Many divisive forces are at work today which threaten the unity of the church. Hardly a day passes that we do not receive here at denominational headquarters a tract, booklet, or circular letter written by some person who seems to cherish a querulous, fault-finding disposition, and whose obvious intent and purpose is to stir up strife and contention among the brethren, to destroy that unity without which the influence of the church will be ineffective.
Although these men profess a high degree of godliness, they make it their business to give wide publicity to the supposed or imagined faults of the brethren, misinterpret their motives, circulate insinuations, arouse suspicion, and in every conceivable manner break down confidence in the integrity of the leaders and destroy the unity of the Advent Movement.
Every true minister and elder will guard the flock against the attacks of these enemies, for such they are regardless of their profession. Amid the perils of the last days every faithful shepherd will endeavor earnestly and perseveringly to keep the flock united, for when the sheep are scattered they are in great danger of being caught and torn by ravenous wolves.
"As we approach the last crisis," wrote Ellen G. White "it is of vital importance that harmony and unity exist among the Lord's instrumentalities. The world is filled with storm and war and variance.... While he [the great apostate] seeks to unite his agents in warring against the truth he will work to divide and scatter its advocates.... The members of Christ's church have the power to thwart the purpose of the adversary of souls. At such a time as this let them not be found at variance with one another or with any of the Lord's workers. Amidst the general discord let there be one place where harmony and unity exists because the Bible is made the guide of life" (Testimonies, Vol. 7, page 182).
STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH
That "one place" should be the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "Unity is the strength of the church. Satan knows this, and he employs his whole force to bring in dissension ... Greater attention should be given to the subject of unity" (Selected Messages, Book 2, pages 159, 160). "We are coming to a time when, more than ever before, we shall need to press together, to labor unitedly. In union there is strength. In discord and disunion there is only weakness.... In our separation from one another we are separated from Christ.... Oh, how many times, when I have seemed to be in the presence of God and holy angels, I have heard the angel voice saying, 'Press together, press together, press together. Do not let Satan cast his hellish shadow between brethren. Press together; in unity there is strength'" (Ibid., page 374).
When ministers and church members are living in harmony with God, they will be in harmony with one another. There will be complete unity and they will come closer to one another as they come closer to Jesus and become more like Him in character.
A UNIFYING INFLUENCE
As a unifying influence among us the Spirit of Prophecy writings have been deeply appreciated from the first appearance of the gift in 1844. In response to a felt need, the White Estate at the General Conference has prepared special materials regarding the Gift of Prophecy, Denominational History, and the Life and Ministry of Ellen G. White. These materials are available from Adventist Book Centers. Four videos entitled "Keepers of the Flame" highlight the history of the Christian church, reformation scenes, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the gift of prophecy. For computer users there is "The Published Ellen G. White Writings on Compact Disk" This single CD-ROM contains all of Ellen G. White's published writings, plus the six volume, Biography of Ellen G. White, and the King James version of the Bible.
EXCELLENT RESPONSE
A minister writes, "I have prayed for twenty-five years for just such material." A layman says, "I believe the Lord has definitely led in the timing of this material at this very season for us His people." Another writes "I have enjoyed these wonderful material and my soul has been refreshed and watered. I do hunger for more reading of the Spirit of Prophecy writings and will continue on." Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist workers and church members have been blessed by those materials and have found it to be the answer to their personal need. Pastors and elders will wish to recommend these resources to all new believers who are preparing for baptism, and to all church members as a sound basis for confidence in the gift of prophecy as a unifying influence among us in these times of peril.
N. W. Dunn wrote from Washington D.C. At the time of this writing he was an Associate Secretary of the General Conference.
