I'm not wishing to sidetrack or detract from this discussion in any way, but I would like to point out the symbolism of stoning, because I believe it is quite relevant to this discussion.

Naturally, we do not literally stone people today. However, one might ask if we should follow its symbolism. Consider the following...

God's commandments were written upon stone. Stones are hard, unmerciful, and enduring, just like God's law. The law knows no mercy--and by it all sinners stand condemned to death. Jesus came to die that death on the sinner's behalf in order to fulfill the law, because even He could not change the law.

God used tables of stone to represent this enduring nature of the law. In Isaiah 58:13-14, the Sabbath is likened to a stone. "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath..." (Isaiah) and "They [angels] shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Psalm 91:12). In other words, we should not "kick against the pricks," and God's angels will help His people to keep His laws, without trampling upon them. (Trampling upon the Sabbath law is likened to dashing one's foot upon a stone.) Even Jesus, the chief cornerstone--whose character is represented by the law, is likened to a stone of stumbling (Isaiah 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8).

Stoning, it seems, represented in literal form what we now speak of figuratively in modern English, saying "throw the book at them!" It represented having the law cast at one's person, the very law which condemned the sinner.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

So my brother, when you see a member say that they are going to get a abortion or help someone get a abortion, how do you handle it. Do you confront, stay quiet, or go get 2 other members.....

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. (Exodus 20:28)

Personally? I see abortion as anything but a cut-and-dried issue, and I would leave such up to individual conscience. The real sin, in most cases, was what led to the pregnancy. In any case, I have never ever heard anyone tell me that they planned to get an abortion, and I do not honestly know what I would do in that case. I think it might depend on how well I knew the person.

If you do not know someone, it is hard to confront them without totally alienating them.

I did have an interesting case a few weeks ago...

I had been very discouraged. During the week the pastor, who never attends the adult Sabbath School class because he is leading the youth, had informed me that my comments in Sabbath school were out of line. I honestly have no idea what he referred to, as most of my comments are scripture-based. I do, now and then, disagree with the lesson quarterly and/or its authors. But I really do not know where the pastor had heard about my comments. Anyhow, I was really down. That Sabbath I was on duty, and went early to the church to open things up and make preparations. One of the teachers came in wearing the shortest mini-skirt I had ever seen her wear, and she stood up on the platform to practice for leading the singing. We don't meet in a church, it's an auditorium much more like a theater, with sloping floor and folding bucket seats down to the front where the stage stands about four feet above the floor. So, anyone sitting in the front seats especially is looking up at an angle from below those on the platform.

If she had been a student, it might be one thing, but as a teacher, her influence is magnified. I do not ordinarily speak to people about how they dress, but in this case I made an exception. I told her about this Bible verse:

That is important enough that God gave those instructions just after the Ten Commandments. I realize our church _does_ have steps up to the platform. We cannot change the building. But we certainly do not need to risk having our nakedness "discovered thereon" by wearing a miniskirt at such an altitude! After telling her about the verse, I explained the fact that people would be sitting down there below her, and that it would not be a pretty sight. I fear I laid it out rather plainly, but as a church leader who was that Sabbath on duty, I felt I had to say something.

When I told my mother about it later, she said I should have said nothing, because Mrs. White tells us not to speak to the "sisters" about dress. She said the outward appearance might change, but not the heart. Something like that--I have yet to see the EGW statement in this regard. Anyhow, I felt bad for having said anything. However, having spoken to the lady once, I have no intention of ever addressing the issue with her again. She'll already know where I stand on it.

She did leave the church for about twenty minutes and returned with the skirt only a few inches above the knee. It was a great improvement, and I managed to say "Thank you" to her after church as she seemed in a hurry to get away.

Should I have said anything? Certainly, I'm a sinner too...does that mean I should never rebuke anyone for anything?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.