A little leaven works silently, spreading its own nature through the whole mass until all is leavened, so even the smallest portion leavens the whole lump. Precious truth is also a leaven for good, quietly diffusing its influence from heart to heart until the whole is changed and reformation advances. Evil is the same way, for prejudice, criticism, envy, distrust, unbelief, error, selfishness, and worldliness spread from person to person until the whole church and soul are poisoned and corrupted. Once entertained and not cast out, that leaven keeps working and strengthening until it is almost impossible to eradicate, bringing coldness, backsliding, and a harvest of unbelief. Therefore the leavening spirit of faultfinding, doubt, and distrust must not be given place for a moment but be guarded against and overcome, with unity found only in union with Christ and conversion that turns the heart to meekness and love.
How Leaven Operates
Leaven works silently, diffusing its own properties and tendencies through the whole lump until all is leavened. Precious truth is such a leaven, and when introduced it quietly diffuses itself, passing on its properties and influence until the whole is affected and minds are impressed. As light is received and imparted the work of reformation advances in clear, straight lines, while Satan's evil leaven of unbelief is introduced to stop that reformation. Controversies and discussions that cause taking sides must therefore be avoided, because those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right and the vital current of truth must constantly flow forth.
Even a very little leaven leavens the whole lump, so the smallest remaining doubt, distrust, or excuse for evil thinking left in any mind will spread and corrupt the whole soul and every right principle of life. This holds for husband and wife as one, for personal influence, for financial credit, and for work with the publishing house, causing stumbling and loss of confidence. Every sacrifice is required to clear the path of every thread that creates distrust, refusing to transfer responsibility, preserving unity, keeping all influence belonging to God refined and purified and recorded in heaven in favor, keeping credit without shade over money, and standing on the high ground of gospel justification and righteousness so no soul has occasion to think evil, lose confidence, or do evil. The leaven is untrue assertions spoken with great earnestness to captivate minds about authors and their books and about money and how it should be used, and theories about how to treat fellow men that are in direct contrast to the counsel of God. It is the inspiration of Satan and brings moral depravity and loss of integrity, leaving those who hear it dazed and bewildered. It spread to those who went to Battle Creek for the General Conference, and the mind of Philip Wessels was leavened and corrupted by false representations and arguments from men in responsible positions who betrayed their trust, so that his principles were corrupted, he separated from God and His work, he could see nothing clearly, he would receive no message of warning, and the fact that royalties were received became the stumbling block placed before him.
Once entertained and not cast out, leaven keeps working until it has done a great deal of harm, for one mind filled with unbelief leavens other minds. A little fault-finding allowed to work spreads unbelief and coldness through the whole company, for the devil magnifies any little thing possible against the working of the Spirit of God. Minds not open to receive it then pass judgment on the messenger and the words spoken, demand that truth harmonize with their own ideas, and pick flaws instead of asking God for a new heart and mind under the transforming influence of grace. That spirit must not be given place for a moment, because once entertained it begins to work and brings more coldness, unbelief and backsliding, and the devil will give all that is desired of it, so those who see it must be on guard and want no more of it. A little spirit of doubt and questioning works as leaven in the churches in the same way, as doubts and suspicion and evil surmisings withdraw confidence and lead to misjudging brethren, gathering strength for years until spiritual life goes out. It shows itself in lightness, trifling, jesting and joking in gatherings for meeting, a spirit God frowns upon, and once leavened with that spirit people remain under deception and pride and refuse to confess mistakes and take a firm stand for the right even when they see life and freedom and the blessing of God brought into the churches by the very messages and messengers they had demerited, misstated and falsified.
Like poisonous roots it spreads unseen and is then almost impossible to eradicate, as when loose, familiar manners between men and women, once given a foothold in an institution, work as an active leaven through the whole place, taking firm hold until they bring forth a harvest of evil. When those united in unbelief work to make God's work hard and discouraging, filling in every small detail to sow seeds of uncertainty and distrust, those seeds when cherished grow into unbelief that leavens the minds of others.
Leaven for Good
Precious truth is itself a leaven which, when introduced, quietly diffuses itself, silently passing on its own properties and influence until the whole is affected. As light is received and imparted and minds are impressed, the work of reformation advances in clear, straight lines. This good leavening must be kept flowing forth as a vital current, for an evil leaven of unbelief is often introduced to stop the reformation, and controversies and discussions that cause taking sides are to be avoided because those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right.
The gospel carries an aggressive, diffusive power that moves from heart to heart, so that Christian character formed after the similitude of Christ leavens others until the whole lump is leavened. The Lord waits to use thousands of persons of moderate ability who will work in humility and the lowliness of Christ. All who are meek and contrite of heart transmit the love and purity of Christ into many souls by precept and example, constantly receiving and imparting the light and truth Christ imparts, and gaining efficiency by positive, well-directed effort in proportion to growth in grace.
Where a few receive the truth, others around them are leavened by it, becoming interested and converted and prepared to do missionary work for their own people. Each member's influence is needed to help the church become fully leavened, so a school should be located close enough to support the church rather than too far away to help it. The leaven of reform works through a demoralized people in the same gradual, permeating way, requiring staying long enough to grasp the inward working of things and then reconstructing and remodeling rather than rushing from place to place, because work done briefly slides back again. It requires hard, constant work, effort upon effort, by pen, by voice, by influence, line upon line and precept upon precept, until the whole body is changed. The task is harder than beginning from the start, because those established in a wrong course think God has blessed them in it and can hardly be made to see need for improvement, and a moral tone once degraded and demoralized is raised only by most thorough conversion by the Spirit of the Lord.
Leaven of Discord and Criticism
Even a little prejudice of brother against brother leavens the whole church with division and discord. Even provoking and envying, and the least suggestion of differences among brethren even in opinion, spreads through the whole body until its influence is weakened by putting division into the hands of enemies. Bitterness, envy, distrust, jealousy, hatred, malice, dissatisfaction, discontent and malice spread like leaven through dough, poisoning the church and damaging its peace and harmony. Permeating the whole community, they divide and damage it, give evil angels room to work, entrap souls, and turn unbelievers against the truth. Envy, evil suspicions and jealousy worked like leaven through leading committees and ministers until the whole group seemed affected. That controlling spirit brought spiritual darkness and opposition to light until nearly the entire body was affected.
A divisive spirit fed by judging one another creates a spirit of drawing apart that works like leaven. When judging becomes common it spreads until the churches are leavened with it. Suspicion, faultfinding, criticism, accusing, ambition, and thinking and speaking evil against one another act as leaven spreading from person to person through the whole body. Such influence undermines trust in those appointed to serve, leaves a train of evil, places the faultfinder on the side of the accuser of the brethren, and leaves the churches not knowing where they are. Only conversion stops a person from leavening the church in this way, by seeking God with all the heart and overcoming the inclination to think and speak evil and to hurt, wound and tear down a brother for fear he will have more influence. Unless the influence is rooted out, a life meant for success can fail and lose a battle that could have ended in victory.
A little faultfinding allowed to work spreads unbelief and coldness through the whole company. The leaven magnifies any little thing possible against the working of the Spirit, so minds not open to receive it pass judgment on the messenger and the words spoken, demand that truth harmonize with their own ideas, and pick flaws instead of asking for a new heart and mind under transforming grace. Evil criticism, suspicion, misrepresentation, false reports and distorted impressions spread like leaven from place to place, taking hold of thoughts and feelings and undermining faith. They create suspicion, lead people to accuse one another of deception and dishonesty on distorted facts, create difficult circumstances, retard the work, and rest under cruel false representations that the Lord does not endorse. Criticism and speaking against the judgment of those in authority works as leaven until others do the same, so one person's disrespect, contradiction and disregard for order exerts a wrong, demoralizing influence over a school or household.
Rivalry between institutions, striving for advantage and supremacy openly or secretly, grows and strengthens like leaven once given place. It is seen in attempting in the slightest degree to take advantage of one another, in sharp dealing and driving sharp bargains, in every effort to exalt one institution at the expense of another, and in every reflection or insinuation lessening the influence of an institution or its workers. It is the spirit of Satan and of unpurged selfishness, displeasing to God, and if indulged and allowed to remain it crowds out the missionary spirit, grieves the Spirit of God, banishes ministering angels sent to be co-workers with those who cherish grace, corrupts the workers, produces plans and enterprises displeasing to God, and thwarts God's purpose for His institution. Undiligent, unfaithful, unconverted workers claiming to represent Christ act as leaven upon whole-hearted, cheerful workers of sincere fidelity, doing incalculable harm by example. Gross, selfish, impure in character, with no relish or love for truth and made no better by connection with the work, unable to distinguish sacred from common and right from wrong even after light, following impulsive motives, betraying trust when tempted and easily misled by selfish ambitious projects, they spread irreligion, unbelief, worldliness, gossip and faultfinding, and through them evil angels mislead apprentices and promising youth who love God and place them in constant danger.
Disaffection works like leaven and spreads from one person to the whole group. When a person with a disaffected spirit is brought into an office, others are leavened with evil by his influence, and the souls of those serving under him, especially apprentices, are imperiled. The church is leavened when Satan through evil angels forms an alliance with professedly pious men, for fallen men and fallen angels are through apostasy in the same confederacy, leagued in desperate companionship to work against good. If he can induce men as he induced angels to join rebellion under the guise of servants of God, he has in them his most successful allies against heaven. Under the name of godliness he inspires them with his own accusing spirit and charges them with evil, using them as trained detectives to create feuds, to make charges that create discord and bitterness among brethren, to set tongues in active service for evil, and to sow seeds of dissension by watching for evil and speaking what will create discord.
Leaven of Unbelief and Error
A little leaven of unbelief leavens the whole lump of God's people. The leaven is unbelief, indifference and disrespect toward divine testimonies as the voice of God. Even the least excuse to demerit them, or one hint of disrespect from professed leaders who explain the Scriptures, spreads easily and goes further than fifty sermons to prove their validity. It is accepted more readily than expressed faith because the natural, carnal heart agrees with unbelief and is pleased to be left undisturbed in errors, sins and selfish indulgence. The seed of doubt and questioning thus sown springs up into a harvest of unbelief that cannot be gathered up again, leaving the people cold, lukewarm and in darkness.
One mind filled with unbelief leavens other minds, and evil not cast out keeps working until it has done great harm. When those united in unbelief work to make God's work hard and discouraging, filling in every small detail, they sow seeds of uncertainty and distrust, and those seeds when cherished grow into unbelief. Distrust once introduced through insinuations and misinterpretations spreads like leaven, arousing suspicion and leading a person to reject helpful counsel. That influence weakens spiritual life and counteracts the work of God. Error spreads through minds as leaven spreads through dough, so presenting error as truth must be resisted. False principles introduced through human methods taint and corrupt churches and institutions, while methods contrary to divine wisdom leaven minds to approve ambitious plans without understanding consequences.
The doctrine of once in grace always in grace is evil leaven that must not be mingled with sacred points of faith, since evil teaching spreads through and corrupts what it is mixed with. Philosophical, false-scientific and spiritualistic ideas work in the same way, corrupting many minds, making God's messages ineffective and threatening the faith of the community, so teachings that distort truth and lead away from it must be shunned. Insinuations that weaken confidence in God's ministers and message work as leaven in the mind. Students placed where such insinuations have been and are still being introduced, as at Battle Creek, become leavened by them. Those seeds of evil, sown whenever opportunity offers, spread as a small corrupting influence, so that when temptations come those in whose minds they were sown are moved to turn others away from the truths to be carried to the world.
Falsehoods and misrepresentations about divine testimonies and God's ministers are a leaven able to corrupt youth who encounter them. Untrue assertions spoken with great earnestness about authors and their books, about money and its use, and theories of dealing with fellow men contrary to divine counsel, are Satan's inspiration bringing moral depravity and loss of integrity and leaving hearers dazed and bewildered. A little wrong influence thus spreads until it corrupts every right principle of life, breaking communion with God and causing warnings to be refused. So the mind of Philip Wessels was leavened and corrupted by false representations and arguments from men in responsible positions who betrayed their trust over royalties, until his principles were corrupted, he separated from God and His work, he could see nothing clearly, and the receipt of royalties became the stumbling block before him. Seductive theories mingled with Dr. Kellogg's ideas leavened the minds of his brethren, though presented only partly in Living Temple.
A small beginning of distrust and dissension can spread through a whole community, as doubts, envy and jealousy against Moses were encouraged in Israel's camp until they influenced many and fueled rebellion. The same spirit prominent at Minneapolis was carried by ministers from Iowa to the camp at Ottawa, Kansas and to other camps. Their criticism, combative surmisings, misrepresentations and day-by-day remarks kept working to make of none effect the labors for righteousness by faith, making impression hard even with faithful preaching three times a day. The current carried away even trusting young believers, drew them to unite in the same spirit, and stopped vocal prayer for weeks. Doubt of God's messages and resentment of reproof shared from Paris and Rochester worked in the same way in Battle Creek, and unless rooted out would continue to spread and undermine God's work, while prejudice and irritation stirred by interpretation of testimony and Scripture spread from the General Conference in Oakland to other regions.
Wheeler's dark unbelief, hints and expressions poisoned minds and nearly corrupted the group, so his influence had to be stopped and he could not be trusted with responsibility until showing clear evidence of change. Gregg had been influenced by Shannon and Lawrence to join in criticizing others, and though quieter after they were censured still needed a different experience before serving as elder.
Leaven of Self and Worldliness
The spirit of the world is leavening the church, drawing members into fellowship with darkness and unbelievers and away from holy calling, and neglecting received light leaves them worse off than those Christ warned, with what would bring peace hidden from sight. The church is being permeated from within by her own backsliding as leaven permeates dough, and unless she repents and is converted she will eat the fruit of her own doing until she abhors herself. Selfishness is a leaven working little by little until the whole lump is endangered, perverting God-given capabilities until objectionable traits rule and influence becomes dangerous and offensive to the Spirit. When self takes possession and men turn aside divine counsel to meet their own ideas, they deceive themselves and others and learn to believe a lie. That selfish indulgence weakens physical, mental, and moral strength so that sacred requirements are no longer sensed, the law is not given preeminence, own pleasure is done on the Sabbath, and sanctification by the truth and the seal of the living God cannot be claimed in the very short time left.
The selfish grasping attitude of demanding high wages while refusing to work, planted by one example and communicated to other workers, spreads like leaven with evil results hindering God's work. Incurring debt through venturesome investments is likewise a dangerous example of taking the world's ways that others must not follow. The presence and leading influence of a few unconverted, self-willed, self-righteous professors spreads corruption through a whole church, contrary to the Spirit and example of Christ and without transforming grace. Their pretensions to godliness cause present truth to be regarded with suspicion and distrust, while blinding many to the fact that the Lord has no part in such an experience. The corrupting influence of workers of iniquity spreads through churches until many are affected and the religion of Christ is disgraced, yet God who entrusted sacred truth and holy law to shine light amid abounding iniquity will not bear the perversity much longer but will expose them.
Even small disregard for spiritual and holy practices spreads to affect the whole community, showing separation from Christ and lack of unity in spirit with Him. Mixing sacred service with common ideas, putting human opinions and self-born proposals first, and using what God has forbidden cheapens the truth, so that even a small departure corrupts the work. Fashionable worldly religion is contagious, and when parents yield to children's world-loving desires and open the door to amusements once prohibited on principle such as concerts, operas, and theatres, the compromise destroys simplicity of godliness and infects everyone. The influence of older members who disregard light on health reform and continue selfish, health-destroying indulgences spreads to new converts in unconsecrated, unconverted and backslidden condition. That influence brings spiritual and physical degeneracy, takes strength from the churches, counteracts the message that prepares a people for the day of God, makes that message of no effect, and keeps the Lord from bringing many souls into the truth.
Uncontrolled feelings and indulgence in temper, taste, habits, and affection spread from person to person, infecting individuals one by one with an impulsive, unlawful spirit that leads into forbidden paths far from God and heaven. Loose, familiar manners between men and women, once given foothold in an institution, work as active leaven through the whole place, spreading unseen like poisonous roots taking firm hold until they bring forth a harvest of evil that is then almost impossible to eradicate. The sin of impatience allowed in a teacher will leaven pupils with the same sin, so those placed over youth to educate and mold Christlike character must keep spirit and thoughts in subjection to Christ with the greatest carefulness in selection. In a family, allowing a daughter as in the Fairfield family to overrule parental authority set an example of disrespect that affected younger children and endangered the whole family. Parents' insubordination, discontent, and unbelief likewise influence children and other members until doubt takes hold of those who might otherwise have accepted truth.
The wrong spirit prevailing at Battle Creek and in a General Conference working at cross-purposes with God spreads outward, so that churches in distant conferences become leavened with the same spirit even when knowing nothing of what is done in America. The spirit of individual independence lacking divine approval is such a leavening influence among publishing workers and must not be allowed to prevail. A small error or harmful influence can spread through the whole church and corrupt its spiritual condition, requiring thorough heart work including humble acknowledgment of deception and wrong.
Removing the Leaven
Division comes from separation from Christ, and unity is found in union with Christ as the great center, so that as brethren draw near to Him they draw near to one another. True Christianity is Christlikeness revealed in the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance — in not desiring vain glory, in restoring one overtaken in fault in meekness, and in bearing one another's burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. Even a little prejudice of brother against brother, provoking and envying and the least suggestion of differences even in opinion, leavens the whole church with division and discord, weakens its influence, and puts division into enemies' hands.
The church is now being permeated from within by her own backsliding as leaven permeates a lump, and unless she repents and is converted she will eat the fruit of her own doing until she abhors herself. When she resists evil and chooses good, seeks God with all humility, reaches her high calling in Christ, stands on the platform of eternal truth, and by faith lays hold on what is prepared for her, she will be healed. Then she will appear in God-given simplicity and purity, separate from earthly entanglements, with the truth making her free indeed and her members as God's chosen representatives.
Only conversion stops a person from leavening the church, for the presence and leading influence of a few unconverted, self-willed, self-righteous professors spreads corruption through the whole body. Their strong self-willed spirit is contrary to the Spirit and example of Christ, without genuine experience of the transforming influence of the Spirit of God, causing present truth to be regarded with suspicion and distrust while pretensions to godliness blind many to the Lord having no part in such an experience. When such souls are converted in heart and life the fierce, self-sufficient, vindictive spirit gives place to meekness, gentleness, goodness, forbearance, kindness, and lowliness of mind, showing to the world the transforming power of truth. Envy, suspicion, faultfinding, accusing, thinking and speaking evil, talking against one another, and seeking to hurt and tear down a brother for fear he will have more influence spread from person to person until churches do not know where they are and place the faultfinder on the side of the accuser of the brethren. Seeking God with all the heart and overcoming the inclination to think and speak evil keeps the church from being leavened by that wrong influence.
After sufficient trial, undiligent, unfaithful, unsafe stewards who cannot distinguish sacred from common and betray trust must be separated and disconnected from God's work so its character will be purer and more elevated. Such unconverted workers claiming to represent Christ, gross, selfish and impure in character, with no relish or love for the truth and made no better by connection with the work, who follow impulsive motives, betray trust when tempted, are easily misled by selfish ambitious projects, and cannot distinguish right from wrong even after light is presented, spread irreligion, unbelief, worldliness, gossip, and faultfinding upon whole-hearted, cheerful, faithful workers, and through them evil angels mislead apprentices and promising youth who love God and place them in constant danger. Needed reformation must address where evil influence begins by removing from positions those not rooted and grounded in the truth, with greater vigilance over an unconverted element because evil influence spreads through a community like leaven through dough.
Unfavorable associations must be discreetly changed, placing those weak in moral power and faith with companions strong for the right who will strengthen good resolutions and religious inclinations, guard against temptation, balance them in the right direction, and help them gain religious experience and form Christian character. Even a well-disposed, religiously inclined youth, even a professed Christian, can lose religious impressions through close association with one companion who speaks lightly of sacred things and ridicules them and lacks reverence and conscientiousness, and improper, irreligious associates otherwise leaven with faultfinding, distrust, and suspicion. There cannot be too great carefulness in selecting teachers to educate and mold and fashion Christlike character, for they must keep their own spirit and thoughts in subjection to Jesus Christ, since the sin of impatience allowed in a teacher will leaven pupils with the same sin.
Controversies and discussions that cause taking sides must be avoided, because Satan's evil leaven of unbelief is often introduced to stop the work of reformation, those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right, and the vital current of truth must constantly flow forth while precious truth quietly diffuses itself to advance the work in clear straight lines as light is received and imparted. The leavening spirit of fault-finding, doubt, and criticism must not be given place for a moment but be guarded against and rejected, for a little fault-finding allowed to work spreads unbelief and coldness through the whole company. It is the devil magnifying any little thing possible against the working of the Spirit, so that minds not open to receive it pass judgment on the messenger, demand truth harmonize with their own ideas, and pick flaws instead of asking God for a new heart and mind under transforming grace, and once entertained it begins to work and brings more coldness, unbelief and backsliding. Uncontrolled feelings and indulgence in temper, taste, habits, and affection infect other individuals one by one with an impulsive, unlawful spirit leading into forbidden paths far from God, so that influence must cease to spread, leaning must be on God rather than on people as broken supports, and by steadfast constant effort the Holy Spirit must reform life into self-control, usefulness, and blessing to others.
Even the smallest remaining doubt, distrust, or excuse for evil thinking left in any mind will spread and corrupt the whole soul and cause stumbling and loss of confidence. Every thread creating distrust must therefore be cleared at any sacrifice without transferring responsibility, preserving unity, keeping all influence belonging to God refined and purified, keeping credit without shade over money, and standing on the high ground of gospel justification and righteousness so no soul has occasion to think evil, lose confidence, or do evil. This applies to husband and wife as one, to personal influence, to financial credit, and to work with the publishing house.
A little leaven works silently, spreading its own nature through the whole mass until all is leavened, so even the smallest portion leavens the whole lump.
Precious truth is also a leaven for good, quietly diffusing its influence from heart to heart until the whole is changed and reformation advances.
Evil is the same way, for prejudice, criticism, envy, distrust, unbelief, error, selfishness, and worldliness spread from person to person until the whole church and soul are poisoned and corrupted.
Once entertained and not cast out, that leaven keeps working and strengthening until it is almost impossible to eradicate, bringing coldness, backsliding, and a harvest of unbelief.
Therefore the leavening spirit of faultfinding, doubt, and distrust must not be given place for a moment but be guarded against and overcome, with unity found only in union with Christ and conversion that turns the heart to meekness and love.
How Leaven Operates
Leaven works silently, diffusing its own properties and tendencies through the whole lump until all is leavened. Precious truth is such a leaven, and when introduced it quietly diffuses itself, passing on its properties and influence until the whole is affected and minds are impressed. As light is received and imparted the work of reformation advances in clear, straight lines, while Satan's evil leaven of unbelief is introduced to stop that reformation. Controversies and discussions that cause taking sides must therefore be avoided, because those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right and the vital current of truth must constantly flow forth.
Even a very little leaven leavens the whole lump, so the smallest remaining doubt, distrust, or excuse for evil thinking left in any mind will spread and corrupt the whole soul and every right principle of life. This holds for husband and wife as one, for personal influence, for financial credit, and for work with the publishing house, causing stumbling and loss of confidence. Every sacrifice is required to clear the path of every thread that creates distrust, refusing to transfer responsibility, preserving unity, keeping all influence belonging to God refined and purified and recorded in heaven in favor, keeping credit without shade over money, and standing on the high ground of gospel justification and righteousness so no soul has occasion to think evil, lose confidence, or do evil. The leaven is untrue assertions spoken with great earnestness to captivate minds about authors and their books and about money and how it should be used, and theories about how to treat fellow men that are in direct contrast to the counsel of God. It is the inspiration of Satan and brings moral depravity and loss of integrity, leaving those who hear it dazed and bewildered. It spread to those who went to Battle Creek for the General Conference, and the mind of Philip Wessels was leavened and corrupted by false representations and arguments from men in responsible positions who betrayed their trust, so that his principles were corrupted, he separated from God and His work, he could see nothing clearly, he would receive no message of warning, and the fact that royalties were received became the stumbling block placed before him.
Once entertained and not cast out, leaven keeps working until it has done a great deal of harm, for one mind filled with unbelief leavens other minds. A little fault-finding allowed to work spreads unbelief and coldness through the whole company, for the devil magnifies any little thing possible against the working of the Spirit of God. Minds not open to receive it then pass judgment on the messenger and the words spoken, demand that truth harmonize with their own ideas, and pick flaws instead of asking God for a new heart and mind under the transforming influence of grace. That spirit must not be given place for a moment, because once entertained it begins to work and brings more coldness, unbelief and backsliding, and the devil will give all that is desired of it, so those who see it must be on guard and want no more of it. A little spirit of doubt and questioning works as leaven in the churches in the same way, as doubts and suspicion and evil surmisings withdraw confidence and lead to misjudging brethren, gathering strength for years until spiritual life goes out. It shows itself in lightness, trifling, jesting and joking in gatherings for meeting, a spirit God frowns upon, and once leavened with that spirit people remain under deception and pride and refuse to confess mistakes and take a firm stand for the right even when they see life and freedom and the blessing of God brought into the churches by the very messages and messengers they had demerited, misstated and falsified.
Like poisonous roots it spreads unseen and is then almost impossible to eradicate, as when loose, familiar manners between men and women, once given a foothold in an institution, work as an active leaven through the whole place, taking firm hold until they bring forth a harvest of evil. When those united in unbelief work to make God's work hard and discouraging, filling in every small detail to sow seeds of uncertainty and distrust, those seeds when cherished grow into unbelief that leavens the minds of others.
Leaven for Good
Precious truth is itself a leaven which, when introduced, quietly diffuses itself, silently passing on its own properties and influence until the whole is affected. As light is received and imparted and minds are impressed, the work of reformation advances in clear, straight lines. This good leavening must be kept flowing forth as a vital current, for an evil leaven of unbelief is often introduced to stop the reformation, and controversies and discussions that cause taking sides are to be avoided because those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right.
The gospel carries an aggressive, diffusive power that moves from heart to heart, so that Christian character formed after the similitude of Christ leavens others until the whole lump is leavened. The Lord waits to use thousands of persons of moderate ability who will work in humility and the lowliness of Christ. All who are meek and contrite of heart transmit the love and purity of Christ into many souls by precept and example, constantly receiving and imparting the light and truth Christ imparts, and gaining efficiency by positive, well-directed effort in proportion to growth in grace.
Where a few receive the truth, others around them are leavened by it, becoming interested and converted and prepared to do missionary work for their own people. Each member's influence is needed to help the church become fully leavened, so a school should be located close enough to support the church rather than too far away to help it. The leaven of reform works through a demoralized people in the same gradual, permeating way, requiring staying long enough to grasp the inward working of things and then reconstructing and remodeling rather than rushing from place to place, because work done briefly slides back again. It requires hard, constant work, effort upon effort, by pen, by voice, by influence, line upon line and precept upon precept, until the whole body is changed. The task is harder than beginning from the start, because those established in a wrong course think God has blessed them in it and can hardly be made to see need for improvement, and a moral tone once degraded and demoralized is raised only by most thorough conversion by the Spirit of the Lord.
Leaven of Discord and Criticism
Even a little prejudice of brother against brother leavens the whole church with division and discord. Even provoking and envying, and the least suggestion of differences among brethren even in opinion, spreads through the whole body until its influence is weakened by putting division into the hands of enemies. Bitterness, envy, distrust, jealousy, hatred, malice, dissatisfaction, discontent and malice spread like leaven through dough, poisoning the church and damaging its peace and harmony. Permeating the whole community, they divide and damage it, give evil angels room to work, entrap souls, and turn unbelievers against the truth. Envy, evil suspicions and jealousy worked like leaven through leading committees and ministers until the whole group seemed affected. That controlling spirit brought spiritual darkness and opposition to light until nearly the entire body was affected.
A divisive spirit fed by judging one another creates a spirit of drawing apart that works like leaven. When judging becomes common it spreads until the churches are leavened with it. Suspicion, faultfinding, criticism, accusing, ambition, and thinking and speaking evil against one another act as leaven spreading from person to person through the whole body. Such influence undermines trust in those appointed to serve, leaves a train of evil, places the faultfinder on the side of the accuser of the brethren, and leaves the churches not knowing where they are. Only conversion stops a person from leavening the church in this way, by seeking God with all the heart and overcoming the inclination to think and speak evil and to hurt, wound and tear down a brother for fear he will have more influence. Unless the influence is rooted out, a life meant for success can fail and lose a battle that could have ended in victory.
A little faultfinding allowed to work spreads unbelief and coldness through the whole company. The leaven magnifies any little thing possible against the working of the Spirit, so minds not open to receive it pass judgment on the messenger and the words spoken, demand that truth harmonize with their own ideas, and pick flaws instead of asking for a new heart and mind under transforming grace. Evil criticism, suspicion, misrepresentation, false reports and distorted impressions spread like leaven from place to place, taking hold of thoughts and feelings and undermining faith. They create suspicion, lead people to accuse one another of deception and dishonesty on distorted facts, create difficult circumstances, retard the work, and rest under cruel false representations that the Lord does not endorse. Criticism and speaking against the judgment of those in authority works as leaven until others do the same, so one person's disrespect, contradiction and disregard for order exerts a wrong, demoralizing influence over a school or household.
Rivalry between institutions, striving for advantage and supremacy openly or secretly, grows and strengthens like leaven once given place. It is seen in attempting in the slightest degree to take advantage of one another, in sharp dealing and driving sharp bargains, in every effort to exalt one institution at the expense of another, and in every reflection or insinuation lessening the influence of an institution or its workers. It is the spirit of Satan and of unpurged selfishness, displeasing to God, and if indulged and allowed to remain it crowds out the missionary spirit, grieves the Spirit of God, banishes ministering angels sent to be co-workers with those who cherish grace, corrupts the workers, produces plans and enterprises displeasing to God, and thwarts God's purpose for His institution. Undiligent, unfaithful, unconverted workers claiming to represent Christ act as leaven upon whole-hearted, cheerful workers of sincere fidelity, doing incalculable harm by example. Gross, selfish, impure in character, with no relish or love for truth and made no better by connection with the work, unable to distinguish sacred from common and right from wrong even after light, following impulsive motives, betraying trust when tempted and easily misled by selfish ambitious projects, they spread irreligion, unbelief, worldliness, gossip and faultfinding, and through them evil angels mislead apprentices and promising youth who love God and place them in constant danger.
Disaffection works like leaven and spreads from one person to the whole group. When a person with a disaffected spirit is brought into an office, others are leavened with evil by his influence, and the souls of those serving under him, especially apprentices, are imperiled. The church is leavened when Satan through evil angels forms an alliance with professedly pious men, for fallen men and fallen angels are through apostasy in the same confederacy, leagued in desperate companionship to work against good. If he can induce men as he induced angels to join rebellion under the guise of servants of God, he has in them his most successful allies against heaven. Under the name of godliness he inspires them with his own accusing spirit and charges them with evil, using them as trained detectives to create feuds, to make charges that create discord and bitterness among brethren, to set tongues in active service for evil, and to sow seeds of dissension by watching for evil and speaking what will create discord.
Leaven of Unbelief and Error
A little leaven of unbelief leavens the whole lump of God's people. The leaven is unbelief, indifference and disrespect toward divine testimonies as the voice of God. Even the least excuse to demerit them, or one hint of disrespect from professed leaders who explain the Scriptures, spreads easily and goes further than fifty sermons to prove their validity. It is accepted more readily than expressed faith because the natural, carnal heart agrees with unbelief and is pleased to be left undisturbed in errors, sins and selfish indulgence. The seed of doubt and questioning thus sown springs up into a harvest of unbelief that cannot be gathered up again, leaving the people cold, lukewarm and in darkness.
One mind filled with unbelief leavens other minds, and evil not cast out keeps working until it has done great harm. When those united in unbelief work to make God's work hard and discouraging, filling in every small detail, they sow seeds of uncertainty and distrust, and those seeds when cherished grow into unbelief. Distrust once introduced through insinuations and misinterpretations spreads like leaven, arousing suspicion and leading a person to reject helpful counsel. That influence weakens spiritual life and counteracts the work of God. Error spreads through minds as leaven spreads through dough, so presenting error as truth must be resisted. False principles introduced through human methods taint and corrupt churches and institutions, while methods contrary to divine wisdom leaven minds to approve ambitious plans without understanding consequences.
The doctrine of once in grace always in grace is evil leaven that must not be mingled with sacred points of faith, since evil teaching spreads through and corrupts what it is mixed with. Philosophical, false-scientific and spiritualistic ideas work in the same way, corrupting many minds, making God's messages ineffective and threatening the faith of the community, so teachings that distort truth and lead away from it must be shunned. Insinuations that weaken confidence in God's ministers and message work as leaven in the mind. Students placed where such insinuations have been and are still being introduced, as at Battle Creek, become leavened by them. Those seeds of evil, sown whenever opportunity offers, spread as a small corrupting influence, so that when temptations come those in whose minds they were sown are moved to turn others away from the truths to be carried to the world.
Falsehoods and misrepresentations about divine testimonies and God's ministers are a leaven able to corrupt youth who encounter them. Untrue assertions spoken with great earnestness about authors and their books, about money and its use, and theories of dealing with fellow men contrary to divine counsel, are Satan's inspiration bringing moral depravity and loss of integrity and leaving hearers dazed and bewildered. A little wrong influence thus spreads until it corrupts every right principle of life, breaking communion with God and causing warnings to be refused. So the mind of Philip Wessels was leavened and corrupted by false representations and arguments from men in responsible positions who betrayed their trust over royalties, until his principles were corrupted, he separated from God and His work, he could see nothing clearly, and the receipt of royalties became the stumbling block before him. Seductive theories mingled with Dr. Kellogg's ideas leavened the minds of his brethren, though presented only partly in Living Temple.
A small beginning of distrust and dissension can spread through a whole community, as doubts, envy and jealousy against Moses were encouraged in Israel's camp until they influenced many and fueled rebellion. The same spirit prominent at Minneapolis was carried by ministers from Iowa to the camp at Ottawa, Kansas and to other camps. Their criticism, combative surmisings, misrepresentations and day-by-day remarks kept working to make of none effect the labors for righteousness by faith, making impression hard even with faithful preaching three times a day. The current carried away even trusting young believers, drew them to unite in the same spirit, and stopped vocal prayer for weeks. Doubt of God's messages and resentment of reproof shared from Paris and Rochester worked in the same way in Battle Creek, and unless rooted out would continue to spread and undermine God's work, while prejudice and irritation stirred by interpretation of testimony and Scripture spread from the General Conference in Oakland to other regions.
Wheeler's dark unbelief, hints and expressions poisoned minds and nearly corrupted the group, so his influence had to be stopped and he could not be trusted with responsibility until showing clear evidence of change. Gregg had been influenced by Shannon and Lawrence to join in criticizing others, and though quieter after they were censured still needed a different experience before serving as elder.
Leaven of Self and Worldliness
The spirit of the world is leavening the church, drawing members into fellowship with darkness and unbelievers and away from holy calling, and neglecting received light leaves them worse off than those Christ warned, with what would bring peace hidden from sight. The church is being permeated from within by her own backsliding as leaven permeates dough, and unless she repents and is converted she will eat the fruit of her own doing until she abhors herself. Selfishness is a leaven working little by little until the whole lump is endangered, perverting God-given capabilities until objectionable traits rule and influence becomes dangerous and offensive to the Spirit. When self takes possession and men turn aside divine counsel to meet their own ideas, they deceive themselves and others and learn to believe a lie. That selfish indulgence weakens physical, mental, and moral strength so that sacred requirements are no longer sensed, the law is not given preeminence, own pleasure is done on the Sabbath, and sanctification by the truth and the seal of the living God cannot be claimed in the very short time left.
The selfish grasping attitude of demanding high wages while refusing to work, planted by one example and communicated to other workers, spreads like leaven with evil results hindering God's work. Incurring debt through venturesome investments is likewise a dangerous example of taking the world's ways that others must not follow. The presence and leading influence of a few unconverted, self-willed, self-righteous professors spreads corruption through a whole church, contrary to the Spirit and example of Christ and without transforming grace. Their pretensions to godliness cause present truth to be regarded with suspicion and distrust, while blinding many to the fact that the Lord has no part in such an experience. The corrupting influence of workers of iniquity spreads through churches until many are affected and the religion of Christ is disgraced, yet God who entrusted sacred truth and holy law to shine light amid abounding iniquity will not bear the perversity much longer but will expose them.
Even small disregard for spiritual and holy practices spreads to affect the whole community, showing separation from Christ and lack of unity in spirit with Him. Mixing sacred service with common ideas, putting human opinions and self-born proposals first, and using what God has forbidden cheapens the truth, so that even a small departure corrupts the work. Fashionable worldly religion is contagious, and when parents yield to children's world-loving desires and open the door to amusements once prohibited on principle such as concerts, operas, and theatres, the compromise destroys simplicity of godliness and infects everyone. The influence of older members who disregard light on health reform and continue selfish, health-destroying indulgences spreads to new converts in unconsecrated, unconverted and backslidden condition. That influence brings spiritual and physical degeneracy, takes strength from the churches, counteracts the message that prepares a people for the day of God, makes that message of no effect, and keeps the Lord from bringing many souls into the truth.
Uncontrolled feelings and indulgence in temper, taste, habits, and affection spread from person to person, infecting individuals one by one with an impulsive, unlawful spirit that leads into forbidden paths far from God and heaven. Loose, familiar manners between men and women, once given foothold in an institution, work as active leaven through the whole place, spreading unseen like poisonous roots taking firm hold until they bring forth a harvest of evil that is then almost impossible to eradicate. The sin of impatience allowed in a teacher will leaven pupils with the same sin, so those placed over youth to educate and mold Christlike character must keep spirit and thoughts in subjection to Christ with the greatest carefulness in selection. In a family, allowing a daughter as in the Fairfield family to overrule parental authority set an example of disrespect that affected younger children and endangered the whole family. Parents' insubordination, discontent, and unbelief likewise influence children and other members until doubt takes hold of those who might otherwise have accepted truth.
The wrong spirit prevailing at Battle Creek and in a General Conference working at cross-purposes with God spreads outward, so that churches in distant conferences become leavened with the same spirit even when knowing nothing of what is done in America. The spirit of individual independence lacking divine approval is such a leavening influence among publishing workers and must not be allowed to prevail. A small error or harmful influence can spread through the whole church and corrupt its spiritual condition, requiring thorough heart work including humble acknowledgment of deception and wrong.
Removing the Leaven
Division comes from separation from Christ, and unity is found in union with Christ as the great center, so that as brethren draw near to Him they draw near to one another. True Christianity is Christlikeness revealed in the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance — in not desiring vain glory, in restoring one overtaken in fault in meekness, and in bearing one another's burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. Even a little prejudice of brother against brother, provoking and envying and the least suggestion of differences even in opinion, leavens the whole church with division and discord, weakens its influence, and puts division into enemies' hands.
The church is now being permeated from within by her own backsliding as leaven permeates a lump, and unless she repents and is converted she will eat the fruit of her own doing until she abhors herself. When she resists evil and chooses good, seeks God with all humility, reaches her high calling in Christ, stands on the platform of eternal truth, and by faith lays hold on what is prepared for her, she will be healed. Then she will appear in God-given simplicity and purity, separate from earthly entanglements, with the truth making her free indeed and her members as God's chosen representatives.
Only conversion stops a person from leavening the church, for the presence and leading influence of a few unconverted, self-willed, self-righteous professors spreads corruption through the whole body. Their strong self-willed spirit is contrary to the Spirit and example of Christ, without genuine experience of the transforming influence of the Spirit of God, causing present truth to be regarded with suspicion and distrust while pretensions to godliness blind many to the Lord having no part in such an experience. When such souls are converted in heart and life the fierce, self-sufficient, vindictive spirit gives place to meekness, gentleness, goodness, forbearance, kindness, and lowliness of mind, showing to the world the transforming power of truth. Envy, suspicion, faultfinding, accusing, thinking and speaking evil, talking against one another, and seeking to hurt and tear down a brother for fear he will have more influence spread from person to person until churches do not know where they are and place the faultfinder on the side of the accuser of the brethren. Seeking God with all the heart and overcoming the inclination to think and speak evil keeps the church from being leavened by that wrong influence.
After sufficient trial, undiligent, unfaithful, unsafe stewards who cannot distinguish sacred from common and betray trust must be separated and disconnected from God's work so its character will be purer and more elevated. Such unconverted workers claiming to represent Christ, gross, selfish and impure in character, with no relish or love for the truth and made no better by connection with the work, who follow impulsive motives, betray trust when tempted, are easily misled by selfish ambitious projects, and cannot distinguish right from wrong even after light is presented, spread irreligion, unbelief, worldliness, gossip, and faultfinding upon whole-hearted, cheerful, faithful workers, and through them evil angels mislead apprentices and promising youth who love God and place them in constant danger. Needed reformation must address where evil influence begins by removing from positions those not rooted and grounded in the truth, with greater vigilance over an unconverted element because evil influence spreads through a community like leaven through dough.
Unfavorable associations must be discreetly changed, placing those weak in moral power and faith with companions strong for the right who will strengthen good resolutions and religious inclinations, guard against temptation, balance them in the right direction, and help them gain religious experience and form Christian character. Even a well-disposed, religiously inclined youth, even a professed Christian, can lose religious impressions through close association with one companion who speaks lightly of sacred things and ridicules them and lacks reverence and conscientiousness, and improper, irreligious associates otherwise leaven with faultfinding, distrust, and suspicion. There cannot be too great carefulness in selecting teachers to educate and mold and fashion Christlike character, for they must keep their own spirit and thoughts in subjection to Jesus Christ, since the sin of impatience allowed in a teacher will leaven pupils with the same sin.
Controversies and discussions that cause taking sides must be avoided, because Satan's evil leaven of unbelief is often introduced to stop the work of reformation, those who place themselves on the wrong side seldom change to the right, and the vital current of truth must constantly flow forth while precious truth quietly diffuses itself to advance the work in clear straight lines as light is received and imparted. The leavening spirit of fault-finding, doubt, and criticism must not be given place for a moment but be guarded against and rejected, for a little fault-finding allowed to work spreads unbelief and coldness through the whole company. It is the devil magnifying any little thing possible against the working of the Spirit, so that minds not open to receive it pass judgment on the messenger, demand truth harmonize with their own ideas, and pick flaws instead of asking God for a new heart and mind under transforming grace, and once entertained it begins to work and brings more coldness, unbelief and backsliding. Uncontrolled feelings and indulgence in temper, taste, habits, and affection infect other individuals one by one with an impulsive, unlawful spirit leading into forbidden paths far from God, so that influence must cease to spread, leaning must be on God rather than on people as broken supports, and by steadfast constant effort the Holy Spirit must reform life into self-control, usefulness, and blessing to others.
Even the smallest remaining doubt, distrust, or excuse for evil thinking left in any mind will spread and corrupt the whole soul and cause stumbling and loss of confidence. Every thread creating distrust must therefore be cleared at any sacrifice without transferring responsibility, preserving unity, keeping all influence belonging to God refined and purified, keeping credit without shade over money, and standing on the high ground of gospel justification and righteousness so no soul has occasion to think evil, lose confidence, or do evil. This applies to husband and wife as one, to personal influence, to financial credit, and to work with the publishing house.