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Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49396
11/24/04 04:49 AM
11/24/04 04:49 AM
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,019
Northern CA
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quote:
Manuscript Releases
Vol. 15
Page 20-22
Ony by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10
The Reformation was greatly retarded by making prominent differences on some points of faith and each party holding tenaciously to those things where they differed. We shall see eye to eye erelong, but to become firm and consider it your duty to present your views in decided opposition to the faith or truth as it has been taught by us as a people, is a mistake, and will result in harm, and only harm, as in the days of Martin Luther. Begin to draw apart and feel at liberty to express your ideas without reference to the views of your brethren, and a state of things will be introduced that you do not dream of.
My husband had some ideas on some points differing from the views taken by his brethren. I was shown that however true his views were, God did not call for him to put them in front before his brethren and create differences of ideas...
There are the main pillars of our faith, subjects which are of vital interest, the Sabbath, the keeping of the commandments of God. Speculative ideas should not be agitated, for there are peculiar minds that love to get some point that others do not accept, and argue and attract everything to that one point, urging that point, magnifying that point, when it is really a matter which is not of vital importance, and will be understood differently. Twice I have been shown that everything of a character to cause our brethren to be diverted from the very points now essential for this time, should be kept in the background.
Christ did not reveal many things that were truth, because it would create a difference of opinion and get up disputations, but young men who have not passed through this experience we have had, would as soon have a brush as not. Nothing would suit them better than a sharp discussion.
If these things come into our conference, I would refuse to attend one of them; for I have had so much light upon the subject that I know that unconsecrated and unsanctified hearts would enjoy this kind of exercise. Too late in the day, brethren, too late in the day. We are in the great day of atonement, a time when a man must be afflicting his soul, confessing his sins, humbling his heart before God, and getting ready for the great conflict. When these contentions come in before the people, they will think one has the argument, and then that another directly opposed has the argument. The poor people become confused and the conference will be a dead loss, worse than if they had had no conference. Now when everything is dissension and strife, there must be decided efforts to handle, [to] publish with pen and voice these things that will reveal only harmony.
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49397
11/25/04 04:29 AM
11/25/04 04:29 AM
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This chap. 5 of Matthew tells of the 'trouble' in the church in the last days.
The denomination is in trouble today. The world along with its traditions of men and compromise is in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
This chapter is directed to the "true church".
This chapter is directions to His diciples on how to work "within" the church.
Matthew 10:5 and on:
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, "go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samarians enter ye not:
(6)But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.....
Matthew 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not send peace, but a sword.
I know that God's people will work together.
Satan will attempt to divide and conquer.
It will be the ones who live and work by a "Thus saith the Lord" that will get the work done.
NEVER did Christ do or say anything to stir up an argument or cause division, and any sincere Christian would follow that example. What a sad and serious thing to be one who would discourage a soul, unnecessairly.
EGW is addressing the possibility and the reality here in this statement.
But we need to always keep the whole picture in front of us.
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49398
11/24/04 10:43 PM
11/24/04 10:43 PM
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Active Member 2011
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,965
Sweden
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Midge I may be a bit slow here but could you please clarify how your comments relate to: a) Avalees post b) Matthew 5 c) Matthew 10 Thank you. This statement quote:
NEVER did Christ do or say anything to stir up an argument or cause division, and any sincere Christian would follow that example.
is not true. A simple search in the gospels with the word "divide" will show you that both Jesus acts and words divided the people. I also have a quote from acts where Paul, whom I think its quite safe to say was a sincere christian, knowingly caused a major fight in the priestly courtroom he was brought to.
John 9
16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
Bold here to mark out that they where discussing actions.
John 10
18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
19At these words the Jews were again divided.
Acts 23: 6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
Finaly Luke 12
49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
/Thomas
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49399
11/25/04 12:34 AM
11/25/04 12:34 AM
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We are to avoid contention and promote harmony but not at the cost of compromising already known or established truth.
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49400
11/25/04 02:47 PM
11/25/04 02:47 PM
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OP
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Amen Daryl. We must always stand for the truth when it comes to the pillars of our faith.
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49401
11/27/04 06:02 AM
11/27/04 06:02 AM
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SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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Daryl, I think I agree with your position, but maybe I'm not so sure I understand what you're saying. God made of alot compromises in the OT. What is more important, to win an argument or to win a friend? Perhaps compromising can buy time to build the friendship, and then later on the issue could be redressed? A compromise doesn't necessarily mean telling a lie or agreeing with a lie. Sometimes it means declaring a truce or a time out so as not to lose a friend. It can also mean agreeing to disagree, thus avoiding contention and promoting harmony.
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49402
11/27/04 08:30 PM
11/27/04 08:30 PM
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Active Member 2011
3500+ Member
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,965
Sweden
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Maybe Daryl wrote what he wrote in light of the 3 previous posts in the thread... in which case we would be discussing another kind of compromise than the one you are adressing here Mike.
/Thomas
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49403
11/27/04 08:33 PM
11/27/04 08:33 PM
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Mike,
In what way did God compromise truth in order to avoid contention and maintain harmony?
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49404
11/27/04 09:01 PM
11/27/04 09:01 PM
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SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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Allowing polygamy and kings are two examples of how God compromised in order to meet His main objectives. Not enforcing the death penalty when David sinned. Allowing Captain Naaman to be in pagan temples is another one. There are many instances where God compromised to keep things on track.
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Re: Avoid Contention Promote Harmony
#49405
11/27/04 09:29 PM
11/27/04 09:29 PM
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God is also allowing sin to continue to do its dirty work, however, God's allowing it isn 't God's approving of it.
The same is true of the examples you cited in the Old Testament.
Did God continue to do this in the New Testament?
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