The warning has been
given
We are NOT to be Shepherded by Adulterous Ministers!
We
are nearing the judgment, and those who bear the message of warning to the
world must have clean hands and pure hearts. They must have a living
connection with God, or He will not accept it. Recent
painful developments of evil are one of the greatest evidences we have
that the end is near. Satan, like a roaring lion, is going about, seeking
whom he may devour; and if men and women, under the blazing light that now
shines in this perilous time, will be found fornicators, I am afraid that
God will separate them from the work forever. The
youth, for misdemeanors of a comparatively light character, are treated
with much severity; but when men and women of large experience, who have
been considered patterns of piety, are revealed in their true
character, unsanctified, unholy, impure in thought, debased in
conduct, then it is time for such to be dealt with in a decided
manner. The greater forbearance that is exercised toward them has
only had, as far as my knowledge extends, the influence to cause them to
regard their fornication and adultery as a very light matter, and all
their pretense has proved to be like morning dew when the sun shines upon
it. No
sooner are they placed in temptation than they reveal their moral
defects that they are not partakers of the divine nature, neither have
they escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust; but that
they are earthly, sensual, and devilish. Satan finds in them something
that he can work up into marked iniquity, and he improves his opportunity,
and the result is, those who claim to be shepherds of the flock are
carnally minded, leading the sheep in their care, whose purity, modesty,
and virtue they should strictly guard, into licentiousness and lewdness.
Angels of heaven are looking on with shame and grief and disgust. How
can the pure angels of heaven minister unto this class? How can they bring
heavenly light into the assemblies where such ministers are advocating the
law of God, but breaking that law whenever a favorable
opportunity presents itself; living a lie, pursuing an underhanded
course, working in secret, nursing their polluted thoughts and inflaming
their passions, and then taking advantage of women or men who are tempted,
like themselves, to break down all barriers and debase their bodies and
pollute their souls? How can they do this thing? How can they have any
fear of God before them? How can they have any love for God in their
souls? Of what value is their faith in the truth? Cleanse
the camp of this moral corruption, if it takes the highest men in the
highest positions. God will not be trifled with. Fornication is in our
ranks; I know it, for it has been shown me to be strengthening and
extending its pollutions. There is much we will never know; but that which
is revealed makes the church responsible and guilty unless they show a
determined effort to eradicate the evil. Cleanse the camp, for there is an
accursed thing in it. The
words of God to Joshua are: Neither will I be with you any more, except
ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say
Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the Lord God of
Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou
canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed
thing from among you. These things are written for our benefit, upon
whom the ends of the world are come. Testimonies to Ministers,
426:2-428:1. A
preacher may be dealing in sacred, holy things, and yet not be holy in
heart. He may give himself to Satan to work wickedness and to corrupt the
souls and bodies of his flock. Yet if the minds of women and youth
professing to love and fear God were fortified with His Spirit, if they
had trained their minds to purity of thought and educated themselves to
avoid all appearance of evil, they would be safe from any improper
advances and be secure from the corruption prevailing around them. 2
Testimonies, 456:4-457:0. What
can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers who stand
before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their hearts are
corrupt, their hands unclean. Yet many are crying, Peace, peace; and
the workers of iniquity are not alarmed. The Lords hand is not
shortened that He cannot save, nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear; but
it is our sins that have separated us from God. The church is corrupt
because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls . . The
prevailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity and apostasy--a
spirit of pretended illumination because of a knowledge of the truth, but
in reality of the blindest presumption. There is a spirit of opposition to
the plain Word of God and to the testimony of His Spirit. There is a
spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human reason above the revealed
wisdom of God. There
are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a
few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the
truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit. Such a faith as
that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned and insufferable
at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an
intelligent mind. God
has shown me that these men are Hazaels to prove a scourge our
people. 5 Testimonies, 78:4-79:3. The
example of those who minister in holy things should be such as to impress
the people with reverence for God and with fear to offend Him. When men,
standing in Christ's stead (2 Corinthians 5:20) to speak to the
people Gods message of mercy and reconciliation, use their sacred
calling as a cloak for selfish or sensual gratification, they make
themselves the most effective agents of Satan. Like Hophni an Phinehas,
they cause men to abhor the offering of the Lord. They may pursue
their evil course in secret for a time; but when at last their true
character is exposed, the faith of the people receives a shock that often
results in destroying their confidence in religion. There is left upon the
mind a distrust of all who profess to teach the Word of God. The message
of the true servant of God loses its power upon the souls of men. In
Elis reproof to his sons are words of solemn and fearful import--words
that all who minister in sacred things would do well to ponder: If one
man sin against another, the judge shall
judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for
him? Had their crimes injured only their fellow men, the judge might
have made reconciliation by appointing a penalty and requiring
restitution; and thus the offenders might have been pardoned. Or had they
not been guilty of a presumptuous sin, a sin offering might have been
presented for them. But their sins were so interwoven with their
ministration as priests of the Most High, in offering sacrifice for sin,
the work of God was so profaned and dishonored before the people, that no
expiation could be accepted for them. Their own father, though himself
high priest, dared not make intercession in their behalf; he could not
shield them from the wrath of God. Of all sinners, those are most guilty
who cast contempt upon the means that Heaven has provided for mans
redemption--who crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
Him to open shame. Patriarchs and Prophets, 580:1-2. The
Lord would have His people divested of everything unscriptural in regard
to the ministry. The men called to the ministry should not be made idols
of; they should not be looked upon with superstitious reverence; and
because of the power vested in them through their office, sin in them
should not lose its offensiveness. Their very office makes sin in them
more exceedingly sinful; for in committing sin they make themselves the
ministers of sin, the agents of Satan, through whom he can work with
success to perpetuate sin. All
should bear in mind that Satan's special efforts are directed against
the ministry. He knows that it is but a human instrumentality, possessing
no grace or holiness of its own. He knows that it is an agent that God has
ordained to be a powerful means for the salvation of souls, and is
efficacious only as God, the eternal Spirit, makes it so. He knows that
the treasure of the gospel is in earthen vessels, that it is Gods power
alone that can make them vessels of honor. They may cultivate the
vineyard, a Paul may plant and an Apollos water, but God alone can give
the increase. Testimonies to Ministers, 404:1-2. From
the picture that has been presented before me of the corruption of men and
women professing godliness, I have feared that I should altogether lose
confidence in humanity. I have seen that a fearful stupor is upon nearly
all. It is almost impossible to arouse the very ones who should be
awakened, so as to have any just sense of the power which Satan holds over
minds. They are not aware of the corruption teeming all around them. Satan
has blinded their minds and lulled them to carnal security. The failures
in our efforts to bring others up to understand the great dangers that
beset souls have sometimes led me to fear that my ideas of the depravity
of the human heart were exaggerated. But when facts are brought to us
showing the sad deformity of one who has dared to minister in sacred
things while corrupt at heart, one whose sin-stained hands have profaned
the vessels of the Lord, I am sure that I have not drawn the picture any
too strong. I
have been bearing a very strong testimony, both in writing and in
speaking, hoping to awaken Gods people to understand that they have
fallen upon perilous times. 2 Testimonies, 478:1-2. Let
the attractions of pleasure or selfish gratification be presented, and
conscience will be sacrificed to gain the coveted indulgence. Can such a
person be trusted? Never! In the absence of temptation he may carry
himself with such seeming propriety that your doubts and suspicions appear
unjust; but let opportunity be presented, and he will betray your
confidence. He is unsound at heart. Just at the time when firmness and
principle are most required, you will find him giving way; and if he does
not become an Arnold or a Judas, it is because he lacks a fitting
opportunity. 5 Testimonies 43:3-44:0. Belshazzar,
while engaged in his sacrilegious feast, was not aware that he had guests
he had not invited. The God of heaven heard the praises bestowed upon
vessels of gold and silver. He saw the desecration of that which had been
dedicated to Him by holy consecration applied to profane and licentious
purposes. It is a truth which should make every one of us weep, that those
living in these last days, upon whom the ends of the world are come, are
far more guilty than was Belshazzar. This is possible in many ways. When
men have taken upon
themselves the vows of consecration, to devote all their powers to
the sacred service of God; when they occupy the position of expositors of
Bible truth, and have received the solemn charge; when God and angels are
summoned as witnesses to the solemn dedication of soul, body, and spirit
to Gods service--then shall these men who minister in a most holy
office desecrate their God-given powers to unholy purposes? Shall the
sacred vessel, whom God is to use for a high and holy work, be dragged
from its lofty, controlling sphere to administer to debasing lust? Is not
this idol worship of the most degrading kind?--the lips uttering praises
and adoring a sinful human being, pouring forth expressions of ravishing
tenderness and adulation which belong alone to God--the powers given to
God in solemn consecration administering to a harlot; for any woman who
will allow the addresses of another man than her husband, who will listen
to his advances, and whose ears will be pleased with the outpouring of
lavish words of affection, of adoration, of endearment, is an adulterous
and a harlot. Testimonies to Ministers,
434:1-435:0. Two
quotations to remember: Corrupt
men think it easier to misinterpret the Scriptures to sustain them in
their iniquity than to yield up their corruption and sin and be pure in
heart and life. Adventist Home, 329:3. Men
who are doing Gods work, and who have Christ abiding in their hearts,
will not lower the standard of morality, but will ever seek to elevate
it. Adventist Home 335:2. The
above two statements (both dealing with the context of this entire report)
clearly identify the godly ones and the corrupt ones in our church. It is
only the corrupt who, in heart, try to lower the standards of Gods
people. What
sin can be greater than that? May
God help His children to flee from evil, and study and obey His Word in
these final days on earth.
Vance Ferrell |