True and False Independence-3 quotes

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TRUE and FALSE INDEPENDENCE, part 3 quotes

1) The true and holy form of independence is briefly stated in the following inspired principles:

1 - We are an independent agent who is responsible to God for our own actions and spiritual life – no one else can be blamed if we lose heaven.

2 - We are responsible to God to do our own personal study – no one else is to study for us.

3 - We are responsible to think for ourselves – we are not to be the shadow or rubber stamp of any person.

4 - While we are to ask for advice from others of experience, we are responsible to follow our own convictions – no one else is to be conscience for us.

5 - We are responsible to help ourselves – no one else is required to help when we are able.

6 - We are responsible for the performance of the work given us to do – no one else can be blamed if it does not get done.

7 - We are responsible for our own daily maintenance – no one owes us anything.

8 - We are responsible to maintain our integrity, moral righteousness, and obligations in the various affairs of life.

9 - While we are to maintain our individual independence, yet we are to be united in harmony with others of like faith.

10 - We are responsible to stand for God, His honor, and His truth regardless of the consequences.

2) The false and unholy form of independence is briefly stated in the following principles:

1 - That we are responsible to God alone – no responsibility needs to be shown toward our fellow brethren.

2 - We are responsible to God alone for our actions – no one can hold us responsible, or correct, or censure, or discipline us for what we do, even if our actions are wrong and adversely affect our fellow brethren.

3 - We are responsible to spiritually unite with God alone – no one is to visibly unite with one another in a church or in a working capacity.

4 - We are responsible to believe and teach what we want to – regardless of what our fellow brethren agree is truth.

5 - We are responsible to follow our own way and do not need to seek or follow the counsel of others of experience.

6 - We are responsible to maintain our independence at all times and circumstances, and are not to be in union with others of like faith.

7 - We are responsible to center our interests in our own work – regardless of the work and interests of our brethren.

3) “Had professed Sabbath-keepers...earnestly sought and labored to be in union with the prayer of Christ, to be one as He is one with the Father, Satan’s work would have been defeated. If all had sought to be in union with the body, the fanaticism which has brought so deep a stain upon the cause of present truth...would not have arisen, for it is the result of drawing off from the body, and seeking to have an original, independent faith, regardless of the faith of the body.” Testimonies, vol 1, p 327.

“...the work of God is not committed to men who feel it their privilege to move out on their own independent judgement, to preach whatever they please, and to be responsible to no one for their instructions or work. Let this spirit of self-sufficiency once rule in our midst, and there will be no harmony of action, no unity of spirit, no safety for the work, and no healthful growth in the cause. There will be false teachers, evil workers who will, by insinuating error, draw away souls from the truth. Christ prayed that His followers might be one as He and the Father were one. Those who desire to see this prayer answered, should seek to discourage the slightest tendency to division, and try to keep the spirit of unity and love among brethren.” Review and Herald, May 28, 1888.

4) “Satan well knows that success can only attend order and harmonious action. He well knows that everything connected with heaven is in perfect order, that subjection and perfect discipline mark the movements of the angelic host. It is his studied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from heaven’s arrangement as he can; therefore he deceives even the professed people of God and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality, that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course, and to remain especially distinct from bodies of Christians who are united and are laboring to establish discipline and harmony of action. All the efforts made to establish order are considered dangerous, a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are feared as popery. These deceived souls consider it a virtue to boast of their freedom to think and act independently. They will not take any man’s say-so. They are amenable to no man. I was shown that it is Satan’s special work to lead men to feel that it is God’s order for them to strike out for themselves and choose their own course independent of their brethren.

“God is leading a people out from the world upon the exalted platform of eternal truth...They will not be at variance, one believing one thing and another having faith and views entirely opposite, each moving independently of the body.” Testimonies, vol 1, p 650.

5) Refuse to allow any Ministry or minister or lay-member convince you to remain divided, disorganized, and independent of one another in faith, in work, or in fellowship. This is because whatever testimony they claim to have from Sister White to support their position is only being twisted by them to say something that Sister White never intended!

“...please do not use my name as sustaining you in taking an independent course.” Manuscript Releases, vol 17, p 257.

6) The Lord God Jesus Christ wants all of His true Remnant people to enlist in the ranks of His army.

“An army would be demoralized if they did not learn to obey orders of the captain. Each soldier must act in concert. Union is strength; without union efforts are meaningless. Whatever excellent qualities a soldier may possess, he cannot be a safe trustworthy soldier if he claims a right to act independent of his fellow comrades. This independent action cannot be maintained in the service of Christ.

“Self-restraint is essential to be exercised by every Christian if they answer the prayer of Christ. He is not a good soldier who will not submit his own judgement and his own ideas to preserve unity of action....The meekness and lowliness of Christ always leads to unity and hence to strength in united action.” Manuscript Releases, vol 5, p 373-374.

“He (Christ) calls for a united army, which moves steadily forward, not for a company composed of independent atoms.” Bible Commentary, vol 4, p 1146.

“In spite of all the good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independent of those connected with him....Take a strong team of horses. If, instead of both pulling together, one should suddenly jerk forward and the other pull back, they would not move the load, notwithstanding their great strength. So the soldiers of Christ must work in concert, else there will be a mere concourse of independent atoms....In union is strength.” Signs of the Times, September 7, 1891.

7) God is not so much concerned with the amount of the people who unite together, as He is with the fact that they do unite!

“One who works in harmony with the counsel of God, and in unity with the brethren, will be more efficient to do good, than ten will be who do not realize the necessity of depending upon God, and of acting in harmony with the general plan of the work.” Review and Herald, May 29, 1888.

“A few men and women who unite together, having the glory of God in view, will be growing in strength and wisdom, and gaining new victories.” Signs of the Times, September 7, 1891.

8) Which army are you enlisted in and under which general are you fighting for?

“The two great powers in controversy are working, one from beneath, the other from above. Every man is under the secret influence of the one or the other, and his acts will reveal the character of the inspiration from which they proceed. Those who are united with Christ will work always in Christ’s lines. Those who are in union with Satan will work under the inspiration of their leader, opposed to the Holy Spirit’s power and action. The will of man is left free to act, and by action is revealed what spirit is moving upon the heart. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’” 1888 Materials, p 1508.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes TRUE and FALSE INDEPENDENCE, part 3 quotes 1) The true and holy form of independence is briefly stated in the following inspired principles: 1 - We are an independent agent who is responsible to God for our own actions and spiritual life – no one else can be blamed if we lose heaven. 2 - We are responsible to God to do our own personal study – no one else is to study for us. 3 - We are responsible to think for ourselves – we are not to be the shadow or rubber stamp of any person. 4 - While we are to ask for advice from others of experience, we are responsible to follow our own convictions – no one else is to be conscience for us. 5 - We are responsible to help ourselves – no one else is required to help when we are able. 6 - We are responsible for the performance of the work given us to do – no one else can be blamed if it does not get done. 7 - We are responsible for our own daily maintenance – no one owes us anything. 8 - We are responsible to maintain our integrity, moral righteousness, and obligations in the various affairs of life. 9 - While we are to maintain our individual independence, yet we are to be united in harmony with others of like faith. 10 - We are responsible to stand for God, His honor, and His truth regardless of the consequences. 2) The false and unholy form of independence is briefly stated in the following principles: 1 - That we are responsible to God alone – no responsibility needs to be shown toward our fellow brethren. 2 - We are responsible to God alone for our actions – no one can hold us responsible, or correct, or censure, or discipline us for what we do, even if our actions are wrong and adversely affect our fellow brethren. 3 - We are responsible to spiritually unite with God alone – no one is to visibly unite with one another in a church or in a working capacity. 4 - We are responsible to believe and teach what we want to – regardless of what our fellow brethren agree is truth. 5 - We are responsible to follow our own way and do not need to seek or follow the counsel of others of experience. 6 - We are responsible to maintain our independence at all times and circumstances, and are not to be in union with others of like faith. 7 - We are responsible to center our interests in our own work – regardless of the work and interests of our brethren. 3) “Had professed Sabbath-keepers...earnestly sought and labored to be in union with the prayer of Christ, to be one as He is one with the Father, Satan’s work would have been defeated. If all had sought to be in union with the body, the fanaticism which has brought so deep a stain upon the cause of present truth...would not have arisen, for it is the result of drawing off from the body, and seeking to have an original, independent faith, regardless of the faith of the body.” Testimonies, vol 1, p 327. “...the work of God is not committed to men who feel it their privilege to move out on their own independent judgement, to preach whatever they please, and to be responsible to no one for their instructions or work. Let this spirit of self-sufficiency once rule in our midst, and there will be no harmony of action, no unity of spirit, no safety for the work, and no healthful growth in the cause. There will be false teachers, evil workers who will, by insinuating error, draw away souls from the truth. Christ prayed that His followers might be one as He and the Father were one. Those who desire to see this prayer answered, should seek to discourage the slightest tendency to division, and try to keep the spirit of unity and love among brethren.” Review and Herald, May 28, 1888. 4) “Satan well knows that success can only attend order and harmonious action. He well knows that everything connected with heaven is in perfect order, that subjection and perfect discipline mark the movements of the angelic host. It is his studied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from heaven’s arrangement as he can; therefore he deceives even the professed people of God and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality, that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course, and to remain especially distinct from bodies of Christians who are united and are laboring to establish discipline and harmony of action. All the efforts made to establish order are considered dangerous, a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are feared as popery. These deceived souls consider it a virtue to boast of their freedom to think and act independently. They will not take any man’s say-so. They are amenable to no man. I was shown that it is Satan’s special work to lead men to feel that it is God’s order for them to strike out for themselves and choose their own course independent of their brethren. “God is leading a people out from the world upon the exalted platform of eternal truth...They will not be at variance, one believing one thing and another having faith and views entirely opposite, each moving independently of the body.” Testimonies, vol 1, p 650. 5) Refuse to allow any Ministry or minister or lay-member convince you to remain divided, disorganized, and independent of one another in faith, in work, or in fellowship. This is because whatever testimony they claim to have from Sister White to support their position is only being twisted by them to say something that Sister White never intended! “...please do not use my name as sustaining you in taking an independent course.” Manuscript Releases, vol 17, p 257. 6) The Lord God Jesus Christ wants all of His true Remnant people to enlist in the ranks of His army. “An army would be demoralized if they did not learn to obey orders of the captain. Each soldier must act in concert. Union is strength; without union efforts are meaningless. Whatever excellent qualities a soldier may possess, he cannot be a safe trustworthy soldier if he claims a right to act independent of his fellow comrades. This independent action cannot be maintained in the service of Christ. “Self-restraint is essential to be exercised by every Christian if they answer the prayer of Christ. He is not a good soldier who will not submit his own judgement and his own ideas to preserve unity of action....The meekness and lowliness of Christ always leads to unity and hence to strength in united action.” Manuscript Releases, vol 5, p 373-374. “He (Christ) calls for a united army, which moves steadily forward, not for a company composed of independent atoms.” Bible Commentary, vol 4, p 1146. “In spite of all the good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independent of those connected with him....Take a strong team of horses. If, instead of both pulling together, one should suddenly jerk forward and the other pull back, they would not move the load, notwithstanding their great strength. So the soldiers of Christ must work in concert, else there will be a mere concourse of independent atoms....In union is strength.” Signs of the Times, September 7, 1891. 7) God is not so much concerned with the amount of the people who unite together, as He is with the fact that they do unite! “One who works in harmony with the counsel of God, and in unity with the brethren, will be more efficient to do good, than ten will be who do not realize the necessity of depending upon God, and of acting in harmony with the general plan of the work.” Review and Herald, May 29, 1888. “A few men and women who unite together, having the glory of God in view, will be growing in strength and wisdom, and gaining new victories.” Signs of the Times, September 7, 1891. 8) Which army are you enlisted in and under which general are you fighting for? “The two great powers in controversy are working, one from beneath, the other from above. Every man is under the secret influence of the one or the other, and his acts will reveal the character of the inspiration from which they proceed. Those who are united with Christ will work always in Christ’s lines. Those who are in union with Satan will work under the inspiration of their leader, opposed to the Holy Spirit’s power and action. The will of man is left free to act, and by action is revealed what spirit is moving upon the heart. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’” 1888 Materials, p 1508.