Concern Versus Criticism

“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211).

There’s a fine line between sighing and crying and criticizing and condemning. The difference always depends on our motive. What is your concern based on? Why do you do this? Is it because you truly love the Lord? Do you love God’s messages? Do you want to see souls avoid danger so they can be in heaven?

Or are we trying to get even with someone else? Are we seeking revenge? Do we purposely want to cause pain and embarrassment? The true children of God will certainly mourn over their own sins and over the wickedness that they see committed against God. He has provided a means to check the ever-growing, widespread apostasy both in the world and within the church. God has commissioned the faithful to warn against the dangers that imperil the souls of His people.

“Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.” Psalm 119:53.

“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” Psalm 119:136

“But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.” Jeremiah 13:17.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel!” Ezekiel 6:11.

Who today will feel grieved and cry openly for the sins of Israel? Who today will uncover and expose the sins of Babylon? And most importantly, who today will revive and bear the straight testimony of the True Witness? One would naturally expect that those faithful pastors who give the straight testimony would automatically be exalted today, and those who excuse evil and coddle apostasy would be removed from office. But it seems that the opposite is true. Why does it appear that ministers, college professors, and administrators who embrace the new worldly styles of worship, dress, and entertainment get promoted, while those who read and apply the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are polarized, isolated, and sometimes cancelled?

The simplest answer is the devil. When these situations happen, one has to factor the devil into the equation. Whenever the devil has acquired a foothold in any church ministry or organization, then what always follows is the persecution of faithful ministers and the exaltation of the unfaithful ones. This happened in the times of the Old Testament, during the times of Christ, during Martin Luther’s day, and yes, it’s happening even today. In spite of this, the time is coming, and is just upon us, when God will accomplish His perfect will with regard to His pastors, leaders, and workers.

“And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which werebefore the house.” Ezekiel 9:4-6.

It is a great comfort to all the faithful preachers and believers that in the midst of tests and trials, there is a Mediator, a great High Priest, who has a vested interest in His saints who have been true to His work. The distinguishing characteristic of this faithful remnant, which will be saved, is that they would have all sighed and cried to God in prayer because of the prevailing sins seen in both the world and the church. God has promised to keep safe those who keep pure in times of general wickedness. Not only would they have remained pure, but they would have encouraged others to do so, and during times of general destruction and calamities, they would have “delivered their souls” (Ezekiel 33:9).

Advent Messenger is dedicated to this important ministry of sighing and crying for all the abominations that are done both in the world and in the church. We are not the only ones. God has others doing this as well. However, it’s not all we do; in fact, most of our energies go to evangelistic efforts in reaching the unchurched. But it is a work that must be done in obedience to God and as a prerequisite for receiving His Seal and His divine protection for the last days when the plagues begin to fall.

Some only tell you what’s going on in the Sunday-keeping churches, while others only talk about what’s happening in the halls of government. Not only do we try to inform you about those issues too, but because we are Adventists, we must be aware of the latest developments within Adventism. It is just as critical and important to know those issues also. That is why we sometimes speak in strong, polemic terms so as to wake up our people (Isaiah 58:1). Our only motive for discussing these matters is the hope that someone, somewhere, can turn around and be saved.

“Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done” in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267).