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Bible Study on Tests of Fellowship

Ge 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not
circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Ex 31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that
defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul
shall be cut off from among his people.

Le 18:29; 20:18 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations [as incest,
adultery, bestiality, child sacrifice, sever indecency, disrespect for menstruation] even the
souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

Le 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in [the Day of Atonement]
he shall be cut off from among his people.

Nu 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land,
or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among
his people.

Ga 5:10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise
minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. . . .12 I
would they were even cut off which trouble you. See Gal 5:19; Rom 1:16-17; I Co 11:19.

Other principle: Let God be true but every man a liar. Romans 3.

We must never make Jesus into a sinner. The standard that we exalt before the eyes of the
lost is He who never knew sin. This is one reason that we can not make flesh-eating a test
of fellowship. If we were to be placed in the same circumstances as Jesus it would be
right for us to do as he did.

Other principle: No Man-made rules. "Teaching for doctrines the commandments of

men" is negative. Matthew 15:7.

Other principle: Old Light is never contradicted by New Light. When the standard is
raised, the earlier standard was permitted, not established, by prophetic revelation.

Example: Swine's flesh; Sabbath; Sabbath time; Sacrifice; Circumcision; etc.

Summary of Data:

Men were cut off from the congregation for grossly misrepresenting the truth in figure.
This type of discipline has been carried into the Christian age by God's enforcement of
the Communion ceremony. I Cor. 11:29-30. The evaluation of the participant, in this case,
has been placed on the participant himself.

Men were also cut off for violating the covenant by neglecting circumcision. The rite of
the covenant today is Baptism and the covenant itself is made over the Law of Ten
Commandments.

All types of immorality are treated, in scripture, as willful sins. And so they are. These
warrant disfellowshipping. This is why David wrote that God desired no sacrifice for his
great crime. As no organization existed that could discipline David, God took the
discipline into his own hand. The punishment haunted him to his dying days.

The primary sin requiring church discipline was that of presumption. This (Act 3:17) is
not as broad as we might make it in our naturally harsh way of thinking.

Presumptuous sin can take on a number of appearances. The most neglected of these is a
refusal to practice the rule of Matthew 18. The neglect to discipline children, in view of
the scriptural requirement, may also fall into this category. In short, a willful rejection of
a scriptural command is a presumptuous sin. Slavery to fashion may also fall into this
category.

One particular evidence of hidden presumptuous sin is warfare against the truth. For this
reason doctrinal errors, when willfully promoted, are grounds for church discipline.

---
Ex 12:15, 19 -- Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread
Ex 30:33, 38 -- Whosoever compoundeth any like it
Le 7:20, 21, 25, 27 -- But the soul that eateth [ceremonially incorrectly, or blood]
Le 17:4, 9 -- And bringeth [a sacrificed animal] it not unto . . .the tabernacle
Le 19:8 Therefore every one that eateth [a potentially spoiled sacrifice]
Le 22:3; Nu 19:13, 20 -- [Ceremonially defiled ministration]
Nu 9:13 -- But the man that . . . forbeareth to keep the Passover
1Sa 2:33; 1Ki 14:10; 21:21; 2Ki 9:8; 2Ch 26:21 -- Eli, Jeroboam, Ahab, Uzziah, their
families, "cut off" by God

---

We are not to make the use of flesh-meat a test of fellowship, but we should
consider the influence that professed believers who use flesh-meats have over others. As
God's messengers, shall we not say to the people, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God"? Shall we not bear a decided testimony
against the indulgence of perverted appetite? Will any who are ministers of the gospel,
proclaiming the most solemn truth ever given to mortals, set an example in returning to
the flesh-pots of Egypt? Will those who are supported by the tithe from God's storehouse
permit themselves by self-indulgence to poison the life-giving current flowing through
their veins? Will they disregard the light and warnings that God has given them? The
health of the body is to be regarded as essential to growth in grace and the acquirement of
an even temper. If the stomach is not properly cared for, the formation of an upright
moral character will be hindered. The brain and nerves are in sympathy with the stomach.
Erroneous eating and drinking result in erroneous thinking and acting. {RH, March 3,
1910 par. 4}
All are now being tested and proved. We have been baptized into Christ, and if we will
act our part by separating from everything that would drag us down, and make us what
we ought not to be, strength to grow into Christ, who is our living head, will be given us,
and we shall see the salvation of God. {RH, March 3, 1910 par. 5}
Only when we are intelligent in regard to the principles of healthful living, can we be
fully aroused to see the evils resulting from improper diet. Those who, after seeing their
mistakes, have courage to change their habits, will find that the reformatory process
requires a struggle and much perseverance; but when correct tastes are once formed, they
will realize that the use of the food which they formerly regarded as harmless was slowly
but surely laying the foundation for dyspepsia and other diseases. {RH, March 3, 1910
par. 6}

If he will not hear them, then, and not till then, the matter is to be brought before
the whole body of believers. Let the members of the church, as the representatives of
Christ, unite in prayer and loving entreaty that the offender may be restored. The Holy
Spirit will speak through His servants, pleading with the wanderer to return to God. Paul
the apostle, speaking by inspiration, says, "As though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20. He who rejects
this united overture has broken the tie that binds him to Christ, and thus has severed
himself from the fellowship of the church. Henceforth, said Jesus, "let him be unto thee
as an heathen man and a publican." But he is not to be regarded as cut off from the mercy
of God. Let him not be despised or neglected by his former brethren, but be treated with
tenderness and compassion, as one of the lost sheep that Christ is still seeking to bring to
His fold. {DA 441.2}

"I was shown that you had been wrong in sympathizing with E. The course you have
taken in regard to him has injured your influence, and has greatly injured the cause of
God. It is impossible for E to be fellowshiped by the church of God. He has placed
himself where he cannot be helped by the church, where he can have no communion with
nor voice in the church. He has placed himself there in the face of light and truth. He has
stubbornly chosen his own course, and refused to listen to reproof. He has followed
the inclinations of his corrupt heart, has violated the holy law of God, and has disgraced
the cause of present truth. If he repents ever so heartily, the church must let his case
alone. If he goes to heaven, it must be alone, without the fellowship of the church. A
standing rebuke from God and the church must ever rest upon him, that the standard of
morality be not lowered to the very dust. The Lord is displeased with your course in these
things. {1T 215.1}

I saw that the seventh commandment has been violated by some who are now held
in fellowship by the church. This has brought God's frown upon them. This sin is awful in
these last days, but the church [members] have brought God's frown and curse upon them
by regarding the sin so lightly. I saw it was an enormous sin and there have not been as
vigilant efforts made as there should have been to satisfy the displeasure of God and
remove His frown by taking a strict, thorough course with the offender. {TSB 248.1}
It has had an awful, corrupting influence upon the young. They see how lightly the
sin of breaking the seventh commandment is regarded, and the one who commits this
horrid sin thinks that all he has to do is to confess that he was wrong and is sorry, and he
is then to have all the privileges of the house of God and be held in [the] embrace or
fellowship of the church. {TSB 248.2}
They have thought it was not so great a sin, but have lightly esteemed the breaking of
the seventh commandment. This has been sufficient to remove the ark of God from
the camp, if there were no other sins to cause the ark to be taken away and weaken
Israel. {TSB 248.3}
Those who break the seventh commandment should be suspended from the church,
and not have its fellowship nor the privileges of the house of God. Said the angel, "This is
not a sin of ignorance. It is a knowing sin and will receive the awful visitation of God,
whether he who commits it be old or young." {TSB 248.4}
Never was this sin regarded by God as being so exceedingly sinful as at the present
time. Why? Because God is purifying unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works. It is at the very time when God is purifying this peculiar people unto Himself that
[unsanctified] individuals step in among us. Notwithstanding the straight truths they have
heard--the terrors of the Word of God set before them, and all the blazing truth for these
last days calculated to arouse Israel--they sin with a high hand, give way to all the loose
passions of the carnal heart, gratify their animal propensities, disgrace the cause of God,
and then confess they have sinned and are sorry! {TSB 249.1}
And the church receives them and says "Amen" to their prayers and exhortations,
which are a stink in the nostrils of God, and cause His wrath to come upon the camp. He
will not dwell in their assemblies. Those who move on thus heedlessly, plastering over
these sins, will be left to their own ways, to be filled with their own doings. {TSB 249.2}
Those who anciently committed these sins were taken without the camp and stoned to
death. Temporal and eternal death was their doom; and because the penalty of stoning to
death is abolished, this sin is indulged in beyond measure and is thought to be a small
offense.--Ms 3, 1854. {TSB 249.3}

Those who have differed from the established doctrines have been imprisoned, put to
torture and to death, because the dignitaries of the church could not endure those who
dissented from ideas which these leaders deemed to be true. Satan himself is the
sower of tares; but even though he is the sower of them, they are not to be rooted up, lest
by chance the wheat be rooted up with them. Let both grow together until the harvest;
and the harvest is the end of probationary time. Fiendish zeal has been manifested in
excluding dissenters from the fellowship of the church, and passing upon them the
sentence of excommunication by which the Roman Church asserted its power of
excluding them from all possibility of entering heaven. {RH, January 10, 1893 par. 9}
How does heaven look upon such things? With what amazement do angels hear men
judging and condemning their brethren, causing them most cruel suffering of body and
mind, and claiming that they do it under the sanction of God? Instead of being under the
leadership of Christ, they are following the leadership of Satan. Paul at one time pursued
this course, actually believing that he was doing God service; but Jesus spoke to him, and
told him that in persecuting his saints he was persecuting him. All persecution, all force
employed to compel conscience, is after Satan's own order; and those who carry out
these designs are his agents to execute his hellish purpose.

The work of the medical profession calls for men who love and fear God. The people
have long been afflicted with unconverted men, who have acted independently of the
church, and have followed their own unsanctified judgment, imperiled our institutions by
their unsanctified independence. But our institutions need not accept unconsecrated men
and women, because they know not what better to do; for converted physicians will be
raised up to take their place in the work. Unless the principles of divine truth control the
physicians as they have not done hitherto, God will be dishonored, souls will be lost, and
the institution established for the benefit of the sick and suffering, will not meet the mind
of the Spirit of God. {1MR 209.2}
God has been greatly dishonored by the course of many in the medical profession who
claim to believe the truth; for in character they have not been representatives of Christ.
An inconsistent, unprincipled life in a physician should be looked upon as a matter
of grave importance, and he should be dealt with as Christ directed His church to
deal with offenders. If an offender will not listen to admonition, and will not change
his course of action, he should be separated from the fellowship of the church. Those
who take the part of the evil doer and sympathize with him, and give him patronage,
place themselves in position where they are an offense to God. {1MR 209.3}
There are some occupations which are not open to Christians. They are not legitimate
callings for the servant of God, and they can engage in them only at the peril of their
souls, for through these occupations they are exposed to the miasmal influence of the
world. God desires not that His people should keep company with extortioners and
robbers, even though they may wear an appearance of sanctity. There are occupations in
which it is impossible to work reform; for they are thoroughly bad, and that which can be
said to those who persist in engaging in them, is "Depart, ye thieves." But the profession
of medicine is a legitimate calling, and there is a remedy for all its evils. Christ may be
represented in the character and action of every physician, and all who claim to be
Christians should expect to work as He worked, having a fair price for their services, and
exacting no more, although they see that they could obtain more by following the selfish
customs of the world. It is just as consistent for the minister of the gospel to demand an
excessive salary for visiting the sick, comforting the desponding, bringing peace and joy
to the oppressed, as for the physician to make large charges for his professional visits.
{1MR 210.1}

At the conference at Sylvan I saw the necessity of the messengers dwelling on the
preparation more than they have done. Souls are not prepared for what is coming on the
earth and unless they speedily get ready they will be weighed in the balance and found
wanting. I saw that Brother_____had moved too fast in some cases, that there had not
been that patience and forbearance with individuals that there ought to have been. Others
of the brethren had moved too fast. {9MR 196.2}
I saw that great caution should be used and the church will have to bear some with
individuals who do not always understand the movings of the Spirit of God, and
always have some errors. And, if these individuals were disfellowshipped, they
would be brought more closely in connection with an unholy influence and the
possibility of saving them be lost. But, if they were still retained in the fellowship of
the church, they will be where the church can have some influence over them, and
may, by moving judiciously and carefully, win them to all the truth, which will discover
to them their errors, and cause them to yield them up and be fully united to the church.
{9MR 196.3}
I saw that the messengers and the church must have compassion with some, making a
difference. Now the messengers of God must seek wisdom and know how to treat each
individual case. Not all must be treated alike. By close examination it will be seen
that individual cases differ. Some are to be borne with longer than others, but if one
is living in disobedience to the commandments of God, the church must act and
must separate them from them. And for other sins it will often be necessary to
disfellowship souls if they continue in their sins; yet great care should be used and
great patience and forbearance exercised. {9MR 196.4}

I was shown that the same injudicious treatment has been exercised toward others.
Some precious souls that could not justify the unchristian course pursued toward the
doctor were crowded until they have separated from the church, and others have been
cut off. Such a spirit has taken possession of those who have ever carried things by
storm that Satan, instead of the Spirit of Christ, has triumphed. Some of those who have
been deprived of the fellowship of the church have been more worthy of a place in the
church than those by whom they were cut off. God calls upon these to repent, and learn of
Christ the spirit of meekness, of self-denial, and love. {12MR 287.2}
Those persons who have been so officious need to become acquainted with the
dear Saviour. He is the eternal and universal guardian of justice. You can never exclude
Him from any matter in which the rights of His offspring are concerned. He takes the part
of His children against all who would wrong them. His hand is spread over them as a
buckler. No man or woman can wound them without smiting that hand. {12MR 287.3}

The names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the
church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds. Those who
pursue a course of transgression should be visited and labored with, and if they then
refuse to repent, they should be separated from church fellowship, in accordance with
the rules laid down in the Word of God. . . . {5BC 1096.5}
Those who refuse to hear the admonitions and warnings given by God's faithful
messengers are not to be retained in the church. They are to be disfellowshiped; for they
will be as Achan in the camp of Israel--deceived and deceiving. {5BC 1096.6}
Who, after reading the record of Achan's sin and punishment, can think it according to
the will of God that those who do wickedly, refusing to repent, are to be retained in the
church? To retain them would be an insult to the God of heaven (Letter 215, 1902).
{5BC 1096.7}

"The meeting was held at the house of Bro. Preston, and was interesting from the
commencement to its close. Bro. B. took a decided stand for the truth, and thanked the
Lord that he had property, for he should use it in his cause. At our season of prayer in the
morning at Bro. Abbey's, the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon us, and I was taken
off in vision, and saw that some of the church had been disfellowshipped without
sufficient cause, through the influence of dreams and impressions. I was shown that
Sr. E. P. was a child of God, and they had no cause for rejecting her. And others also
had been set aside who should not have been, which had driven them nearly to despair.
{2SG 150.1}
"Sabbath morning we went to the meeting, and there met Sr. E. P. Her husband was
bitterly opposed to her faith, and forbid her coming to the meeting, and had bound her
with cords so tightly as to much bruise her. She lay praying for the Lord to open the way
for her to attend the meeting. Soon her husband released her, and unobserved she came
across-lots about half a mile, and then waded ankle deep through swamps, traveling about
three miles, and came to the meeting. She expressed the deepest gratitude for the
privilege of seeing the people of God.

Brother J's family are too ready to sympathize with their children, and however
crooked are unwilling for the church to take action in their case. But this is wrong. God
will have only those in the church who are earnestly striving to be right. Opportunity is
given to develop character, and if members of the family develop a character unworthy
[of] the Christian name, they have no right to the privileges of the house of God. False
sympathy must die. It commenced in heaven at the fall of Satan, and has existed ever
since. This sympathy has blunted the straight testimony. It pleases Satan well. {15MR
335.3}
I was shown in regard to the poor--objects of charity. I saw that the stewards of God
have no duty in the case of those who will persist in using tobacco, coffee, and tea. Some
of the poor are apt to place all the straight testimony upon the shoulders of the men of
property, but there is something for them to do, a work that they must engage in. They
must deny appetite. Here they can make a sacrifice. God calls upon them to do it. And
after they leave off these hurtful things, if they get into straitened circumstances while
exerting themselves to do the best they can, it will be a privilege for their able brethren to
help them out of difficulty. {15MR 336.1}

In the last vision given at Battle Creek I was shown that an unwise course was taken at
_____ in regard to the visions at the time of the organization of the church there. There
were some in _____ who were God's children, and yet doubted the visions. Others had
no opposition, yet dared not take a decided stand in regard to them. Some were
skeptical, and they had sufficient cause to make them so. The false visions and fanatical
exercises, and the wretched fruits following, had an influence upon the cause in _____, to
make minds jealous of everything bearing the name of visions. All these things should
have been taken into consideration, and wisdom exercised. There should be no trial or
labor with those who have never seen the individual having visions, and who have
had no personal knowledge of the influence of the visions. Such should not be
deprived of the benefits and privileges of the church, if their Christian course is
otherwise correct, and they have formed a good Christian character. {Ev 257.5}

Christ has a church in every age. There are in the church those who are not made
any better by their connection with it. They themselves break the terms of their
election. Obedience to the commandments of God gives us a right to the privileges of
His church (MS 166, 1898). {6BC 1079.5}

They vindicated their position, which was in opposition to that of Paul, by showing
that the course of the apostle, in receiving the Gentiles into the church without
circumcision, prevented more Jews from accepting the faith than there were
accessions from the Gentiles. Thus they excused their opposition to the results of the
calm deliberations of God's acknowledged servants. They refused to admit that the work
of Christ embraced the whole world. They claimed that He was the Saviour of the
Hebrews alone; therefore they maintained that the Gentiles should receive circumcision
before being admitted to the privileges of the church of Christ. {6BC 1110.13}
After the decision of the council at Jerusalem concerning this question, many were
still of this opinion, but did not then push their opposition any farther. The council
had, on that occasion, decided that the converts from the Jewish church might observe the
ordinances of the Mosaic law if they chose, while those ordinances should not be made
obligatory upon converts from the Gentiles. The opposing class now took advantage of
this, to urge a distinction between the observers of the ceremonial law and those who did
not observe it, holding that the latter were farther from God than the former. {6BC
1111.1}

Church relationship is not a light matter. Every believer should be whole-hearted in

his attachment to the church of God. Its prosperity should be his first interest. Unless
he feels under sacred obligations to make his connection with the people of God a
blessing to the church rather than to himself, the church can do far better without him.
But none need stay out because their talents are small or their opportunities limited. It is
in the power of all to do something for the cause of God. They can illustrate in their lives
and characters the teachings of Christ, being at peace with one another and moving in
perfect harmony. They can, too, by a little self-denial, help to bear the financial burdens
of the church. They should not feel at liberty to receive the benefits and share the
privileges of the church relationship without doing this. And if as faithful stewards we
return to God the talents of means he has intrusted to us, he will give more into our
hands. {BEcho, September 1, 1888 par. 9}
Christ saw that unity and Christian fellowship were necessary to the success of his
cause, therefore he enjoined upon his disciples to cultivate these qualities. And the history
of Christianity from that time to this proves conclusively that in union only is there
strength. {BEcho, September 1, 1888 par. 10}
The apostles felt the necessity of strict unity, and labored earnestly to this end. Paul
exhorted his Corinthian brethren: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
{BEcho, September 1, 1888 par. 11}

The tendency of the popular religious teaching of the day is to make the Christian's
pathway as easy and attractive as possible. There is a great deal said concerning faith, but
the necessity of performing the sacred obligations set forth in the word of God, the
necessity of living consistent, godly lives, of being workers together with God, of
denying self, of coming out from the world and separating from its fashions and
follies, is not presented as it should be presented, from the pulpits of the land.
"Believe, only believe," is the burden of the instruction from the sacred desk. Repentance,
confession, and thorough reformation in life and character are not dwelt on, or required
from those who would take part in the privileges of church-fellowship. The line of
distinction between the church and the world has become less positive, because the great
standard of righteousness has not been the standard by which the faith of men and women
was tested and proven. "Only believe" is echoed by thousands who catch up the words
parrot-fashion, and repeat them with no sense of their importance or significance. Says
the prophet, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly,
saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." {ST, March 30, 1888 par. 1}
Many of these religious teachers have developed characters in harmony with their
shallow appreciation of divine truth. It has been agreeable to their carnal hearts to be
released from all responsibility and obligation. They did not desire the inconvenience of
denying self, of taking up the warfare against besetting sins, and of correcting the defects
that marred their characters. They have persuaded themselves that Christ has relieved
them from the duty of purifying themselves even as he is pure. They declare that Christ
has done all, that men have nothing to do but to believe, that good works are impossible
and unnecessary. Such souls are deceived themselves and are agents used of Satan to
deceive others. They do not believe in Jesus. If they had a connection with him, they
would know that he is not the minister of sin. Those who have faith in the Son of God
make manifest what is the character of his mission, by lives of devotion, integrity, and
self-sacrifice, and prove to the world that he came, not to save men in their sins, but from
their sins. He "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." {ST, March 30, 1888 par. 2}

This means that kings and nobles shall be gathered into the kingdom of the Lord. In
the third angel's message we have a truth that is to be worldwide. It must be carried from
village to village, and from city to city. Then do not, because you have a comfortable
home and good church privileges, keep your light under a bushel. Let it shine forth, that it
may give light to all. God bids you hunt up the people that know not the truth of the Word
of God, that you may acquaint them with it.
"Thy gates shall be open continually." Invite the people in. Go in their houses, and
tell them that you have an important message, a message that must go to all the world,
and that you feel a solemn responsibility to give this message to all that will hear it.
{3MR 286.1}
"For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations
shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine
tree, and the box together [these represent persons], to beautify the place of My
sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious." Isaiah 60:12, 13. {3MR
286.2}

The world's Redeemer has invested great power with His church. He states the rules to
be applied in cases of trial with its members. After He has given explicit directions as to
the course to be pursued, He says: "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever [in church discipline] ye shall loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Thus even the heavenly authority ratifies the
discipline of the church in regard to its members when the Bible rule has been
followed. {3T 428.1}
The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in
opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions
against the opinions of the church. If there were no church discipline and government,
the church would go to fragments; it could not hold together as a body. There have
ever been individuals of independent minds who have claimed that they were right, that
God had especially taught, impressed, and led them. Each has a theory of his own, views
peculiar to himself, and each claims that his views are in accordance with the word of
God. Each one has a different theory and faith, yet each claims special light from God.
These draw away from the body, and each one is a separate church of himself. All these
cannot be right, yet they all claim to be led of the Lord. The word of Inspiration is not
Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. {3T 428.2}
Our Saviour follows His lessons of instruction with a promise that if two or three
should be united in asking anything of God it should be given them. Christ here shows
that there must be union with others, even in our desires for a given object. Great
importance is attached to the united prayer, the union of purpose. God hears the prayers
of individuals, but on this occasion Jesus was giving especial and important lessons that
were to have a special bearing upon His newly organized church on the earth. There must
be an agreement in the things which they desire and for which they pray. It was not
merely the thoughts and exercises of one mind, liable to deception; but the petition was to
be the earnest desire of several minds centered on the same point. {3T 429.1}

Do not, my sisters, trifle longer with your own souls and with God. I have been shown
that the main cause of your backsliding is your love of dress. This leads to the neglect of
grave responsibilities, and you find yourselves with scarcely a spark of the love of God in
your hearts. Without delay, renounce the cause of your backsliding, because it is sin
against your own soul and against God. Be not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Fashion is deteriorating the intellect and eating out the spirituality of our people.
Obedience to fashion is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches and is doing
more than any other power to separate our people from God. I have been shown
that our church rules are very deficient. All exhibitions of pride in dress, which is
forbidden in the word of God, should be sufficient reason for church discipline. If
there is a continuance, in face of warnings and appeals and entreaties, to still follow the
perverse will, it may be regarded as proof that the heart is in no way assimilated to Christ.
Self, and only self, is the object of adoration, and one such professed Christian will lead
many away from God. {4T 647.2}
There is a terrible sin upon us as a people, that we have permitted our church members
to dress in a manner inconsistent with their faith. We must arise at once and close the
door against the allurements of fashion. Unless we do this, our churches will become
demoralized. {4T 648.1}

With wise, firm government these children might have been useful members of
society; as it is, they are a curse, a reproach to our faith. They are vain, frivolous, willful,
extravagant. They have but little reverence for their parents, and their consciences are far
from sensitive. They have had their own way, and their wishes have governed their
parents, until it is almost impossible to arouse their moral sensibilities. The natural
tendencies of the parents, particularly those that are objectionable, are strongly developed
in the children. The whole family, parents and children, are under divine censure; and
none of them can hope to enter the peaceful abodes of bliss unless they will take up their
long-neglected duties and, in the spirit of Christ, build up characters that God can
approve. {5T 327.1}
Parents are responsible for the work coming from their hands. They should have
wisdom and firmness to do their work faithfully and in the right spirit. They are to train
their children for usefulness by developing their God-given talents. A failure to do this
should not be winked at, but should be made a matter of church discipline, for it will
bring the curse of God on the parents and a reproach and grievous trials and difficulties
on the church. A moral leprosy that is contagious, polluting the bodies and souls of the
youth, often results from a failure to discipline and restrain the young; and it is time that
something was done to check its ravages. {5T 327.2}

When any one comes to a minister or to men in positions of trust, with complaints
about a brother or sister, let them ask the reporter, "Have you complied with the rules our
Saviour has given?" and if he has failed to carry out any particular of this instruction, do
not listen to a word of his complaint. Refuse to take up a report against your brother or
sister in the faith. If members of the church go entirely contrary to these rules, they make
themselves subjects of church discipline and should be put under the censure of the
church. This matter, so plainly taught in the lessons of Christ, has been passed over with
strange indifference. The church has either neglected her work entirely, or has done it
with harshness and severity, wounding and bruising souls. Measures should be taken to
correct this cruel spirit of criticism, of judging one another's motives, as though Christ
had revealed to men the hearts of their brethren. The neglect of doing aright, with wisdom
and grace, the work that ought to have been done, has left churches weak, inefficient, and
almost Christless. {HM, February 1, 1892 par. 12}

Those who are associated together in church capacity have entered into a relationship
with one another which implies mutual responsibility. They have individually pledged
themselves to God and to their brethren to build up one another in the most holy faith,--to
build up, not to tear down. No church can be in a healthy, flourishing condition unless its
leaders shall take firm, decided measures to repress this fault-finding, accusing spirit
wherever it exists. Its indulgence should be made a matter of church discipline; for it is a
violation of the law of God, a violation of the rules which Christ has laid down for
preserving order in the church. If these mischievous talkers are not subjected to church
discipline they become confirmed in their evil work, and God charges the guilt upon the
church. {RH, October 19, 1886 par. 10}

Let none speak lightly of the duty of the church to administer censure and rebuke;
neither let them criticize the action of the church when this painful task becomes
necessary. Christ has given plain instruction regarding the duty of the church toward
those who, while professing to be loyal members, are bringing dishonor to the cause of
God by their course of action. "Every plant, which my Heavenly Father hath not planted,"
he says, "shall be rooted up." God has commanded that those who prove themselves
unworthy of church-fellowship shall be separated from his body. Those who speak
against the exercise of this authority, speak against the authority of Christ. {RH, March
19, 1908 par. 15}
The one who first brought temptation into the courts of heaven is constantly working
against the peace and prosperity of the church on earth. To those who will listen to his
words, Satan represents the authority of the church as harsh and lacking in sympathy,
because it seeks to free the members from corrupting influences. It was Satan's purpose in
heaven to dethrone God, and himself take the place of the Most High. He failed in this
purpose, and was cast out from the heavenly courts; and since that time he has tried to
instil in the hearts of men and women the belief that God is arbitrary and harsh in his
dealings with his creatures. {RH, March 19, 1908 par. 16}
The church does injustice to God when it allows to exist as part of itself elements that
are bringing dishonor to his cause. In the responsibilities God has laid upon his church,
he gives to each individual a part to act, with encouragement to draw upon the wisdom of
God for his help. But there are those who depart from the way of the Lord, and who take
sides with the tempter and his sympathizers; and there should be those in the church who
in the fear of God will act with justice and righteousness and faithfulness in administering
reproof. -- Ellen G. White. {RH, March 19, 1908 par. 17}

The physicians employed in our institutions should have a sacred regard for honor and
loyalty. If they fail to walk uprightly and unselfishly; if they do not honor the principles
that should control the followers of Christ in any and every branch of the work, then let
the church take action in their case. Let the Bible rule be followed, just as the Master has
taught. Be the physician great or small, if he refuses to submit to church discipline, after
suitable time has been given for patient labor according to Christ's direction, he should be
separated from the church as unworthy of its fellowship. The fact that the physician
occupies a position of influence is the very reason why, in the case of any unchristian
practise on his part, there should be careful investigation by judicious persons. Let our
health institutions be purged of every evil, that the blessing of God may rest upon these
his instrumentalities. {PH066 4.3}

Dear Brother [Jones]: I did not feel free to bring into the testimony I read while I was
in Oakland all that had been shown me concerning your work. But I must tell you plainly
that your views in regard to church discipline are not in harmony with the Word of God.
You are wide of the mark. God calls upon you, my brother, to weigh your words carefully
before you speak them to the congregation. {11MR 208.1}
You have been given great light upon the Bible. God has helped you to make truth
appear in its true bearing before the people, but this is no excuse for you to speak words
that have no foundation in the Word of God; words that, if carried out, would bring our
churches to the place where they would need the reproof, "My house shall be called a
house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13). {11MR 208.2}
The names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the church
books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds. Those who pursue a course
of transgression should be visited and labored with, and if they then refuse to repent, they
should be separated from church fellowship, in accordance with the rules laid down in the
Word of God. {11MR 208.3}
[Matthew 5:23, 24; 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:9, 10; Romans 1:16-18; 2 John 9-11,
quoted.]

Elders and deacons are chosen to have a care for the prosperity of the church; yet these
leaders, especially in young churches, should not feel at liberty, on their own judgment
and responsibility, to cut off offending members from the church; they are not invested
with such authority. Many indulge a zeal like that of Jehu and rashly venture to make
decisions in matters of grave importance, while they themselves have no connection with
God. They should humbly and earnestly seek wisdom from the One who has placed them
in their position, and should be very modest in assuming responsibilities. They should
also lay the matter before the president of their conference and counsel with him. At some
appointed time the subject should be patiently considered. In the fear of God, with much
humility and sorrow for the erring, who are the purchase of the blood of Christ, with
earnest, humble prayer the proper officers should deal with the offenders. How different
has been the course when, with self-assumed authority and a hard, unfeeling spirit,
accusations have been made and souls have been thrust out of the church of Christ.
{12MR 113.1}
The matter should be thoroughly investigated before any action is taken. Let such
questions as the following be carefully considered: What is the charge brought against the
erring? Has the law of God been willfully transgressed? Has the offender been dishonest
in his dealing with his brethren or the world? Has he been guilty of licentious conduct?
Has he been untruthful? Has he practiced deception? Has he been severe, overbearing,
and abusive in his family, with his neighbors, his brethren, or worldlings? Has he shown a
spirit of penuriousness, selfishness, covetousness, doubt, faultfinding, or talebearing? Has
he talked of the faults of his brethren, magnifying their wrongs, and cherished a spirit of
bitterness toward them, thus endangering the prosperity and unity of the church? {12MR
113.2}
---

Dear Brother Michael,

Yesterday I had many things I wanted to share with you. But time and orderly speech
would not allow. Perhaps email will allow us to dialogue more effectively.

First, I want to reiterate that I appreciate your spirit. You are warm and dedicated to the
truths of the Bible and of the Testimonies. I have no reason to doubt this. And you are
frank in discussing the errors of men – both SDA and SDARM.

There are some points in the study you began to present yesterday that deserve more
careful scrutiny than they received.
I want to be sensitive here, but I need to be frank. When you spoke about how the
Jehovah's Witnesses slip and slide around to escape being nailed down, you made a valid
criticism. They escape by bringing up several issues simultaneously so that if you wish to
stop and show the error in one point you will get several points behind as they move
forward.

This is precisely what happens when anyone presents too large a volume of "evidence"
for the listener/reader to investigate prior to the next study. Such a method virtually
communicates that the only kind of personal investigation necessary is to check the
sources and see what they say.

Here are some questions brought up by the statements you read yesterday:

Is the remnant church the SDA or the SDARM?

Has there been another "calling out" as in AD 31 and in AD 1842? Was there another in
the 1920's?
Why was there not a "calling out" in BC 400 or BC 200 or BC 50 or AD 10? Why not in
AD 1100 or AD 1300 or AD 1450? Why not in 1865? Or in 1910?
Has there ever been a "calling out" that was not plainly indicated by prophecy?
Is a "calling out" precipitated by an unconverted leadership and people, or, rather, by an
open and willful repudiation of present truth?

My point is that each of these questions requires a great deal of study. The answer to the
first is "neither." But that would not have been apparent to a listener. They would have
gathered that the "remnant" is a comparatively faithful organized body. The difference
between a visible church and an invisible church is no small difference.

You probably noted how someone listening to the study would gather that the 1901
General Conference was a water-shed in the wrong direction – expecting that the
introductory remarks were a prophecy of another movement on the horizon.

But how different the matter appears when the whole record is examined. God overruled
men's stubborn and wicked spirits to bring about a change in organization. That was the
gist of the statement I read.

Someone listening to the study would justifiably suppose that the reorganization called
for was for denominational revival. But a little reading beyond the opening statement
would reveal what the delegates in 1901 heard – God was calling for a reorganization in
terms of representative committee action and authority. And this is precisely what was
carried out.

Here are men who are standing at the head of our various institutions, of
the educational interests, and of the conferences in different localities and in
different States. All these are to stand as representative men, to have a voice
in molding and fashioning the plans that shall be carried out. There are to be
more than one or two or three men to consider the whole vast field. The work
 is great, and there is no one human mind that can plan for the work which
needs to be done. . . . {LDE 53.2}
Now I want to say, God has not put any kingly power in our ranks to
control this or that branch of the work. The work has been greatly restricted
by the efforts to control it in every line. . . . There must be a renovation, a
reorganization; a power and strength must be brought into the committees
that are necessary." [FROM ELLEN WHITE'S OPENING ADDRESS ON
APRIL 2, 1901, TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION IN
BATTLE CREEK.]--GCB April 3, 1901, pp. 25, 26. {LDE 53.3}

One could gather, from listening or reading the study, that God starts a new organization
every time spiritual leadership significantly flounders. One would think that this was the
way God deals with every generation and every branch of his work.

And nothing could be further from the truth. In general, what God rejects is a generation.
When one generation fails, they are rejected. Their candlestick is removed. And the next
generation is tested. This has been God's regular method of dealing with spiritual
declension from age to age.

I am not accusing you, or anyone else, of attempting to deceive. Rather, I am suggesting

that the method of "study" – namely reading someone else's compilation and checking
references – is not truly study.

One thing that would need to be addressed in any study like the one begun last night is:
What was wrong with the teaching of the man in 1896 who compiled evidence for a
coming out at that time of a holier people? Truly, the nature of his writing and style are so
similar to what we heard yesterday.

Will someone say it was because he used the word "Babylon" when he should have used
some other word? But that will not stand up under the light of the counsels Ellen White
sent him. Was it because there was a significant change in the moral integrity of the
leadership of the church between 1896 and 1930? Was he just a couple decades early?

But all these questions should take second place. We should begin with a Bible study.
This is the order established by both the Bible and the Testimonies. The teachings of even
the apostle Paul were compared with the standard of the Bible by the noble Bereans. The
Bible is small enough that an exhaustive study of a theme may be carefully done by a
working man. And everyone can have their Bibles present when such a study is given…
allowing for checking and counter-checking.

Next week, God willing, I will address a few thoughts in a Bible study related to the
question of test of fellowship.

But before then I look forward to hearing from you.

Be faithful, always, and in small things,

Eugene Prewitt

The Teaching of the Church

When one speaks of the teaching of "the church" one may become confused.

For example, in the days of Paul you could find teachers and leaders promoting the
following ideas:

1. That letters from the Apostle John were not reliable. 3 Jn.
2. That the resurrection had already been fulfilled. 2Ti 2:17-18
3. That Paul taught that doing evil brings "good" to us from heaven since. Ro 3:7-8.
4. That Gentiles must keep the non-sacrificial parts of the ceremonial law to be
saved. Ac 15:1.

The last of these ideas was held by prominent men, the kind that even intimidated the
apostle Peter (Galatians 2).

Recommendation from an member that is an acquaintance. "Teaching them to observe all

things whatsoever I have commanded thee." [But "teaching them to" is after "baptizing
them" in the commission."]

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.

Issue: Inspiration or Experience? [Cold Experience]

5.
6. UL – with every branch…church….organization or local
7. Implication – separation in every generation
8. Remnant – invisible; seed – invisible
9. Philadelphia vs Laodicea
10. Public Education
11. 1901-1913
a. 5T 217