Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers—No. 6

The Fallibility of Human Judgment

Men can become just as were the Pharisees,—wide awake to condemn the greatest Teacher that the world ever knew. Christ gave unmistakable evidence that he was sent of God, yet the Jewish rulers took upon themselves the work the enemy prompted them to do, and charged Him who made the Sabbath, who was the Lord of the Sabbath, with being a Sabbath-breaker. O the foolishness of men! the weakness of men! SpTA06 43.2

There are those who are today doing the very same things. In their counsels they venture to pronounce judgment upon the work of God; for they have become trained in doing that which the Lord has never required them to do. They would better humble their own hearts before God, and keep their hands off the ark of God, lest the wrath of God shall break forth upon them; for if God has ever spoken by men, I testify that they have undertaken a work in criticising and pronouncing unsound judgment, which I know is not right. They are but finite men, and being befogged themselves, suppose that other men are in error. SpTA06 43.3

But these men who presume to judge others should take a little broader view, and say, Suppose the statements of others do not agree with our ideas; shall we for this pronounce them heresy? Shall we, uninspired men, take the responsibility of placing our stakes, and saying, This shall not appear in print? SpTA06 44.1

If they still persist in clinging to their own opinions, they will find that God will not sustain their action. Do they take the position that all they advance is infallible? that there is not a shadow of an error or mistake in their productions? Cannot other men who give just as much evidence that they are led and taught of God, catch at an expression in their work which they do not entertain as their views in every particular, and command them to cut it out? SpTA06 44.2

Has not our past experience in these things been sufficient? Will we ever learn the lessons which God designs we shall learn? Will we ever realize that the consciences of men are not given into our command? If you have appointed committees to do the work which has been going on for years in Battle Creek, dismiss them; and remember that God, the infinite God, has not placed men in any such positions as they occupied at Minneapolis, and have occupied since then. SpTA06 44.3