Reproof
by Ellen White
By some there is shunning of the living testimony. Cutting truths must not be shunned.
It needs something besides theory to reach hearts now. It needs the stirring testimony to
alarm and arouse; that will stir the enemy's subjects, and then honest souls will be led
to decide for the truth. There has been and still is with some a disposition to have
everything move on very smoothly. They see no necessity of straight testimony. 2SG 283
Sins exist in the church that God hates, but they are scarcely touched for fear of
making enemies. Opposition has risen in the church to the plain testimony. Some will not
bear it. They wish smooth things spoken unto them. And if the wrongs of individuals are
touched, they complain of severity, and sympathise with those in the wrong. As Ahab
inquired of Elijah, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" they are ready to look
with suspicion and doubt upon those who bear the plain testimony, and like Ahab overlook
the wrong which made it necessary for reproof and rebuke. When the church departs from God
they despise the plain testimony, and complain of severity and harshness. It is a sad
evidence of the lukewarm state of the church. 2SG 283
Just as long as God has a church, he will have those who will cry aloud and spare not,
who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not shun to declare
the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw that individuals would
rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their natural feelings. They would
choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and have peace cried in their ears. I view
the church in a more dangerous condition than they ever have been. Experimental religion
is known but by a few. The shaking must soon take place to purify the church. 2SG 284
Just as long as God has a church, he will have those who will cry aloud and spare not,
who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not shun to declare
the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw that individuals would
rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their natural feelings. They would
choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and have peace cried in their ears. I view
the church in a more dangerous condition than they ever have been. Experimental religion
is known but by a few. The shaking must soon take place to purify the church. 2SG 284
Preachers should have no scruples to preach the truth as it is found in God's word. Let
the truth cut. I have been shown that why ministers have not more success is, they are
afraid of hurting feelings, fearful of not being courteous, and they lower the standard of
truth, and conceal if possible the peculiarity of our faith. I saw that God could not make
such successful. The truth must be made pointed, and the necessity of a decision urged.
And as false shepherds are crying, Peace, and are preaching smooth things, the servants of
God must cry aloud, and spare not, and leave the result with God. 2SG 284
The message we bear must be as direct as was the message of John. He rebuked kings for
their iniquity. He rebuked the adultery of Herod. Notwithstanding his life was in peril,
the truth did not languish upon his lips. And our work in this age must be as faithfully
done. The inhabitants of the world at this time are represented by the dwellers upon the
earth at the time of the Flood. The wickedness of the inhabitants of the old world is
plainly stated: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen.
6:5). 2SM 151
We see danger in the bestowal of rich gifts or of words of commendation upon human
agencies. Those who are favoured by the Lord need to be on guard constantly, lest pride or
self-esteem obtain the supremacy. He who has an unusual following, he who has received
words of commendation from the Lord, needs the special prayers of God's faithful watchmen,
that he may be shielded from the danger of cherishing thoughts of self-esteem and
spiritual pride. Never is such a man to manifest self-importance, or attempt to act as a
dictator or a ruler. Faithfully should his brethren warn him of his dangers; for, if left
to himself, he will surely make mistakes, and reveal human frailties. 3BC 1131
[ Despisers of Reproof ] The apostle Paul plainly states that the experience of the
Israelites in their travels has been recorded for the benefit of those living in this age
of the world, those upon whom the ends of the world are come. We do not consider that our
dangers are any less than those of the Hebrews, but greater. There will be temptations to
jealousies and murmurings, and there will be outspoken rebellion, as are recorded of
ancient Israel. There will ever be a spirit to rise up against the reproof of sins and
wrongs. But shall the voice of reproof be hushed because of this? If so, we shall be in no
better situation than are the various denominations in our land who are afraid to touch
the errors and prevailing sins of the people.
Those whom God has set apart as ministers of righteousness have solemn responsibilities
laid upon them to reprove the sins of the people. Paul commanded Titus: "These things
speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." There are
ever those who will despise the one who dares to reprove sin; but there are times when
reproof must be given. Paul directs Titus to rebuke a certain class sharply, that they may
be sound in the faith. Men and women who, with their different organisations, are brought
together in church capacity have peculiarities and faults. As these are developed, they
will require reproof. If those who are placed in important positions never reproved, never
rebuked, there would soon be a demoralised condition of things that would greatly
dishonour God. But how shall the reproof be given? Let the apostle answer: "With all
long-suffering and doctrine." Principle should be brought to bear upon the one who
needs reproof, but never should the wrongs of God's people be passed by indifferently. 3T
358
There is very little reverence for sacred things in either the Upper Columbia or the
North Pacific Conference. The ordained instrumentalities of God are almost entirely lost
sight of. God has instituted no new method of reaching the children of men. If they cut
themselves off from heaven's appointed agencies to reprove their sins, correct their
errors, and point out the path of duty, there is no way to reach them with any heavenly
communication. They are left in darkness and are ensnared and taken by the adversary. 5T
298
The minister of God is commanded: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a
trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
The Lord says of these people: "They seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a
nation that did righteousness." Here is a people who are self-deceived,
self-righteous, self-complacent, and the minister is commanded to cry aloud and show them
their transgressions. In all ages this work has been done for God's people, and it is
needed now more than ever before. 5T 299
If the minister's face is not flint, if he has not indomitable faith and courage, if
his heart is not made strong by constant communion with God, he will begin to shape his
testimony to please the unsanctified ears and hearts of those he is addressing. In
endeavouring to avoid the criticism to which he is exposed, he separates from God and
loses the sense of divine favour, and his testimony becomes tame and lifeless. He finds
that his courage and faith are gone and his labours powerless. The world is full of
flatterers and dissemblers who have yielded to the desire to please; but the faithful men,
who do not study self-interest, but love their brethren too well to suffer sin upon them,
are few indeed. 5T 299
The providence of God says, "Go forward," not back into Egypt; and instead of
framing a testimony to please the people, ministers should seek to arouse those who are
asleep. 5T 372
[ Duty to Give Reproof ] "If wrongs are apparent among His people, and if the
servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain and justify the
sinner, and are alike guilty and will just as surely receive the displeasure of God; for
they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty. In vision I have been pointed to
many instances where the displeasure of God has been incurred by a neglect on the part of
His servants to deal with the wrongs and sins existing among them. Those who have excused
these wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and lovely in disposition,
simply because they shunned to discharge a plain, Scriptural duty. The task was not
agreeable to their feelings; therefore they avoided it." 5T 676
"Never was there greater need of faithful warnings and reproofs . . . than at this
very time. Satan has come down with great power, knowing that his time is short. He is
flooding the world with pleasing fables, and the people of God love to have smooth things
spoken to them. . . . I was shown that God's people must make more firm, determined
efforts to press back the incoming darkness. The close work of the Spirit of God is needed
now as never before." 5T 676
It is of little use to try to reform others by attacking what we may regard as wrong
habits. Such efforts often result in more harm than good. MH 156
There has been much said in order to keep out licentious practices and improper
familiarity between men and women. This has be to be met and reproved, and constantly
guarded against, and the ones that are corrected become angry; in the place of reforming,
they try to work their revenge upon the faithful workers in the institution. My own soul
has been weighed down with burdens that are inexpressible, as I have tried in the fear of
God to do my duty to all parties and to the institution. PC 26
Had Elder Smith exercised more firmness and boldness in defending the right and
condemning the wrong, my husband would not have been forced to take such firm, decided
positions. This disposition on the part of Elder Smith to overlook wrong, and leave evils
uncorrected, which, though small at first, would increase till they finally destroyed the
purity of the church, has forced my husband to act, and caused his course, in contrast
with Elder Smith's, to seem very severe and dictatorial. Had Elder Smith stood as a bold
soldier for Jesus Christ, had he called sin, fraud, and dishonesty by their right names,
had he given these evils their just rebuke, less of such disagreeable work would have
fallen upon my husband, and less cause would have been given for temptation in regard to
his course of action.
God would have the facts appear as they are. Elder Smith has neglected to cultivate
those traits of character which it is so needful that all who are engaged in the work of
God should possess. Pleasing or unpleasing to human nature, faithfulness, vigilance, and
boldness must be exercised, or sin will triumph over righteousness. A failure to see and
sense the wants of the cause for this time, and to reprove sin, is called by some,
meekness; God calls it unfaithfulness, and spiritual sloth. He gives no credit to those
who shun the cross and neglect the disagreeable duties, thereby imperilling his church.
Envy, jealousy, dishonesty, falsehoods, and evil surmisings have ever had to be met. They
existed in the time of ancient Israel, and will ever be found in modern Israel. Some one
must meet this element, and whoever does will displease some; it cannot be otherwise, for
there will ever be those who will sympathise with wrong-doers. Those who have shunned that
part of the work which requires anxiety and care, boldness and fortitude, will receive no
reward for their silence and their peaceful demeanour; but condemnation will be written
against them....
This exactly represents the case of ministers in our day. It is an evil day. Satan is
continually at work to press his temptations among us. At first he presents little
deviations from right; then after the senses have become accustomed to this slight
departure from the light which God has given, he presents another temptation to lead away
from former positions and principles. Then as the mind becomes accustomed to that, he
presents a still greater departure from the simplicity of our faith, until the barriers
are broken down, and idolatry in various forms is at home in our midst. God then moves
upon those who will not shun to declare his whole counsel, and charges them, "Lift up
thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob
their sins. Yet they seek me daily, . . . as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook
not the ordinance of their God." Those who ought to be humiliating their souls before
God will then begin to justify themselves:--
"What an easy, happy time we were having. The church was in a pleasant condition.
We were doing well. But, lo! here come Elder White and his wife, the disturbers of Israel.
They always create a trouble whenever they come. If they only had the sweet spirit of
Elder Smith; he never hurts any one's feelings, he never says sharp and cutting
things." But these blind ones do not see that this very pleasing, careless
indifference on the part of men at Battle Creek who have failed to keep the fort, has
created the necessity for the alarm to be sounded and the cutting rebukes to be given.
Where would the church drift, were it not for the plain, close, searching testimonies to
arouse them from their slumber? PH043 9-13,16
We must as workers be united in frowning down and condemning anything that bears the
least approach to evil, in our associations with one another. Our faith is holy; our work
is to vindicate the honour of God's law, and is not of a character to bring any one down
to a low level in thought or in deportment. There are many who claim to believe and teach
the truth who have error and fanciful ideas of their own mingled with the truth. But there
is an exalted platform for us to stand upon. We must believe and teach the truth as it is
in Jesus.
Holiness of heart will never lead to impure actions. When one who claims to be teaching
the truth is inclined to be much in the company of young women or even of married women;
when he familiarly lays his hand upon their shoulders, or is often found conversing with
them in a familiar manner, be afraid of him. The pure principles of truth are not in
wrought in the soul. Such are not workers with Jesus; they are not in Christ, and Christ
is not abiding in them. They need a thorough conversion before God can accept their
labours. The truth of heavenly origin never degrades the receiver, never leads him to the
least approach to undue familiarity. On the contrary, it sanctifies the receiver, refines
the taste, elevates and ennobles him, and brings him in close connection with Jesus. It
does not lead him to disregard the Apostle Paul's injunction, to abstain from even the
appearance of evil, lest his good should be evil spoken of. We have a great work to do to
elevate man and to win him to Christ, to lead him to choose and to seek earnestly to be a
partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. Every thought, every word, and every action of the workers should be of that
elevated character that is in harmony with the sacred truth they advocate. We are living
in an age where iniquity abounds, and an unguarded word or an improper action may greatly
injure the usefulness of the one showed this weakness. Keep up the barriers of reserve.
Let not one instance occur in your relation to others that the enemy may make capital of.
If you begin to place your affections upon one another, giving special attention to
favourites, using flattering words, God will withdraw his Spirit.
If married men leave their wives to care for their children at home, the wife and
mother is doing fully as great and important a work as the husband and father. Although
one is in the missionary field, the other is a home missionary, whose cares and anxieties
and burdens frequently far exceed those of the husband and father. Her work is a solemn
and important one. It is to mould the minds and fashion the characters of her children,
and train them for usefulness here, and fit them for the future, immortal life. The
husband in the open missionary field may receive the honours of men, while the home toiler
may receiver no credit for her labour. But if she works for the best interest of her
family, to fashion their characters after the divine model, the recording angel writes her
name as one of the greatest missionaries in the world. God does not see things as man's
finite vision views them. ST OCT.15,1885
[Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their
transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isa. 58:1.] Hypocrisy is peculiarly
offensive to God. A large majority of the men and women who profess to know the truth
prefer smooth messages. They do not desire to have their sins and defects brought before
them. They want accommodating ministers, who will not arouse conviction by speaking the
truth. They choose men who will flatter them, and in their turn they flatter the minister
who has shown such a "good" spirit, while they revile the faithful servant of
God. . . . Many praise the minister who dwells on the grace and mercy and love of Jesus,
who is not particular to enforce duties and obligations, who does not warn of the danger
of hypocrisy, or present the terrors of God's wrath. TDG 055
My brother, you have had the respect of the church, old and young. But your course is
condemned of God, and you have not had His Spirit, and you are not a free man. You have
pursued a course that has caused your good to be evil spoken of. The very things that
transpired at the Piedmont Sabbath school reunion, I would not have [had] occur for
thousands of dollars. You, a grey-haired man, lying at full length with your head in the
lap of Georgie S. Had I done my duty, I would have rebuked you there. Many saw this and
made remarks about it. After such exhibitions as this, of what value would be your
admonitions to them to be guarded against everything of this free and easy familiarity?
You have yourself neutralised your efforts to elevate the young by your example. TSB 182
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