Testimony for the Church—No. 6

Testimony for the Church

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Dear Brethren and Sisters: The Lord has again visited me in mercy, in a time of bereavement and great affliction. December 23, 1860, I was taken off in vision and was shown the wrongs of individuals which have effected [affected] the cause, and I dare not withhold the testimony from the church to spare the feelings of individuals. T06 3.1

I was shown the low state of God's people; that God had not departed from them, but that they had departed from God and become lukewarm. They possess the theory of the truth, but lack its saving power. As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power knowing his time is short. Especially upon the remnant will his power be exercised. He will war against them; he will seek to divide and scatter them that they may grow weak and be overthrown. The people of God should move understandingly. Their efforts should be united. They should be of the same mind, of the same judgment; then their efforts will not be scattered, but will be of force and tell in the upbuilding of the cause of present truth. Order must be observed, and there must be union in regard to order, or Satan will take advantage of them. T06 3.2

I was shown that the enemy would come in every way possible to dishearten the people of God, and perplex and trouble them, and that they should move understandingly and prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan. The matters of the church should not be left in an unsettled condition. Steps should be taken to secure church property for the cause of God, that the work may not be retarded in its progress, and that the means which persons wish to dedicate to God's cause, may not slip into the enemy's ranks. I saw that God's people should act wisely, and leave nothing undone on their part to place matters of the church in a secure state. Then after all is done that they can do, they should trust the Lord to overrule these things for them, that Satan take no advantage of God's remnant people. It is Satan's time to work, and a stormy future is before us; and the church should be awake to make an advance move that they may stand securely against Satan's plans. It is time that something was done. God is not pleased to have his people leave the matters of the church at loose ends, and suffer the enemy to have the whole advantage and control affairs as best pleases him. T06 4.1

I was shown the wrong stand taken by R. F. C. in the Review in regard to organization, and the distracting influence he exerted. He did not sufficiently weigh the matter. His articles were perfectly calculated to have a scattering influence, and to lead minds to come to wrong conclusions, and encourage the slack ideas many have of managing matters relating to the cause of God. Those who do not feel the weight of this cause upon them, do not feel the necessity of anything being done to establish church order. Those who have long borne the burden look to the future and weigh matters. They are convinced that steps must be taken to place the matters of the church in a more secure position where Satan cannot come in and take advantage. R. F. C's articles caused those who fear order to look with suspicion upon the suggestions of those, who by the special providence of God, move out in the important matters of the church. And when he saw that his position would not bear, he failed to frankly acknowledge his wrong and labor to efface the wrong impression he had made. T06 4.2

I saw that in temporal matters R. F. C. was too easy and negligent. He has lacked energy, and has considered it a virtue to leave things to the Lord which the Lord has left to him. It is only in cases of great emergency that the Lord interposes for us. We have a work to do, burdens and responsibilities to bear, and in thus doing we obtain an experience. He manifests the same character in spiritual matters that he has done in his temporal affairs. There is a lack of zeal and earnestness to make thorough work. All should act with more discretion and wisdom in regard to the things of God, than they manifest in temporal things to secure an earthly possession. T06 5.1

And while God's people are justified in a lawful manner to secure church property, they should be careful to maintain their peculiar and holy character. I saw that unconsecrated persons would take advantage of the position the church have recently taken, and will overstep the bounds, carry matters to extremes, and wound the cause of God. Some will move without wisdom or judgment and engage in lawsuits that might be avoided, mingle with the world, partake of their spirit, and influence others to follow their example. One professed Christian who moves unadvisedly, does much harm to the cause of present truth. Evil takes root much more readily than good, and flourishes when good and right languish unless they are carefully nourished. T06 6.1

I was pointed back and saw that in every important move, every decision made or point gained by God's people, there have been those who have arisen to carry matters to extremes, and to move in an extravagant manner, which has disgusted unbelievers and distressed God's people, and brought the cause of God into disrepute. The people whom God is leading out in these last days, will be troubled with just such things. But much evil will be avoided if the ministers of Christ will be of one mind, unite in effort, unite in their plans of action, sustain each other, stand together, and be faithful to reprove and rebuke wrong, which will soon cause it to wither. But Satan has controlled these matters very much. Private members, and even preachers, have sympathized with disaffected ones who have been reproved for their wrongs, and division of feeling has been the result. The one who has ventured out and faithfully met error and wrong, and discharged his disagreeable duty, is grieved and wounded that he receives not the fullest sympathy of his preaching brethren. He becomes discouraged in discharging such painful duties, lays down the cross and withholds the pointed testimony. His soul is shut up in darkness, and the church suffer for the lack of the very testimony God designed should live in the church. Satan's object is gained when the faithful testimony is suppressed. Those who so readily sympathize with the wrong consider it a virtue, but they realize not that they are exerting a scattering influence, and that they themselves help to carry out Satan's plans. T06 6.2

I saw that many souls have been destroyed by their brethren unwisely sympathizing with them, when their only hope was to be left to see and realize the full extent of their wrongs. But as they eagerly receive the sympathy of unwise brethren, they receive the idea that they are abused; and if they attempt to retrace their steps, they make half-hearted work. They divide the matter to suit their natural feelings lay blame upon the reprover, and so patch up the matter. It is not healed, it is not probed to the bottom, and they fall into the same wrong again, because they were not left to feel the extent of their wrong and humble themselves before God, and let him build them up. False sympathizers have worked in direct opposition to the mind of Christ and ministering angels. T06 7.1

Ministers of Christ should arise and engage in the work of God with all their energies. God's servants are not excused if they shun pointed testimony. They should reprove and rebuke wrong, and not suffer sin upon a brother. I must here introduce a portion of a letter addressed to brother ——: T06 8.1

“I was shown some things in regard to you. I saw that the living, pointed testimony had been crushed in the church. You have not been in harmony with the straight testimony. You have shunned to lay your hand decidedly upon wrong, and you have been tried with those who have felt compelled to do so. Disaffected ones have had your sympathy, which has had a tendency to make you a weak man. You have not been in union with pointed, cutting testimony which has been sent home to the individual. T06 8.2

“God's servants are not excused if they shun pointed testimony. They must reprove and rebuke wrong, and not suffer sin upon a brother. You have often stretched out your hands to shield persons from the censure which they deserved, and the correction which the Lord designed they should have. If these persons failed to reform, their lack is set to your account. Instead of watching for their danger, and warning them of it, you have cast your influence against those who have followed the convictions of duty, and reproved and warned the erring. T06 9.1

“These are perilous times for the church of God, and the greatest danger now is of self-deception. Individuals professing to believe the truth are blind to their own danger and wrongs. They reach the standard of piety which has been set up by their friends and themselves; they are fellowshipped by their brethren, and are satisfied, while they fail entirely to reach the gospel standard set up by our divine Lord. If they regard iniquity in their hearts the Lord will not hear them. But with many it is not only regarded in the heart, but openly carried out in their lives, yet in many cases they receive no rebuke. T06 9.2

“I was pointed back to Crane's Grove. Your feelings were wrong there. You should have stood side by side with —— —— and made straight work, taken hold of, and reproved individual wrongs. The burden you cast upon —— —— you deserved yourself, for your lack of moral courage to lay your hand upon wrong. You influenced others. T06 10.1

The good work which God designed to have accomplished for certain ones was not accomplished, and they have been puffed up by Satan. If you had stood in the counsel of God at that time, an influence would have been cast which would have told upon the cause of God. The Spirit of the Lord was grieved. And this lack of union discourages those upon whom God lays the burden of reproof. T06 10.2

“I was shown that you had been wrong in sympathizing with H. C., and the course you have taken in regard to him has injured your influence, and has greatly injured the cause of God. It is impossible for H. C. to be fellowshipped by the church of God. He has placed himself where he cannot be helped by the church. He can have no communion with nor voice in the church. He has placed himself there in the face of light and truth. He has been stubborn. He has chosen his own course, and would not listen to reproof. He would follow the inclinations of his corrupt heart, has violated the holy law of God, and has disgraced the cause of present truth. If he repents ever so heartily, the church must let his case alone. If he goes to heaven, it must be alone, without the fellowship of the church. A standing rebuke from God and the church must ever rest upon him, that the standard of morality be not lowered to the very dust. The Lord is displeased with your course in these things. T06 10.3

“You have injured the cause of God, your willful course, has injured the hearts of God's people. Your influence encourages a slack state of things in the church. You should bear a living, pointed testimony. Stand out of the way of the work of God, and step not in between God and his people. You have too long wrapt up the sharp testimony, and been opposed to the severe censure God lays upon individual wrongs. God is correcting, and proving, and purifying his people. Stand out of the way that the work of God be not hindered. A smooth testimony God will not accept. Ministers must cry aloud and spare not. The Lord has given you a powerful testimony, calculated to strengthen the church and arouse unbelievers. But these things wherein you lack must be corrected, or your testimony will dry up, and your influence injure the cause of God. The people look to you for an example. Do not mislead them. Let your influence be to correct wrongs in your family, and in the church.” T06 11.1

I have been shown that the Lord is reviving the living, pointed testimony, which will develop character, and purify the church. But while we are commanded to separate from the world, it is not necessary that we become coarse and rough, and descend to common expressions, and make our remarks as ragged as possible. The truth is designed to elevate the receiver, to refine his taste and sanctify his judgment. There should be a continual effort to imitate the society we expect soon to join, viz., angels of God who have never fallen by sin. The character should be holy, the manners comely, the words without guile, and we follow on step by step until we are fitted for translation. T06 12.1

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