Hobie
Well-Known Member
At least the election was pretty mild this time, not much getting blocked from family gatherings or outings this time....
From the pen of Ellen White
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It's likely not really funny being ostracized from family, but I gotta laugh... Politics in the US is soooooo parochial.
Hobie
Well-Known Member
Well it really crosses the line when they ask you who you support as they come to your church, as even if you stay neutral or defer they are offended you dont support their political view. Its a very shrewd attack of Satan on the unity of believers to say nothing of the destruction of the churches and worship...
Ellen White quote on numerous topics. Family, health, finances, missions, church life, individual holiness, politics and prophecy. And much more.
For example...
"Through Jesus Christ, households are to have blissful harmony and unity, and parents are to live together in peace and love, neither speaking nor thinking evil of one another. Parents and children are to be kind, forbearing, forgiving, having hearts softened by the grace of Christ".
And again...
The prayers of Christian mothers are not disregarded by the Father of all, Who sent His Son to the earth to ransom people for Himself. He will not turn away your petitions".
Ellen White constantly upheld the love, patience and mercy of a God of infinite power and grace, caring for even the smallest things in the lives of His children.
For example...
"Through Jesus Christ, households are to have blissful harmony and unity, and parents are to live together in peace and love, neither speaking nor thinking evil of one another. Parents and children are to be kind, forbearing, forgiving, having hearts softened by the grace of Christ".
And again...
The prayers of Christian mothers are not disregarded by the Father of all, Who sent His Son to the earth to ransom people for Himself. He will not turn away your petitions".
Ellen White constantly upheld the love, patience and mercy of a God of infinite power and grace, caring for even the smallest things in the lives of His children.
I think the following is totally pertinent I'm today's world...
There is another and more important question that should engage the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled. GC 48.3
There is another and more important question that should engage the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled. GC 48.3
Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction, by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which, through the grace of Christ, the soul becomes a conquering power.
Faith is a mightier conqueror than death. If the sick can be led to fix their eyes in faith upon the Mighty Healer, we shall see wonderful results. It will bring life to the body and to the soul.
In working for the victims of evil habits, instead of pointing them to the despair and ruin toward which they are hastening, turn their eyes away to Jesus. Fix them upon the glories of the heavenly. This will do more for the saving of body and soul than will all the terrors of the grave when kept before the helpless and apparently hopeless. MH 62.2 - MH 62.4
Faith is a mightier conqueror than death. If the sick can be led to fix their eyes in faith upon the Mighty Healer, we shall see wonderful results. It will bring life to the body and to the soul.
In working for the victims of evil habits, instead of pointing them to the despair and ruin toward which they are hastening, turn their eyes away to Jesus. Fix them upon the glories of the heavenly. This will do more for the saving of body and soul than will all the terrors of the grave when kept before the helpless and apparently hopeless. MH 62.2 - MH 62.4
The recent demise of Pope Francis has the world in a tiz. The media everywhere is tripping over itself in its attempts to out-praise each other regarding the late pope's character and life. However, the words of the Jesuit general, Sosa, ought to be given careful consideration. He said that to understand Pope Francis, and why he brought to the papacy such a different mindset than his predecessors, was because above all else, Pope Francis was a Vatican Council 2 Pope. Some of you would know what Vatican 2 was all about. It was about bringing home to Rome all her wayward daughters. Vatican 2 was about ecumenism. And as far as Pope Francis is concerned, he can now rest knowing his job was done.
Ellen White however, saw things a little deeper, and prophetically to our day. In The Great Controversy, she says...
Popery is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.] It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon, she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. "We are not bound to keep faith and promises to heretics," she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?
It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant countries, that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the reformers.
As the Protestant churches have been seeking the favor of the world, false charity has blinded their eyes. They do not see but that it is right to believe good of all evil; and as the inevitable result, they will finally believe evil of all good. Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints, they are now, as it were, apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable opinion of her, begging pardon for their bigotry. GC88 571.1 - GC88 571.3
Among most Protestant churches today, it is believed that the protest is over. That the Catholic church has changed. But not so. Leopards cannot change their spots. It is Protestantism that has changed. It is Protestantism, in seeking the favour of the world and to appear conciliatory and kind, that now, as Ellen White said above, the Catholic church is regarded today as a Christian church, and accepted as brothers and sisters in Christ.
She went on to say...
A large class, even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor, apprehend little danger from her power and influence. Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion, forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation. In the open pages of God's holy Word, light from Heaven has been shed upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert or reject it.
A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy, and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences; and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world,—those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power. GC88 572.1 - GC88 572.2
Ellen White however, saw things a little deeper, and prophetically to our day. In The Great Controversy, she says...
Popery is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.] It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon, she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. "We are not bound to keep faith and promises to heretics," she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?
It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant countries, that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the reformers.
As the Protestant churches have been seeking the favor of the world, false charity has blinded their eyes. They do not see but that it is right to believe good of all evil; and as the inevitable result, they will finally believe evil of all good. Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints, they are now, as it were, apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable opinion of her, begging pardon for their bigotry. GC88 571.1 - GC88 571.3
Among most Protestant churches today, it is believed that the protest is over. That the Catholic church has changed. But not so. Leopards cannot change their spots. It is Protestantism that has changed. It is Protestantism, in seeking the favour of the world and to appear conciliatory and kind, that now, as Ellen White said above, the Catholic church is regarded today as a Christian church, and accepted as brothers and sisters in Christ.
She went on to say...
A large class, even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor, apprehend little danger from her power and influence. Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion, forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation. In the open pages of God's holy Word, light from Heaven has been shed upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert or reject it.
A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy, and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences; and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world,—those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power. GC88 572.1 - GC88 572.2
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