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Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White
Satan has come in, will continue to be led in false paths. Jesus bids us
be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to
die.
We are not called upon to enter into controversy with those who
hold false theories. Controversy is unprofitable. Christ never entered
into it. “It is written” is the weapon used by the world’s Redeemer.
Let us keep close to the Word. Let us allow the Lord Jesus and His
messengers to testify. We know that their testimony is true.
Christ is over all the works of His creation. In the pillar of fire,
He guided the children of Israel, His eyes seeing past, present, and
future. He is to be recognized and honored by all who love God. His
commandments are to be the controlling power in the lives of His
people.
The tempter comes with the supposition that Christ has removed
His seat of honor and power into some unknown region, and that
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men need no longer be inconvenienced by exalting His character and
obeying His law. Human beings are to be a law unto themselves, he
declares. These sophistries exalt self and make nothing of God. Re-
straint and moral control in the human family are destroyed. Restraint
upon vice grows more and more feeble. The world loves not, fears not
God. And those who do not love or fear God soon lose all sense of
obligation to one another. They are without God and without hope in
the world.
Those teachers who do not daily bring the word of God into their
life work, are in great peril. They have not a saving knowledge of God
or of Christ. It is those who do not live the truth who are most inclined
to invent sophistries to occupy the time and absorb the attention that
ought to be given to the study of God’s word. It is a fearful mistake
for us to neglect the study of the Bible to investigate theories that are
misleading, diverting minds from the words of Christ to fallacies of
human production.
We need no fanciful teaching regarding the personality of God.
What God desires us to know of Him is revealed in His word and His
works. The beautiful things of nature reveal His character and His
power as Creator. They are His gift to the race, to show His power,
and to show that He is a God of love. But no one is authorized to say
that God Himself in person is in flower or leaf or tree. These things
are God’s handiwork, revealing His love for mankind.