As we examine the world today, it’s not difficult to imagine the final years of the antediluvian world. Truly, it’s evident that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The Revelation says of our time, “the nations were angry.” If the external threats looming today were our only challenge, our task ahead would allow us to focus our energy on warning the world.
However, over the course of time, many Seventh-day Adventists have become ideologically similar to the world that we’ve been strongly advised to be separate from. Peter calls God’s people “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…” Except, the corporate body has not only adopted restrictions to worship, in educational venues, and in church governed hospitals, in many cases the stance has been to exceed governmental “guidance” as a “precautionary” step for the benefit of the “greater good” of our “communities.” Many in our own ranks have capitulated to “man’s so-called science” or just gone along with the masses while trusting mainstream media. Literally, fear of disease, fear of legal liability, fear of loss of influence and control, is ruling from within.
So when individuals take a stand contrary to accepted policy, particularly if they are “on the payroll” of the church, we do well to pay close attention while praying for spiritual discernment. After all, Jesus warns this generation that “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Ominously, Jesus warns the future church until His return, “they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues” and “they shall put you out of the synagogues…” (Mar 13:9; Jhn 16:2). In fact, God warns both in Scripture and via His messenger that our greatest enemies would come from within. Another key Biblical principle and clue today is that the majority of people are never on God’s side.
In 1901, Sister White wrote,
“Great harm can be done to our institutions by connecting with them men who will exert an influence in wrong lines. If men bearing responsibilities in our institutions have a living connection with God, they will, in their Christian experience, be a savor of life unto life; but if they are unsanctified, disobedient, selfish, depending on themselves for wisdom, they will be a savor of death unto death. In their determination to carry out their own will and purposes, they will reveal their true character.
Notwithstanding their detrimental influence, men are sometimes kept in positions of trust, where they are able to work out plans and to secure a power of influence that is not used to the glory of God in service for mankind. Such men wish to mold our institutions according to their human ideas. While claiming to be working from unselfish motives, they separate good men, successful physicians, from the very institutions that would be blessed by their help. This they do because these men will not subscribe to documents that would bind them to follow certain codes of manmade laws—laws stipulating that, in combination with other men, they are to use their influence in doing certain things concerning which the Lord says: “I have not planned these things; I have not endorsed them. Thus men are bound to pledges and asked to endorse documents that will work evil to the heritage I have purchased with My own blood. These documents taste strongly of human policy, which means exaltation of self, restriction of religious liberty, and a denial to men of their right to worship God as the conscience dictates. ‘If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him.’” [1 Kings 18:21.]”[1] (Emphasis added).
Evidence is accumulating from all over the globe that church “policy” has, and continues to harm people financially and is causing some to relinquish church membership to avoid employers attaching their church affiliation with requests for religious exemption. God’s people must take steps to differentiate themselves from popular policy by standing upon all of God’s commands, statutes, judgments, and precepts. The foundation of our position should be the same as God’s kingdom, one of personal choice and liberty of individual conscience.
Many have described the structure of the Seventh-day Adventist church as a “bottom up” organization. Organizationally, the ultimate power of the church is held at the local church. It is claimed that “laypersons” make up the majority of committees governing the corporate church. Does the definition of a “layperson” include church retirees and those with family and/or business connections within the church? What is the percentage of real laypersons with no connection to church operations? In a brief time to come, it will be seen whether Sister White’s warnings are heeded or if a “top down” hierarchy is more firmly entrenched.
Any policy, any rule, any law, any practice that potentially breaches our body temples or individual conscience, while coupled with coercion, or worse, mandates, is prima facie evidence of error. God’s people will take a public stand supporting the principles of God’s kingdom while pointing out the characteristics of the kingdom of darkness.
A new doctrine of compromise based on the “good works” of enabling church institutions to continue their “missions” has come into vogue. Taking government money is justified if it supports church employees, provides education to children, or gives opportunity to care for routine and emergent health needs. It is thought that these indirect “ministries” may lead to future opportunities for church membership. But the midnight of earth’s history has stealthily crept up on a church that no longer identifies the “beast” as the papal church, no longer warns that spiritual Babylon represents the apostate Protestant churches. Many now doubt that the “earth beast” would ever pass legislation making Sunday a “rest” day, directly contravening God’s command to work six days and “rest” on the seventh day. Contrary to popular adoption, the mission of God’s people is not “hope and wholeness.” The “present truth” and end time mission is captured in the three angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-12.
Now is the time to couple the true “right-arm” of the gospel with the third angels’ message instead of incorporating Satan’s counterfeit “right-arm” of “science” into church policy. Now is the time to adopt into our lives every ray of light revealed to Sister White on health reform. The time has come to proclaim all the components of the third message including the warnings and the imputed righteousness of Christ, in word and in print. Giving our body and soul to be filled with the Holy Spirit will provide spiritual discernment to all who incorporate every ray of light provided to this remnant movement.
When you come to the crossroads, assertively take the narrow path.
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Mark writes from Emmett, Idaho.
[1] Diary, St. Helena, California, January 27, 1901, https://legacy.egwwritings.org{Ms55-1902.17-18}
