Oakland | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 12, 1883

Oakland.

THE church in Oakland was favored with a sermon from Sister White on "the talents," at our quarterly meeting, July 7. The lesson was timely and the appeal forcible.

We have tried to impress upon our members the importance of the duties and the responsibilities of church membership. But the number who did not respond to their names, either by letter or in person, shows that this instruction is not appreciated by all. The General Conference wisely took action in this matter; advising that they who persistently neglect to appear or report at the quarterly meetings shall lose their standing in the church. When the Saviour instituted his supper, he said: "Do this in remembrance of me." This precept is as plain and as imperative as that which says, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." We have no more right to violate one than the other. Jesus also said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments;" and, "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me."

And yet again: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" They who persistently neglect the words of Christ show a disregard of his authority—show that they do not love him. To absent ourselves from the Lord's table against his plain commandment is to walk disorderly, and to subject ourselves to discipline. The church of Oakland has passed a vote to consider the cases of all who thus do. The church did not make it a matter of discipline; Christ himself did that, and the church resolved to show a becoming respect to his words, and to require all its members to do so. The clerk was instructed to take a record of the names of absentees.

We do not write this to intrude our church matters upon the notice of others, but to impress upon others the importance of our meetings where the ordinances of Christ are observed. Show this to your indifferent neighbor.