Editorial – Why is There Constant Trouble in the Churches?

One of the major reasons for it is the lack of a meek and quiet spirit amongst God’s professed people around the world. Unless this is acquired, that person will never be in the kingdom of heaven. (See Matthew 5:5.) Examine yourself to see whether you have a meek and quiet spirit.

“You have brought upon yourself many grievances that could have been avoided had you possessed a meek and quiet spirit. You provoke contention; for when your will is crossed, your spirit rises for conflict. Your disposition to rule is a constant source of trouble to yourself. Your nature has become jealous and distrustful. You are overbearing, and stir up strife by faultfinding and hasty condemnation. You have so long cultivated a spirit of retaliation that you continually need the grace of God to soften and subdue your nature. The dear Saviour has said: ‘Bless them that curse you,’ ‘and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44).

“Dear sister, I was shown that you bring darkness into your own soul by dwelling upon the mistakes and imperfections of others. You will never have their sins to answer for, but you have a work to do for your own soul and for your own family that no other can do for you. You need to crucify self and to check the disposition to magnify your neighbors’ faults and to talk thoughtlessly. There are subjects upon which you may converse with the very best results. It is always safe to speak of Jesus, of the Christian’s hope, and of the beauties of our faith. Let your tongue be sanctified to God, that your speech may be ever seasoned with grace.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 134, 135.

It is appropriate to fast and pray for John 17 to be fulfilled among God’s professed people. When it is, we will have no more strife and contention among us. “Every branch draws its nourishment from the same source. When we are branches of the true Vine, there will be no quarreling among us, no strife for the supremacy, no disparaging of one another.” The General Conference Bulletin, April 25, 1901.

“Oh, if the church would arise, and put on her beautiful garments, the righteousness of Christ, what a change would be realized in her influence, and in her spiritual condition! The jealousies and fault-finding, the heart-burnings, the envy and dissensions, the strife for supremacy, would cease.” The Review and Herald, October 12, 1886. (See James 3:13–18.)