Ted Wilson
Following are the opening comments by Ted Wilson at the 2010 General Conference Sessionregarding a letter which he read to those in attendance.
I have the great privilege of reading a letter, a letter which you will find of great interest. It has at the top of its letterhead, “The White House, Washington.”
Here are excerpts from that letter:
It [faith] also brings us together to feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted,make peace where there is strife, and lift up those who have fallen on hard times.
As we face the challenges and opportunities of this unique moment in history, may faith move us to unite in common cause, to serve our fellow brothers and sisters.
I hope that as you gather on this special occasion, you are reminded of the abiding truth that each of us has the power to create a better world for ourselves and our children when we do God’s work here on earth.
Barack Obama, President of the United States [applause]
[Wilson]: I want to take this opportunity to thank the government of the United States and so many other governments around the world for their defense of religious freedom, freedom of conscience. Thank God for religious liberty. [applause]
Again, what does the Bible say about crying, “Peace”?
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.
Additionally, while it is good to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted, the statement that faith “brings us together” and unites us “in common cause” is completely ecumenical. The terms “common good,” “public welfare,” “equality for all,” etc. are used by Roman Catholicism, communism and fascism. The letter focuses on a social gospel (socialism) that stresses community work (“good deeds” that are characteristic of Catholicism) and mixes politics and the liberal Kingdom Now theology (a better world now) which is popular with the Purpose Driven and emerging churchmovements. A better world will only be when this earth is made new again by its Creator, but never before that. Paganism teaches to be “in tune with the earth and nature.” Those who are fooled by this belief will not be a part of the New Earth which God creates.
Wilson thanked the U.S. and world governments for religious liberty. We can appreciate our religious freedoms, however, please notice the following:
The Great Controversy, (1888), p. 564
The pacific [peaceful] tone of Rome in the United States does not imply a change of heart. She is tolerant where she is helpless. Says Bishop O'Connor: “Religious liberty is merely endured until the opposite can be carried into effect without peril to the Catholic world.”
The U.S. Supreme Court currently consists of six Roman Catholics and three Jews. Not only is themajority of the U.S. Supreme Court of the Roman Catholic faith, there are no Protestants. What message does this send?
The Great Controversy (1888), p. 566
Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see, and fail to understand. Men are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism, and the dangers to be apprehended from her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after thetradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2 Peter 3:17
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Yes, the White House letter is of “great interest,” especially in light of the ecumenical movement and the words of prophecy regarding the image to the beast.
Wilson stated repeatedly to “go forward.” However, we cannot successfully go forward as a Church until we go back to the “old paths,” start over, and then go forward. We are reminded of Jeremiah 6:16 that reads: “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. But they said, We will not walk therein.” The Church needs to go back to “primitive godliness,” to the true worship of the God of heaven, not the false god of this world. The Church needs to go back, not forward, to reassess where it went wrong.
Isaiah 58:12
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Jude 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The Faith I Live By, p. 326
It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can bea revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people.
While God’s faithful can agree with much of Wilson’s General Conference Session sermon of July 3, 2010, will actions follow his words? He counseled that we are to test everything according to God’s Word and the writings of Ellen White, and that we are not to be involved in the megachurch or emerging church movements. He further counseled that we are to rely on “humble pastors, evangelists, Biblical scholars, leaders, and departmental directors who can provide evangelistic methods and programs that are based on solid Biblical principles and ‘The Great Controversy Theme.’ ”
This all sounds good; however, the Church is still in trouble. Those who continue to promote megachurch purpose driven, emerging church ideas are not being disfellowshipped. Those who have been disfellowshipped because they stood for right should be reinstated. The SDA Church likes to talk about those who are “in good and regular standing” with the Church. Yet that “standing” is not necessarily “good and regular” in God’s eyes. Many in the Church say that we should not try to fix the problems but just leave it to God. However, if individuals ignore the problems, they will be held accountable. Where are the humble leaders who are teaching the whole truth?
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, pp. 269-270
The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins.God holds His people, as a body, responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them. If the leaders of the church neglect to diligently search out the sins which bring the displeasure of God upon the body, they become responsible for these sins. But to deal with minds is the nicest work in which men ever engaged. All are not fitted to correct the erring. They have not wisdom to deal justly, while loving mercy. They are not inclined to see the necessity of mingling love and tender compassion with faithful reproofs.
Child Guidance, pp. 235-236
Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority, as if the acts had been our own.
There is a great need for strong Church leaders and pastors that will “not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall” (Education, p. 57) and will lead in repentance and reformation through to its completion. We need leaders who will actively work to clean up the churches, book centers, schools, hospitals, etc. It is sad to say that the majority of SDA leaders today cannot be depended on for the whole truth. Each must study and pray individually to know all truth.
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