"What is your creed?" "To what church do you belong?"

"Christ was not exclusive, and He had given special offense to the Pharisees by departing in this respect from their rigid rules. He found the domain of religion fenced in by high walls of seclusion, as too sacred a matter for everyday life. These walls of partition He overthrew. In His contact with men He did not ask, What is your creed? To what church do you belong? He exercised His helping power in behalf of all who needed help. Instead of secluding Himself in a hermit's cell in order to show His heavenly character, He labored earnestly for humanity. He inculcated the principle that Bible religion does not consist in the mortification of the body. He taught that pure and undefiled religion is not meant only for set times and special occasions. At all times and in all places He manifested a loving interest in men, and shed about Him the light of a cheerful piety."--The Desire of Ages, p. 86.  {ChS 123.1} 

On another occasion James and John rebuked a man who was preaching the gospel of Jesus, but was not an offical part of the disciple's band. Christ told them to be quiet and leave him alone. These words are as applicable now as when Christ first uttered them. Why did He say "leave him alone"?

"James and John had thought that in checking this man they had had in view their Lord's honor; they began to see that they were jealous for their own. They acknowledged their error, and accepted the reproof of Jesus, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me." None who showed themselves in any way friendly to Christ were to be repulsed. There were many who had been deeply moved by the character and the work of Christ, and whose hearts were opening to Him in faith; and the disciples, who could not read motives, must be careful not to discourage these souls. When Jesus was no longer personally among them, and the work was left in their hands, they must not indulge a narrow, exclusive spirit, but manifest the same far-reaching sympathy which they had seen in their Master.  {DA 437.6} 

     The fact that one does not in all things conform to our personal ideas or opinions will not justify us in forbidding him to labor for God. Christ is the Great Teacher; we are not to judge or to command, but in humility each is to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. Every soul whom God has made willing is a channel through which Christ will reveal His pardoning love. How careful we should be lest we discourage one of God's light bearers, and thus intercept the rays that He would have shine to the world!  {DA 438.1} 

     Harshness or coldness shown by a disciple toward one whom Christ was drawing--such an act as that of John in forbidding one to work miracles in Christ's name--might result in turning the feet into the path of the enemy, and causing the loss of a soul. Rather than for one to do this, said Jesus, "it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." And He added, "If thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell." Mark 9:43-45, R. V.  {DA 438.2}  

I have often wondered why certain learned men, professors, and doctors of theology professing to believe the truth, make it a primary objective of their ministerial labor to denounce those not laboring according to their personal opinions.  Moreover, they then make it their own personal burden, to publicly condemn those who preach and teach the true message, who are not working according to, and following their system and structure of things, to which they are so vehemently loyal. Are they better than Christ, who never engaged in such activity, and rebuked those who did? Are they more wise than He who commanded his own laborers not to get in the way of this humble servant whom God himself had made willing?

The sad reality is that "Desire of Ages" reveals that souls will be lost because of the words and actions of such rash individuals. They will stand condemned in the judgement for two reasons: one, the lightbearers they discouraged, and two, the souls who could have been reached and were not.  Christ saw the value of a soul.  Do we today value our own personal ideas and methodology relating to God's work, more than the souls of men perishing in darkness? Such rash behavior, certainly doesn't seem to be in harmony with Christ's methods and character.

In Closing, I say to you, learned doctor and lettered professor, "You who have taken up precious time through the use of the modern mediums that the Lord has given for the edification of the church, and for the dispensing of the gospel to the world, to offset the channels through which Christ reveals "His pardoning love," "How dare you stand between heaven and earth that you might intercept the rays, that Christ would have shine upon the world and his people. These rays of truth might very well not shine through, because of your discouragement and your forbidding of Christ's humble servants, and thus turning the feet of precious souls into the enemies path. You would be wise to consider the counsel of another learned Dr., Gamiliel in Acts 5 who when probation had not yet closed on the Jewish church, advised that perhaps, they might be "fighting against God," by condeming the followers of Jesus of Nazereth. Unlike yourself, he was prudent enough to hold back, so that they may exercise patience to be absolutely certain that they were not in conflict with heaven itself. Yet, instead of this, you have become a modern day Dr. Johann Eck . Indeed you are doing the work of a pope, and the Lord is not glorified, and body of Christ is not edified in your words and deeds. Cease your actions now, before it is too late, and let your narrow and exclusive ideas concerning the Lord's work, (not yours) bow before the throne of Divine Omnipotence." 
 
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Letters have come to me with such questions and statements as the following:-  {1888 657.2} 

     Sr. White; why is every canvasser working for Bible Readings? I was canvassing for Vol. IV. but the president of our conference advised me to take Bible Readings. I received a rich blessing in canvassing for Vol. IV. I had success, and thought I would throw my whole energy into the work of bringing that book before the people. Every one who bought it was pleased with it, and some purchased a second copy to give to their friends. But I was told that all the canvassers were working for Bible Readings, and as this seemed to be the order of things, I took that book. Would it not be pleasing to the Lord for me again to take up Vol. IV?  {1888 657.3} 

     I certainly mistake our canvassers, if with proper instruction--having the matter set before them in its true bearings-- they would choose to give the field entirely to Bible Readings, to the neglect of Vol. IV. If it should prove that they will not receive counsel, if they are unwilling to do the work so essential at this time,-- to bring before the people the very books that the world should have,-- then there is only [one] course left for me; that is, to raise and train a company of canvassers for this special work,-- men and women who shall work not merely to please themselves, not merely for gain, but to do the work of God, to bring before the people the warnings of God to them. This I proposed to do some time since, but was urged to wait a little. Some of the leaders in the canvassing work felt that it would not be the right thing for me to have a separate canvassing company organized, that it would throw things into confusion. Then the promise was given that last spring the canvass for Vol. IV should be pushed as that for Bible Readings had been. I believe that our brethren meant to do just as they said; but why did they not do it? I waited, but nothing has been done. Now if the leading brethren give it as a hopeless task, I will wait no longer for them to turn the tide. I still believe that those who are working in the canvassing field will see their duty when the situation is fairly placed before them.  {1888 657.4}

 
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