7 Reasonable Recommendations

To Our Ohio Leaders:

First some inspired counsel, then the recommendations follow:

The leaders are responsible not only for their own unsanctified mistakes, but for the mistakes of those who follow their example. When reproved for bringing in wrong principles they manifest a perverse spirit, a spirit that will not be corrected or humbled. "Shall I not judge for these things, saith the Lord of hosts?" Their own wisdom and their own judgment they hold fast as a precious possession, and sullenly pursue their own ways. This is the reason that the Holy Spirit of God is not manifest in our churches. {18MR 38.1}

     If those who have had the blessings of being corrected would humble themselves before God, and gladly take the Lord's way, reforming their own ways, Jesus Christ would bestow upon them rich gifts and grant answers to humble, contrite prayers. {18MR 38.2}

     By walking in the light given, they would better understand their own individual character. Those who think they can improve upon God's plan, that some other course would be better than that which Christ has laid down in His Word, savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. They harden their hearts and close their eyes in regard to the ways of the Lord, and prefer their own ways. Unless these are transformed in every respect--in thought, in word, and in deed--they will be requested to take the lowest seat. {18MR 38.3}

     If men only knew that their own wisdom exercised without Christ is a dangerous element that will mislead! If those who occupy positions of trust would be benefited by the intercession of Christ, and receive the rich blessings of His commendation, if they would be owned of God in the judgment, they must hear His counsels and be governed by His will; they must hold their confidence firm unto the end, never deviating from a plain "thus saith the Lord." Prevarication, even in the slightest shadow, must not be seen; every jot and tittle of this must be put away, because no falsehood can honor God. {18MR 38.4}

Good and evil never harmonize.  Between light and darkness there can be no compromise. Truth is light revealed; error is darkness. Light has no fellowship with darkness, righteousness no fellowship with unrighteousness. {In Heavenly Places, 260.3}

I wish I had the power with pen or voice to present before the teachers of our youth and all who preach the truth to others what they have lost by trusting in human wisdom. It has led them to close the door of their hearts to the bright and morning Star. I wish I could teach those who feel superior in their own wisdom, those who are self-sufficient, that in order to be wise they must step down from their loftiness and become fools in their own estimation, that they must become learners if they would drink in wisdom. {20MR 179.3}

     Those who think themselves full of wisdom and knowledge do not hunger and thirst after righteousness. They look with a sort of pity and disgust upon those who are earnestly seeking to know the way of the Lord more perfectly. They feel so well supplied by their human understanding that there is no room in their vessels for a supply of heavenly grace. These will awake from their slumbers to find their lamps going out. With all their knowledge and wisdom they have neglected the one thing that would give them an entrance to the marriage supper of the Lamb. {20MR 179.4}

I sincerely ask the leaders of this Conference to submit all their plans, teachings, and actions to the Lord Jesus and His Word. There is still time to change course, and to do an about-face in terms of theology and practice. Please return to the sure foundation of the eternal Word of God. Show the earnestness of your change in direction by:

1. Presenting only a complete Gospel, which includes the power of God for the reproduction of the character of Christ in us, and the importance of obedience on the part of the believer;

2. Ceasing to invite unbiblical speakers to your meetings;

3. Stopping at once your communications with unbiblical speakers, including those who are involved in the Emergent Church movement, in spiritualism, in mysticism, in spiritual formation, and in interspirituality (this would include refraining from reading the books and blogs of these false teachers as well);

4. Speaking only positive words about health reform, dress reform, Sabbath reform, and entertainment reform, whenever you speak about diet, ornamentation, and doing business on Sabbath (i.e. avoid derogatory statements about that which God enjoins);

5. Embracing the distinctive doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and training your pastors to teach them to their members and to their communities (thereby giving the people exactly what they need for such a time, and hastening the Second Advent of our Lord);

6. Refraining from speaking about abandoning, sorting through, restructuring, revising, or deciding what to retain from our cherished beliefs and practices—God’s people get very nervous when you talk like that, because they happen to believe that the Adventist heritage is a Godly heritage that need not be altered;

7. Holding a general meeting with the membership of Ohio, so that you can listen to their questions, and you can assure them that the changes they request that are in harmony with Scripture and Spirit Prophecy will indeed be implemented.

Much prayer is being offered on your behalf by thousands of Advent believers at this time. Please do not dismiss mine or others’ concerns and requests. Please know that we all want the blessing of the Lord to be upon this Conference and upon our churches. We will be watching what you do and teach, and what the pastors do and teach. No longer will we remain silent when the Lord calls us to cry aloud and spare not. We will be watchmen on the walls of God’s remnant in Ohio, from this day forward.