Is There Hope for the SDA Church Amid Corruption?

현재 제기하신 우려들은 매우 무겁고 가슴 아픈 현실이지만, 하나님께서는 여전히 이 땅에 자신의 율법을 수호하고 진리를 가르칠 수 있는 가장 탁월한 시설을 갖춘 구별된 백성을 가지고 계십니다LDE 43.2. 교회 안에 가라지가 섞여 있고 여러 불미스러운 일들이 목격되기도 하지만, 그렇다고 해서 하나님께서 세우신 교회를 바벨론이라고 부르거나 대열에서 이탈하라고 촉구하는 것은 사단의 기만이며 잘못된 일입니다LDE 43.2+2.

희망과 개혁을 위한 성경적 원칙과 권면은 다음과 같습니다.

🏢 국가 보조금과 교육의 정체성

• 세속적 정책과의 충돌: 학교가 영적 예언의 원칙보다 세상의 정책과 방법으로 인도하는 사람들에 의해 운영될 때, 그 교육 프로그램은 위기에 봉착하게 됩니다TM xix.1.

• 분리된 교육의 필요성: 부모는 자녀를 하나님의 계명을 지킬 수 없는 환경에 두어서는 안 되며, 가능하다면 우리만의 학교를 설립하여 진정한 교육을 실천해야 합니다HS 216.3.

• 영적 독립: 하나님의 백성은 불신자들에게 하나님의 기관 운영을 공개하거나 세상의 방식에 의존함으로써 거룩한 신뢰를 배반해서는 안 됩니다5MR 417.2.

💰 자금 관리와 부정부패 문제

• 정직과 청결: 만약 비즈니스 거래나 교회 운영에 있어 사람들을 속이거나 정직하지 못한 부분이 있다면, 영혼을 위해서라도 반드시 바로잡고 훔친 것이 있다면 돌려주어야 합니다GCB/GCDB 1893, page 165.8.

• 개인적 책임: 모든 사람은 자신의 말과 행동, 그리고 하나님께서 맡기신 자원을 어떻게 사용했는지에 대해 심판대 앞에서 개인적으로 책임을 지게 됩니다 Ecclesiastes 2:26PH155 22.2.

• 탐욕에 대한 경고: 거짓 선생들은 탐욕을 인하여 지어낸 말로 교인들을 이득의 대상으로 삼을 수 있지만, 그들의 판결은 지체되지 않을 것입니다 2 Peter 2:1-3.

🌱 교단의 희망과 남은 자의 사명

• 교회의 정화: 교회 내에 악이 존재한다고 해서 교회를 멸시해서는 안 되며, 오히려 각 기관의 관리자들과 지도자들이 교회를 세상의 밝은 빛으로 변화시키기 위한 정화 작업을 시작해야 합니다KC 17.3.

• 남은 자의 특징: 하나님께서는 여전히 하나님의 계명을 지키며 예수의 믿음을 가진, 무너진 데를 보수하는 사람들을 당신의 남은 백성으로 인정하십니다 Revelation 14:12LDE 43.2.

• 연합의 힘: 사단은 교회를 분열시키고 불완전하게 만들려 하지만, 우리는 "함께 밀접히 연합하라"는 천사의 기별을 기억하며 성령의 능력을 구해야 합니다TM 56.1+1.

현 시점에서 우리에게 필요한 것은 남을 비판하기보다 자신의 마음 성소를 먼저 깨끗이 하는 일입니다GCDB February 23, 1899, page 70.1. 하나님께서는 여전히 이 교회를 통해 마지막 경고의 기별을 전하기를 원하시며, 우리가 전적으로 그분을 신뢰하며 나아갈 때 하늘 천사들이 우리를 도울 것입니다HS 128.2+1.

"너희는 스스로 조심하라 그렇지 않으면 방탕함과 술취함과 생활의 염려로 마음이 둔하여지고 뜻밖에 그 날이 덫과 같이 너희에게 임하리라" Luke 21:34.

The prospect of hope for the church remains certain because God’s power is greater than any human failure or ecclesiastical corruptionChS 235.2+1. While the integration of state funding and reports of financial perversion are deeply distressing, the history of the faith shows that God uses even the most trying circumstances to refine His people and separate the wheat from the taresLDE 273.3+2.

🏛️ The Danger of State Support and Worldly Policy

The reliance on government funds and the adoption of worldly policies present a grave danger to the identity of the work2SAT 205.3.

• Historical Warning: In ancient Rome, the establishment of public granaries supported by the state led to a populace that lived in idleness and sold their votes to the highest bidderSITI February 24, 1904, page 4.8.

• Spiritual Result: When the church depends on governmental support, it often fails to teach its members to be self-supporting and can lead to a "dense ignorance" of true principlesARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.7.

• Unconstitutional Union: Advancing money already raised by the government for religious purposes is subversive of fundamental national principles and marks a deplorable apostasy from the principle of separation of church and stateAMS December 8, 1898, page 758.7+1.

• The Law of Life: The true "purifying law of Christ" is altogether above the reach of any civil constitution or state subsidy Romans 8:2AMS March 19, 1896, page 90.2.

💰 Financial Integrity and the Judgment

Those who divert mission funds for personal gain or engage in dishonest schemes are earning wages that lead to corruptionBEcho September 19, 1898, par. 3.

• Divine Supervision: Every person is under the supervision of God, and all accounts—including the exacted fees of lawyers or the schemes of leaders—are traced in the books of heaven20LtMs, Ms 197, 1905, par. 2.

• Acceptable Offerings: God will not accept offerings that are the "price of souls" or obtained through carnal inducements and church corruptionsCS 201.4+1.

• Personal Responsibility: Each individual must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, for a mere profession of godliness will not avail in the judgmentCH 129.1+1.

🌟 Reasons for Hope and Courage

Despite these perils, there is abundant reason to hope because the foundation of the truth remains firmCCh 17.6+1.

• The Power to Overcome: Christ provides power to resist evil—a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can masterChS 235.2.

• A Refined Remnant: God is seeking for "precious jewels" even in lands marked by political demoralization and the "blue ground" of difficult experiences Malachi 3:17GCB May 21, 1909, page 99.5.

• True Conversion: While the church militant is not as pure as the church triumphant, those who experience true conversion will reveal the fruits of the SpiritCH 129.1+1.

• The Final Triumph: The gospel has achieved its greatest success among the humble classes who find in the faith of Christ a hope that cheers them under the hardships of their lotLP 289.1.

🛡️ Our Individual Duty

We are called to surrender ourselves unreservedly to God and to practice self-denialSpM 427.5.

• Watching and Praying: We must heed the words of Christ to "watch and pray" so that we do not enter into temptation or follow the perverse tendencies of human nature Matthew 26:411888 1531.2+1.

• Purity of Character: We must seek to have a pure and spotless character, becoming partakers of the divine nature and escaping the corruption in the world 2 Peter 1:416LtMs, Ms 179, 1901, par. 23.

• Focus on the Hope: Our only hope is the nearness of Christ's coming, which will eventually put an end to the terrible reign of wickedness Titus 2:13MMM 207.2.

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" Psalms 55:22.

There is a profound and certain hope for the Seventh-day Adventist Church because God has a distinct people, a church on earth, that is superior to all in its facilities to teach the truth and vindicate His lawLDE 43.2. While the integration of state subsidies and instances of personal greed are serious challenges, the Lord has not authorized anyone to call this church "Babylon" or to urge a separation from it1MR 297.4+2.

🏛️ The Impact of State Funding and Subsidies

History provides solemn warnings regarding the spiritual consequences when religious entities rely on governmental support.

• A Lesson from History: In ancient Rome, when the government began supporting the populace through public granaries, it created a class of needy, unemployed voters who sold themselves to the highest bidder, leading to universal depravity where law ceased to be of valueSITI February 24, 1904, page 4.8+1.

• The Problem of Dependency: When a church system relies on governmental support for centuries, it often fails to teach its members to be self-supporting, keeping them in a state of "dense ignorance" regarding true stewardshipARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.7.

• Perversion of Purpose: The use of state funds for religious or sectarian purposes was viewed by the makers of the government as a path that leads back to the oppressive systems of the pastHOMI November 1893, page 7.3.

• Consistency in Principle: Adhering to the separation of church and state costs much, but it is a matter of principle; historically, those who remained consistent avoided iniquitous partnerships with the stateAMS December 13, 1894, page 385.7.

💰 Financial Corruption and Personal Gain

The diversion of funds and the presence of corruption within the ranks are symptoms of a lack of true conversion, but they do not change the character of God's message.

• Reaping What is Sown: Those who spend their talents and means in self-indulgence and the gratification of lower passions will surely reap corruptionT28 126.2. He who sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption3MR 342.3.

• Dishonesty in Institutions: Taking liberty with funds or manufacturing goods for personal profit under the guise of the cause is a betrayal of right; stand on the side of righteousness in all transactions to avoid disadvantage before GodTSDF 101.1+1.

• The Weight of the Sanctuary: The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and judged by the light and privileges she has received; if her experience does not correspond to these advantages, the sentence "Found wanting" will be pronounced8T 247.2.

• A Warning to Leaders: The holy vestments of the priesthood have sometimes covered hearts full of corruption, malignity, and crime, but such hypocrisy is under the inspiration of SatanYI June 7, 1900, par. 8.

🌟 Why Hope Remains

Despite the "festering mass of rottenness" that can appear in society or institutions, God's plan for His remnant people is one of restoration, not destructionGEP 339.3+1.

• The Message of Reform: God sends messages of reproof and rebuke to His church, but He wounds only that He may heal; He has never given a message that He would disorganize the churchTM 22.2+1.

• Unity as Strength: The strength of the church lies in its unity; messages that call for a separation from the commandment-keeping people are designed by the deceiver to create confusionTM 58.4+1.

• The Presence of the Holy Spirit: Even when some denounce the church, it is often at the very time the church is receiving a season of refreshing and the outpouring of the Spirit of GodGRC 11.3.

• God’s Final Vindication: The truth of God will be vindicated, and those who are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions19MR 176.1+1.

🛡️ Our Individual Responsibility

We must not allow the wickedness around us to fill our hearts with sadness and doubt, but rather focus on the power of the Savior2TT 338.1.

• Personal Purity: We are called to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lustPCP 10.3.

• The Power of Prayer: In an age where corruption flows in the soul, every house should be a house of prayer to resist the tyranny of Satan7T 42.1.

• Watchfulness: We must watch for souls as those who must give an account, and our influence should always ennoble and lead upward to heaven13MR 403.3+1.

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out" Numbers 32:23. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" Hebrews 7:12.