Here in San Antonio, Texas, the 60th General Conference Session began in a most glorious manner. Elder Ted N.C. Wilson was re-elected General Conference president by a great majority. We praise and thank God for His working in this election victory. Of course, one man does not a church make. Church delegates from around the world continued the business of the church and elected additional General Conference officers including vice presidents which included division presidents.
We are sure that God has blessed many of the divisions around the world with good consecrated leaders. In the North American division, where rebellion has sprung up, the session delegates elected Daniel Jackson to a new five-year term. It is hard to comprehend how the delegates are not aware of what has
Rebellion has sprung up in God's Church!
|
transpired in that division. But, I am sure there are many delegates that have that knowledge. The Session chair did not separate out individual presidents when presenting the nominations, they were presented as a group to be voted upon. The same was done for the vice presidents who were not division presidents. It appears that a delegate is more likely to approve a block rather than to vote no if he's not sure about one candidate. It does not appear to be a good method for electing church leaders. On the other hand, the real election takes place in the nominating committee almost all of the time. We see this in the local church also. Seldom is the nominating committee's overturned. They hold the greater responsibility for the performance of church leaders.
In speaking with some of the delegates before they voted for the vice presidents, I discovered they did not know one of the nominees for General Conference Vice President, Thomas L. Lemon had refused to follow the world church's vote on women's ordination. When he was approved in a block vote many did not know he had said this three years ago after the Mid-America Union's Executive Committee voted to Support the ordination of women. “To me, this means that we will no longer allow gender to prejudice decisions about candidates brought to this body for consideration.” 1
The Mid-America Union was the first Union to vote to ordain women ministers before the World Church votes on the matter at San Antonio, and contrary to the existing rules voted by the General Conference in Session in 1990 at Indianapolis and again in 1995 at Utrecht. Their influence led other unions into the rebellion against the world church. We have been and continue to call rebellion, rebellion. At this Session in San Antonio, delegates from around the world are deciding important matters. When they vote, it is binding law within the church. I doubt that most delegates and church leaders are thinking that when the voting is over, there is going to be overt disregard for what they have just voted into church law. Yet, that is just what the NAD President and Mid-America Union president have been doing by either stating they will ignore gender when ordaining new pastors or by allowing these ordinations, and encouraging them as NAD president, Daniel Jackson has been doing.
We now ask, what will be the influence of having elected to General Conference office these two men who have participated in the rebellion? If tomorrow, Wednesday, the General Conference in session votes "no" to ordaining women ministers, do we expect these two who are in rebellion will cea
The influence of having elected the rebellious
|
se their activities? "I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable." 2 God can do amazing things in answer to prayer. It is our hope that the second chance given to these two men and others who who have followed in their footsteps, will bring about repentance in their lives. Korah did not turn from his rebellion and his end was not good. We pray for a better outcome for these two General Conference Vice Presidents and all who have chosen to set their faces against the World Church and Scripture.
Sandra Roberts, president of Southeastern California Conference is thrilled at the election of Daniel Jackson. No matter what happens tomorrow with the Women's Ordination vote Sandra Roberts said "we are committed to the values we have in Southeastern." Roberts Interview
There are many who believe women may be placed as leaders over men, but they do not violate conference bylaws. They are not in rebellion, for they have followed the decisions of the World Church in regards to women's ordination. We pray they will continue to not violate General Conference laws, and will not support those who continue in rebellion by ordaining women elders. If the rebellion continues, precious souls will be led away from Jesus Christ. The shaking has begun, the goats are being
| Obedience is the result of a full surrender to Christ and the infilling of the Spirit. |
separated from the sheep. It is the decision made by the individual that determines on which side he stands. Jesus longs for the hearts of all sinners, but He will not force love, He cannot. Obedience is the result of a full surrender to Christ and the infilling of the Spirit. We must have Jesus if we want to walk in the light of His love and grace. We may plead with church leaders to deal with the rebellion, but in the end, it will be the power of God that must move upon the hearts of those whom He fills with His Spirit. The principle is clearly set forth in this inspired statement. "All the struggles to carry our appeals to the highest authorities in our land, however earnest and strong and eloquent may be the pleas in our favor, will not bring about that which we desire unless the Lord works by His Holy Spirit in the heart of those who claim to believe the truth. We may struggle as a mighty man in swimming against the current of Niagara, but we shall fail unless the Lord pleads in our behalf. God will be honored among His people. They must be pure, they must be divested of self, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." 3
Let us faithfully continue to pray for both the sinners and the saints who are in responsible leadership positions in God's church. The greatest crisis to fall upon the Seventh-day Adventist Church is before our eyes. The vote in San Antonio tomorrow will not relieve that crisis. Either way, the division in the church will remain. There cannot be unity in the church unless it is on the foundation of Truth, Bible Truth. Only the Spirit of Christ can unite the church and it can only happen when self is hidden in Christ. May we each be found clinging to Christ that we may be a savor of life unto life rather than death unto death.
On a closing note, in all of the General Conference Sessions I have attended, I have never heard it said from the platform that this could be the last General Conference Session. I have heard it on three separate occasions and we are only half way through the Session! Prophecies are fast fulfilling and revival and reformation is coming in God's church.
Said he, “All the thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai cannot move those who will not be moved
|
“Get ready
get ready
get ready”
|
by the plain truths in the Word of God. Neither would an angel’s message move or awake them.” I saw that the rebels must and will be purged out. The angel said, “Get ready, get ready, get ready.”
I saw that the judgments were just upon us, and that the trouble would soon be to this land, and that blood would flow in streams. The angel said,“It will soon be even to the horses’ bridles.” That was an awful time.
I saw that we must be willing to go alone, and that we must cut loose from everyone who will not walk godly in Christ Jesus. I saw that the unbelief of brother or sister, father or mother, husband, wife, or children, was no excuse for any, to hinder them from doing their duty; and that those will lose their souls if they seek to please their unbelieving friends more than God, and they will be counted unworthy to be partakers of Christ’s glory.
I saw that Jesus was rejected by His own nation, and if Jesus suffered we must be partakers of His sufferings. Said the angel, “Cut clear, cut clear, cut clear from everything or anyone that hinders thy progress.” I saw that the ties of nature between man and wife, parents and children, need not be severed. Still, those who believe God and His truth must obey God even if it displeased their nearest and dearest friend. I saw that there would be no chance to get ready after Jesus leaves the most holy place, therefore we must get right now, while there is a chance. Very soon it will be too late. 4
1 Mid-America Union Communication Department Press Releases Regarding the Executive Committee Vote on March 8, 2012 to Support the Ordination of Women in Mid-America
2 EG White; SDABC, vol. 1, pg. 1114
3 EG White; 12MR, pg. 323
4 EG White; 16MR, pg. 33
|
|
Topics and Links
If you know of one who would benefit from our newsletter,
|
