Integrating New Believers into the Church
To Be Guided as Children—“At the same time came the disciples
unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of
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them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same
is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one
such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one
of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a
millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in
the depth of the sea.”
By “little ones” Christ does not mean babies. Those to whom
He refers are “little ones which believe in Me”—those who have not
gained an experience in following Him, those who need to be led
like children, as it were, in seeking the things of the kingdom of
heaven.—
Manuscript 60, 1904
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Counsel to Those New in the Faith—I would address you who
have come to a knowledge of the truth in _____. You are young in
the faith, and there is great need of your walking humbly with God,
and of learning daily in the school of Christ by dwelling particularly
in meditation and conversation upon the lessons which He gave to His
disciples. Walk in all humility of mind, distrustful of self, seeking
wisdom from the God of wisdom, that all your ways and methods may
be in firm and close connection with the ways and the will of God, that
there may be no confusion....
We must never forget how hard it is to remove long-cherished
errors from the minds of men, which have been taught from childhood.
We must bear in mind that earth is not heaven, and that there will
be discouragements to meet and to overcome, but forbearance and
tenderness and pity should be exercised toward all who are in darkness.
If we bring them to see the light, it will not be solely by arguments,
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it must be by the work of the grace of Christ on your own hearts,
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