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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Jonathan E. Smith |
| To: |
Walt Thompson |
| CC: |
Mollie Steenson |
| Subject: |
Re: 3abn and Lawsuits - Tell it not in Gath |
| Date: |
Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:13:42 -0500 |
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Dear Dr. Thompson,
I just want to make an addition.
Tell it Not in Gath
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how
are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not
in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines
rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 2 Samuel 1:19-20.
Both Old and New Testament are clear that problems in the
tribe of Israel should not be published to God's enemies. When
I consider this testimony below, I see so many similarities,
it is eerie. Please follow the advice.
You also said:
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"This law suit is not about us, but about our duty to stand
up in defense of the Ministry to which He has assigned us responsibility.
We recognize that there are some who may see our decision to
go to the courts of the land as denying the counsel of the Lord.
We believe otherwise, having earnestly sought direction from
heaven before making any decisions, and then by faith, accepting
what we believe His answer to our requests to be."
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Yet the lawsuit is not at all about the ministry, I don't
think a single thing said was against the ministry of 3ABN, the
lawsuit is about INDIVIDUALS, the allegations are about individuals.
Please read what Sister White wrote. It was just in store for
this occasion:
A Lawsuit Against the Publishing House
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law
before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know
that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall
be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more the things
that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things
pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed
in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is
not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge
between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother,
and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly
a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why
do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves
to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your
brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God?" (1 Cor. 6:1-9). . . . When church members
have this knowledge, their practice will be of a character to
recommend their faith. By a well-ordered life, and godly conversation,
they will reveal Christ. There will be no lawsuits between neighbors
or brothers. {3SM 303.4}
I call upon you in the name of Christ to withdraw the suit
that you have begun and never bring another into court. God forbids
you thus to dishonor His name. You have had great light and many
opportunities, and you cannot afford to unite with worldlings
and follow their methods. Remember that the Lord will treat you
according to the stand that you take in this life. . . . {3SM
304.1}
I tell you solemnly that if you take the action which you
now purpose to take, you will never recover from the result of
it. If you open before the world the wrongs that you suppose
your brethren have done you, there will be some things that will
have to be said on the other side. I have a caution to give you.
{3SM 304.2}
In regard to the case of those who shared large responsibilities
with you in the Review and Herald, and who have turned to be
enemies of the work, you will not wish to hear the verdict that
shall be passed upon them when the judgment shall sit and the
books shall be opened, and every man shall be judged according
to the things written in the books. I want to save you from following
a course that would link you up with those who have linked themselves
up with fallen angels, to do all the harm they possibly can to
those who love God, and who, under great difficulty, are striving
to proclaim present truth to the world. {3SM 304.3}
The Publishing House Not Blameless.—Those against whom you
bring your charges know that I have not approved of their manner
of dealing with you, and that I have reproved them for their
unfeeling management of your case. There are those who have not
acted honorably. They have not done as they would be done by.
But because of this, should you, in the face of the warnings
given, move so manifestly against the instruction given? I beg
of you not to cut yourself off from the confidence of your brethren
and from taking a part in the publishing work. {3SM 305.1}
I would rather share your loss than to have you push this
matter through to the injury of your soul, giving Satan an opportunity
to present your case before unbelievers in a most ridiculous
light, and to hold up the office of publication in a disparaging
light. . . . {3SM 305.2}
God's Cause Injured
Take this case out of the lawyers' hands. It seems awful to
me to think that you will go directly contrary to the plain word
of God, and will open to the world your cruel work against God's
commandment-keeping people. If this action of yours were to tell
only against those who have done injustice, the harm would not
be so far-reaching; but can you not see that it will arouse prejudice
against God's people as a body? Thus you will bruise and wound
Christ in the person of His saints, and cause Satan to exult
because through you he could work against God's people and against
His institutions, doing them great harm.--Letter 301, 1905.
{3SM 305.3}
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Jonathan E. Smith
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