Reproving Wrong
A Time To Protest—When there are men in the church who love
riches more than righteousness, and who stand ready to take advantage
of their fellow-men by unjust dealings, shall we make no protest? And
when men standing in the position of leaders and teachers work under
the power of spiritualistic ideas and sophistries, shall we keep silent,
for fear of injuring their influence, while souls are being beguiled?
Satan will use every advantage that he can obtain to cause souls to
become clouded and perplexed in regard to the work of the church,
in regard to the word of God, and in regard to the words of warning
which He has given through the testimonies of His Spirit, to guard His
little flock from the subtleties of the enemy.—
Manuscript 72, 1904
, p.
6.
Correct in Righteousness—When it becomes necessary for a
minister to do a work of correction, he should be very careful to act
righteously and wisely. He is not to denounce the erring harshly before
those who know not the truth. The unconverted judge the servants
of God by such actions, and conclude that this can not be the work
of God. Those who are not of our faith but who are convicted of the
truth, when they see a lack of unity among the ministers who claim to
be obeying the truth, close the door of their hearts, saying, We want
none of these things. Thus by the exercise of unsanctified speech,
souls are turned from the truth, and an example given that opens the
way for the things of truth and righteousness to be lowered in the dust.
Our workers, when tempted to speak hasty words of criticism and
judgment, should remember that silence is golden.—
The Review and
Herald, November 14, 1907
.
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