Hatred of Reproof by R. C. Baker

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1873

Hatred of Reproof.

By R. C. Baker

God has shown through the gift of prophecy that the greatest reason of the spiritual blindness existing among us—brought to view in the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans—is because we will not receive correction. It seems strange that a people who are looking for the speedy advent of the Saviour in the clouds of heaven should still cling to their cherished sins, and comfort themselves with a delusive hope. It would seem that, if we really believed that in a few short years we should be ushered into the presence of Him who is the embodiment and source of all holiness and purity, we would earnestly seek to divest ourselves of everything impure and unholy. Oh! what folly! what inexcusable blindness! to shut our eyes to our wrongs till the great day of God shall reveal our characters in all their deformity, in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

We do not know our own hearts when we indulge a spirit of dislike and jealousy toward those who reprove our errors. Are we honest men and women? or are we not? Do we want to be right in the sight of God? or do we not? If we do, and it is our chief desire to be found ready when Jesus comes, it seems as though we would gladly avail ourselves of every means that would help us see our sins, and show us what we must do to be approved in his sight.

What does it indicate—this feeling in the heart that rises up against reproof? It indicates a latent spirit of rebellion, which, if not rooted out, will eventually bear its own bitter fruit. It is just the opposite of that meekness which we are exhorted to seek, which we are told is of great price in the sight of God.

If we could get a view of the majesty of God, of the infinite condescension that stoops so low to save us at such an immense sacrifice, I think we would be willing to have our wrongs pointed out, and willing to take a humble place, if thereby we could gain the favor of God.

But it only proves the perversity of human nature, and that our hearts are “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,” when we rise up against reproof, and hate the ones whom God in love sends to correct our wrongs. Jesus says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent.”

May God give us the spirit of Caleb and Joshua, who followed the Lord wholly, and save us from that spirit of insubordination that debarred so many of God’s ancient people from the typical Canaan.

R. C. BAKER.

Mackford, Wis.