 movement.
Longacre warns that doctrinal drift and organizational compromise threaten the very core of the Adventist message. He documents how the pioneers’ clear, Bible-based view of Christ was gradually replaced by creedal statements and institutional control. His message is urgent: the authority of Scripture, the reality of Christ’s risk and sacrifice, and the call to “stand on the old paths” are not optional—they are essential for spiritual survival in the last days.
This book matters today because it exposes the roots of apostasy, calls for a return to authentic faith, and reminds us that the truths discovered in the Great Disappointment are still present truth. It is a summons to courage, clarity, and a living connection with the Son of God. Download & Read the PDF
---
title: "The Deity of Christ by Charles Smull Longacre"
author: "Charles Smull Longacre"
published: "1940"
importance: "featured"
description: "A thunderous defense of the original Adventist faith and the only-begotten Sonship of Christ. This book, written by Charles Smull Longacre, stands as a warning against apostasy and a call to return to the foundation of the pioneers."
link: "/books/charles-s-longacre/TheDeityofChristCharlesLongacre.pdf"
categories:
- "featured"
- "adventist pioneers"
- "religious liberty"
- "deity of christ"
---
<li>Warnings against doctrinal drift and apostasy</li>
<li>Calls to return to the “old paths” and pioneer faith</li>
<li>Rare insights from a key Religious Liberty leader</li>
<li>Obituary and tombstone images, plus research links</li>
In 1899, he married Lulu Belle McClure in Elkhart, Indiana. He taught at South Lancaster Academy and edited Liberty magazine. Longacre is best known for his book, The Deity of Christ, which addressed the nature of Christ and the Godhead.
Importantly, Longacre worked for the April 15, 1904 “new organization” (see 1SM 204), a turning point in Adventist church structure. His career and writings reflect the tensions and changes of this era. For more on the denominational shift, see Apostasy: Resume of Betrayal and Image of the Papacy.
The Deity of Christ
The Deity of Christ is not just a historical treatise—it is a living challenge to modern Adventism and Christianity. Longacre’s work calls readers to examine the foundation of their faith: Who is Christ? What does it mean that He is the only-begotten Son of God? In an era when the identity of Christ and the nature of God are often blurred or redefined, this book returns to the original, pioneer understanding—rooted in Scripture and the lived experience of the 1844 movement.
Longacre warns that doctrinal drift and organizational compromise threaten the very core of the Adventist message. He documents how the pioneers’ clear, Bible-based view of Christ was gradually replaced by creedal statements and institutional control. His message is urgent: the authority of Scripture, the reality of Christ’s risk and sacrifice, and the call to “stand on the old paths” are not optional—they are essential for spiritual survival in the last days.
This book matters today because it exposes the roots of apostasy, calls for a return to authentic faith, and reminds us that the truths discovered in the Great Disappointment are still present truth. It is a summons to courage, clarity, and a living connection with the Son of God. --- — Letter 75, 1905 (*15MR 127.1*) 3. “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us.” — *Life Sketches*, p. 196 (1915 ed.) 4. “The old landmarks are to be preserved.” — *Counsels to Writers and Editors*, p. 30 5. “Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast.” — *Testimonies for the Church*, Vol. 5, p. 295 6. “The enemy will bring in false theories… to make of none effect the truth.” — *Evangelism*, p. 224 7. “A new organization would be established… books of a new order would be written.” — *1 Selected Messages*, p. 204 — *1 Selected Messages*, p. 204 9. “Let the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the people.” — *Gospel Workers*, p. 307 10. “We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith.” — *Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2*, p. 54
🔨 The Final Strike
Longacre’s voice still echoes:
- The pioneers found the truth
- He defended the truth
- The later system departed from the truth
And now comes the dividing line:
Will you return to the foundation laid in tears, or remain in a structure warned would fall?
🚨 The Call
This is not history.
This is judgment hour truth.
The same Christ who moved into the Most Holy Place…
is still finishing the work…
And the same call still rings:
Come back.
Come out.
Stand on the old paths.
About the Author
In 1899, he married Lulu Belle McClure in Elkhart, Indiana. He taught at South Lancaster Academy and edited Liberty magazine. Longacre is best known for his book, The Deity of Christ, which addressed the nature of Christ and the Godhead.
Importantly, Longacre worked for the April 15, 1904 “new organization” (see 1SM 204), a turning point in Adventist church structure. His career and writings reflect the tensions and changes of this era. For more on the denominational shift, see Apostasy: Resume of Betrayal and Image of the Papacy.