Issues in Adventist Education |
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We as a church have been
been here too long. We could have been with Jesus long ago, but we have fallen into the
same sins of idolatry and insubordination as ancient Israel. Sadly we have fulfilled the
conditions of prophecy: "Man can not possibly stretch over that gulf that has been made by the workers who have not been following the divine Leader. We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel, but for Christ's sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action." Spalding and Magan Collection, page 202. In what have we been insubordinate? Why have we been left to wander in this wilderness of sin these many years? Do not point to the youth to whom we have passed the torch of our hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil. We have planted in their souls many of the seeds that we now see bearing the fruit that causes us to shudder! It has been a downward slide for longer than they have been on the scene. The greater condemnation falls on the mature adults and grandparents. I wept at the 150 Year Anniversary Celebration sponsored by the SDA Church! How dare we celebrate the century of insubordination that has delayed our Lord's coming! Should we not have had a season of humility and repentance? May God have mercy on his people! This must be be the generation of young people who will go all the way for Christ! For us and previous generations the departures from the standards of righteousness have been almost imperceptibly slow-- each passing generation adding their own modification. But if today's youth, like Josiah become inspired to read the neglected counsel of God, they will see the many and glaring departures from right, and weep like Josiah at the dust covered book-- or Jeremiah who cried: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day..." My eyes of faith can now see them standing boldly for their God, declaring: "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." The youth will do a work that we have neglected. Many will be lost, because of our example, but those who remain will be the stronger and purer because the superficial and half-hearted have been sifted from the ranks. Maybe the fall to our present deplorable state is necessary, to awaken our youth. As Ellen White warned: God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. --Testimonies for the Church Volume Five, pages 707, 708. They will take to heart the words of life. Unlike their forebears they will not be ever looking for loopholes for their self-indulgence. They will put their complete trust and full reliance on their Savior, truly lay aside their selfishness, rebellion and pride. They will receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Their will be the commendation: "Well done thou good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!"The presentation of the issues in SDA Education presented this website has been in the spirit of love-- in blessed hope that all who desire to meet their Lord with joy may enjoy that privilege.
Said E. G. White to a SDA Pastor: "But he cannot sit down in the devil's easy-chair and say: 'I have hereditary tendencies and I have habits which I cannot overcome. You must bear with my imperfections; no one is perfect.' If he does this, he is a lost man." PH028 (Elder Daniels and the Fresno Church) |
"This is no time to foster pleasure loving by providing the youth, as they enter upon there student's life with facilities for playing of games which are a snare to all who engage in them." "A view was presented before me in which the students were playing games of tennis and cricket. Then I was given instruction regarding the character of the amusements. They were presented to me as a species of idolatry like the idols of the nations." Ellen G. White
"I cannot find an instance in the life of Christ where he devoted time to play and amusement. He was the Educator for the present and future life. I have not been able to find one instance where He educated His disciples to engage in amusements of football or pugilistic games, to obtain physical exercise, or in theatrical performances; yet Christ was our pattern in all things." Ellen G. White
Standing for
Prayer Ellen G. White
Tours to the Holy Land "I would not be hired to behold the traces of the curse so evidently resting upon Jerusalem." "Brethren, do you believe that you will soon see Jesus? Then do not needlessly expend means that is of so great value to save precious souls..." "We can know far more of Christ by following him step by step in the work of redemption, seeking the lost and the perishing, than by journeying to old Jerusalem." Ellen G. White Let it not be said of the dear reader: "If the preconceived opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White's human judgment, and what is the word of the Lord. Everything that sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct their errors are human--Sister White's opinions. They make of none effect the counsel of God by their tradition." ---The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, page 257 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3 |
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