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Chapter 18
6. The Young in Christ
—[
Matthew 18:1-6
quoted.] The little
ones here referred to who believe in Christ, are not simply those
who are young in years, but little children in Christ. There is a
warning contained in these words lest we shall selfishly neglect or
hold in contempt our weak brethren; lest we shall be unforgiving
and exacting and judge and condemn others, and thus discourage
them (
The Review and Herald, April 16, 1895
).
15-17 (
Joshua 7:10-26
). Some Are Not to Be Retained
—The
names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained
on the church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil
deeds. Those who pursue a course of transgression should be visited
and labored with, and if they then refuse to repent, they should be
separated from church fellowship, in accordance with the rules laid
down in the Word of God....
Those who refuse to hear the admonitions and warnings given by
God’s faithful messengers are not to be retained in the church. They
are to be disfellowshiped; for they will be as Achan in the camp of
Israel—deceived and deceiving.
Who, after reading the record of Achan’s sin and punishment,
can think it according to the will of God that those who do wickedly,
refusing to repent, are to be retained in the church? To retain them
would be an insult to the God of heaven (
Letter 215, 1902
).
18
. See
EGW comment on John 20:23
.
53