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Further Thought:

Read Ellen G. White, “Unity and Love in the Church”, pp. 477, 478; “Love for the Erring”, pp. 604-606, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5; “Helping the Tempted”, p. 166, in The Ministry of Healing; p. 719, in The SDA Bible Commentary,vol. 6.

“I was shown the danger of the people of God in looking to Brother and Sister White and thinking that they must come to them with their burdens and seek counsel of them. This ought not so to be. They are invited by their compassionate, loving Saviour to come unto Him, when weary and heavy-laden, and He will relieve them. . . . Many come to us with the inquiry: Shall I do this? Shall I engage in that enterprise? Or, in regard to dress, Shall I wear this or that article? I answer them: You profess to be disciples of Christ. Study your Bibles. Read carefully and prayerfully the life of our dear Saviour when He dwelt among men upon the earth. Imitate His life, and you will not be found straying from the narrow path. We utterly refuse to be conscience for you. If we tell you just what to do, you will look to us to guide you, instead of going directly to Jesus for yourselves.” - Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 118, 119.

“We are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. . . . Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue.” - The Desire of Ages, p. 668.

“There have ever been in the church those who are constantly inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have too much confidence in himself and to trust in his own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the judgment of his brethren.” - The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 163, 164.

Discussion Question:

Given some of the themes of this week, how do we as Christians find the right balance in:

1- Being faithful to what we believe, yet not judging others who see things differently than we do?

2- Being true to our own consciences and not seeking to be the consciences for others, while at the same time seeking to help those who we believe are in error? When do we speak and when do we keep silent? When are we culpable if we do keep silent?

3- Being free in the Lord and yet at the same time realizing our responsibility to be good examples for those who might look up to us?