Combating Erroneous Teaching
545
We are not to labor to refute them. If our ministers and teachers give
themselves to the study of these erroneous theories, some will depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
It is not the work of the gospel minister to voice Satan’s theories....
Hold up the truth; magnify the truth; say, “It is written.”—
Letter
175, 1904
.
Falsehoods Must Be Skillfully Unmasked—The apostle Paul
warns us that “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils.” This is what we may expect. Our
greatest trials will come because of that class who have once advocated
the truth, but who turn from it to the world, and trample it under their
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feet in hate and derision.
God has a work for His faithful servants to do. The attacks of the
enemy must be met with the truth of His Word. Falsehood must be
unmasked, its true character must be revealed, and the light of the law
of Jehovah must shine forth into the moral darkness of the world. We
are to present the claims of His Word. We shall not be held guiltless
if we neglect this solemn duty. But while we stand in defense of the
truth, let us not stand in defense of self, and make a great ado because
we are called to bear reproach and misrepresentation. Let us not pity
ourselves, but be very jealous for the law of the Most High.
Says the apostle, “The time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from
the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” On every side we see men
easily led captive by the delusive imaginations of those who make void
the Word of God; but when the truth is brought before them, they are
filled with impatience and anger. But the exhortation of the apostle to
the servant of God is, “Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do
the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”...
We must cherish carefully the words of our God lest we be con-
taminated by the deceptive workings of those who have left the faith.
We are to resist their spirit and influence with the same weapon our
Master used when assailed by the prince of darkness—“It is written.”
We should learn to use the Word of God skillfully. The exhortation is,
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” There must be
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diligent work and earnest prayer and faith to meet the winding error of