SDA
Business Partnership
With
Unbelievers
“Our health institutions are
of value in the Lord's estimation only when He is allowed to preside in
their management. If His plans and devisings are
regarded as inferior to plans of men, He looks upon these institutions as of
no more value than the institutions established and conducted by worldlings.”--Letter
283, 1905. {6BIO 42.6}
Once
again the church has linked up with the world in business partnership in its
health endeavors which are supposed to be the right
arm of the Everlasting Gospel, the three angel’s message.
Adventist
Hinsdale Hospital Partners with Marianjoy
Linking Up With
Unbelievers
The Lord
has repeatedly instructed me to say to His people that they are not to bind up with the world in business partnerships of any
kind, and especially in so important a matter as the establishment of a sanitarium. Believers and unbelievers, serving two
masters, cannot properly be linked together in the Lord's work. "Can two
walk together, except they be agreed?" God forbids His people to unite
with unbelievers in the building up of His institutions. {6BIO
42.1}
Ellen White laid out clearly the involvements:
One
of the dangers to be met if we should link up with unbelievers is that we
cannot depend upon the opinions and judgment, regarding the sacred interests of
the Lord's work, of men who, with the Bible open before them, are living in
open transgression of the law of God. We cannot depend upon them, because the
enemy of Christ influences their minds. {6BIO 42.2}
They
may be ever so favorable to our work now, but in the
future there will come times of crisis, and then our people will be brought
into a position of extreme trial, if they are bound up in any way with the
worldlings. Our people may think that they can guard against these difficulties
that would naturally arise in their union with worldlings, but in this they
will be disappointed. {6BIO 42.3}
In
connection with any combination with outside parties, there will be
disappointment. It behooves us to move very
guardedly, for thereby we shall save ourselves much burden and trouble, for the
light given me is that to link up with them and to lean upon them is folly and
disappointment. {6BIO 42.4}
"Wait," she counseled. "Wait
until the Lord shall manifest Himself in a more distinct and striking manner
than He has done." {6BIO 42.5}
She
reminded the two physicians:
Our
health institutions are of value in the Lord's estimation only when He is
allowed to preside in their management. If His plans and devisings
are regarded as inferior to plans of men, He looks upon these institutions as
of no more value than the institutions established and conducted by
worldlings.--Letter 283, 1905. {6BIO 42.6}
The
Canon City enterprise was reluctantly abandoned. Boulder Sanitarium survived. {6BIO 43.1}
To place
in permanent form before church members throughout Colorado the history and the
testimonies concerning the Sanitarium matters, a pamphlet of eighty pages was
published at Pacific Press in the late fall of 1905. It carried the title
"Record of Progress and an Earnest Appeal in Behalf of the Boulder,
Colorado, Sanitarium." The pamphlet was designated as Special Testimonies,
Series B, No. 5. This made it a part of a growing series of special
testimonies, issued to meet special or local situations. The next year, after
some developments in the situation in Colorado, a second printing was made with
added material bringing the presentation up-to-date. {6BIO
43.2}
God does not contradict Himself --God
does not at one time send a message of warning, and later another message, encouraging
a movement against which He had previously given warning. His messages do not
contradict one another.—E.G. White, Letter 287, 1905.
“God
calls to His people, saying, "Come out from among them, and be ye
separate." He asks that the love which He has shown for them may be
reciprocated and revealed by willing obedience to His commandments. His
children are to separate themselves from politics, from any alliance with unbelievers. They are not to link their
interests with the interests of the world. "Give proof of your allegiance
to Me" He says, "by standing as My chosen heritage, as a people
zealous of good works." Do not take part in political strife. Separate
from the world, and refrain from bringing into the church or school ideas that
will lead to contention or disorder. Dissension is the moral poison taken into
the system by human beings who are selfish. God wants His servants to have
clear perceptions, true and noble dignity, that their influence may demonstrate
the power of truth. The Christian life is not to be a haphazard, emotional
life. True Christian influence, exerted for the accomplishment of the work God
has appointed, is a precious agency, and it must not be united with politics,
or bound up in a confederacy with unbelievers. God is to be the center of
attraction. Every mind that is worked by the Holy Spirit will be satisfied with
Him.” {FE 483.2, 484}
“The Lord desires all who bear
the message for these last days to understand that there is a great difference
between professors of religion who are not doers of the word, and the children
of God, who are sanctified through the truth, who have that faith that works by
love and purifies the soul. The Lord speaks of those who claim to believe the
truth for this time, yet see nothing inconsistent in their taking part in
politics, mingling with the contending elements of these last days, as the
circumcised who mingle with the uncircumcised, and He declares that He will
destroy both classes together without distinction. They are doing a work that
God has not set them to do. They dishonor God by
their party spirit and contention, and He will condemn both alike.” {FE 482.1}
“The question may be asked, Are we to have
no union whatever with the world? The word of the Lord is to be our guide. Any connection with infidels and
unbelievers which would identify us with them is forbidden by the word. We
are to come out from them and be separate. In no case are we to link ourselves
with them in their plans or work. But we are not to live reclusive lives. We
are to do worldlings all the good we possibly can. Christ has given us an
example of this. When invited to eat with publicans and sinners, He did not
refuse; for in no other way than by mingling with them could He reach this
class. But on every occasion He gave them talents of words and influence. He
opened up themes of conversation which brought things of eternal interest to
their minds. And this Teacher enjoins us, "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven." On the temperance question take your position without wavering.
Be as firm as a rock. Be not partakers of other men's sins. Acts of dishonesty
in business deal, with believers or unbelievers, should be reproved; and if
they give no evidence of reformation, come out from among them and be
separate.” {FE 482.2, 483}
“There is a large vineyard to be
cultivated; but while Christians are to work among unbelievers, they are not to
appear like worldlings. They are not to spend their time talking politics or
acting as politicians; for by so doing, they give the enemy opportunity to come
in and cause variance and discord. Those in the ministry who desire to stand as
politicians should have their credentials taken from them; for this work God
has not given to high or low among His people. God calls upon all who minister
in doctrine to give the trumpet a certain sound. All who have received Christ,
ministers and lay members, are to arise and shine; for great peril is right upon
us. Satan is stirring the powers of earth. Everything in the world is in
confusion. God calls upon His people to hold aloft the banner bearing the
message of the third angel. We are not to go to Christ through any human being,
but through Christ we are to understand the work He has given us to do for
others.” {FE 483.1}
“God calls to His people, saying,
"Come out from among them, and be ye separate." He asks that the love
which He has shown for them may be reciprocated and revealed by willing obedience
to His commandments. His children are to separate themselves from politics,
from any alliance with unbelievers. They are not to link their interests with
the interests of the world. "Give proof of your allegiance to Me" He
says, "by standing as My chosen heritage, as a people zealous of good
works." Do not take part in political strife. Separate from the world, and
refrain from bringing into the church or school ideas that will lead to
contention or disorder. Dissension is the moral poison taken into the system by
human beings who are selfish. God wants His servants to have clear perceptions,
true and noble dignity, that their influence may demonstrate the power of
truth. The Christian life is not to be a haphazard, emotional life. True
Christian influence, exerted for the accomplishment of the work God has
appointed, is a precious agency, and it must not be united with politics, or
bound up in a confederacy with unbelievers. God is to be the center of
attraction. Every mind that is worked by the Holy Spirit will be satisfied with
Him.” {FE 483.2, 484}