The WO (women’s ordination) issue has caused a lot of division among our members within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. It has also caused those outside of our denomination to scrutinize us as they observe all the divisions among us. They are watching.
Because of this issue, people outside the Church do not know, as a whole, that we are those who keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (through love).
Unity is essential to move forward and without it we cannot finish the mission that our Lord has commissioned us to carry out pertaining to the Three Angels Messages of Revelation 14. While carrying out various methods of ministry or evangelism, we are harboring anger and possibly hatred towards our fellow man within the church. Continually agitating this issue is keeping it from resolution. Repeatedly bringing it up at General Conference sessions, prevents the healing that we need.
We may very well be deceiving ourselves into thinking we are doing the Lord’s work—while the whole time we are just distracting ourselves and serving our particular ministry which ends up being our own personal God. While there is truth that needs to be followed pertaining to the WO issue, it cannot be the dominating factor and truth for our time.
This is a distraction causing us to become weak as a denomination that has been brought in because of worldliness within our church. The same divisions in our culture pertaining to politics are causing divisions within our church as well.
As long as this continues we will diminish the Holy Spirit‘s ability to work through us and bring many to repentance—as the Scriptures teach. There are those on both sides who are very staunch with their opposition of the other mindset.
Whether we like it or not, we have been given counsel years ago pertaining to issues that would come within our church. It’s up to us if we want to heed that counsel, put aside our differences, and come together to be healed by the Lord and finish the work He has given us.
Observing the divisions within our denomination reminds me of a little child who will not brush their teeth or take their vitamins. The parent has to enforce this in order to protect their teeth or keep their body strong. Whether they like it or not it needs to be done, and whether we like it or not, we need to heed the counsel that the Lord’s servant has given us in our church and stop the childish behavior we are exemplifying towards one another.
We are told that many from all different denominations and walks of life will come into our church in the last days. Do we really think that we are ready to receive them when we are bickering about these issues and have not come to submit one to another? These people would flee from us and find another group of Christians to join.
I know that individuals within our denomination and even churches scattered abroad are lights in the darkness but as a whole, we are wretched, poor, miserable, blind and naked. In order to have these consequences removed we must submit to the Lord‘s counsel. There is no other way. We all have our faults, and we all have our struggles, but this issue which is sharply dividing us needs to come to an end.
Our ministries that we are hiding behind while ignoring the Lord‘s counsel will not protect us in the day of judgment. We have had ample time to fix this issue and it is more than obvious what needs to be done. It is up to us as individuals and as a church to carry it out and come together as a whole. We all need each other whether we like it or not. The people that we may not get along very well with pertaining to this issue may be the very ones that are getting our characters developed and ready for heavenly places. We don’t need to be among the foolish virgins of Matthew 25 who do not have any oil when He comes to take us home.
Soon it will be midnight and it will be too late for many of us if we continue to hold onto our pet animosities and treasure them like a precious jewel.
Below are some quotations I found pertaining to what is going on right now. Let us continue to stay in prayer about this issue as a Church and individually. The Lord knows our hearts, praise the Lord, and he loves us so much that he is willing to work with us where we are at. Our task is to heed His counsel.
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3).
“Many do not realize the sacredness of church relationship, and are loath to submit to restraint and discipline. Their course of action shows that they exalt their own judgment above that of the united church; and they are not careful to guard themselves, lest they encourage a spirit of opposition to its voice” (MR311 10.1).
“Unbelief suggests that individual independence increases our importance, that it is weak to yield our own ideas of what is right and proper to the verdict of the church. But to yield to such feelings and views is unsafe, and will bring us to anarchy and confusion. Christ saw that unity and Christian fellowship were necessary to the cause of God, therefore He enjoined it upon His disciples. And the history of Christianity from that time until now proves conclusively that in union only is there strength. Let individual judgment submit to the authority of the church.—Testimonies for the Church 4:17-19. – {MR311 10.3}
“God had invested His church with special authority and power, which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising; for he who does this despises the voice of God. – {MR311 11.1}
When any are drawing apart from the organized body of God’s commandment keeping people, they begin to weigh the church in their human scales and begin to pronounce judgment against them. Then you may know that God is not leading them. They are on the wrong track.... – {MR311 13.3}
“I have been shown that no man’s judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any one man. But when the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered. Your error was in persistently maintaining your private judgment of your duty against the voice of the highest authority the Lord has upon the earth.—Testimonies for the Church 3:492. – {MR311 15.1}“Let no discouraging words be spoken, but only such words as will tend to strengthen and sustain your fellow-workers.... – {MR311 16.1}
”Where there is a union of workers, there is opportunity for them to consult together, to pray together, to cooperate in labor. None should feel that they cannot link up with their brethren because they do not work in exactly the same line as they themselves do. Those who entertain such thoughts, show that they need the converting power of God upon their own hearts and characters, that their peculiarities may not become a hindrance to the work for the salvation of their fellow-men. – {MR311 18.1}
“It is the duty of ministers to respect the judgment of their brethren; but their relations to one another, as well as the doctrines they teach, should be brought to the test of the law and the testimony; then, if hearts are teachable, there will be no divisions among us. Some are inclined to be disorderly, and are drifting away from the great landmarks of the faith; but God is moving upon His ministers to be one in doctrine and in spirit.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 30. – {MR311 22.1}
“The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” We must not allow human ideas and natural inclinations to gain the supremacy.—Letter 139, 1902. – {MR311 22.3}
“In union there is strength; in division there is weakness and defeat.—Manuscript 3, 1880. – {MR311 23.3}
“When the church is awakened, decided changes will be made. Men and women will be converted, and so filled will they be by the Spirit of God that they will pass from country to country, from city to city, proclaiming the message of truth. With hearts filled with earnest love for souls, they will open their Bibles and present the Word, “It is written.” Wherever they go a people will be raised up to stand in the day of the Lord. The simplicity of these humble workers will be their strength; for angels of God work with those who are humble and obedient. Learned, eloquent men will not see the results from their work that are seen by these humble, zealous, praying men.—Manuscript 2, 1900. – {MR311 45.3}
“All your little differences, which arouse the combative spirit among brethren, are devices of Satan to divert minds from the great and fearful issue before us. The true peace will come among God’s people when through united zeal and earnest prayer the false peace that exists to a large degree is disturbed. Now there is earnest work to do. Now is the time to manifest your soldierly qualities; let the Lord’s people present a united front to the foes of God and truth and righteousness.... – {MR311 48.1}
“When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the early church, “the whole multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” The Spirit of Christ made them one. This is the fruit of abiding in Christ.... – {MR311 48.2}
“We have need of divine illumination. Every individual is striving to become a center of influence; and until God works for His people, they will not see that subordination to God is the only safety for any soul. His transforming grace upon human hearts will lead to unity that has not yet been realized; for all who are assimilated to Christ will be in harmony with one another. The Holy Spirit will create unity.—Letter 25b, 1892. – {MR311 48.3}
This is my vision for the Church I love.
Distractions are put here to destroy us. They will not help us be better Christians, Adventists, or followers of the Lord. Let us put aside every weigh that entangles us, and run the race together, sharing the good news with lost souls. Otherwise, we are of all men most miserable.
Isaiah attends the Piqua Ohio SDA Church, and lives in Lewisburg, Ohio with his wife Brenda, and their five children.