In our continuing series on a fundamental belief in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we want to discuss another area of ministry that reveals the church remains in a Laodicean condition. As we do so, let us remember the Laodicean message is an encouraging message revealing that Jesus loves His church and stands at the door of many hearts, pleading for entrance.
 

A most important institution in the organized church is the communications system. The book work, magazines, radio, television, and internet all are a part of the organized effort of the church to spread the gospel message around the world. Some do not see the need to have an organized church to do world-wide missionary work, they believe God can do the work without the organized church. Therefore, the faithful will need to withdraw from the institutions and leaders that hold control in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Not so. God will not allow His organized church to be broken up into little atoms.

     Some people seem to think that upon entering the church they will have their expectations fulfilled, and meet only with those who are pure and perfect. They are zealous in their faith, and when they see faults in church members, they say, “We left the world in order to have no association with evil characters, but the evil is here also;” and they ask, as did the servants in the parable, “From whence then hath it tares?” But we need not be thus disappointed, for the Lord has not warranted us in coming to the conclusion that the church is perfect; and all our zeal will not be successful in making the church militant as pure as the church triumphant. The Lord forbids us to proceed in any violent way against those whom we think erring, and we are not to deal out excommunications and denunciations to those who are faulty.
 
Finite man is likely to misjudge character, but God does not leave the work of judgment and pronouncing upon

The work of separation is given to the angels of God

character to those who are not fitted for it. We are not to say what constitutes the wheat, and what the tares. The time of the harvest will fully determine the character of the two classes specified under the figure of the tares and the wheat. The work of separation is given to the angels of God, and not committed into the hands of any man. _[1]

It may be that many of the unfaithful will be sifted out in the time of "the shaking." Not all will stay in the organized church.

     In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But, it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the daytime we look toward heaven, but do not see stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster. 
     The time is not far distant, when the test will come to every soul..........In this time, the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy, will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness. _[2]

Now while we have a Mediator, we may choose to repent and turn to Jesus with the whole heart. Then, the communications coming from the church will be that which glorifies God and reveals the gospel truth. Is this not the work of publishing houses, television, radio, and internet ministries? Yet, we find many messages being proclaimed are not in harmony. One book coming of the press will teach a "gospel" message different from another book coming off the same press. It is not a secret that our presses, magazines, television, radio, and internet ministries publish multiple "gospels." We read in one book that there is a "monstrous teaching" in the church. What is that "monstrous teaching" according to the author of that book? "Every  time  we  fall  or  sin  we  become  unjustified. This  is  another  common misunderstanding about justification.  It is a monstrous teaching that has no support from the Word of God."_[3]

We could go on and on quoting many differing "gospels" being published in the church today. It is not kept secret, yet it continues without objection by church leaders throughout the church. What does God think about this publishing of multiple "gospels"? There is a Bible teaching on this, but it is kept out of all of these communication ministries. I cannot think of one time this Bible teaching has been presented in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8,9.

It is not necessary to identify the real gospel to understand someone is "accursed". Only one can be right, the rest come under the title "any other gospel." None will argue against the fact this has been going on for many years, at least the 30 plus years I have been in God's church. As I read in the Spirit of Prophecy, I find it even happened when a prophet was in the church. The result being what the prophet had to say about the condition of most in the church at that time (1897). "The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ." _[4]

Are there perplexities in God's church today? Yes, there are, perplexities never seen in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Could it be in response to multiple gospels being published in the church? Would false gospels lead to symptoms such as teaching evolution in our schools, multitudes going out the back door after being baptized, young people going out the front door, and rebellion taking place in four divisions? Could that be what God meant when He inspired Paul to use the term "accursed"? If the false gospels were not broadcast widely around the world by our communications ministries, the results would not be as great. But, this is the goal of organized communications, to spread the "truth" around the world. Are we not to take the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people?

We have a most important work to do,—the work of proclaiming the third angel’s message. We are facing the most important issues that men have ever been called to meet. All should understand the truths contained in the three messages; for they are essential to salvation. My brethren, will you not give the flock of God bread, and not a stone? Never print in our papers a word that will lower the standard that God expects His people to meet. Call no man brilliant who has not the wisdom to choose the Lord Jesus Christ—the light and life of the world. The excellence of a man is determined by his possession of the virtues of Christ. Let us not look away from Christ to sinful human beings. The truth must be kept before the people. The standard of purity, temperance, and holiness must be uplifted. _[5]

This is certainly a high calling, one which we shall meet. The Lord has promised revival and reformation. But, first we must acknowledge our sin. Jesus stands at the door knocking. Revival will come, but until then, we need to study the light given that we might know where we err.

     The power and efficiency of our work depend largely on the character of the literature that comes from our presses. Therefore great care should be exercised in the choice and preparation of the matter that is to go to the

Lead the people away from the broken cisterns

world. The greatest caution and discrimination are needed. Our energies should be devoted to the publication of literature of the purest quality and the most elevating character. Our periodicals must go forth laden with truth that has a vital, spiritual interest for the people.
     God has placed in our hands a banner upon which is inscribed, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. This is a distinct, separating message,—a message that is to give no uncertain sound. It is to lead the people away from the broken cisterns that contain no water, to the unfailing Fountain of the water of life.
     Our publications have a most sacred work to do in making clear, simple, and plain the spiritual basis of our faith. Everywhere the people are taking sides; all are ranging themselves either under the banner of truth and righteousness or under the banner of the apostate powers that are contending for the supremacy. At this time God’s message to the world is to be given with such prominence and power that the people will be brought face to face, mind to mind, heart to heart, with truth. They must be brought to see its superiority over the multitudinous errors that are pushing their way into notice, to supplant, if possible, the word of God for this solemn time.
     The great object of our publications is to exalt God, to call men’s attention to the living truths of His word. God calls upon us to lift up, not our own standard, not the standard of this world, but His standard of truth.
It is only as we do this that His prospering hand can be with us. Consider God’s dealings with His people in the past. Notice how, while they carried His banner, He exalted them before their enemies. But when in self-exaltation they departed from their allegiance, when they exalted a power and a principle that were opposed to Him, they were left to bring upon themselves disaster and defeat. _[6]

 

This gives us much information as to what we are to be publishing and what we are not to publish, if we want to avert the disaster that will certainly come from departing from the truth. We remember the loss of the Review and Herald building many years ago. There needs to be some changes made sooner than later if we are serious about change.

     Should there be no guard against the publication of erroneous theories, our own publishing houses would become the agents for disseminating false theories.   _[7]

If we want good fruits coming from our communications ministry, then we need to have pious men in high places. We do not expect to get good fruit from a bad tree. Nor will we get sweet water from a broken cistern. We must appoint consecrated and experienced "guards".

     Great care should be exercised in selecting the members of the book committee. The men who are to pass judgment on the books offered for publication should be few and well chosen. Only such as have an experimental knowledge of authorship are qualified to act in this capacity. Only those should be chosen whose hearts are under the control of the Spirit of God. They should be men of prayer, men who do not exalt self, but who love and fear God, and respect their brethren. Only such as, in distrust of self, are led by divine wisdom, are competent to fill this important position. _[8]

 

Of course this counsel applies to more than books. All of the truth being published no matter what type of medium, it must be carefully reviewed by consecrated men so that no error comes forth from God's church. At least we are to do all we can to prevent it.

God loves us! The church is the apple of His eye. Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners. He knew where we would be today. That is not an excuse, but it ought to encourage us that even though we have hurt Him greatly, He still loves us even as He still loved Peter after his denial.

     There is no excuse for defection or despondency, because all the promises of heavenly grace are for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. The intensity of desire represented by hungering and thirsting is a

All the promises of heavenly grace are for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness

pledge that the coveted supply will be given. Just as soon as we realize our inability to do God’s work and submit to be guided by His wisdom, the Lord can work with us. If we will empty the soul of self, He will supply all our necessities. _[9]

We have attempted to share the Laodicean message in a manner that will help those who are seeking truth to understand why we have so many difficulties in the church. Jesus tells us plainly in His message found in the third chapter of the Book of Revelation. This failure to follow the light given in these areas of ministry are not the problem, they are only symptoms of a much deeper problem. Jesus tells us the problem and He reveals the answer in the same message to our Laodicean church. We need Jesus. We need to know Him better, that we can trust Him with all we are and all we have. If we would spend a thoughtful hour a day beholding His grace, we would be born again, and the church would see revival and reformation. Who then would deny Jesus His reward for all He suffered? If we love Him with the whole heart, we will keep His commandments. This is how He writes His law upon the heart of all who will make a full surrender to Him. Then we shall say "not my will, but thine, be done."
 
In our last message in this series, we will look at the role of the pastoral ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is a most important part of God's plan for His church, for it is difficult for the local church to rise any higher than their pastor. If ever there was a role model for any calling, it is truly the example Jesus has given to the Christian pastor. There is great encouragement that as this is better understood in God's church, we shall see a revival in the local churches and therefore a revival in our conferences. The conference leadership reflects the local churches which elect them. As we seek to hasten the soon coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, let the revival and reformation begin with me.

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[1] Ellen White; Testimonies to Ministers, pg 47
[2] Ellen White; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5,  pgs 80, 81
[3] Beyond Belief, pg 50; Jack Sequiera; Glad Tidings, (originally published Pacific Press Publishing Assn. 1993.)
[4] Ellen White; Manuscript 148, 1897
[5] Ellen White; Counsels to Writers and Editors, pg 175.
[6] Ellen White; Testimonies for the Church, Vol 7, pg 150
[7] Ellen White; Counsels to Writers and Editors, pg 154
[8] Ellen White; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, pg 160
[9] Ellen White;  Testimonies for the Church, Vol  7, pg 213  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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