The Church Upon Which Christ Bestows His Supreme Regard

Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

“Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous prove to be ring-leaders in apostasy...” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 212).

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If ever there was/is an issue on which we should apply the weight of evidence formula, it is the matter as to which indeed is the church upon which God bestows His supreme regard.

1. Weight of Evidence Formula: "1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, [interpreter] since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible." E.G. White, Second Advent Review and Herald, 11-25-84, pr. 24.

At one point in history, God bestowed His supreme regard on the Jewish church because they believed in ONE GOD. Thus God placed upon them His supreme regard and called them His “remnant chosen” people. Was that a matter of once such a bestowal—always that bestowal? Are the Jews of today still God’s chosen people upon whom He bestows His supreme regard? The answer is an obvious NO! The Jews fell from that high calling. So is it possible that factions of SDA’s can fall from that high calling? Ellen White said it was/is possible. But there are many who do not believe Ellen White’s following statement. They misinterpret other favorable statements to mean that it is impossible that the SDA church militant (wheat and tare co-ed church) could fall to the point God would choose others.

"The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life. He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach.

God is not 'worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing' (Acts 17:25). E. G. White, The Upward Look, 131.

Recently on Adventist-fm Internet forum, the following post was made by DD. My objective in this document is to evaluate this reasoning (or lack thereof) by all the weight of evidence, a skill the poster has demonstrated a distinct lack of adeptness for over the past ten years. Here is the post in question:

Message #43072

In 1908 Ellen White said that The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst--

1NL 99 (1898). {LDE 49.1}

"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.-- - - - What a terrible thing it is to exclude Christ from His own temple! What a loss to the church!"

Then in 1901 she said that the Lord does not withdraw Himself from His people and in 1902 that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which on which Christ bestows His supreme regard.

ST Nov. 13, 1901. {LDE 58.2}
The church has failed, sadly failed, to meet the expectations of her Redeemer, and yet the Lord does not withdraw Himself from His people. He bears with them still, not because of any goodness found in them, but that His name may not be dishonored before the enemies of truth and righteousness, that the satanic agencies may not triumph in the destruction of God's people. He has borne long with their waywardness, unbelief and folly. With wonderful forbearance and compassion He has disciplined them. If they will heed His instruction He will cleanse away their perverse tendencies, saving them with an everlasting salvation and making them eternal monuments of the power of His grace.

2SM 396 (1902). {LDE 58.3}
We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit.

To me the answer as to the apparent contradiction lies in the following quote.

Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.--2SM 114 (1896). {LDE 172.3}

We see two parties in the Church-- one whom the presence of God is not in her midst and the other party whom Christ bestows His supreme regard.

Applying All the Weight of Evidence to the Above Reasoning so that Nothing Contradicts

Lest we be errant in such an important duty as correctly defining the church upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard, let us prayerfully and very carefully weigh all of the pertinent available evidence. The post begins with the following E.G. White quote, and we will weigh each of her quoted statements as compared with others that might contradict, and if we find ONE contradiction, then the only integral course would be to go back and retrace one’s position:

“1NL 99 (1898). {LDE 49.1}

"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.-- - - - What a terrible thing it is to exclude Christ from His own temple! What a loss to the church!"

In consideration of the above statement, is there additional critical evidence that points in the very opposite direction? Yes indeed. So let us be mindful of the following important evidence that I have recited to DD for the past ten years, but which he did not think important enough to include in his post:

"To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church." E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 55.

So there is always a true church in which the presence of the Spirit is to abide until the end of time. That is the church I want to be a member of. But let’s continue our investigation of all the pertinent evidence.

"The members of the church triumphant--the church in heaven--will be permitted to draw near to the members of the church militant, to aid them in their necessity." E. G. White, The Southern Watchman, Sep. 8, 1903.

“From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people.” E.G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 12.

The gates of hell will not prevail against faithful souls--obviously.

"If the church of God becomes LUKEWARM [LAODICEAN] it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth, and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God." E.G. White, Letter 35, 1898.

"God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matt. 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ's church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.

Where two or three are present who love and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides, let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city enclosed in prison walls." E.G. White, The Upward Look, 315.

Then DD goes on with:

“Then in 1901 she said that the Lord does not withdraw Himself from His people and in 1902 that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which on which Christ bestows His supreme regard.”

If indeed the SDA Laodicean and/or the apostate new movement SDA church is the one(s) upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard, and THE LORD DOES NOT WITHDRAW HIMSELF FROM HIS PEOPLE by withdrawing from either of those two churches, why does Ellen White say in the very first statement DD quotes, that THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS NOT IN HER MIDST? Is this not a gross contradiction? How could anyone miss that contradiction?

Important Considerations:

· Is “enfeebled and defective” the same as unpardonable sin apostasy?

· All the disciples of Christ were enfeebled and defective, such as we all are. But is that the same thing as being in apostasy? Were the disciples in apostasy? No.

Here is how enfeebled and defective the disciples were, but they were not apostates! It is a major spiritual blunder to equate enfeebled defectiveness with apostasy. SDA leaders and men and women like DD have made that huge mistake.

"God takes men as they are, with the human elements in their character, and trains them for His service, if they will be disciplined and learn of Him. They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may become transformed into His image....

All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called 'the sons of thunder.' While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. HE was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour's words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden....

As His representatives among men, Christ does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save." Desire of Ages, 294-5.

1NL 99 (1898). {LDE 49.1}

"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.-- - - - What a terrible thing it is to exclude Christ from His own temple! What a loss to the church!"

By the way, you will not find the words: “What a terrible thing it is to exclude Christ from His own temple! What a loss to the church!” in the original quote and they are enclosed in quotation marks in DD’s quote above. It is wrong to add one’s own words to one of Ellen White’s statements, placing them in quotation marks as though they were hers!

ST Nov. 13, 1901. {LDE 58.2}
“The church has failed, sadly failed, to meet the expectations of her Redeemer, and yet the Lord does not withdraw Himself from His people. He bears with them still, not because of any goodness found in them, but that His name may not be dishonored before the enemies of truth and righteousness, that the satanic agencies may not triumph in the destruction of God's people. He has borne long with their waywardness, unbelief and folly. With wonderful forbearance and compassion He has disciplined them. If they will heed His instruction He will cleanse away their perverse tendencies, saving them with an everlasting salvation and making them eternal monuments of the power of His grace.” [All emphasis by rwb].

· The above statement says that the Lord does not withdraw Himself from His people.

· It gives the CONDITION “If they will heed His instruction.” The Jews did not heed His instruction. Is it possible that the SDA church militant will not heed His instruction?

· Though God does not withdraw Himself from His people, is it possible for a church to remove God? Can God’s presence remain where there is gross apostasy?

· Is it possible for God’s people to SEPARATE (WITHDRAW) THEMSELVES from God and REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS HE SETS FORTH? Is this a serious part of the weight of evidence we should consider?

I will let Ellen White answer the above questions:

"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure." Series B No. 2 54,55, and 1 SM 204, 205.

"Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying 'in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.].

The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful men, who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was not to be committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection with God, and had REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN therefore they WERE NOT of the number described by the apostle Paul: 'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5].

The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw HIS CHURCH, like the barren fig-tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility, penitence and faith--which alone could render the service acceptable to God--was lacking. Instead of the graces of the Spirit, there were manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, oppression. A BACKSLIDING CHURCH closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness to fail but they departed from him, and SEPARATED THEMSELVES from his love. As they REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises WERE NOT FULFILLED to them." E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 199-200 [The 1884 edition of The Great Controversy, 199, 200].

Response: We have seen that enfeebled and defective does not include open sin apostasy which Ellen White said should be separated from the church.

"Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church..." Christ's Object Lessons, 71.

But what if the leaders will NEVER AGAIN even show the church, the House of Jacob, its sins? How can they separate open sinners from the church if they will not even show them their sins?

"Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.

2SM 396 (1902). {LDE 58.3}
We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit.

To me the answer as to the apparent contradiction lies in the following quote.

Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.--2SM 114 (1896). {LDE 172.3}

We see two parties in the Church-- one whom the presence of God is not in her midst and the other party whom Christ bestows His supreme regard.

Responses:

· In light of all the weight of evidence included in this document, which is not exhaustive by any means, is God constantly watching the church with solicitude, and strengthening it by His Holy Spirit?

· Did God constantly watch the apostate Jewish church with solicitude and finally strengthen it by His Holy Spirit so that it did not fall to the Romans in A.D. 70? The Great Controversy, Chapter 1.

· Did God give the apostate Jews a divorce? Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

· Is there a point at which God no longer works with those who have betrayed sacred trusts?

Let’s recall Ellen White’s answer to these important questions:

God is not 'worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing' (Acts 17:25). E. G. White, The Upward Look, 131.

“To me the answer as to the apparent contradiction lies in the following quote.

Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.--2SM 114 (1896). {LDE 172.3}

We see two parties in the Church-- one whom the presence of God is not in her midst and the other party whom Christ bestows His supreme regard.”

Responses:

· Did God name three parties co-existing in the church?

· God said open sinners which surely included apostates, should be separated from the church. If that was done, there would be only TWO PARTIES, the wheat and the tares AS IT SHOULD BE. But that IS NOT what has transpired.

· Ellen White defines tares as insincere believers whose motives we would have to judge in order to remove them. COL 72. That is very different from open apostate sinners whose motives we do not have to judge to see they are sinning!

· Does God sanction being a member of an apostate church but just keeping separate from the open sinners and the apostates? There is no sanction in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy for this option! If this were sanctioned by God, there need never have been any separation by Christ and His disciples, the Protestant Reformers in the Reformation, Adventists in 1844, and true reformers in every succeeding generation, DA 232.

· But if the leaders will NEVER AGAIN even show the members their sins and if the leaders themselves are ringleaders in apostasy,

· “Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous prove to be ring-leaders in apostasy...” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 212).

· "Worldly policy is taking the place of true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the covenant be removed from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected? Shall the true doctrines and principles given us of God, which have made us what we are, be ignored?.... This is directly where the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us." E. G. White, Manuscript 29, 1890.

· Where is POLICY made? At SDA Headquarters. Who makes that policy? The leaders.

· DD’s very limited presentation of the weight of evidence would lead SDA’s to believe that God will not WITHDRAW AND/OR REMOVE Himself from the church. But notice the words: God will remove His prospering hand from the conference.

We are admonished to heed the example of Moses. What did he do in the case of apostasy?

Moses example

"Those who plead that great charity must be exercised toward the transgressors of God's commandments, may see in this instance of God's retributive justice [IN CONTEXT: the slaying of the golden calf worshippers] how He regards that charity that would cloak sin, or shield those in iniquity. The ringleaders in this wickedness, without respect to friendship or kindred, were to be punished with death. Only those were slain who stood forth in bold defiance to vindicate their conduct [such as saying they were just doing what sinners do], while those who repented of their sins, and humbled themselves, were spared. Some would call the prompt and decided measures taken, a hard and severe spirit. But Moses here received from the mouth of God, the interpretation of, or what he calls, sanctification. In the prompt decisive act of showing their abhorrence of such disobedience and transgression, they sanctified themselves. This integrity, this undeviating faithfulness, brought a blessing upon the tribe who performed the act of terrible justice....

Moses represents a class who will call sin by its right name a class that will give no place to sin and wrong, but will purge it from among them. Our abhorrence of sin cannot be too strong, if we are controlled by no personal, selfish feelings, if we labor disinterestedly for the salvation of souls, pleading in behalf of the erring, and those blinded by their own transgressions....

Moses manifested his great love for Israel in his entreaty to the Lord to forgive their sin, or blot his name out of the book which he had written [which Moses prayed for the repentant ones after the unrepentant were killed]. His intercessions here illustrate Christ's love and mediation for the sinful race. E.G. White, Signs of the Times, Vol. 1, p. 160.

It is obvious that Moses removed open sin from the church. I am not suggesting that open sin be removed by killing the ringleaders, as Moses did, but the next time you encounter one of the many who oft pipe the dirge that we should follow Moses’ example, you might ask them if they mean we should kill open sinners in the camp!

God has always ruled that open sin should be removed from His church. Any church that refuses this duty is not His church. Any church that refuses to perform that duty is not God’s church because it then would have three parties dwelling together in lieu of two, the wheat and the tares.

Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men [leaders], those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.

The leaders at Jerusalem's headquarters were guilty of UNBELIEF. Unbelief is atheism. Egypt is symbolic of Atheism, but it is far worse to imbibe UNBELIEF after knowing the truth. So SDA leaders (ancient men) are guilty of UNBELIEF, SYMBOLIZED BY Egypt, which is atheism or actually worse than Babylon. That is why Ellen White said they were worse:

Worse than Babylon -- "God's professed people are selfish and self-caring....They are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the heathen, graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better way." Testimonies, Vol. 2, 440-442.

There should be no doubt in the mind of any sincere person as to the identity of the church upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard. But every time I present the rest of the evidence to DD, he merely responds: PIFFLE! And that is all the truth via the full weight of evidence means to such persons. Most SDA’s will not love the truth. They love peace and safety and false sayings. They pick and choose what they prefer. That is why only a small remnant of them is saved, Isaiah 37:31, 32, and Ezekiel 5:1-3.

COUNTERPART: "The Lord commanded one of his ancient servants, 'Pray not thou for this people [Jer. 7:16 and 11:9-15], neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee.' The prophet thus describes the sins which had called forth this fearful denunciation: 'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so and what will ye do in the end thereof?' 'From the least of them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness and from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.' The apostles declare that this state of things will find its COUNTERPART in the last days. Many have a form of godliness, but in their daily life deny the power thereof. They have ceased to be convicted of their sins or alarmed at their state. They say in their hearts, 'The church is flourishing. Peace and spiritual prosperity are within her borders.' The words of the prophet may well apply to these self-deceivers, 'They have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them." E. G. White, Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 11-07-82.

"Shall the Lord be compelled to say, `Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear thee' [Jeremiah 7:16]? `Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain....Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth' [Jeremiah 3:3-4]?...

We are to be judged by the light that has been given us,(159) and we can find no excuse by which to extenuate our course." Review and Herald, Vol. 3, p 69-70 (August 1, 1893). (Brackets by Ellen White)

COUNTERPART: "In the time of the Saviour, the Jews had so covered over the precious jewels of truth with the rubbish of tradition and fable, that it was impossible to distinguish the true from the false. The Saviour came to clear away the rubbish of superstition and long-cherished errors, and to set the jewels of God's word in the framework of truth. What would the Saviour do if he should come to us now as he did to the Jews? He would have to do a similar work in clearing away the rubbish of tradition and ceremony. The Jews were greatly disturbed when he did this work [As are SDAs today!]. They had lost sight of the original truth of God, but Christ brought it again to view. It is our work to free the precious truths of God from superstition and error." E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 2, 308.

“The Lord commanded one of his ancient servants, "Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee." The prophet thus describes the sins which had called forth this fearful denunciation: "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?" "From the least of them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace." {RH, November 7, 1882 par. 8}

—rwb