My church, God’s remnant, is under attack from top to bottom.
Sweeping pronouncements restrict personal liberty. Financial compromise is suggested. Ecumenical liaisons neutralize our witness. Doctrinal revision and rebellion proliferate. Gender confusion is commonplace. Sexual misbehavior sullies many. The vile reports of the world have become our own.
Long ago, two brothers troubled church headquarters. Dreadful stories spread at pandemic speed. Worship services became a mockery. Bribery was common. Conflict of interest. High disdain for God’s health principles. Seduction of female worshippers.
Naturally, attendance dwindled and offerings fell off. Evil boldly flourished. Would God’s church fall in disgrace?
The example of those who minister in holy things should be such as to impress the people with reverence for God and with fear to offend Him. When men, standing “in Christ’s stead” (2 Corinthians 5:20) to speak to the people God’s message of mercy and reconciliation, use their sacred calling as a cloak for selfish or sensual gratification, they make themselves the most effective agents of Satan....They may pursue their evil course in secret for a time; but when at last their true character is exposed, the faith of the people receives a shock that often results in destroying their confidence in religion. There is left upon the mind a distrust of all who profess to teach the word of God….The question constantly arises, “Will not this man prove to be like the one we thought so holy, and found so corrupt?” Thus the word of God loses its power upon the souls of men. (PP 580.1, emphasis supplied)
When Alexander Scourby read 1 Samuel to me recently, I listened to the exploits of young priests Hophni and Phinehas, sons of High Priest Eli, as if to current disturbing church reports.
I listened for causes, effects and solutions as given in Scripture. We need not, must not consult current social trends and adopt anarchical “solutions” for church affairs. We have “all Scripture”--the ultimate resource for “doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). So consider how God led in dealing with Eli and sons.
Human Solutions
But first, how do you handle church discipline issues? Do you merely gripe and gossip? Israel complained directly to Eli.
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them ~ (1 Samuel 2:22-24).
Eli’s plea was ignored. A lifetime of negligence had emboldened his sons beyond fatherly admonition. God foresaw their demise, but like the Amorites, he allowed time for them to fill their cup of iniquity (Genesis 15:16).
After complaining, do you withhold or redirect “your” tithe in professed reproof of unfaithful church leaders? Have you given up church attendance because of the “tares”? Israel “abhorred the offering of the Lord” because of the sordid lives of Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:15).
Many of the people, filled with indignation at the corrupt course of Hophni and Phinehas, ceased to come up to the appointed place of worship. Thus the service which God had ordained was despised and neglected because associated with the sins of wicked men, while those whose hearts were inclined to evil were emboldened in sin. (PP 576.4)
Check your frustration tactics against Scripture. We are not taught to overcome one evil with another form of disobedience, but with good (Romans 12:21). In this story, that good began with Elkanah, a God-fearing Levite. Undeterred by evil reports, he faithfully observed God’s ordinances and attended services at Shiloh. His pious wife Hannah’s sober, tearful prayer for a son (1 Samuel 1) played into God’s discipline process with Eli’s errant family.
The Cause
Hophni and Phinehas were the product of poor parenting. Period. Not ignorance, not lack of gender-inclusive leadership cohorts...not headship misconstrued. God could not say of Eli, as of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment,” (Genesis 18:19).
Eli was an indulgent father. Loving peace and ease, he did not exercise his authority to correct the evil habits and passions of his children. Rather than contend with them or punish them, he would submit to their will and give them their own way. Instead of regarding the education of his sons as one of the most important of his responsibilities, he treated the matter as of little consequence....Eli shrank from this duty, because it involved crossing the will of his sons, and would make it necessary to punish and deny them. Without weighing the terrible consequences..., he indulged his children in whatever they desired and neglected the work of fitting them for the service of God and the duties of life. (PP 575.1, emphasis supplied)
With such home life, Hophni and Phinehas should never have been placed in sacred office. They were “wholly unfit” for it (PP 576.1). Moreover, Eli’s high position multiplied the pernicious influence of his laxity in home training, disgracing thousands of families which followed suit (PP 579.2).
Watching errant church leaders, we may falsely attribute causes and prescribe solutions based on our finite judgment or rebellious leanings. But Scripture cautions me, through 1 Samuel and such stories as Miriam’s leprosy (Numbers 12), Korah’s demise (Numbers 16) to beware my own initiative, when it conflicts with God’s ordained leadership structure and revealed will in spiritual matters. Likewise, Uzzah’s good intentions did not prevent his death (2 Samuel 6).
God instructs, tests and proves His servants. Thankfully, where Eli had failed, Hannah was faithful.
From the earliest dawn of intellect she had taught her son to love and reverence God and to regard himself as the Lord’s….Every day he was the subject of her prayers....She...earnestly pleaded that he might attain that greatness which Heaven values—that he might honor God and bless his fellow men. (PP 572.2)
It is the mother’s privilege to bless the world by her influence….But it is only when she seeks, in her own life, to follow the teachings of Christ that the mother can hope to form the character of her children after the divine pattern….If the mother fails in her duty to instruct, guide, and restrain, her children will naturally accept the evil, and turn from the good. Let every mother go often to her Saviour with the prayer, “Teach us, how shall we order the child, and what shall we do unto him?” Let her heed the instruction which God has given in His word, and wisdom will be given her as she shall have need. (PP 572.3, emphasis supplied)
Divine Warnings
God saw the temple troubles. He sent a prophet to reprove Eli. He reminded the high priest how God chose the Levites for sacred temple service. He rebuked Eli for allowing his sons to bring ill repute upon it, for honoring them above God. He prophesied of a faithful priest to come.
“Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house...should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house….And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever” (1 Samuel 2: 30-35).
God appeared to the child Samuel, who had already proven himself through willing service in humble duties (PP 573.3). More than a children’s story, God’s nighttime call of Samuel demonstrated that God’s word will come to honest ears, and judgment will be served. As Eli instructed the boy how to answer the repeated call, he accepted God’s rebuke in bypassing him. (PP 581.1).
God’s ear-tingling message to Samuel signaled approaching judgment against Eli’s house.
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. (1 Samuel 3:13-15)
Eli received the Lord’s reproof through Samuel (1 Samuel 3:18), yet failed to show true repentance. He announced God’s warnings messages to Israel; but he did not redeem the time and correct the evils of Hophni and Phinehas. As God’s mercy lingered, they hardened their hearts (PP 582.2). Without speedy sentence (Ecclesiastes 8:11) they dismissed the thought of consequences.
Ichabod!
1 Samuel 4 closes the lives of Eli and sons. After a failed battle with the ever-menacing Philistines, Israel asked for the ark and Hophni and Phinehas fetched it gladly. This goaded the enemy to greater effort; they won the next battle also. They captured the ark, killing Eli’s two sons who failed, both morally and physically, to defend it. The awful news then led to Eli’s death.
Phinehas’ God-fearing wife marked the momentous event. As she died, she named her newborn son Ichabod, marking the “inglorious” state of Israel without the ark of God’s presence. (PP 585).
Thus again was left upon the page of history a testimony for all future ages—that the iniquity of God’s professed people will not go unpunished. The greater the knowledge of God’s will, the greater the sin of those who disregard it. (PP 583.3, emphasis supplied)
Conclusion
I am often frustrated at the state of our church. Yet 1 Samuel teaches me God is working on our case. Further, Chapter 11 of Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5 nerves me to faithful, uncompromising service in such a time as this. Chapter 12 warns me against “Agents of Satan”. May God help us each to be an example others may safely follow, an intercessor God can use to purify His church.
Holly Joers writes from Clinton Arkansas. She is busy and blessed in her local church, and thrills to see rapid prophetic fulfillments ushering in Jesus’ imminent return.