Chapter 53—Controversy—Positive and Negative
Oneness With God Results in Unity—God is the embodiment
of benevolence, mercy, and love. Those who are truly connected
with Him cannot be at variance with one another. His Spirit ruling in
the heart will create harmony, love, and unity. The opposite of this
is seen among the children of Satan. It is his work to stir up envy,
strife, and jealousy. In the name of my Master I ask the professed
followers of Christ: What fruit do you bear?—
Testimonies for the
Church 5:28
(1882).
Sowing and Reaping Dissensions—He who scatters the seeds of
dissension and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. The very
act of looking for evil in others develops evil in those who look.—
The
Ministry of Healing, 492
(1905).
Satan Delights in Contention—Satan is constantly seeking to
cause distrust, alienation, and malice among God’s people. We shall
be often tempted to feel that our rights are invaded when there is no real
cause for such feelings.... Contentions, strife, and lawsuits between
brethren are a disgrace to the cause of truth. Those who take such
a course expose the church to the ridicule of her enemies and cause
the powers of darkness to triumph. They are piercing the wounds of
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Christ afresh and putting Him to an open shame.—
Testimonies for the
Church 5:242, 243
(1882).
Controversy Leads to Combativeness—The special, deceptive
work of Satan has been to provoke controversies, that there might be
strivings about words to no profit. He well knows that this will occupy
the mind and the time. It raises the combativeness and quenches the
spirit of conviction in the minds of many, drawing them into diversity
of opinions, accusation, and prejudice, which closes the door to the
truth.—
The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888
. (
Evangelism,
155
).
Strife Among Brethren Delays Second Advent—For forty years
did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the
land of Canaan.... It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration,
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