Counsels on Social Issue

Counsel #1 — An Everlasting Kingdom

Picture: Counsel #1 — An Everlasting Kingdom CSI 114.1

Politicians often lie. Schools are sometimes unsafe. Government strategies fall short. Social theories and policies can leave someone on the short end of the stick. Laws are broken. People do bad things, and organizations that seem helpful sometimes carry hidden agendas. Established institutions often fail to fulfill their intended purpose or serve the needs of the people they are meant to help. CSI 114.2

But all flawed human institutions have an expiration date. There is a Power that outlasts all others. This Power will never disappoint, and it has no expiration date.^[163] CSI 114.3

"His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation." Daniel 4:3 (ESV) CSI 114.4

"The substitution of the precepts of men for the commandments of God has not ceased. Even among Christians are found institutions and usages that have no better foundation than the traditions of the fathers. Such institutions resting upon mere human authority, have supplanted those of divine appointment. Men cling to their tradition and revere their customs and cherish hatred against those who seek to show them their error." Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p.398 CSI 114.5

Reflect: How can institutions find a balance between preserving important traditions and adapting to changing needs? In what ways might institutions incorporate divine principles into their decision-making processes, and could this help prevent institutional failure? CSI 114.6