Being a loyal SDA means standing for the right though the heavens fall.
"When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason" (LDE 180).
You'd think Ellen White had to be a prophet to hit it right on like that.
It doesn't matter what the abuse is,those that condone by selected "sound bites" of scripture, by silence,by abusive actions themselves are the very ones that fear three little words. PREVENTION,EDUCATION,SUPPORT. Those three words spell power in the hands of any victim and expousure for those that can least deal with it.
Given the right tools has the same effect a unarmed burgler would feel suddenly faced with a angry homeowner with a big gun squarely in his face. Those that opposse Prevention,Education,Support are scared .
Scared of expousure. The only recourse is to opposse that which would empower those that work towards education and the prevention of further abuses.
To add a bit of scriptual support for their stand of non-action,blocking action, or accusations towards those that do want to see this type of action in place,they hammer with little sound bites that make them look so righteous in the eyes of others.
"Accuser of the brethren" is always a good one to back up their apathy towards abuse and wrong doing.
"Let he who is witout sin cast the first stone" is great for silencing anyone and protects their secret little ones God will surely wink at
"Writing the sin quietly in the sand" is a favorite
"If you can do it better,go for it" is another
The list is quite long, has been very effective till now. Oops, now comes the internet and victims and those wishing to protect victims are no longer isolated. The SDA world is more and more connected. This one knows that one and that one knows another and piece by piece that which they have tried so hard to hide starts to unravel.
Expousure in one area may just bring expousure in area's they can least stand the light. Can't take that chance so resistance becomes more intense . Their often repeated statement of "truth can stand investigation" suddenly may come and bite them in the backside. Their promoted self image can disintergrate right before their eyes.
No wonder the panic,scrambling to prevent Prevention,Education and Support. One never knows where arming others with those tools will lead. It may very well come right to their back door.
Maybe I lack the superior biblical knowledge of those that opposse this and maybe my membership as a mindless,non-thinking,cultic SDA is in question, but I hope I never become "christian" enough or SDA enough, that I become a member of this club
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Edited to correct quoting problem only. - Daryl