“My husband then stated that he should understand that these words of our Lord [Matthew 18] had reference to cases of personal trespass, and could not be applied in the case of this sister. She had not trespassed against Sister White. But that which had been reproved publicly was public wrongs which threatened the prosperity of the church and the cause. Here, said my husband, is a text applicable to the case: 1 Timothy 5:20: ‘Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.’"
~Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pages 14, 15
"Matthew 18 relates to personal grievances.
Matters which affect the church and the cause of God are to be addressed publicly.
So, if you discover that your pastor has invited Samir Selmanovic (or other questionable speaker) to speak at your church, talk to him about it. Tell him you have major concerns about what Selmanovic teaches. Remind him that God cannot be found in other religions other than the Bible religion. Show him, in case he’s forgotten, what the Bible says about mixing truth with error, and having fellowship with darkness. Tell him the Word of God does not teach interspirituality. If your pastor does not change his plans, then tell the church about the matter. Call him out publicly, because the error is affecting the entire church family.
If your pastor teaches that we need to ease up on the Roman Catholic Church, and that this church is a lot different than it used to be, talk to him about it. Show him, in case he’s forgotten, what the Bible says about the Beast power, the image to the beast, and the mark of the beast. Tell him that the deadly wound of this church has been healed, and that the whole world stands in awe of this church, in direct fulfillment of Scripture. If your pastor does not change his ways or correct his statements, then tell your church about the matter. Call him out publicly, because the error is affecting the entire church family.
If your spiritual leader talks about displacing and rearranging some of our cherished practices and habits, and that we must decide what is expendable in our heritage, remind him that our belief system—our doctrines—are based on the eternal, unchangeable, unalterable Word of God, and that we therefore have no right to displace them. If he refuses to correct his statements and will not apologize for his misleading statement, then tell your church about the matter. Call him out publicly, because the error is affecting the entire church family.
If your pastor does not include in his presentation of the Gospel the empowering grace of God that transforms our lives, and the importance of obedience on the part of the believer in all areas of lifestyle, talk to him about it. Show him, in case he’s forgotten, what the Bible says about true conversion. Remind him that in Biblical conversion justification and sanctification are blended and are the work of the Holy Spirit--that we are under the control of the Holy Spirit, and are given a new nature*--we participate in the divine nature, and sin has no dominion over us (see MH 115 & AA 476). Tell him that we have no right to talk about the righteousness and perfection of Jesus Christ if we are knowingly disobeying the Lord in terms of lifestyle, and ignoring the inspired counsel God has given the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Tell him that the law of God is written on our hearts in the New Covenant, and that in the new birth experience we are brought back to harmony with the law of God (see GC 468). Rebuke your pastor if he says that Historic Adventists or any other kind of Adventists are "legalists" because they believe in perfection of Christian character through the power of the indwelling Christ. Tell him he should not speak negatively about members who believe that we have a part in revealing the character of God in this world, and that the servant of the Lord believed this and wrote about it freely.** Remind him that there is indeed a cleansing of the soul temple which corresponds with Christ's cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.*** There are major distortions of the plan of salvation being taught in Ohio and elsewhere. If your pastor does not change his ways or correct his statements, then tell the church about the matter. Call him out publicly, because the error is affecting the entire church family.
If your pastor tries to bring in questionable forms of worship, Taize prayer with candles all over, contemplative prayer, breath prayers, lent celebration, or any other practice borrowed from Catholicism, talk to your pastor about it. Show him—show her, in case she’s forgotten, what the Bible says about praying with intelligence and with our minds fully intact. Remind him that the servant of the Lord a hundred years ago warned us that the Omega deception would be more dangerous than the Alpha was, in the time of Kellogg. Remind her that we are a distinct people of God, and that we have no business baptizing spiritualism or mysticism into God’s remnant church. If your pastor does not change his or her plans and practices, then tell the church about the matter. Call her out publicly, because the error is affecting the entire church family.
It is no laughing matter for a pastor or other spiritual leader to teach something that is not in accordance with Scripture. It would be better for nothing to be said at all than for falsehood to be uttered. We must call them out when this happens, because they are weakening and hurting the church of Christ.
Listen, if Jesus were here in Ohio, He would be overturning tables. He would not stand for the continuing distortion of His holy Word. If Mrs. White were alive today in Ohio, she would be calling out these men and women, and urging them to cease and desist.
My brother, my sister, do not be afraid to admonish and to exhort one another, and do not be afraid to admonish and to exhort your spiritual leaders. We must hold our leaders accountable.
Cling to the Word of God for dear life, and remain true to its teachings. Live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord, and you will be safe and secure in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I commend to you the Word of God."
__________
* "Your greatest danger will be that you will not see the need of contemplating the character of Christ with a set purpose to imitate His life and conform your character to His character. You are to show a marked difference between your character and that of the world. 'For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power'" (Col. 2:9, 10). {Upward Look, 27.3}
__________
* "Your greatest danger will be that you will not see the need of contemplating the character of Christ with a set purpose to imitate His life and conform your character to His character. You are to show a marked difference between your character and that of the world. 'For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power'" (Col. 2:9, 10). {Upward Look, 27.3}
"The grand truths of the Bible are for us individually, to rule, to guide, to control our life, for this is the only way in which Christ can be properly represented to our world in grace and loveliness in the characters of all who profess to be His disciples. Nothing less than heart service will be acceptable with God. God requires the sanctification of the entire man, body, soul, and spirit. The Holy Spirit implants a new nature, and molds through the grace of Christ the human character, until the image of Christ is perfected. This is true holiness." {Upward Look, 27.4}
"The work of overcoming is a great work. Shall we take hold of it with energy and perseverance? Unless we do, our 'filthy garments' will not be taken from us. We need never expect that these will be torn from us violently; we must first show a desire to rid ourselves of them. We must seek to separate sin from us, relying upon the merits of the blood of Christ; and then in the day of affliction, when the enemy presses us, we shall walk among the angels. They will be like a wall of fire about us; and we shall one day walk with them in the city of God." {Review & Herald, November 19, 1908 par. 20} [Notice that we rely on the merits of Christ in overcoming sin, just as we do in obtaining acceptance with the Father]
"Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude." {Manuscript Releases, Vol. 17, 7.4}
"The message of the renewing power of God's grace will be carried to every country and clime, until the truth shall belt the world. Of the number of them that shall be sealed will be those who have come from every nation and kindred and tongue and people. From every country will be gathered men and women who will stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb, crying, 'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.' Revelation 7:10. But before this work can be accomplished, we must experience here in our own country the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 532.1} [Notice that God's grace is not merely for forgiveness but for renewing/transforming as well]
"Many will not receive the seal of God because they do not keep His commandments or bear the fruits of righteousness" (Letter 76, 1900). {7BC 970.5}
** "Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise. It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace." {Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 317}
"God's servants will have today to meet the same difficulties that Paul met. This experience some have had who are now raising the banner of truth. It is such men who can stand in defense of the truth. If they continue to be learners, God can use them to vindicate His law." {Selected Messages, vol. 2, pg. 228}
"Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the hearts of men; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing--the reproduction of Christ's character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others." {Christ's Object Lessons, 67.1}
"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." {Christ's Object Lessons, 69.1}
"We are in the day of atonement, and we are to work in harmony with Christ's work of cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. Let no man who desires to be found with the wedding garment on, resist our Lord in his office work. As he is, so will his followers be in this world. We must now set before the people the work which by faith we see our great High-priest accomplishing in the heavenly sanctuary. Those who do not sympathize with Jesus in his work in the heavenly courts, who do not cleanse the soul temple of every defilement, but who engage in some enterprise not in harmony with this work, are joining with the enemy of God and man in leading minds away from the truth and work for this time." {Review & Herald, January 21, 1890 par. 4}
"Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.
"The work of overcoming is a great work. Shall we take hold of it with energy and perseverance? Unless we do, our 'filthy garments' will not be taken from us. We need never expect that these will be torn from us violently; we must first show a desire to rid ourselves of them. We must seek to separate sin from us, relying upon the merits of the blood of Christ; and then in the day of affliction, when the enemy presses us, we shall walk among the angels. They will be like a wall of fire about us; and we shall one day walk with them in the city of God." {Review & Herald, November 19, 1908 par. 20} [Notice that we rely on the merits of Christ in overcoming sin, just as we do in obtaining acceptance with the Father]
"Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude." {Manuscript Releases, Vol. 17, 7.4}
"The message of the renewing power of God's grace will be carried to every country and clime, until the truth shall belt the world. Of the number of them that shall be sealed will be those who have come from every nation and kindred and tongue and people. From every country will be gathered men and women who will stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb, crying, 'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.' Revelation 7:10. But before this work can be accomplished, we must experience here in our own country the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 532.1} [Notice that God's grace is not merely for forgiveness but for renewing/transforming as well]
"Many will not receive the seal of God because they do not keep His commandments or bear the fruits of righteousness" (Letter 76, 1900). {7BC 970.5}
"The great mass of professing Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living God. Lukewarm and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than the avowed unbeliever. They grope in darkness, when they might be walking in the noonday light of the Word, under the guidance of One who never errs" (Letter 121, 1903). {7BC 970.6}
"The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God." {Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 211}
"Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master's will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works." {Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 213, 214}
"By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah." {Christ's Object Lessons, 311.4}
"The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God." {Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 211}
"Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master's will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works." {Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 213, 214}
"By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah." {Christ's Object Lessons, 311.4}
** "Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise. It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace." {Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 317}
"God's servants will have today to meet the same difficulties that Paul met. This experience some have had who are now raising the banner of truth. It is such men who can stand in defense of the truth. If they continue to be learners, God can use them to vindicate His law." {Selected Messages, vol. 2, pg. 228}
"Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the hearts of men; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing--the reproduction of Christ's character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others." {Christ's Object Lessons, 67.1}
"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." {Christ's Object Lessons, 69.1}
"It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain." {Christ's Object Lessons, 69.2}
"Every one who names the name of Christ has pledged himself to represent his Master in character. He is under pledge to Christ to do his best; for provision has been made that divine grace shall so work that the characters of men and women may be moulded after the similitude of the character of Christ." {Signs of the Times, September 1, 1898 par. 4}
"They are to improve in every habit and practise, thus showing that they realize constantly that to be a Christian means nothing less than conformity to the character of Christ." {Signs of the Times, September 1, 1898 par. 5}
"It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth." {Christ's Object Lessons, 415}
"Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, 'Behold your God.' The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them." {Christ's Object Lessons, 415, 416}
"One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ's character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom." {Acts of the Apostles, 48}
"I appeal to the churches in every conference. Stand out separate and distinct from the world--in the world, but not of it, reflecting the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, being pure, holy, and undefiled, and in faith carrying light into all the highways and byways of the earth." {Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 437}
*** "Christ is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary from the sins of the people, and it is the work of all who are laborers together with God to be cleansing the sanctuary of the soul from everything that is offensive to Him." {Ms. 15, 1886, pp. 2, 3}
"Christ is cleansing the temple in heaven from the sins of the people, and we must work in harmony with him upon the earth, cleansing the soul temple from its moral defilement. If we will work thus, we shall find that the sweet influence of God's Spirit will be wrought into our life." {Review & Herald, February 11, 1890 par. 4}"Every one who names the name of Christ has pledged himself to represent his Master in character. He is under pledge to Christ to do his best; for provision has been made that divine grace shall so work that the characters of men and women may be moulded after the similitude of the character of Christ." {Signs of the Times, September 1, 1898 par. 4}
"They are to improve in every habit and practise, thus showing that they realize constantly that to be a Christian means nothing less than conformity to the character of Christ." {Signs of the Times, September 1, 1898 par. 5}
"It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth." {Christ's Object Lessons, 415}
"Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, 'Behold your God.' The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them." {Christ's Object Lessons, 415, 416}
"One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ's character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom." {Acts of the Apostles, 48}
"I appeal to the churches in every conference. Stand out separate and distinct from the world--in the world, but not of it, reflecting the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, being pure, holy, and undefiled, and in faith carrying light into all the highways and byways of the earth." {Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 437}
"Let the churches awake before it is everlastingly too late. Let every member take up his individual work and vindicate the name of the Lord by which he is called. Let sound faith and earnest piety take the place of slothfulness and unbelief. When faith lays hold upon Christ, the truth will bring delight to the soul, and the services of religion will not be dull and uninteresting. Your social meetings, now tame and spiritless, will be vitalized by the Holy Spirit; daily you will have a rich experience as you practice the Christianity you profess. Sinners will be converted. They will be touched by the word of truth and will say, as did some who listened to Christ's teaching: 'We have seen and heard wonderful things today.'" {Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 437}
*** "Christ is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary from the sins of the people, and it is the work of all who are laborers together with God to be cleansing the sanctuary of the soul from everything that is offensive to Him." {Ms. 15, 1886, pp. 2, 3}
"We are in the day of atonement, and we are to work in harmony with Christ's work of cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. Let no man who desires to be found with the wedding garment on, resist our Lord in his office work. As he is, so will his followers be in this world. We must now set before the people the work which by faith we see our great High-priest accomplishing in the heavenly sanctuary. Those who do not sympathize with Jesus in his work in the heavenly courts, who do not cleanse the soul temple of every defilement, but who engage in some enterprise not in harmony with this work, are joining with the enemy of God and man in leading minds away from the truth and work for this time." {Review & Herald, January 21, 1890 par. 4}
"Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.
When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing." {Great Controversy, 425}
"It is God's purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the world. He seeks to bring them nearer to Himself, that He may make known to them His will. His purpose for His people today is the same that He had for Israel when He brought them forth from Egypt. By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in His church, the world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people in the world." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 321.1}
"Wonderful scenes are opening before us; and at this time a living testimony is to be borne in the lives of God's professed people, so that the world may see that in this age, when evil reigns on every side, there is yet a people who are laying aside their will and are seeking to do God's will--a people in whose hearts and lives God's law is written." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 322}
"God expects those who bear the name of Christ to represent Him. Their thoughts are to be pure, their words noble and uplifting. The religion of Christ is to be interwoven with all that they do and say. They are to be a sanctified, purified, holy people, communicating light to all with whom they come in contact. It is His purpose that by exemplifying the truth in their lives they shall be a praise in the earth. The grace of Christ is sufficient to bring this about." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 322} [Clearly we are to manifest the character of God to our world, and again, it is the grace of our Lord that brings about this empowered holy living]
"It is God's purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the world. He seeks to bring them nearer to Himself, that He may make known to them His will. His purpose for His people today is the same that He had for Israel when He brought them forth from Egypt. By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in His church, the world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people in the world." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 321.1}
"Wonderful scenes are opening before us; and at this time a living testimony is to be borne in the lives of God's professed people, so that the world may see that in this age, when evil reigns on every side, there is yet a people who are laying aside their will and are seeking to do God's will--a people in whose hearts and lives God's law is written." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 322}
"God expects those who bear the name of Christ to represent Him. Their thoughts are to be pure, their words noble and uplifting. The religion of Christ is to be interwoven with all that they do and say. They are to be a sanctified, purified, holy people, communicating light to all with whom they come in contact. It is His purpose that by exemplifying the truth in their lives they shall be a praise in the earth. The grace of Christ is sufficient to bring this about." {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 322} [Clearly we are to manifest the character of God to our world, and again, it is the grace of our Lord that brings about this empowered holy living]
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