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A Word of Counsel

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 13, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 41.

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A Word of Counsel

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES
Last January while laboring in eastern Colorado, my nerves gave way, and since then I have been obliged to keep very quiet, and have done but little public work. During the several months that have passed, I have been thinking what it is that has brought me into my present condition, and am convinced that it is the result of overwork, and worry over things that I have seen in our work,—things I should have left with the Lord to bring about in his own good time.
I firmly believe, dear brethren and sisters, that we as a people are passing through a crisis in the work of the third angel's message. I have been pained as I have visited our churches during the past few years to find some who have long been in the truth losing their hold upon God, and giving up the message. Brethren, for fifty long years I have believed this truth, and I want to tell you the Lord is coming in this generation. Ever since I could read, I have been a reader of our good REVIEW, and as I have read the reports of our workers in the various parts of the field, my heart has rejoiced at the rapid advancement of the work and the large accessions to our ranks.
Believing, as we do, that there is to be one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed for the coming of Christ, the prosperity of the work should rejoice our hearts, especially those of us who have so long been in the way. There is one question I have seriously considered of late, and that is, How many of those reported have been faithfully instructed in every part of the message? How many of these new converts have been instructed that the Lord is now speaking to this people through the gift of prophecy, that God is now pointing out the duties and dangers of the present time through Sister White, his chosen servant? Dear brethren and sisters, we may as well face the situation as it is, for the fact is that many are coming among us who are not sound on this important question.
Forty or fifty years ago when people accepted this truth, they did it amid great opposition, for the truth was unpopular.
In those early days our people were instructed in the whole message, and were indeed a plain people. Members of our churches were not seen wearing gold rings, and dressing so as not to be distinguished from the world. As our brethren and sisters with their families walked the streets to church, every one knew they were Seventh-day Adventists. Our sisters, with the neat reform dress that God had given this people, were indeed a peculiar people, and a spectacle to the world. But I would not have you think for a moment that our people should again adopt the reform dress; for I believe God has removed that test. This people loved one another in those days. There was no striving for the highest place in the conference or church, for we were all brethren.
Who knows how much we might have been spared from running after the world if we had willingly followed out the instruction given? I firmly believe that the children of Israel were a type of the remnant people, and that God saw fit to give them the ribband of blue to look upon and cause them to remember God's commandments, and to distinguish them from the world. Num. 15 : 38, 39. I believe that before we are translated, we shall be as distinct and peculiar a people as were ancient Israel. Titus 2:11-14 shows what kind of people will be developed under the third angel's message, and how we shall be peculiar people, living in the world, but not being of the world.
I tremble as I see coming among us a worldly spirit, a disposition to follow after the world. I believe that the great reason for our present condition is to be found in the fact that we as ministers have not been faithful in instructing those who accept the message on every point of the truth, especially the spirit of prophecy. As I have read the reports in the REVIEW of meetings held in various conferences, and have noted the number who were set apart to the gospel ministry, I have wondered if these younger workers, as they go out to take the place of those of us who have been so long in the message, will study the spirit of prophecy, and teach the same to the people. I believe it is time we as a people heeded what God is sending us through his servant, and that every laborer in our conferences should believe and teach the whole message.
Rev. 12:17 shows plainly that the remnant church will have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and Rev. 19:10 shows positively that the testimony of Jesus, which is to be in the remnant church, is the spirit of prophecy.
Colorado is now passing through a crisis in the relation of capital and labor, and it is only a matter of time until all parts of the earth will be engulfed in trouble. Those among Seventh-day Adventists who are bound up in the various worldly organizations should seek God as never before, and study the spirit of prophecy; for I do believe that taking the counsel that God is now giving us, is what will save this people.
God has told us in Volume VII, page 84: “We are now to use all our entrusted capabilities in giving the last warning message to the world. In this work we are to preserve our individuality. We are not to unite with secret societies or with trade unions. We are to stand free in God, looking constantly to Christ for instruction. All our movements are to be made with a realization of the importance of the work to be accomplished for God.”
In spite of all such plain statements as these, and those that for years God has been sending us through his servant, relating to the dangers before us, there are elders and leading men in our churches who have been members of lodges. Ministers who were ordained and sent out by this people to preach the whole message have ordained men as shepherds of the flock who were not willing to cut loose from these worldly societies. Is it any wonder, dear brethren and sisters, that some are departing from the truth? I believe that as we come down nearer to the coming of the Lord, the line of demarcation between this people and the world will become more closely drawn, and those who are not willing to cut loose will eventually be cut off from this people.
Some may say, “That is the way in Colorado; it is not so in our conference.” Don't you think it; I don't believe Colorado is any worse than other places. Years ago I became a member of a certain lodge, and I know all about its influence; and while we should deal kindly with those coming among us who are bound to these things, giving them time to withdraw, still we should not compromise by taking them into the church and placing them in responsible positions until they cut loose from these things.
To my mind, there is no question but that the troublous times Colorado is experiencing will eventually reach other parts of the earth; and unless we are heeding the instruction the Lord is sending, we shall lose our connection with God, and, in the end, find ourselves bound in bundles to be burned. For a long time I have felt deeply over these things, and while I have spoken plainly, the Lord knows I have tried to speak kindly.