By Mark Shipowick*
In the summer of 1982, I was facing a decision. I had just graduated from Andrews University as a business major and was looking for work, but I had also applied to and was accepted into Queen’s University’s Faculty of Law, reputed to be one of Canada’s finest. When no good job prospects materialized that summer, I felt impressed that perhaps the Lord wanted me to hone the skills needed to defend the cause of religious liberty. From adolescence on, I had been drawn in that direction and felt that this might be my calling, so, after laying out my case before the Lord and feeling this was His call, I headed for Queen’s.
It so happened that two years earlier, unknown to me, the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also began to blaze a new legal path of sorts as well. On the advice of worldly-minded lawyers they began pioneering the use (or abuse, depending on your perspective) by a religious institution of Title 15, Chapter 22 of the United State’s Code. This Title, or part of it, has governed commerce and trade for decades, and one section of it, Chapter 22, which has little to do with religious institutions, contains the rules regulating trademarks. The leaders decided at this time to use this Chapter, like a commercial business, to protect the SDA name and reputation from splinter groups that might tarnish it by preventing any non-member or institution from calling themselves “Seventh-day Adventist” who were not actually affiliated and in good standing. But they went even further. They also separately trademarked the generic term “Adventist”, and that trademark, 40 years later, is still also essentially owned by the church.
It may seem odd that the Trademark Office (part of the USPTO) would have allowed any of this but especially the registration of the generic term “adventist,” but perhaps one reason the Office went along with this innovation is that there is a five-year window for other businesses or institutions to challenge the registration. But, not surprisingly, none did. Why? Probably because businesses are not churches and since the SDA church was blazing a new trail, few, if any, Christians were aware of the five-year window and none objected.
The trademark history of Adventism, together with the church’s recent handling of the Covid pandemic, are significant milestones and waymarks that are giving ground to the image of the beast within Adventism. According to the book The Great Controversy, the church must use the state to punish “dissenters” in order to enforce her policies and defend her institutions. Rome is not openly engaging in this. Apostate Protestants are not doing this right now. It’s the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists that is currently using the strong arm of the state to destroy groups of believers who keep the Sabbath and are sharing the three angels’ messages. We’ll come back to evidence of this below.
“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” {Great Controversy, 445}
The name that God gave us has been trademarked, and the GC is using the courts to stop people from using the name. Think about it. Most Protestants believe in adult baptism, and if you are reading this, you likely do too. If I call myself a Baptist, wouldn’t it be a strange turn of events if the Southern Baptists sued me for identifying as a Baptist? And it would be doubly strange if I believed all their doctrines and lived in conformity with them, but they sued me anyway because I was not a member. It would be the polar opposite of the gospel commission, of Christ’s command to his disciples not to prohibit anyone from preaching in His name, and of the three angels’ messages. Yet this is the recalcitrant position of our leaders, who have reached the point now where they see no problem in sending their brethren to prison. Cases in point:
1. John Marik
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-27-mn-1068-story.html
2. Walter McGill
https://adventist.news/news/trademark-infringement-case-sees-north-american-pastor-imprisoned
But let’s pick up the narrative of the generic term “adventist” when this trademark was challenged by a secular corporation. In 2017, Philanthropist.com, Inc. petitioned the Trademark Court for cancellation of the registration. In its judgment, the court described the background of the case as follows:
“Petitioner (Philanthropist.com, Inc.) is involved in the acquisition and sale of domain names. Its business practice is to register domain names, hold them for a year or two, and then let the registrations go un-renewed if there is no re-sale interest. Petitioner uses many of these domain names to redirect to its philanthropist.com website; approximately 5,500-6,000 of them are available for re-sale. Petitioner acquired (registered) the domain name adventist.com, at a purchase price of $8,811. Petitioner originally offered to sell the adventist.com domain name to potentially interested buyers for $120,000.”
“On November 10, 2016, Respondent sent a cease and desist letter to Petitioner advising of Respondent’s rights in the ADVENTIST mark and demanding transfer of the domain name to Respondent. When Petitioner refused to willingly transfer the domain name (without compensation), on or about December 8, 2016, Respondent filed a complaint with the National Arbitration Forum (the “Forum”) under the Uniform Domain Name Resolution Procedure (“UDRP”) seeking a ruling that the adventist.com domain name should be transferred to Respondent. Petitioner filed the original cancellation petitions in these proceedings on January 13, 2017, while the UDRP proceeding was still pending. On January 23, 2017, the Forum issued a decision in favor of Petitioner, directing that the adventist.com domain name remain with Petitioner. Following the UDRP Decision Respondent never appealed the Forum’s decision in Petitioner’s favor.”
In spite of this, the Trademark Court decided in favor of the GCC and denied the cancellation request on the narrow grounds that Philanthropist had “not shown its entitlement to the statutory cause of action” and therefore had no standing. Philanthropist appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal, and on August 8, 2022, that court affirmed the lower court’s decision without providing reasons but noting that their decision was “nonprecedential,” or not a binding precedent for future cases.
Fueled partly by this success, on August 30, 2022, the General Conference Corporation filed a motion to amend its pleadings in an unrelated, ongoing suit against the Fort Worth NW Free Seventh-day Adventist Church and its pastor. The primary purpose of the motion was to add the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists, or IAFSDA, as defendants in that case. The motion was granted, and the IAFSDAs were added as defendants and served with a summons on September 13, 2022.
Time will tell, I think, that this was a presumptuous step, legally and spiritually, because the name Free Seventh-day Adventist has been in continuous use since the early 1900s, when it was registered in California, predating the GCC’s trademarks by six decades. Since trademarking the name forty years ago, the church has not attempted to prevent its use by Free SDA members.
In the winter of 1867, Ellen White was on her way back home to church headquarters, which was located in Battle Creek at that time. At one of her last stops for the night, she had the following dream:
“I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: ‘This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.’ Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: ‘If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done’!” {1T 577.2}
“I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: ‘If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!’ My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me’.” {1T 578.1}
“I came home to Battle Creek like a weary child who needed comforting words and encouragement. It is painful for me here to state that we were received with great coldness by our brethren, from whom, three months before, I had parted in perfect union, excepting on the point of our leaving home.” {1T 579.2}
Arthur White, the grandson of the prophet, suggests in his biography that this dream was fulfilled in the cold treatment that the Whites received on their return home. But the fact that nothing approaching this kind of treatment actually took place may indicate a current and future application; something we are witnessing in real time today in the oppressive measures by leaders who confiscate property and bank balances and send their brethren to prison. In doing this, they are both speaking the language of the dragon and, one step at a time, erecting the image and trademark of the Beast, 666.
A few closing thoughts on the current case, GCC vs. Fort Worth NW Free SDA Church, International Association of Free SDA’s et al mentioned above, which is set for trial in early 2024:
In saner times, we could safely expect that the Federal Court would verbally chastise and penalize the GCC for harassing their brethren. But given the recent failures of American courts and institutions to uphold the Constitution during the pandemic, we’re clearly in uncharted territory. As always, what transpires in the courts depends on the integrity of the judges themselves. But regardless of who sits on the bench to adjudicate, if I were the Free SDA’s, I would meet this case head-on and 1) challenge the trademark registrations themselves, 2) set out the history of the failure of Adventist leadership to follow a) their governing documents in seeking the trademark registration initially, and b) the failure of the Adventist leadership to follow the church’s fundamental beliefs regarding religious liberty, and not only make the narrow argument that there is no infringement but stand directly on the underlying principle that this is a First Amendment, religious liberty issue at its core.
Adventists, in the past, were the most vigorous defenders of religious liberty among Protestants, bar none, and key to that was upholding the separation of church and state. No matter how hoary with age its trademarks are from the ’80’s, they are still today a violation of the church’s doctrines, constitution and its governing documents. The membership of the church was not properly consulted then nor at any time since. Although there was no outward change in written doctrine, there was a change in practice, which is the practical test of what is actually believed. The actions of the leadership were and still are diametrically at odds with our doctrines.
The long period of trademark registration is no more relevant than the age of Roe v. Wade or any other custom established by long tradition and human enactments (think Sunday sacredness). Both the Trademark Office and the GCC were mistaken in breaking down the wall of separation and using the power of the state to prefer one religious group, individual, or institution over another. It’s time to correct that, and the Lord, I believe, has especially selected the IAFSDA leadership for such a time as this. Like Esther, let’s fast and pray for all of our brethren, and then let the cards fall where they may. When we come with clean hands and a pure heart before His throne in the name of Christ our advocate, we can confidently and joyfully leave all in the Lord’s loving hands.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:24, 25.
* Written by Mark Shipowick and edited by permission. You can contact Mark Shipowick at the following email: mark.shipowick@gmail.com
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Why hasn’t the general conference gone after the international missionary Society Seventh-Day Adventist reform movement and the Seventh-day Adventist reform movement:
https://sda1844.org/
https://sdarm.org/
In 1925 the Seventh-Day Adventist reform movement organised after 2% of the SDA membership Was disfellowshipped in Europe for not participating in the war and breaking the sabbath. In 1951 That church split into two. They both use the name Seventh Day Adventist
the mainstream church dare not file a lawsuit against them, because it would expose their unification with the kings of the earth When in World War I, they engaged in warfare, sending their own members to the war, where SDA killed SDA in different countries.
Further information below about those who stood firm. The argument that many of the protestant churches in the first and second world war did not support members who chose not to participate is expected with fallen Babylon, but not of church who professes to be the expository of truth.
https://sabbathsermons.com/category/the-adventist-church-and-war/
Nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus will set us free. The battle lines are drawn thus Truth vs Error or Christ vs Satan. Only through the word of God will His people triumph even in the court rooms, after all the name “Seventh Day Adventist” by given to us by God Himself, so the general conference is not only fighting independent ministries using the name but God Himself, who can fight God and win? the answer is none. Therefore the general conference will final come to its knees even in the court rooms. God will have the final say to this matter and many other controversies surrounding the Church.
Bro Andy thank you for exposing error with the Truth. We continue to pray that God will continue to bless you and your ministry. The Bible makes this issue quite clear.
KJV John 4:20-24
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus prophecied that this was going to happen and we are seeing being fulfilled. We look at Jerusalem and Samaria as a type, where the sda church and the protestant churches are the anti-type. At that time the samaritan woman perceived that Jesus was a jew and a prophet. She clearly points out what the jews believed, that Jerusalem was the only place where men should worship. Now just to point out that where we should worship is not the issue in this article. However Jesus’s response to the samaritan woman makes it clear in verse 21-23. In verse 21 Jesus states that a time will come where we shall neither worship the Father in Jerusalem nor in Samaria. If not the Father who will they be worshipping? In verse 22 Jesus clearly states that they do not know who they are worshipping, however He says ‘we’ know who we worship. When Jesus uses the term ‘we’, is He referring to Himself and His disciples? Is Jesus excluding Jerusalem and Samaria? Then Jesus says salvation is of the Jews. Is Jesus talking about the jews there in Jerusalem or is He talking about spiritual Jews, those who worship the Father in spirit and in truth?
KJV Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Then in verse 23 Jesus makes it clear that True Worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth and that the Father seek such to worship Him. Now lets look at what Jesus told His disciples in John 16:2.
KJV John 16:2-3
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
They do these things because they have not known the Father nor Jesus because they have not been circumcised in the heart. This is telling us that they don’t know God’s character because they have not made God’s principles their principles.
“Nothing new under the sun”
Act. 4:17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Act. 5:27-29 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men
The SDA General Confererence do not even follow Ellen White’s advice: “In the work of the Lord for these last days there should be no Jerusalem centers, no kingly
power.” 8T 233. “Jesus sees His true church (AA 11) on the earth, whose greatest ambition is to cooperate with Him in the grand work of saving souls.” HP 284. “To
disregard light is to reject it.” 5T 680. It is evident by their actions, both past and present, that the SDA General Conference does not understand this, and perhaps
does not want to. They will reap what they sow. Don’t they remember what happened to the Sanhedrin of old? It came to an end, didn’t it? So why repeat history?
It goes to show that if you do not use common sense there will be nonsense- and God is not glorified in this! This has been food for thought. Take care.
“Settling matters from the standpoint of the law by worldly lawyers has brought great entanglement upon the work and cause of God. The way in which men, connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium, sustained by worldly lawyers, have carried out their own plans and have swayed things in harmony with their own ideas has been opened before me, chapter after chapter. I can see it all as plainly as if I had been present. But I do not wish to specify these matters to the managers of the institution; for it would be of no use. There are wrongs that will never be made to appear as they really are. Therefore I shall not specify any particulars. It would be of no use.” Lt. 3, 1905
I agree with this article to a point. Should the GC sue people in man’s court? Absolutely not. However, I can see their reasoning behind doing so. I think they are just being careful that no offshoots use our name in a derogatory way. There are many offshoots out there that do not believe as the organized church believes. They want to use the Adventist name to further their cause. For example, The Davidian’s. They claim to be Adventists, but in reality, they are not. They believe that they were set apart, by God, to cleanse the organized Adventist Church! They take Ezekiel 9 literally!!! That is a scary thought.
We set up the Adventist organization knowing full well that the GC would own the property and the church that we built on it. If you are a member of an organized church, recognized by the GC, I don’t understand why anyone would or should have to go outside of our organized denomination and start a church. If you do not like the church you are attending, go to another organized church. There are plenty around.
My husband and I have attended many organized SDA churches over the 35 years we have been married. Some we liked, others we didn’t like. We changed churches until we found one we liked. One that believed as we believe. We are very Fundamental in our beliefs. It took us awhile, but we found one.
Sadly, it is the GCC that uses the SDA name in a derogatory way, not the “offshoots”.
Amen.
Amen!
Jesus never sued anyone. His kingdom was not of this world. In His day there were people using the name of Jesus which He warned about in Matt 24 and He did not sue them. He just said, “Follow ME” and “ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” . . . The 144k will not sue anyone.
Thank you author for the article. It reminds me of the last five verses of Mtt24. Before the Lord (master) returned from his journey into a far country, infighting among his servants erupted. It lasted on till the Master arrived.
To me, the prophesied event that must fulfil and continue on till the coming of Jesus is in the process of fulfilment. I am not surprised that it will begin exactly on the year prophetically marked forr it. I am amazed and shocked to understand that God’s timing for the second advent of Christ has been drastically shortened. Indeed Jesus is coming very soon and we must be ready and prepare ourselves to meet Him.
Amen! The General Conference is itself becoming corrupted with wrong sentiments and principals….
Men have taken unfair advantage of those whom they supposed to be under their jurisdiction. They were determined to bring the individuals to their terms; they would rule or ruin….
The high-handed power that has been developed, as though position has made men god’s, makes me afraid, and ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever and by whomsoever it is exercised. TM p. 359-361, 1895
Of those who boast of their light and yet fail to walk in it Christ says, “But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgement than for you. And thou, Capernaum (Seventh-day Adventist, who have had great light), which art exalted unto heaven (in point of privilege), SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL: for if the mighty works which have been done in there had been done in Sodom, it would remained until this day.” RH Aug. 1, 1893
“Christ speaks of the church over which SATAN PRESIDES as the Synagogue of Satan. It’s members are the children of disobedience. They are those who choose to sin, who labor to make void the Holy Law of God,” RH vol. 4, p.243.6 Dec. 4, 1900.
“You think, that those who worship before the Saints feet, (The Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not, but do like….Rev. 9,) will at least be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God shew me that this class were Professed Adventist, who had fallen away, and crucified to themselves the son of God afresh,and put Him to an open shame.” A Word to the Little Flock p. 12.4 April 12, 1847
Thanks for the update!
I find it odd when Ellen White warned never have business bound with the church and here we have the church Trademark being registered in a worldly manner as if there is no faith in God to protect it or is it the other way around God has turned His back for worldly ways the church has gone.
I feel like I’m among likeminded friends. Praise Be To God that there are 7000 left in Israel!
The Whites opened the door to this problem when they incorporated the SdA church in 1863. An corporation created by a secular jurisdiction, of which the SdA Church is incorporated in many secular jurisdictions, is SECULAR! A secular jurisdiction cannon create a sacred corporation! 26 USC 501 (c) (3) is a government “benefit” grants “tax exempt status” to non-profit corporations, including “religious organizations.” Churches never were required to request a government benefit! They are, by nature, TAX IMMUNE because of “separation of church and state laws” in the US among other nations.
When the Jews cried out to Pilatos, “Execute him, execute him” they said if he didn’t he, Pilatos, would be no friend of Caesar, then “WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR!”
So, comprehend this: (a) The Investigative Judgment is nowhere to be found in Scripture; Hebrew, in Daniel 7:10 last part, transliterated to English says “The Judgment is SETTLED and the BOOK – SINGULAR – is opened”! That prophecy was some 600 years before Yehushueh was executed, and that prophecy is yet to be fulfilled as awaiting Yehueh’s entry of the Judgment in Revelation 22:11 that prepares for Yehushueh to open the BOOK OF LIFE prophesied by Daniel!
And (b) the context of Daniel 8:11-14 is the “Tamids” – sacrifices – that prophecy the “evening-morning 2300” – twice-a-day sacrifices – that span 1150 days. And “then shall the Qodesh One be Vindicated!” The 1150 days are Yehushueh’s ministry from temptation to resurrection, after which He immediately goes to His Father for approval of His “IT IS FINISHED” work. In Zechariah 3:1-5 we see Yehushueh standing before His Father, and the Accuser, Satan standing by. Yehushued says, “Yehueh rebuke you, Satan! Is not this a brand from the burning?! Then the filthy robe of our sins Yehushueh is wearing is removed and He is clothed with the white raiment of Righteousness, and the Tiera of the Righteous King.
In the midst of the 70th week of Daniel 9:24, the Messiah is cut off 9:26 – died – but not for Himself; He died for ALL who accept and believe in Him. That week in prophecy is 2540 days, 7 years of prophetic 360 days/per year. 40 days from Immersion to temptation, 1150 days from temptation to resurrection, 40 days from resurrection to ascension: 40+1150+40 = 1230 days. In Daniel 12:11, 1290 days, then 12:12, 1335 days. Note the 45-day extension.
Therefore: 1230+1190 = 2520 days, exactly the length of the 70th week of Daniel. At that time, the Jews made their final rejection of Yehushueh as their Messiah by stoning Stephen. Rav Shaul was present, holding the coats of the executioners. 45 days later, Rav Shual was confronted by Yehushueh, then being called to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gentiles.
The followers of Yehushueh of Natseret were known as The Nazarenes were an early sect in first-century Judaism. They, like Jews believed in one “God,” but they accepted Yehushueh, so were hated by the Jews. The were later called “cretins” – Christians – by pagans who worshiped many gods. The first use of the term is found in the Acts of the Apostles where Rav Shaul is accused of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes before the Roman procurator Antonius Felix at Caesarea Maritima by Tertullus. “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” Acts 24:5.
Yehushueh said on the Stake of Condemnation, “IT IS FINISHED, then gave up His Ruakh – Breath” “The SdA religious organization secular social club, clings to what Uriah Smith and Ellen White proclaimed, “Jesus’ work was not finished at the cross.” SdAs claim “He, having moved from the Holy place in 1844, is in the Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary, the “Investigative Judgment,” reviewing all the names of those who have ever lived since Adam.” That is the ONLY IDENTITY that corporation holds in order to defend why they should even exist!
The “Investigative Judgment” doctrine is nowhere to be found in Scripture! And, nowhere is any such proceeding found in court proceedings or rules! The term is an OXYMORON held by – yes – MORONS! So, in short, the SdA doctrines of 2300 years/1844 and Investigative Judgement DENY the FINISHED WORK OF YEHUSHUEH!
Conclusion: TED WILSON AND ALL HIS MINIONS ARE PROPAGATING LIES, AND, IN THEIR STANDING AS SECULAR AGENTS FOR THEIR SECULAR CORPORATIONS, ARE CLAIMING “WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR!” Then in reality: “EXECUTE THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH US!” Time to come out of the SdA Babylon. Shalom.
Your reasoning seems a bit off:
“If I call myself a Baptist, wouldn’t it be strange if the Southern Baptists sued me for identifying as a Baptist?”
My response: Yes, it would, and I don’t think they would. Isn’t this a bit of a straw man argument?
You continue: “And it would be even stranger if I believed all their doctrines and lived according to them, but they still sued me for not being a member.”
Same answer: This still sounds like a straw man.
Here’s the key point: Not lets talk about SDA instead of Baptists: It’s only when someone publishes books and articles using the full name of for example the SDA Church that they might be asked to stop. That seems reasonable to me. Why? In your hypothetical scenario, you say you agree with the SDA doctrines but aren’t a member. That raises a question. Why not? If you believe in all SDA doctrines, shouldn’t you also believe that the SDA Church is God’s end-time, remnant church that He will purify and bless with the latter rain? If you disagree on this, and publish in the name of this church, something is way off, and you are not in line with the SDA.
The question is: Are you opposed to the authority of the organized SDA Church? If so, then it’s completely appropriate for the church to ask you to stop using its name. So let’s be honest: your example wasn’t quite genuine. In my view at least!
God bless you 🙂
Here’s a corrected version of your text:
You can’t compare the situation of the non-organized church that Jesus had with His disciples to the situation today. Jesus established no formal structure with a leadership; He was their leader. But after His death, things changed. The church became organized, and a leadership structure was established. This organization served as a “form of control” where the leaders of that body decided what should or should not be accepted as doctrine for all—such as in the case of circumcision. Many of today’s independent ministries might view this as an example of a “regime church” at work or of “kingly power” exercised by the Apostles, right? That’s how I see many independent ministries: they seem to have great difficulty accepting that our church is on a spiritual journey, moving from being the Church Militant (Laodicea) to becoming the Church Triumphant once it has been purified. They can’t understand that this exact situation is a test, where God is determining whether a person has been afflicted with the “disease” of being so “independently minded” that they can’t accept things that appear to be going in the wrong direction, even though God allows it for a purpose. Instead, they criticize heavily, build a wall, and believe they are the “people of God.” What a delusion. We are all in the same miserable state, and those who say, “Not me,” are in the most dangerous condition. Self is fully alive everywhere—even in the independent ministries.