“That We Also May Be Like All the Nations”

By The Remnant Herald

The peril of God’s professed people wanting to be recognized by the world, imitating the practices of the world, and agreeing with the narrative of the world, so as to obtain a good public image from the world.

“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel: and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us: that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” 1 Samuel 8:19, 20

Israel’s request (“make us a king”—1 Samuel 8:5), demand (“give us a king”—1 Samuel 8:6), and insistence (“we will have a king”—1 Samuel 8:19) permanently altered its national destiny. Israel eventually paid a very high price for wanting to copy the customs and practices of its pagan neighbors:

“The discipline and training that God appointed for Israel would cause them, in all their ways of life, to differ from the people of other nations. This peculiarity, which should have been regarded as a special privilege and blessing, was to them unwelcome. The simplicity and self-restraint essential to the highest development they sought to exchange for the pomp and self-indulgence of heathen peoples. To be ‘like all the nations’ (1 Sam. 8:5) was their ambition. God’s plan of education was set aside, His authority disowned. In the rejection of the ways of God for the ways of men, the downfall of Israel began. Thus also it continued, until the Jewish people became a prey to the very nations whose practices they had chosen to follow.” Education, pp. 49, 50

It was the enemy of souls that influenced the elders and people of Israel to reject the warnings of Samuel in their clamor for a fallible, earthly ruler to be the leader of the nation rather than God (1 Samuel 8:7):

“The Lord permitted Israel to have their own way … The Lord granted them the desire of their unsanctified hearts … Their minds were bent on following their own judgment and casting aside the wisdom of God … they now insulted God to His face in throwing off His wise rule … Satan’s mind was imbuing the hearts of men that Israel should follow his satanic counsel. They were bewitched by the devil to carry out their own purposes…” 1888 Materials, pp. 920, 922, 923 (Manuscript 40, 1890)

The desire for a good public image, to be esteemed highly by the world and the other churches, to be engaged in a variety of enterprises for the sake of public relations, is the pressure that spiritual Israel—Seventh-day Adventists—is yielding to more and more.

“The light has been given me that tremendous pressure will be brought upon every Seventh-day Adventist with whom the world can get into close connection.” Loma Linda Messages, p. 724 (Letter 84, 1909)

Some years ago, a researcher who reviewed the history of the changes that have taken place in the denomination during our lifetimes explained the underlying motive that propelled these developments:

“Since about World War II, [Adventism has] moved towards becoming a denomination with growing comfort with its environment and wanting a positive, widely admired image.” Website of Adventist Today: Encyclopedia of Fundamentalism—Seventh-day Adventism. November 6, 2018

This admission brings into sharp focus the description General Conference President Robert H. Pierson provided at the 1978 Annual Council on how a sect evolves into a church. Although his sermon has been quoted, in whole and in part, in The Remnant Herald over the years, it is worth recalling again what Pastor Pierson read to the delegates concerning the shift in emphasis that was governed by a longing desire to look good in the eyes of the world:

“I take my thoughts from something that Elder and Mrs. Ralph Neall have written describing how typically a sect evolves into a church. They say a sect is often begun by a charismatic leader with tremendous drive and commitment, and that it arises as a protest against worldliness and formalism in a church. It is generally embraced by the poor. The rich would lose too much by joining it, since it is unpopular, despised, and persecuted by society in general. It has definite beliefs firmly held by zealous members. Each member makes a personal decision to join it and knows what he believes. There is little organization or property, and there are few buildings. The group has strict standards and controls on behavior. Preachers, often without education, arise from inner compulsion. There is little concern about public relations.

“And then it passes on to the second generation. With growth there comes a need for organization and buildings. As a result of industry and frugality, members become prosperous. As prosperity increases, persecution begins to wane. Children born into the movement do not have to make personal decisions to join it. They do not necessarily know what they believe. They do not need to hammer out their own positions. These have been worked out for them. Preachers arise more by selection and by apprenticeship to older workers than by direct inner compulsion.

“In the third generation, organization develops and institutions are established. The need is seen for schools to pass on the faith of the fathers. Colleges are established. Members have to be exhorted to live up to the standards, while at the same time the standards of membership are being lowered. The group becomes lax about disfellowshipping nonpracticing members. Missionary zeal cools off. There is more concern over public relations. Leaders study methods of propagating their faith, sometimes employing extrinsic rewards as motivation for service by the members. Youth question why they are different from others, and intermarry with those not of their faith.

“In the fourth generation, there is much machinery; the number of administrators increases while the number of workers at the grassroots level becomes proportionately less. Great church councils are held to define doctrine. More schools, universities, and seminaries are established. These go to the world for accreditation and tend to become secularized. There is a reexamination of positions and modernizing of methods. Attention is given to contemporary culture, with an interest in the arts: music, architecture, literature. The movement seeks to become ‘relevant’ to contemporary society by becoming involved with popular causes. Services be come formal. The group enjoys complete acceptance by the world. The sect has become a church!” Australasian Record, November 27, 1978

Although Pastor Pierson then followed by appealing, “…this must not happen to the Seventh-day Adventist Church!”, the reality was evident—even by that time:

“…much of the change from sect to church had already occurred.” Adventism in America, p. 229. Gary Land. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1986

One event from the Pierson Administration encapsulated this reality within the denomination. On May 18, 1977, the head of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department of the General Conference personally delivered a gold medal to Pope Paul VI on behalf of the Church. When queried by Evan Sadler (Director, Hope International New Zealand) in Indianapolis during the 1990 General Conference Session as to why he did it, Bert Beverly Beach simply replied, “P.R.” [public relations]. (YouTube: SDA Leader Confronted For Giving Medal to Pope).

Concern for our reputation became an all-consuming preoccupation for the denomination, particularly after the end of the Evangelical Conferences in 1956, when it was announced:

“In conclusion, I should like to say that we are delighted to do justice to a much-maligned group of sincere believers, and in our minds and hearts take them out of the group of utter heretics like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Christian Scientists, to acknowledge them as redeemed brethren and members of the Body of Christ.” Eternity, September 1956. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Editor: Donald Grey Barnhouse

In 1957, the very year Questions on Doctrine was released as a fruitage of the Evangelical Conferences, a request for membership was made by representatives of the denomination to the World Council of Churches for its new entity, the Conference of Secretaries of World Christian Communions. In the words of the incumbent director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty at the General Conference —

“…you can see here the work that some Adventists have initiated since 1957 was to make sure that we are not part of this [other] list [with the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses], that we are recognized as a genuine Christian church … if our reputation is not good, then people will not even listen to us, so our mission becomes impaired because of that.” YouTube — Advent Messenger: Ganoune Diop’s Bombshell at the 2024 GC Spring Meeting. April 2024.

In fact, on the very first day of the last Spring Council, Ganoune Diop echoed the disparaging sentiments expressed by ecumenists against those who dare to renounce its compromising cause:

“If we go after people’s faith, it is irresponsible. Why? In fact, we put Seventh-day Adventist lives in danger and that would be reckless. We should rather be saving lives … We have to remember: we are a restorationist movement, not a sectarian, violent breed of believers, closet terrorists, in fact.” YouTube: The GC Religious Liberty Director Ganoune Diop Promotes Christian Unity in Error. GC Spring 2024

These alarming sentiments against those who are faithfully preaching the salvational truths of Revelation 14:6–12—an anti-ecumenical message—are a reflection of what Pope Francis pronounced in 2021:

“Pope Francis’ message was very clear. He said it’s not a time for indifference, and that the only valid option is fraternity. ‘We cannot say, ‘brothers or not brothers,’ BUT RATHER, BROTHERS OR ENEMIES.” Website of Rome Reports: Pope Francis Calls For Fraternity — We Are Either Brothers or Enemies. February 4, 2021. (Capitalization supplied by the Editor)

This striking declaration by the Jesuit pontiff on the “International Day of Human Fraternity”—”brothers or enemies”—is fraught with threatening overtones, similar to that of U.S. President George W. Bush’s ultimatum following the events of September 11, 2001:

“Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.” Website of CNN (USA): Transcript of President Bush’s Address. September 21, 2001

Just as these words meant you either sided with the United States in its “War on Terror” or you were its enemy, Pope Francis’ remarks conveyed a similar warning: you either join the Vatican in its quest for “Fraternity” or you are its enemy. Note how no allowance is given by the pope for any refusal to fraternize to remain as “brothers or not brothers.” Ganoune Diop’s remarks reflect the vocabulary of the globalist-ecumenical confederacy, which he and the denomination have immersed themselves in for many years.

(Note: News has been received that Ganoune Diop was hospitalized with heart problems on May 16. It is the prayer of the Editor that this time will be used by Ganoune Diop in solemn reflection of the course of action he has pursued for too long, with the hope that he may change his ways and avow that Seventh-day Adventists ought to be the most evangelistic people in the world—to proclaim the three angels’ messages in all their fullness, including the call of Revelation 18 to “come out of her, My people”).

Ganoune Diop put forth the proposition during the recent Spring Council that “if our reputation is not good, then people will not even listen to us, so our mission becomes impaired because of that.” If that was true, then our Lord Jesus Christ was greatly mistaken when He declared:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

In Luke’s account of the same sermon, it reads thus:

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 6:22, 23

Our Redeemer uttered a sobering warning that was not recorded in Matthew’s transcription:

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26

In His instructions to His disciples, the Great Teacher disclosed the reality of what they would face in their ministry:

“And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved … It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?” Matthew 10:22, 25

Christ did not experience a perfect reputation while He was on earth, nor was He exempt from the wicked slander heaped upon Him by His critics:

“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of devils casteth he out devils … He hath an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:22, 30

“Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?” John 8:48

“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?” Luke 5:21

Our Example did not promote a counterfeit peace by compromising the truth, but He advocated division by separating from sin, error, and apostasy:

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.” Luke 12:51

The straight messages delivered by our Lord elicited violent reactions at times from an unsanctified people corrupted by the false teachings of their tradition:

“And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But He passing through the midst of them went His way.” Luke 4:28-30

“Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” John 8:59

“Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him.” Matthew 26:3, 4

Not one of these disgraceful episodes deterred Jesus from fulfilling His ministry. He had no cause to apologize for anything He said or did, for no assessment nor reaction from the people could induce Him to swerve from the path of duty (John 8:29). Reputation was not a priority for Christ. Sister White informed us:

“But peace cannot be gained by a compromise of principle, and Christ did not for an instant seek to purchase it by a betrayal of sacred trusts. His heart was overflowing with love to every human being He had made; but this deep love did not lead Him to cry, ‘Peace and safety,’ when there was no safety for the sinner. Christ understood the strength of Satan’s temptations; for though sinless, He was tempted in all points like as we are. But He never lessened the guilt of sin. He was the Saviour, the Redeemer of the world, and came to save His people from their sins … Christ hated one thing only, and that was sin. But although He represented in His spotless character the character of His Father, yet the world hated and refused Him. The human heart loves sin and hates righteousness, and this was the cause of the hostility of the world to Jesus. The atmosphere that surrounded His soul was so pure, so elevated, that it placed the hypocritical rabbis, priests, and rulers in their true position, and revealed them in their real character as claiming sanctity, while misrepresenting God and His truth. If Christ had given license to men to exercise their evil passions, they would have hailed this great miracle-worker with shouts of applause; but when He reproved sin, made open war upon selfishness, oppression, hypocrisy, pride, covetousness, and lust, they hunted Him down as a malefactor. He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself until at last they cried out, Away with this fellow, and give us Barabbas.

“Jesus could have been at peace with the world only as He left the transgressors of the law unreproved, unrebuked. And He has said, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.’ The followers of Christ must often proclaim a message that is in direct opposition to the people’s sins, prejudices, and customs; they are called upon to ‘reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.’ Those who faithfully carry out this commission will be charged by the world with being the disturbers of its peace; they will be accused of stirring up strife and creating divisions. But they will only be bearing the reproach that fell on Christ, who denounced unrighteousness, and whose very presence was a rebuke to sin.” Bible Echo, April 9, 1894

Desperately longing for the approbation of the other churches and the world at large, desiring to avoid being stigmatized as a cult and a sect for the seventh-day Sabbath and other key landmarks of the faith, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has long traversed the pathway of compromise, which has since widened to become a highway of capitulation. Examples of this unremitting passion to identify itself with “popular causes” (Robert H. Pierson’s words) include:

— AdventHealth: partnership with Walt Disney for over 20 years, which resulted in the renaming of the children’s section of AdventHealth Orlando [formerly Florida Adventist Hospital] to “Walt Disney Pavilion”—allowing Disney murals to be painted in various sections of this wing, Disney movies and TV shows to be screened, Disney products to be bought, and Disney characters like Mickey Mouse to entertain the children. The Seventh-day Adventist Church claims:

“AdventHealth for Children is unlike any other children’s hospital. Our collaboration with Disney, combined with world-class, whole-person care, makes for an unparalleled experience for our patients and their families,’ said Dr. Rajan Wadhawan, senior executive officer of AdventHealth for Children. ‘We are thrilled that Disney is bringing its magic to our patients. Any time we can divert a child’s attention away from the health challenges they may be facing, it can do wonders for healing their spirit.’” Website of AdventHealth: Magic Windows and Characters Part of New Patient Experience as Disney Transforms AdventHealth for Children. February 6, 2020

(Notice that it is Walt Disney Productions bringing its “magic,” which is transforming the children’s section of this Adventist hospital. One can imagine what subtle influences these young patients are receiving from Disney in their extra state of vulnerability. “Most seducing influences will be exerted; minds will be hypnotized.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 8, p. 293).

AdventHealth also partners with Orlando Magic (National Basketball Association), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (National Football League), the Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 500 Car Race), the Dr. Philips Centre for the Performing Arts, Legoland Florida Resort, and Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, to name just a few.

— United Nations: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) works with the United Nations for the attainment of its globalist objectives:

“ADRA has been at the front lines of social change for more than 30 years. Today, ADRA’s projects around the world support many of the Global Goals [of the United Nations], including ending poverty, achieving food security, ensuring healthy lives, and achieving gender equality.” Website of ADRA: ADRA Joins United Nations in Sustainable Development Goals. September 23, 2015

On its official website, the Seventh-day Adventist Church used to aver (positively affirm) the following concerning its cooperation with the United Nations:

“Much of the work of the Church is appreciated and endorsed since it parallels the aims and objectives of the UN as outlined in the UN Charter.” Website of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: About Us. (No longer accessible: quoted in some anti-Adventist websites)

What are the aims and objectives of the UN? From a Roman Catholic source, it was stated in May 2024:

“The General Assembly is negotiating two major agreements over the future of the organization and the world more widely. The agreements could concentrate power in the UN Secretary General in ways previously unforeseen. Some will see this as a major step toward one world government. The stage is set for some of the most consequential negotiations at the United Nations in perhaps a generation. The ‘Pact for the Future’ would expand the powers and reach of the United Nations system, while the ‘Global Digital Compact’ would govern digital technology, including emerging artificial intelligence for the whole world.” Website of Zenit — The World Seen From Rome: ANALYSIS: Towards a One World Government? General Assembly Negotiates the Future of the UN. May 26, 2024

The reaction the Seventh-day Adventist Church will receive if it ever dared to disengage itself with the United Nations can be surmised by reading the case of George Todt, a Californian columnist and news commentator, warned about the UN in 1954:

“On Sunday, September 5, 1954, I made some remarks about the United Nations on my extemporaneous television telecast from the studios of the National Broadcasting Company in Hollywood, California. They were not the usual mouthings one hears from the men in the communications field nowadays. Instead of bowing and scraping before the UN, I outlined some cold and hard facts about this threat to the sovereignty of the United States and suggested an alternative plan to the UN for those Americans of honest intent who felt obliged to work for international understanding in the future. My suggestion revolved about the Constitution of the United States, however, not the UN Charter. Although the public responded overwhelmingly in favor of the suggestion I made in preference to the present UN plan, not so NBC. The reaction of the latter was hasty and bitter. As soon as officials returned to their offices the following Tuesday morning, after the Labor Day holiday, it was to notify me immediately that I was off the air. Although never on the NBC payroll, they denied time to my sponsor of 57 weeks standing unless he broke my contract forthwith, and refused to allow me to go to the air for two more weeks prior to cancellation as my contract stipulated. This was done without a word of warning or prior consultation. Everything had been fine up until the time I spoke against the UN. Then I was suddenly persona non grata [unwelcome] with the National Broadcasting Company.” The Fearful Master: A Second Look at the United Nations, pp. 159–160. G. Edward Griffin, Western Islands Publishers, Los Angeles, California, 1964

— State Aid: Space does not allow for the innumerable examples of what government aid has wrought by the compromises clearly seen in the institutions of the Church. Pastor Kenneth Wood warned in 1973:

“…this money is not an unqualified blessing. It can pose a serious threat to our institutions. In the first place, it can provide a subliminal influence that, in spite of the best efforts of conscientious Adventist educators, may well provide a stimulus to pattern our schools after the world, to encourage them to meet secular standards rather than divine standards … we feel that to accept large sums of money on a continuing basis may cause men to be silent when they should speak … a large flow of outside funds, such as those from Government, tends to encourage the building of ever larger institutions — institutions that, in spite of the warnings and attempted safeguards in the new church-state relationships policy, may become so large and so dependent on money from ‘the world’ that they cannot be supported by God’s people alone. Institutions that grow large by gorging themselves on Government money will inevitably require more and more outside support in order to be maintained. Thus the bright hope that assistance from non-Adventist sources will solve the money crisis and will relieve the church from the heavy financial load of its institutions of higher education proves disappointing; eventually it may become the instrument that pries the system away from church control.” Review and Herald, December 27, 1973

— Ecumenical movement: One line from Ganoune Diop sums up the whole impetus of the denomination’s long involvement with this force that emanated originally from the Roman Catholic Church:

“We Adventists should be the most ecumenical people in the whole wide world.” Website of YouTube: Divine Worship, March 1, 2024. Religious Liberty Presentation: Pastor Ganoune Diop.

As the late Kenneth Cox used to say (as attributed):

“Ecumenism is the Protestant Reformation in reverse.” VHS Video: “Will The Real Seventh-day Adventist Please Stand Up?” John Osborne. February 1993

Conclusion

“Satan is continually seeking to overthrow the people of God by breaking down the barriers which separate them from the world.” The Great Controversy, pp. 327, 328. 1884 edition

“It is conformity to the world that is causing our people to lose their bearings. The perversion of right principles has not been brought about suddenly. The angel of the Lord presented this matter to me in symbols. It seemed as if a thief were stealthily moving closer and still closer and gradually but surely stealing away the identity of God’s work by leading our brethren to conform to worldly principles…But it is becoming more and more customary for men to separate from God, thinking that it is their privilege to go forward in their own way and according to their own ideas.” The Publishing Ministry, pp. 169–170 (Manu. 96, 1902)

“The greatest danger of God’s ancient people arose from their inclination to disregard His direct requirements and to follow, instead, their own desires. Such is the sin and danger of His people at the present time. The indolence, backsliding, and degeneracy in our churches may be traced, in a great degree, to the lax sentiments which have been coming in as a result of conformity to the world.” Atlantic Union Gleaner, October 7, 1908

“I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God’s peculiar people. You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with unbelievers has provoked the Lord’s displeasure. You know not the things that belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews up-on whom Christ pronounced a woe.” Testimonies for the Church, volume 5, pp. 75–76

The desire to be like all the nations is causing so many of our people to become “a prey to the very nations whose practices they had chosen to follow.” Education, p. 50. It is in this setting that we read of those who will renounce their faith in the Advent Message and abandon the seventh-day Sabbath:

“By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side … Those who are uniting with the world are receiving a worldly mould, and preparing for the mark of the beast.” The Great Controversy, p. 426. 1884 edition; Test. for the Church, vol.5, p. 216.

May we learn from the early Christians who, though maligned, hated, and persecuted, counted it a joy to suffer for their Lord. (Acts 8:1; 28:22; 5:41). Compromise and love of reputation was not their goal, but Christ and Him crucified, the hope of glory!

About: The Remnant Herald is an Australian publication produced by Remnant Ministries. The current editor and author is Elvis Placer, and we have reproduced this article with his permission. You can contact Elvis Placer through email at rh1844@pm.me or call the office clerk at +61 3 9706 2173 to request a FREE subscription to the Remnant Herald.