Unity and Love in the Church
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of their own capabilities, and should be careful not to encourage pride
and self-esteem in others. Men and women, unless consecrated to God,
are weak in moral power and may be entirely mistaken in their estimate
of human ability and of what constitutes Christian fidelity. Present no
inducements which will lessen the interest of any in building up an
institution which God has said should be built up.
Brother A does not manifest good judgment upon all occasions and
in all matters. He is not well-balanced, and unless he walks in humility
before God, he will make dangerous mistakes. He lacks discernment,
and therefore misjudges character, using such extravagant words of
flattery to some as will hurt their souls. He will lead them to think
that they can do some great thing, and thus they will neglect the little
duties lying directly in their path.
I do not plead for inactivity, but I plead for this selfish, worldly
spirit to be overcome. Any enterprise which will unite the interests of
church members, and will bring harmony and unity of effort into the
work of God, may be safely entered into. But never, never forget that
you are either servants of Jesus Christ, working strenuously for that
unity of believers which Christ prayed might exist, or you are working
against this unity and against Christ.
[479]
Those who seek to lessen the interest of any in the school at Healds-
burg, or in the missionary work in any of its branches, are not working
together with God, but are working under another captain, whose aim
is to weaken and destroy. Your usefulness, brethren and sisters of the
Healdsburg church, requires that you be straightforward in all your
dealings; that you be humble, holy, and undefiled. There should be less
proud self-seeking, less self-importance. When the members of the
church are clothed with humility, when they put from them self-esteem
and self-seeking, when they seek constantly to do God’s will—then
they will work together in harmony. God’s Spirit is one....
The crisis is just before us when each will need much strength from
God in order to stand against the wiles of Satan, for his deceptions will
come in every conceivable form. Those who have allowed themselves
to be the sport of Satan’s temptations will be unprepared then to take
the right side. Their ideas will be confused so that they cannot discern
between the divine and the satanic.
There will come a crisis in every one of our institutions. Influences
will be at work against them from both believers and unbelievers.