Thanks, Gailon, for those wonderful SOP quotes. Have you seen this one??
There are many in the church who at heart belong to the world, but God calls upon those who claim to believe the advanced truth, to rise above the present attitude of the popular churches of today. Where is the self-denial, where is the cross-bearing that Christ has said should characterize His followers? The reason we have had so little influence upon unbelieving relatives and associates is that we have manifested little decided difference in our practices from those of the world. Parents need to awake, and purify their souls by practicing the truth in their home life. When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, strait-laced extremists. "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." {FE 289.1}
It seems to me that not only worldlings but SDA church members will be regarding all who follow Jesus closely as "odd, singular, strait-laced extremists." I've become an outcast since protesting leavening used in the bread on the Communion Table; plus refusing a church elders' immoral advances. Ozzie, I understand just how it feels... but I won't keep my mouth shut either! Since when do our feelings have anything to do with how we stand for Truth??
I pray every day to become even more of an "odd, singular, strait-laced extremist"; and filled with the love of Jesus.
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I remember a posting on BSDA when someone expressed sorrow and grief about the actions that had been so far revealed...
and someone else stated that "we haven't even seen the tip of the iceberg yet!!"
Each time something else comes out into the light, I keep wondering how deep this cesspool really is.