The Church as Medium for Truth
by Ellen White
Many have the idea that they are responsible to Christ alone for their light and their
experience independent of Christ's acknowledged body in the world. But this is condemned
by Jesus Christ in His teachings and in the examples of facts given to us for our
instruction. Here was Paul directly brought into the presence of Christ,--One whom Christ
was to fit for their light and their experience independent of Christ's acknowledged body
in the world. But this is condemned by Jesus Christ in His teachings and in the examples
of facts given to us for our instruction. Here was Paul directly brought into the presence
of Christ--one whom Christ was to fit for a most important work, one who was to be a
chosen vessel unto Him--yet He does not teach him the lessons of truth he must learn; He
arrests his course, He convicts him. He asks Christ, "What wilt Thou have me to
do?" The Saviour does not tell him directly but places him in His direction in
connection with His church--They will tell thee what thou must do. 15MR 130
God is teaching, leading, and guiding His people, that they may teach, lead and guide
others. There will be, among the remnant of these last days, as there were with ancient
Israel, those who wish to move independently, who are not willing to submit to the
teachings of the Spirit of God, and who will not listen to advice or counsel. Let such
ever bear in mind that God has a church upon the earth, to which He has delegated power.
Men will want to follow their own independent judgement, despising counsel and reproof,
but just as surely as they do this, they will depart from the faith, and disaster and the
ruin of souls will follow. Those who rally now to support and build up the truth of God
are ranging themselves on one side, standing united in heart, mind, and voice, in defence
of the truth. . . .
It is a delusion of the enemy for anyone to feel that he can disconnect from agencies
which God has appointed, and work on an independent line of his own, in his own supposed
wisdom, and yet be successful. Although he may flatter himself that he is doing God's
work, he will not prosper in the end. We are one body, and every member is to be united to
the body, each person working in his respective capacity.--Letter 104, 1894. 2MR 158
God is teaching, leading, and guiding His people, that they may teach, lead and guide
others. There will be, among the remnant of these last days, as there were with ancient
Israel, those who wish to move independently, who are not willing to submit to the
teachings of the spirit of God, and who will not listen to advice or counsel. Let such
ever bear in mind that God has a church upon the earth, to which He has delegated power.
Men will want to follow their own independent judgement, despising counsel and reproof;
but just as surely as they do this, they will depart from the faith, and disaster and the
ruin of souls will follow. Those who rally now to support and build up the truth of God,
are ranging themselves on one side, standing united in heart, mind, and voice, in defence
of the truth; while those who do not labour in harmony of purpose and action, who choose
their own unsanctified human judgement as perfection of action, are ranging themselves on
the side of Satan, and are defending his cause. 3SM 23 (1894)
Dear Brother A: My mind is exercised in regard to your case. I have written you some
things which have been shown me in regard to your past, present, and future course. I feel
anxious for you because I have seen your dangers. Your former experience in spiritualism
exposes you to temptations and severe conflicts. When once the mind has been yielded to
the direct control of the enemy through evil angels, that person should be very
distrustful of impressions and feelings which would lead him on an independent track, away
from the church of Christ. The first step that such a one would take independently of the
church should be regarded as a device of the enemy to deceive and destroy. God has made
His church a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will.
He does not give one an experience independent of the church. He does not give one man a
knowledge of His will for the entire church, while the church, Christ's body, is left in
darkness. 3T 414
God has made His church on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates
His purposes and His will. He does not give to one of His servants an experience
independent of and contrary to the experience of the church itself. Neither does He give
one man a knowledge of His will for the entire church while the church--Christ's body --is
left in darkness. In His providence He places His servants in close connection with His
church in order that they may have less confidence in themselves and greater confidence in
others whom He is leading out to advance His work. AA 163
The Redeemer of the world does not sanction experience and exercise in religious
matters independent of his organised and acknowledged church. Many have an idea that they
are responsible to Christ alone for their light and experience, independent of his
recognised followers on earth. But in the history of the conversion of Saul, important
principles are given us, which we should ever bear in mind. He was brought directly into
the presence of Christ. He was one whom Christ intended for a most important work, one who
was to be "a chosen vessel" unto him; yet he did not personally impart to him
the lessons of truth. He arrested his course and convicted him; but when asked by him,
"What wilt thou have me to do?" the Saviour placed him in connection with his
church, and let them direct him what to do. LP 31
Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the
world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and
demoralised by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned,
and counselled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme
regard. The world is a workshop in which, through the co-operation of human and divine
agencies, Jesus is making experiments by His grace and divine mercy upon human hearts.
Angels are amazed as they behold the transformation of character brought about in those
who yield themselves to God, and they express their joy in songs of rapturous praise to
God and to the Lamb. They see those who are by nature the children of wrath, converted and
becoming labourers together with Christ in drawing souls to God. They see those who were
in darkness becoming lights to shine amid the moral night of this wicked and perverse
generation. They see them becoming prepared by a Christlike experience to suffer with
their Lord, and afterward to be partakers with Him in His glory in heaven above. TM 49
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