Content Advisory: While all of the material on this blog is written from an unapologetically Adventist perspective, the following speaks particularly from Adventists to Adventists regarding Adventist worldviews. All are welcome to read and consider it, but if you don’t happen to be Adventist you may find this post “exclusivist.” If that bothers you, we recommend that you stop reading now.
There may be some who are wondering what the subjects of Babylon and the second angel’s message, which were presented in Advice from the Spirit of Prophesy, Pts. 29 & 30, have to do with church governance. We have put up the materials in these two posts for two reasons. First, they provide some historical and theological background for the territory we are about to get into in the series, Our Roots. Second, they also provide a historical and theological basis to respond to the question with which many of our concerns about governance have been shrugged off. That question is, Why shouldn’t we borrow good ideas from other denominations?
To answer this question we must begin by reviewing the historical background. God’s original instrument for evangelizing the world was the ancient Israelite nation. When it became corrupt and rejected Him God raised up the Christian church to do the work instead. When the established Christian church also became corrupt and refused to heed the calls for reformation given in the Great Reformation, it too was rejected as God’s chosen instrument for evangelism, and that responsibility was passed on to the various Protestant denominations which were formed in response to the Reformation. During the Great Awakening of the 1830s and early 1840s this cycle started all over again because the Protestant denominations had likewise lost their way spiritually. When they too rejected the call to awakening and reformation which was sounded by the Millerites during this time God once again let go of the institutions that were unwilling to follow Him and raised up a new institution composed of the few faithful believers that had heeded the call. That institution was the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“Many look with horror at the course of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ… But many who professed to love Jesus, and who shed tears as they read the story of the cross, derided the good news of His coming. Instead of receiving the message with gladness, they declared it to be a delusion. They hated those who loved His appearing and shut them out of the churches. Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel's message, which shows the way into the most holy place. I saw that as the Jews crucified Jesus, so the nominal churches had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no knowledge of the way into the most holy, and they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there. Like the Jews, who offered their useless sacrifices, they offer up their useless prayers to the apartment which Jesus has left; and Satan, pleased with the deception, assumes a religious character, and leads the minds of these professed Christians to himself, working with his power, his signs and lying wonders, to fasten them in his snare. Some he deceives in one way, and some in another. He has different delusions prepared to affect different minds. Some look with horror upon one deception, while they readily receive another. Satan deceives some with Spiritualism. He also comes as an angel of light and spreads his influence over the land by means of false reformations. The churches are elated, and consider that God is working marvelously for them, when it is the work of another spirit. The excitement will die away and leave the world and the church in a worse condition than before” (Early Writings, pp.260, 261).
The Spirit of Prophesy tells us that when the various Protestant denominations rejected the warning that was given, God’s Spirit left those churches and they became the domain of Satan. We should be clear at this point that this withdrawal of God’s Spirit was from these churches in a corporate sense, not from individual believers. Although God has abandoned the Protestant denominations as institutions, He has not categorically rejected the sincere believers within those denominations.
“I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant” (Early Writings, p.261).
Satan uses his power over these churches to effect a powerful deception: he creates the allusion of godliness and reformation in order to make people think God’s Spirit is still present so that he can get them to accept the lies he presents as truth within these churches. Naturally, in order to maintain the allusion of godliness and make it harder to identify the lies, he mixes in small fragments of truth, which is one of the many reasons why we are told point-blank not to seek out even what seems wise in what these denominations have to say:
“The different parties of professed Advent believers have each a little truth, but God has given all these truths to His children who are being prepared for the day of God. He has also given them truths that none of these parties know, neither will they understand. Things which are sealed up to them, the Lord has opened to those who will see and are ready to understand. If God has any new light to communicate, He will let His chosen and beloved understand it, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error.
“I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness” (Early Writings, pp.124, 125).
Here we get to the heart of the matter. God tells us not to go and attend the meetings or accept the teachings of other denominations because they are teaching “error that is a deadly poison to the soul.” This instruction doesn’t come with any exceptions, qualifications, or limitations. That there are still sincere believers within these churches who have not yet been called out of them to join the remnant should not be used as an argument that there is value to be gleaned from these churches. God is working with those individuals to bring them out, not pointing to them as evidence that we ought to go in. We are told that God has blessed us with a fuller revelation and understanding of Himself than can be found in these churches. Further, we are promised that if and when even further revelation is ever needed it will be provided to us directly. If we ignore the warning not to attend the meetings or accept the teachings of these churches we are renouncing the spiritual protection God offers us and inviting Satan’s entrapments.
“I was shown that Satan cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. Those who depart from the right are in serious danger now. They separate themselves from God, and from the watch-care of the angels of God, and Satan, ever upon the watch to destroy souls, begins to present to such his deceptions, and they are in the utmost peril” (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 4b, p.91).
Unfortunately, there are many Adventists, even pastors, who don’t seem to grasp this principle. The following is a short article that appeared in the bi-weekly e-newsletter for pastors of the North American Division, “Best Practices,” on September 10, 2008.
“Years ago I attended an Adventist-sponsored conference on leadership for pastors. One of the speakers - not of our denomination - was known to be somewhat controversial. We knew that going in.
“That's why the sponsoring organization invited him, and that's why I wanted to hear him. I wanted to experience the kind of ‘out of the box’ thinking we keep talking about, but rarely do.
“It was a mind-expanding presentation. Did I agree all of it? Absolutely not. But I was energized by his lectures. As a mature adult I had no trouble keeping my spiritual footing in spite of his occasional heterodoxies. And it was well worth the effort.
“The desire to root out heresy is strong among us: when a few of our Adventist folks (largely lay, but a few pastors, too) heard about the speaker, they hit the wall. I say about because they never actually heard him before the fur began to fly…
“How dangerous is it to listen to or read something you don't agree with 100%? I read books by Christian authors, books about the emerging church and new ways of thinking about pastoring and church life, and some contain ideas we'd not endorse. I'm pretty sure you do, too. I listen to preachers of other faiths, and I'm stimulated and uplifted by them. I'm not compromised just because I don't agree with everything they say.
“A conference president way back in my internship refused me permission to attend a seminar by another conservative Christian organization. ‘Why should we go to the gentiles to learn anything?’ he scoffed. Do we know all we need to know? Nothing to learn from other Christians? Our church fathers and mothers didn't think so: they read writers outside the Adventist community, even incorporating the writings into their own books.
“Said Paul, ‘Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.’ There are those, often themselves spiritually insecure, who don't trust your judgment. They're frightened of freedom - yours, and their own.
“Except the freedom to criticize. That one, they believe in.”
The responses to this article which were printed in the next edition carried much the same flavor—touting the “virtue” of open-mindedness and dismissing as insecure (or worse) those who objected to such behavior. When this is the attitude proudly claimed by those whose profession is to proclaim the truth it is not surprising that this danger is not thoroughly appreciated. They forget (as was described above in Early Writings, pp.124, 125) that the freedom they claim is a freedom from darkness and error, which allows us to stand firm in the truth, not a freedom to peruse darkness and error for new and interesting ideas. “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:16). Unfortunately, the attitudes described in this article are not an expression of open-mindedness, but rather disobedience, and the results are spiritually deadly.
“Just as long as men consent to listen to these sophistries, a subtle influence will weave the fine threads of these seductive theories into their minds, and men who should turn away from the first sound of such teaching will learn to love it. As loyal subjects we must refuse even to listen to these sophistries. Their influence is something like a deadly viper, poisoning the minds of all who listen. It is a branch of hypnotism, deadening the sensibilities of the soul” (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, p.163).
To recap, because of their rejection of prophetic warnings, God has rejected the Protestant denominations that were in existence at the time of the Great Awakening. By their own choosing they have been left to the delusions of Satan and the people of God are plainly and strictly instructed not to seek out their teachings or attend their meetings. This does not preclude having friendships with individuals of other faiths, or even collaborating with other denominations on community or civic projects of mutual interest, but it does insist that we not imbibe their thoughts and teachings. We are warned that their teachings are error and darkness and that any appearance to the contrary is the deceptive handiwork of Satan. Those who willfully ignore this warning are deliberately placing themselves in Satan’s hands. Such action is both spiritually dangerous and wholly unnecessary, as God has promised to directly provide His people with all the spiritual knowledge they need.
“Satan is Christ's personal enemy. He is the originator and leader of every species of rebellion in Heaven and earth. His rage increases, and we do not realize his power. If our eyes could be opened to discern the fallen angels at their work with those who feel at ease and consider themselves safe, we should not feel so secure. Evil angels are upon our track every moment. We expect a readiness on the part of bad men to act as Satan suggests; but while our minds are unguarded against Satan's invisible agents, they will assume new ground, and will work marvels and miracles in our sight” (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 4b, p.92).
So why shouldn’t we borrow “good ideas” from other denominations? Because God said not to!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Experiment Conclusion: Failure
"The problem with any unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it" (Glaser and Way).
The problem with unwritten promises is that there is no way to claim them.
It has now been more than three years since the illegitimate vote with which the Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church inaugurated an altered governance structure not in harmony with the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. At the time this change was proposed Takoma Park was promised by a representative of the Potomac Conference that the change could be reconsidered after three years. That time has fully elapsed. Calls to allow this reconsideration have gone unheeded.
What lesson can we draw from this? It's more of a warning to others than a lesson for ourselves, but the thought we come away with is to never accept verbal promises from people pushing agendas. If your church leaders are making promises about the conditional and reversable nature of changes they are trying to get you to accept, get them in writing or don't believe them. (Chances are they would baulk at such a request, but then you know for sure that they have no intention of honoring their promises.) It will be far too easy once they have what they want for them to pretend that the promises you trusted in were never made.
This principle goes even further. Documentation is invaluable when experiencing a dispute with church leaders - collect as much of it as possible. If their intentions aren't honorable those you are disputing with will try to prevent your efforts at documentation, usually with a line about unity or keeping the matter as quiet as possible for the good of the parties concerned. Do it anyway. It is the only tool you have by which to hold their feet to the fire, make an appeal to a higher authority, and/or prove your innocence should they start launching dirty counterattacks.
May our pain in this respect be your gain.
The problem with unwritten promises is that there is no way to claim them.
It has now been more than three years since the illegitimate vote with which the Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church inaugurated an altered governance structure not in harmony with the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. At the time this change was proposed Takoma Park was promised by a representative of the Potomac Conference that the change could be reconsidered after three years. That time has fully elapsed. Calls to allow this reconsideration have gone unheeded.
What lesson can we draw from this? It's more of a warning to others than a lesson for ourselves, but the thought we come away with is to never accept verbal promises from people pushing agendas. If your church leaders are making promises about the conditional and reversable nature of changes they are trying to get you to accept, get them in writing or don't believe them. (Chances are they would baulk at such a request, but then you know for sure that they have no intention of honoring their promises.) It will be far too easy once they have what they want for them to pretend that the promises you trusted in were never made.
This principle goes even further. Documentation is invaluable when experiencing a dispute with church leaders - collect as much of it as possible. If their intentions aren't honorable those you are disputing with will try to prevent your efforts at documentation, usually with a line about unity or keeping the matter as quiet as possible for the good of the parties concerned. Do it anyway. It is the only tool you have by which to hold their feet to the fire, make an appeal to a higher authority, and/or prove your innocence should they start launching dirty counterattacks.
May our pain in this respect be your gain.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Advice from the Spirit of Prophesy, Pt. 30
"God sent his professed people a message that would have corrected the evils which separated them from his favor. A state of union, faith, and love had been produced among those who from every denomination in Christendom received the Advent doctrine; and had the churches in general accepted the same truth, the same blessed results would have followed. But Babylon scornfully rejected the last means which Heaven had in reserve for her restoration, and then, with greater eagerness, she turned to seek the friendship of the world.
"Those who preached the first message had no purpose or expectation of causing divisions in the churches, or of forming separate organizations. 'In all my labors,' said Wm. Miller, 'I never had the desire or thought to establish any separate interest from that of existing denominations, or to benefit one at the expense of another. I thought to benefit all. Supposing that all Christians would rejoice in the prospect of Christ's coming, and that those who could not see as I did would not love any the less those who should embrace this doctrine, I did not conceive there would ever be any necessity for separate meetings. My whole object was a desire to convert souls to God, to notify the world of a coming Judgment, and to induce my fellow-men to make that preparation of heart which will enable them to meet their God in peace. The great majority of those who were converted under my labors united with the various existing churches. When individuals came to me to inquire respecting their duty, I always told them to go where they would feel at home; and I never favored any one denomination in my advice to such.'
"For a time many of the churches welcomed his labors; but as they decided against the Advent truth, they desired to suppress all agitation of the subject. Those who had accepted the doctrine were thus placed in a position of great trial and perplexity. They loved their churches, and were loth to separate from them; but as they were ridiculed and oppressed, denied the privilege of speaking of their hope, or of attending preaching upon the Lord's coming, many at last arose and cast off the yoke which had been imposed upon them.
"In the days of the Reformation, the gentle and pious Melancthon declared, 'There is no other church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and who are purified by it.' Adventists, seeing that the churches rejected the testimony of God's word, could no longer regard them as constituting the church of Christ, 'the pillar and ground of the truth;' and as the message, 'Babylon is fallen,' began to be proclaimed, they felt themselves justified in separating from their former connection.
"Since the rejection of the first message, a sad change has taken place in the churches. As truth is spurned, error is received and cherished. Love for God, and faith in his word, have grown cold. The churches have grieved the Spirit of the Lord, and it has been in a great measure withdrawn. The words of the prophet Ezekiel are fearfully applicable: 'Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?' 'I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols.' (Eze. 14:3, 4.) Men may not bow down to idols of wood and stone, but all who love the things of the world and take pleasure in unrighteousness have set up idols in their hearts. The majority of professed Christians are serving other gods besides the Lord. Pride and luxury are cherished, idols are set up in the sanctuary, and her holy places are polluted.
"The picture which the apostle Paul has drawn of the professed people of God in the last days is a sad but faithful delineation of the popular churches of our time. 'Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,' 'lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,' 'lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,' (2 Tim. 3:2-7.)--such are a few specifications from the dark catalogue which he has given. And in view of the frequent and startling revelations of crime, even among those that minister in holy things, who dare affirm that there is one sin enumerated by the apostle which is not concealed under a profession of Christianity?
"'But what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?' 'And what concord hath Christ with Belial?' 'And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' (2 Cor. 6:14-18.)" (Spirit of Prophesy, Vol. 4, pp.236-239).
"Those who preached the first message had no purpose or expectation of causing divisions in the churches, or of forming separate organizations. 'In all my labors,' said Wm. Miller, 'I never had the desire or thought to establish any separate interest from that of existing denominations, or to benefit one at the expense of another. I thought to benefit all. Supposing that all Christians would rejoice in the prospect of Christ's coming, and that those who could not see as I did would not love any the less those who should embrace this doctrine, I did not conceive there would ever be any necessity for separate meetings. My whole object was a desire to convert souls to God, to notify the world of a coming Judgment, and to induce my fellow-men to make that preparation of heart which will enable them to meet their God in peace. The great majority of those who were converted under my labors united with the various existing churches. When individuals came to me to inquire respecting their duty, I always told them to go where they would feel at home; and I never favored any one denomination in my advice to such.'
"For a time many of the churches welcomed his labors; but as they decided against the Advent truth, they desired to suppress all agitation of the subject. Those who had accepted the doctrine were thus placed in a position of great trial and perplexity. They loved their churches, and were loth to separate from them; but as they were ridiculed and oppressed, denied the privilege of speaking of their hope, or of attending preaching upon the Lord's coming, many at last arose and cast off the yoke which had been imposed upon them.
"In the days of the Reformation, the gentle and pious Melancthon declared, 'There is no other church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and who are purified by it.' Adventists, seeing that the churches rejected the testimony of God's word, could no longer regard them as constituting the church of Christ, 'the pillar and ground of the truth;' and as the message, 'Babylon is fallen,' began to be proclaimed, they felt themselves justified in separating from their former connection.
"Since the rejection of the first message, a sad change has taken place in the churches. As truth is spurned, error is received and cherished. Love for God, and faith in his word, have grown cold. The churches have grieved the Spirit of the Lord, and it has been in a great measure withdrawn. The words of the prophet Ezekiel are fearfully applicable: 'Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?' 'I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols.' (Eze. 14:3, 4.) Men may not bow down to idols of wood and stone, but all who love the things of the world and take pleasure in unrighteousness have set up idols in their hearts. The majority of professed Christians are serving other gods besides the Lord. Pride and luxury are cherished, idols are set up in the sanctuary, and her holy places are polluted.
"The picture which the apostle Paul has drawn of the professed people of God in the last days is a sad but faithful delineation of the popular churches of our time. 'Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,' 'lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,' 'lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,' (2 Tim. 3:2-7.)--such are a few specifications from the dark catalogue which he has given. And in view of the frequent and startling revelations of crime, even among those that minister in holy things, who dare affirm that there is one sin enumerated by the apostle which is not concealed under a profession of Christianity?
"'But what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?' 'And what concord hath Christ with Belial?' 'And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' (2 Cor. 6:14-18.)" (Spirit of Prophesy, Vol. 4, pp.236-239).
Monday, November 15, 2010
Advice from the Spirit of Prophesy, Pt. 29
"When the churches spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message, the Lord rejected them. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' (Rev. 14:8) This message was understood by Adventists to be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches in consequence of their rejection of the first message. The proclamation, 'Babylon is fallen,' was given in the summer of 1844, and as the result, about fifty thousand withdrew from these churches.
"The term Babylon, derived from Babel, and signifying confusion, is applied in Scripture to the various forms of false or apostate religion. But the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure, and has become corrupt. It cannot be the Romish Church which is here meant; for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. But how appropriate the figure as applied to the Protestant churches, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects. The unity for which Christ prayed does not exist. Instead of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, there are numberless conflicting creeds and theories. Religious faith appears so confused and discordant that the world know not what to believe as truth. God is not in all this; it is the work of man,--the work of Satan.
"In Revelation 17, Babylon is represented as a woman, a figure which is used in the Scriptures as the symbol of a church. A virtuous woman represents a pure church, a vile woman an apostate church. Babylon is said to be a harlot; and the prophet beheld her drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs. The Babylon thus described represents Rome, that apostate church which has so cruelly persecuted the followers of Christ. But Babylon the harlot is the mother of daughters who follow her example of corruption. Thus are represented those churches that cling to the doctrines and traditions of Rome and follow her worldly practices, and whose fall is announced in the second angel's message.
"The close relation of the church to Christ is represented under the figure of marriage. The Lord had joined his people to himself by a solemn covenant, he promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be his, and his alone. Said Paul, addressing the church, 'I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.' (2 Cor. 11:2.) But when her confidence and affection were turned away from him, and she sought after vanity, and allowed the love of worldly things to separate her from God, she forfeited the privileges included in this peculiar and sacred relation. By the apostle James those who assimilate to the world are addressed as 'adulterers and adulteresses.' (Jas. 4:4.)
"A profession of religion has become popular with the world. Rulers, politicians, lawyers, doctors, merchants, join the church as a means of securing the respect and confidence of society, and advancing their own worldly interests. Thus they seek to cover all their unrighteous transactions under a profession of Christianity. The various religious bodies, re-enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized worldlings, make a still higher bid for popularity and patronage. Splendid churches, embellished in the most extravagant manner, are erected on popular avenues. The worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire. A high salary is paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the people. His sermons must not touch popular sins, but be made smooth and pleasing for fashionable ears. Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the church-records, and fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of godliness. God looks down upon these apostate bodies, and declares them daughters of a harlot. To secure the favor and support of the great men of earth, they have broken their solemn vows of allegiance and fidelity to the King of Heaven.
"The great sin charged against Babylon is, that she 'made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world, represents the false doctrines which she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth. Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of the word of God.
"The doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul has opened the way for the artful working of Satan through modern Spiritualism; and besides the Romish errors, purgatory, prayers for the dead, invocation of saints, etc., which have sprung from this source, it has led many Protestants to deny the resurrection and the Judgment, and has given rise to the revolting heresy of eternal torment, and the dangerous delusion of Universalism.
"And even more dangerous and more widely held than these are the assumptions that the law of God was abolished at the cross, and that the first day of the week is now a holy day, instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.
"When faithful teachers expound the word of God, there arise men of learning, ministers professing to understand the Scriptures, who denounce sound doctrine as heresy, and thus turn away inquirers after truth. Were it not that the world is hopelessly intoxicated with the wine of Babylon, multitudes would be convicted and converted by the plain, cutting truths of the word of God. The sin of the world's impenitence lies at the door of the church" (Spirit of Prophesy, Vol. 4, pp.232-236).
"The term Babylon, derived from Babel, and signifying confusion, is applied in Scripture to the various forms of false or apostate religion. But the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure, and has become corrupt. It cannot be the Romish Church which is here meant; for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. But how appropriate the figure as applied to the Protestant churches, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects. The unity for which Christ prayed does not exist. Instead of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, there are numberless conflicting creeds and theories. Religious faith appears so confused and discordant that the world know not what to believe as truth. God is not in all this; it is the work of man,--the work of Satan.
"In Revelation 17, Babylon is represented as a woman, a figure which is used in the Scriptures as the symbol of a church. A virtuous woman represents a pure church, a vile woman an apostate church. Babylon is said to be a harlot; and the prophet beheld her drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs. The Babylon thus described represents Rome, that apostate church which has so cruelly persecuted the followers of Christ. But Babylon the harlot is the mother of daughters who follow her example of corruption. Thus are represented those churches that cling to the doctrines and traditions of Rome and follow her worldly practices, and whose fall is announced in the second angel's message.
"The close relation of the church to Christ is represented under the figure of marriage. The Lord had joined his people to himself by a solemn covenant, he promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be his, and his alone. Said Paul, addressing the church, 'I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.' (2 Cor. 11:2.) But when her confidence and affection were turned away from him, and she sought after vanity, and allowed the love of worldly things to separate her from God, she forfeited the privileges included in this peculiar and sacred relation. By the apostle James those who assimilate to the world are addressed as 'adulterers and adulteresses.' (Jas. 4:4.)
"A profession of religion has become popular with the world. Rulers, politicians, lawyers, doctors, merchants, join the church as a means of securing the respect and confidence of society, and advancing their own worldly interests. Thus they seek to cover all their unrighteous transactions under a profession of Christianity. The various religious bodies, re-enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized worldlings, make a still higher bid for popularity and patronage. Splendid churches, embellished in the most extravagant manner, are erected on popular avenues. The worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire. A high salary is paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the people. His sermons must not touch popular sins, but be made smooth and pleasing for fashionable ears. Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the church-records, and fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of godliness. God looks down upon these apostate bodies, and declares them daughters of a harlot. To secure the favor and support of the great men of earth, they have broken their solemn vows of allegiance and fidelity to the King of Heaven.
"The great sin charged against Babylon is, that she 'made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world, represents the false doctrines which she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth. Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of the word of God.
"The doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul has opened the way for the artful working of Satan through modern Spiritualism; and besides the Romish errors, purgatory, prayers for the dead, invocation of saints, etc., which have sprung from this source, it has led many Protestants to deny the resurrection and the Judgment, and has given rise to the revolting heresy of eternal torment, and the dangerous delusion of Universalism.
"And even more dangerous and more widely held than these are the assumptions that the law of God was abolished at the cross, and that the first day of the week is now a holy day, instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.
"When faithful teachers expound the word of God, there arise men of learning, ministers professing to understand the Scriptures, who denounce sound doctrine as heresy, and thus turn away inquirers after truth. Were it not that the world is hopelessly intoxicated with the wine of Babylon, multitudes would be convicted and converted by the plain, cutting truths of the word of God. The sin of the world's impenitence lies at the door of the church" (Spirit of Prophesy, Vol. 4, pp.232-236).
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Our Roots, Pt. 2
We began this series on January 23, 2009 in order to examine the origins of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's organizational structure, how it has been changed over the years, and the reasons behind its current configuration. Since that beginning we haven't really done anything with it, but it is our intent to ease back into the subject and make some headway.
Below is an article written by Ellen White which was published in the Review and Herald on October 12, 1905. It speaks to the spiritual aspects of church organization.
Lessons from the Life of Solomon--No. 5, Order and Organization
Our God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in perfect order; subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host.
The Jewish Economy
During the days of Moses, the government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough organization, wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity. The order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy. God was the center of authority and government, the sovereign of Israel. Moses stood as their visible leader, by God's appointment, to administer the laws in his name. From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation. Next came the priests, who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary. Chiefs, or princes, ruled over the tribes. Under these were "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens;" and, lastly, officers who might be employed for special duties.
Reorganization at the Beginning of Solomon's Reign
In planning for the administration of the affairs of the kingdom, after David abdicated in favor of Solomon, the aged king and his son and their counselors regarded it as essential that everything be done with regularity, propriety, fidelity, and dispatch. So far as possible, they followed the system of organization given Israel soon after the deliverance from Egypt. The Levites were assigned the work connected with the temple service, including the ministry of song and instrumental music, and the keeping of the treasures.
The men capable of bearing arms and of serving the king were divided into twelve courses of twenty-four thousand each. Over every course was a captain. "The general of the king's army was Joab." "The courses . . . came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year." Thus every group of twenty-four thousand served the king one month during each year.
David appointed Jonathan, his uncle, as "a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe;" Ahithophel also was "the king's counselor. . . . And after Ahithophel was Johoiada . . . and Abiathar." Hushai was "the king's friend." By his prudent example, the aged king taught Solomon that "in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
The thoroughness and completeness of the organization perfected at the beginning of Solomon's reign; the comprehensiveness of the plans for bringing the largest number possible of all the people into active service; the wide distribution of responsibility, so that the service of God and of the king should not be unduly burdensome to any individual or class,--these are lessons which all may study with profit, and which the leaders of the Christian church should understand and follow.
This picture of a great and mighty nation living in simplicity and comfort in rural homes, every person rendering willing and unsalaried service to God and the king for a portion of each year, is one from which we may gather many helpful suggestions.
Order in the Christian Church
There was order in the church when Christ was upon the earth, and after his departure, order was strictly observed among his apostles. And now in these last days, while God is bringing his children into the unity of the faith, there is more real need of order than ever before; for, as the Lord unites his people, Satan and his evil angels are very busy to undo this unity and to destroy it.
It is Satan's studied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from heaven's arrangement as he can; therefore he sometimes deceives even the professed people of God, and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality; that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course. But if we see no necessity for harmonious action, and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course of action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, can not work for us successfully. They turn away in grief; for they are not authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization.
All who desire the co-operation of the heavenly messengers, must work in unison with them. Those who have the unction from on high, will in all their efforts encourage order, discipline, and unity of action, and then the angels of God can co-operate with them. But never, never will these heavenly messengers place their indorsement upon irregularity, disorganization, and disorder. All such evils are the result of Satan's studied effort to weaken our forces, to destroy courage, and to prevent successful action. God desires that his work shall be done with system and exactness, in order that he may place upon it the seal of his approval.
The Result of Organized Effort
It is nearly half a century since order and organization were established among us as a people. I was one of the number who had an experience in laboring for their establishment. I know of the difficulties that had to be met, the evils that organization was designed to correct, and I have watched its influence in connection with the growth of the cause. At an early stage in the work, God gave us special light upon this point; and this light, together with the lessons that experience has taught us, should be carefully considered.
From the first our work was aggressive. Our numbers were few, and mostly from the poorer classes. Our views were almost unknown to the world. We had no houses of worship, but few publications, and very limited facilities for carrying forward our work. The sheep were scattered in the highways and byways, in cities, in towns, in forests. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus was our message.
"Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh shall glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Our numbers gradually increased. The seed that was sown was watered of God, and he gave the increase. At first we assembled for worship, and presented the truth to those who would come to hear, in private houses, in large kitchens, in barns, in groves, and in schoolhouses; but it was not long before we were able to build humble houses of worship. As our numbers increased, it was evident that without some form of organization, there would be great confusion, and the work could not be carried forward successfully. To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable.
Yet the feeling against organization was very strong among our people. The Adventists generally, who had withdrawn from the churches of the various denominations under the call of the second angel's message to come out of Babylon, opposed organization, and many Seventh-day Adventists were fearful that church organization would bring us under condemnation. We sought the Lord with earnest prayer that we might understand his will, and light was given to us by his Spirit, that there must be order and thorough discipline in the church,--that organization was essential. System and order are manifest in all the works of God throughout the universe. Order is the law of heaven, and it should be the law among God's people on the earth.
We had a hard struggle in establishing organization. Notwithstanding that the Lord gave Testimony after Testimony upon this point, the opposition was strong, and it had to be met again and again. But we knew that the Lord God of Israel was leading us, and guiding us by his providence. We engaged in the work of organization, and marked prosperity attended this advance movement.
As the development of the work called us to engage in new enterprises, we were prepared to enter upon them. The Lord directed our minds to the importance of educational work. We saw the need of schools, that our children might receive instruction free from the errors of false philosophy, that their training might be in harmony with the principles of the Word of God. The need of a health institution had been urged upon us, both for the help and instruction of our own people and as a means of blessing and enlightenment to others. This enterprise also was carried forward. All this was missionary work of the highest order. Our work was not sustained by large gifts and legacies; for we have few wealthy men among us.
Our work has steadily advanced. What is the secret of our prosperity?--We have moved under the orders of the Captain of our salvation. God has blessed our united efforts. The truth has spread and flourished. Institutions have multiplied. The mustard seed has grown to a great tree. The system of organization has proved a grand success. Systematic benevolence was entered into according to the Bible plan. The body has been "compacted by that which every joint supplieth." As we have advanced, our system of organization has still proved effectual.
In some parts of the work, it is true, the machinery has been made too complicated; especially has this been the case in former years in the tract and missionary work; the multiplication of rules and regulations made it needlessly burdensome. An effort has been made to simplify the work, so as to avoid all needless labor and perplexity.
The business of our conference session has sometimes been burdened with propositions and resolutions that were not at all essential, and that would never have been presented if the sons and daughters of God had been walking carefully and prayerfully before him. The fewer rules and regulations that we can have, the better will be the effect in the end. When they are made, let them be carefully considered, and, if wise, let it be seen that they mean something, and are not to become a dead letter. Do not, however, encumber any branch of the work with unnecessary, burdensome restrictions and inventions of men. In this period of the world's history, with the vast work that is before us, we need to observe the greatest simplicity, and the work will be stronger for its simplicity.
Let none entertain the thought, however, that we can dispense with organization. It has cost us much study, and many prayers for wisdom that we know God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built up by his direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you will thus bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord, I declare to you that it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled. At God's command, "Go forward," we advanced when the difficulties to be surmounted made the advance seem impossible. We know how much it has cost to work out God's plans in the past, which has made us as a people what we are. Then let every one be exceedingly careful not to unsettle minds in regard to those things that God has ordained for our prosperity and success in advancing his cause.
The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.
Below is an article written by Ellen White which was published in the Review and Herald on October 12, 1905. It speaks to the spiritual aspects of church organization.
Lessons from the Life of Solomon--No. 5, Order and Organization
Our God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in perfect order; subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host.
The Jewish Economy
During the days of Moses, the government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough organization, wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity. The order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy. God was the center of authority and government, the sovereign of Israel. Moses stood as their visible leader, by God's appointment, to administer the laws in his name. From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation. Next came the priests, who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary. Chiefs, or princes, ruled over the tribes. Under these were "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens;" and, lastly, officers who might be employed for special duties.
Reorganization at the Beginning of Solomon's Reign
In planning for the administration of the affairs of the kingdom, after David abdicated in favor of Solomon, the aged king and his son and their counselors regarded it as essential that everything be done with regularity, propriety, fidelity, and dispatch. So far as possible, they followed the system of organization given Israel soon after the deliverance from Egypt. The Levites were assigned the work connected with the temple service, including the ministry of song and instrumental music, and the keeping of the treasures.
The men capable of bearing arms and of serving the king were divided into twelve courses of twenty-four thousand each. Over every course was a captain. "The general of the king's army was Joab." "The courses . . . came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year." Thus every group of twenty-four thousand served the king one month during each year.
David appointed Jonathan, his uncle, as "a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe;" Ahithophel also was "the king's counselor. . . . And after Ahithophel was Johoiada . . . and Abiathar." Hushai was "the king's friend." By his prudent example, the aged king taught Solomon that "in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
The thoroughness and completeness of the organization perfected at the beginning of Solomon's reign; the comprehensiveness of the plans for bringing the largest number possible of all the people into active service; the wide distribution of responsibility, so that the service of God and of the king should not be unduly burdensome to any individual or class,--these are lessons which all may study with profit, and which the leaders of the Christian church should understand and follow.
This picture of a great and mighty nation living in simplicity and comfort in rural homes, every person rendering willing and unsalaried service to God and the king for a portion of each year, is one from which we may gather many helpful suggestions.
Order in the Christian Church
There was order in the church when Christ was upon the earth, and after his departure, order was strictly observed among his apostles. And now in these last days, while God is bringing his children into the unity of the faith, there is more real need of order than ever before; for, as the Lord unites his people, Satan and his evil angels are very busy to undo this unity and to destroy it.
It is Satan's studied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from heaven's arrangement as he can; therefore he sometimes deceives even the professed people of God, and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality; that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course. But if we see no necessity for harmonious action, and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course of action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, can not work for us successfully. They turn away in grief; for they are not authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization.
All who desire the co-operation of the heavenly messengers, must work in unison with them. Those who have the unction from on high, will in all their efforts encourage order, discipline, and unity of action, and then the angels of God can co-operate with them. But never, never will these heavenly messengers place their indorsement upon irregularity, disorganization, and disorder. All such evils are the result of Satan's studied effort to weaken our forces, to destroy courage, and to prevent successful action. God desires that his work shall be done with system and exactness, in order that he may place upon it the seal of his approval.
The Result of Organized Effort
It is nearly half a century since order and organization were established among us as a people. I was one of the number who had an experience in laboring for their establishment. I know of the difficulties that had to be met, the evils that organization was designed to correct, and I have watched its influence in connection with the growth of the cause. At an early stage in the work, God gave us special light upon this point; and this light, together with the lessons that experience has taught us, should be carefully considered.
From the first our work was aggressive. Our numbers were few, and mostly from the poorer classes. Our views were almost unknown to the world. We had no houses of worship, but few publications, and very limited facilities for carrying forward our work. The sheep were scattered in the highways and byways, in cities, in towns, in forests. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus was our message.
"Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh shall glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Our numbers gradually increased. The seed that was sown was watered of God, and he gave the increase. At first we assembled for worship, and presented the truth to those who would come to hear, in private houses, in large kitchens, in barns, in groves, and in schoolhouses; but it was not long before we were able to build humble houses of worship. As our numbers increased, it was evident that without some form of organization, there would be great confusion, and the work could not be carried forward successfully. To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable.
Yet the feeling against organization was very strong among our people. The Adventists generally, who had withdrawn from the churches of the various denominations under the call of the second angel's message to come out of Babylon, opposed organization, and many Seventh-day Adventists were fearful that church organization would bring us under condemnation. We sought the Lord with earnest prayer that we might understand his will, and light was given to us by his Spirit, that there must be order and thorough discipline in the church,--that organization was essential. System and order are manifest in all the works of God throughout the universe. Order is the law of heaven, and it should be the law among God's people on the earth.
We had a hard struggle in establishing organization. Notwithstanding that the Lord gave Testimony after Testimony upon this point, the opposition was strong, and it had to be met again and again. But we knew that the Lord God of Israel was leading us, and guiding us by his providence. We engaged in the work of organization, and marked prosperity attended this advance movement.
As the development of the work called us to engage in new enterprises, we were prepared to enter upon them. The Lord directed our minds to the importance of educational work. We saw the need of schools, that our children might receive instruction free from the errors of false philosophy, that their training might be in harmony with the principles of the Word of God. The need of a health institution had been urged upon us, both for the help and instruction of our own people and as a means of blessing and enlightenment to others. This enterprise also was carried forward. All this was missionary work of the highest order. Our work was not sustained by large gifts and legacies; for we have few wealthy men among us.
Our work has steadily advanced. What is the secret of our prosperity?--We have moved under the orders of the Captain of our salvation. God has blessed our united efforts. The truth has spread and flourished. Institutions have multiplied. The mustard seed has grown to a great tree. The system of organization has proved a grand success. Systematic benevolence was entered into according to the Bible plan. The body has been "compacted by that which every joint supplieth." As we have advanced, our system of organization has still proved effectual.
In some parts of the work, it is true, the machinery has been made too complicated; especially has this been the case in former years in the tract and missionary work; the multiplication of rules and regulations made it needlessly burdensome. An effort has been made to simplify the work, so as to avoid all needless labor and perplexity.
The business of our conference session has sometimes been burdened with propositions and resolutions that were not at all essential, and that would never have been presented if the sons and daughters of God had been walking carefully and prayerfully before him. The fewer rules and regulations that we can have, the better will be the effect in the end. When they are made, let them be carefully considered, and, if wise, let it be seen that they mean something, and are not to become a dead letter. Do not, however, encumber any branch of the work with unnecessary, burdensome restrictions and inventions of men. In this period of the world's history, with the vast work that is before us, we need to observe the greatest simplicity, and the work will be stronger for its simplicity.
Let none entertain the thought, however, that we can dispense with organization. It has cost us much study, and many prayers for wisdom that we know God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built up by his direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you will thus bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord, I declare to you that it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled. At God's command, "Go forward," we advanced when the difficulties to be surmounted made the advance seem impossible. We know how much it has cost to work out God's plans in the past, which has made us as a people what we are. Then let every one be exceedingly careful not to unsettle minds in regard to those things that God has ordained for our prosperity and success in advancing his cause.
The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Advice from the Spirit of Prophesy, Pt. 28
"The parable of the talents should be a matter of the most careful and prayerful study; for it has a personal and individual application to every man, woman, and child possessed of the powers of reason. Your obligation and responsibility are in proportion to the talents God has bestowed upon you. There is not a follower of Christ but has some peculiar gift for the use of which he is accountable to God. Many have excused themselves from rendering their gift to the service of Christ, because others were possessed of superior endowments and advantages. The opinion has prevailed that only those who are especially talented are required to sanctify their abilities to the service of God.
"It has come to be understood that talents are given only to a certain favored class, to the exclusion of others who, of course, are not called upon to share in the toils or rewards. But it is not so represented in the parable. When the master of the house called his servants, he gave to every man his work. The whole family of God are included in the responsibility of using their Lord's goods. Every individual, from the lowliest and most obscure to the greatest and most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with abilities for which he is accountable to God. To a greater or less degree, all are placed in charge of the talents of their Lord. The spiritual, mental, and physical ability, the influence, station, possessions, affections, sympathies, all are precious talents to be used in the cause of the Master for the salvation of souls for whom Christ died" (Review and Herald, October 26, 1911 par. 1 & 2).
"Is Christ soon to come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory? Is the end of all things at hand? If so, those who claim to be followers of Christ must work in proportion to their faith. Our part is not to wait in idle expectancy, but to act in accordance with our faith in the word of God. Vigilant waiting is to be combined with earnest watching. In view of the solemn events soon to take place, every soul who has been privileged to hear the truth is to work earnestly.
"No one who is in Christ's service can rest content with doing nothing. The Christian life is not alone a life of waiting and meditation, not alone a life of prayer, but a life also of work. We are to wait, and watch, and work for Christ. Thus only can we attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ" (Review and Herald, April 12, 1898 par. 4 & 5).
"He who is mighty in counsel, to whom all power in heaven and earth has been given, will come to the help of those who trust in him. In the Scriptures we read that in certain places Christ could not do many mighty works, because of the unbelief existing there. It is of great importance that we have a faith that will not wait for the evidence of sight before it ventures to advance. 'Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.'" (Youth's Instructor, January 10, 1901 par. 6).
"It has come to be understood that talents are given only to a certain favored class, to the exclusion of others who, of course, are not called upon to share in the toils or rewards. But it is not so represented in the parable. When the master of the house called his servants, he gave to every man his work. The whole family of God are included in the responsibility of using their Lord's goods. Every individual, from the lowliest and most obscure to the greatest and most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with abilities for which he is accountable to God. To a greater or less degree, all are placed in charge of the talents of their Lord. The spiritual, mental, and physical ability, the influence, station, possessions, affections, sympathies, all are precious talents to be used in the cause of the Master for the salvation of souls for whom Christ died" (Review and Herald, October 26, 1911 par. 1 & 2).
"Is Christ soon to come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory? Is the end of all things at hand? If so, those who claim to be followers of Christ must work in proportion to their faith. Our part is not to wait in idle expectancy, but to act in accordance with our faith in the word of God. Vigilant waiting is to be combined with earnest watching. In view of the solemn events soon to take place, every soul who has been privileged to hear the truth is to work earnestly.
"No one who is in Christ's service can rest content with doing nothing. The Christian life is not alone a life of waiting and meditation, not alone a life of prayer, but a life also of work. We are to wait, and watch, and work for Christ. Thus only can we attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ" (Review and Herald, April 12, 1898 par. 4 & 5).
"He who is mighty in counsel, to whom all power in heaven and earth has been given, will come to the help of those who trust in him. In the Scriptures we read that in certain places Christ could not do many mighty works, because of the unbelief existing there. It is of great importance that we have a faith that will not wait for the evidence of sight before it ventures to advance. 'Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.'" (Youth's Instructor, January 10, 1901 par. 6).
Monday, November 1, 2010
Stand Up and Testify!
For more than two years now we have been telling the story of Takoma Park. From the responses we have gotten in that time we know that we are far from alone in dealing with the issues that arise from the philosophies of Paul Borden and Growing Healthy Churches (GHC), but as Deuteronomy 19:15 says, "A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
Therefore, we are inviting anyone who is or has been part of a congregation that experimented with these philosophies to tell us your stories. We would like to share them with the rest of our readers and "establish the matter." Of special interest to us are stories from within our own Potomac Conference, but we also welcome stories from other parts of the world.
Please write to us at religiousandliberty@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Therefore, we are inviting anyone who is or has been part of a congregation that experimented with these philosophies to tell us your stories. We would like to share them with the rest of our readers and "establish the matter." Of special interest to us are stories from within our own Potomac Conference, but we also welcome stories from other parts of the world.
Please write to us at religiousandliberty@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
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