Satan's Methods Are Practiced by Seventh-day Adventists

Eugene Shubert

What are Satan’s methods: and what is practiced in secretive and dark, sacrosanct counsels generally regarded as a prerogative of the gods? The Spirit of Prophecy answers these questions decisively. There is the masterful use of hearsay evidence in council and committee meetings. There is the commanding from a throne; There is plotting behind the scene. Actions such as these are inexcusable, yet this evil is not even understood as wrongdoing by the Richardson church board. This is the judgment of the highest court:

“Go to those supposed to be in error, talk with them, not working with duplicity and hypocrisy, meeting them day by day with apparent friendship, and at the same time plotting against them in perfect unity with the satanic agencies at work to uproot, to tear down, to remove from the institution the ones the unbelieving element wants removed, while not a word is spoken with the brethren or sisters in the faith to redeem them, to heal them, if they are in error; and if they are not in the wrong, to vindicate the right, and put the rebuke where it belongs—upon the plotters of an evil work, because Satan is behind the scene. The Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, likening them to sepulchers that do not appear, hidden from sight, but full of corruption. The Lord hates all deception, secrecy, and guile. This is Satan’s work; the work of God is open and frank. No one will work against a child of God on the strength of the testimony of the Lord’s enemy, and work after Satan’s manner—concealing himself, yet suggesting, instigating, planning in perfect unity with the Lord’s enemies.

“How can the universe of heaven regard such underhanded, cowardly work against those who love God and keep His commandments? Members of the church may commit errors, and often make mistakes; but they are to be dealt with kindly, tenderly, as Christ has dealt with us. But the rebuke of God is upon all those who do the work of God deceitfully, professedly friends of Christ, yet working in an undercurrent style, in darkness, against those who love God. ‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.’ ” TM 274.

“Someone not so mindful as he should have been of Christ’s words, ‘Take heed how ye hear,’ allowed his unsanctified ears to hear wrong, his perverted senses to imagine wrong, and his evil tongue to report wrong. Many a man will not come openly to talk with the one he thinks in error, but will go to others, and under the mask of friendship and sympathy for the erring, he will cast reflections. Sometimes he openly agrees with the one whom he covertly seeks to injure. Suppositions are stated as facts, without giving the person charged with wrong a clear, definite statement of his supposed errors, and without giving him a chance to answer the charges. This is all contrary to the teaching of Christ. It is the subtle way in which Satan always works.” 15MR 174.

“Through the acceptance of hearsay evidence the enemy obtains great advantage in council and committee meetings. Those who would stand for the right if they knew what it was, are led astray by the evil surmisings of others in whom they have confidence. Their prayers are thus hindered, their faith is paralyzed and unkind thoughts, unholy suspicions, alienate them from their brethren. Thus God is dishonored, and souls are imperiled.

“When an effort is made to ascertain the truth in regard to those who have been represented as in the wrong, their accusers are frequently unwilling to grant them the benefit of a doubt as to the reliability of the evil reports. They seem determined that their accusations shall stand just as they have stated them, and they treat the accused as guilty without giving them a chance to explain. But when accusers manifest so fierce a determination to make a brother or a sister an offender, and cannot be made to see or feel that their own course has been wrong, it is evident that the transforming power of the enemy has been upon them, and that he has caused them to reflect his attributes.” RH, May 14, 1895.

More details on The Practitioners of Satan’s methods.

Ross · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 45

Dear Eugene,

You have hit it right on the button, and notice that the S.O.P. states that, those people doing those things are unaware that they are doing everything back to front.
Many years ago, I left the Anglican Church to join the S.D.A.s I was not long in the church when, one Sabbath afternoon I witness a strong young man - whose father was an Elder - push an older genuine Christian man over the back of a high backed chair not once, but twice. The second time the older man rose and quietly left the hall and was not seen for some time.
At the next business meeting, it was reported that he was to be disfellowshipped for "Meeting with the Tongues movement" a church formerly attended by his wife. It was declared that he was in apostasy!!!
I rose and reported that the wrongs were by no means one sided, and would like the opportunity to call on that man and see if I could reason with him, and I would also like the opportunity to meet with the Church board to disclose the real reason for his absence.
Both requests rose like lead balloons. They just went stone faced and mute.
In anycase I did call on that man and we had a quiet discussion but he told me that he could not go back because there was such a lack of love in that place. - I found myself treed because He wasn't wrong.
This was the first time I had ever seen his residence and was extremely impressed with the absolute cleanliness of his section. All the others right down the street were full of gorse about eight feet tall, His alone was absolutely clear. It was a credit to him.
One month later at the next business meeting, it was reported by two very respected Elders that, they had called at his residence, he was home but did not answer the door - maybe they expected us to believe that they knew that because of the S.O.P. which they personally controlled or something, anyway they also reported - to my utter amazement - that his section was absolutely full of gorse and brambles and he was a disgrace to the church. He was therefore disfellowshipped forthwith.
I was later informed that eventually there arose a Pharoah who knew not Joseph, and that man returned to the fold where he is to this day.
But, the devil picks his marks. A little later, the young son of the highly respected Elder who had caused such harm, took a shine to a very pretty young lady and began to court her. His parents were astonished at this turn of events, and remonstrated with him as they felt she was not suitable to be joined to their family. The upshot of that, was that he moved over to the district in which both she and myself lived and well away from his family. Suddenly, she was visited by a Youth Counsellor for the division who told her how upset the entire church was because of her association with this fine, up-standing young man since, to use his words, "You've got a past." I never enquired as to what that referred to and so to this day I do not know. I could guess, but I could be wrong. Anyway, she was very puzzled at this un-seemly interference with her personal life by someone who did not know her, and her interest in the church waned to the point where she did not attend any more. Eventually, her paramour was prevailed upon to see reason and he pulled his hook and sailed back home. Then, at a business meeting it was announced that "Because "she did not attend church for several weeks" she was to be disfellowshipped!!!" And so she was, but I took an interest in her case because she had no one to turn to and she told me that she had received a letter from the Church clerk which was so vague she was uncertain as to what was the matter so she ignored it and them. It is only very recently that I learned that staying home from church is not grounds for being disfellowshipped. Well, you could have fooled me, but then I am easily fooled I guess.
Fortunately, that fine up-standing Christian family all moved to Australia - a land over-flowing with crooks - so they should have settled in very well by now, after all water always finds its own level.
Those incidents were serious warnings to me, and there are some people who know I am aware of them since I rarely miss a chance to bring them up in Sabbath-schools when the topic reaches crisis point, with the result that the very long serving Head Elder told me years ago that, he was allergic to any "Rush to Judgement" at the Church we now attend. Naturally it pleases me that someone has got the message.
Sincerely,
Ross
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R.R. Pollock