In Part I, we looked at the necessity for our speech to consist of “pure words, clean words, words full of sympathy, tenderness, and love.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 155. We also learned that “Haphazard words, hasty, common words, talking for the sake of talking, when silence would be better, is a sin.” The Voice in Speech and Song, 30, 31. Saying we want to be just like Jesus does not mean, however, that we will not have force and passion in our speech. Part II continues with a look at times when Jesus displayed strong passion as He rebuked wrong in the church.
“Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from the temple court . . . .
“And why did the priests flee from the temple? Why did they not stand their ground? He who commanded them to go was a carpenter’s son, a poor Galilean, without earthly rank or power. Why did they not resist Him? Why did they leave the gain so ill acquired, and flee at the command of One whose outward appearance was so humble?
“Christ spoke with the authority of a king, and in His appearance, and in the tones of His voice, there was that which they had no power to resist. At the word of command they realized, as they had never realized before, their true position as hypocrites and robbers. When divinity flashed through humanity, not only did they see indignation on Christ’s countenance; they realized the import of His words.” The Desire of Ages, 162.
Weak is not a word that could be used to describe Jesus, His words, or His actions. Strong, powerful, and decisive would be more accurate. Balance that with sympathy, compassion, and tenderness. Justice, mercy, and grace—characteristics of which we so often fall short.
Public Rebuke
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5:37.
Coincidentally, all three of the denunciations by Christ were done publicly. The woes upon the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 were spoken to the multitude and to His disciples. (Read it for yourself in verse one.) Both times He cleared the temple—probably His most dramatic display of passion and anger—there were other people present.
In The Desire of Ages we are told exactly why He did this publicly: “In the parables which Christ had spoken, it was His purpose both to warn the rulers and to instruct the people who were willing to be taught. But there was need to speak yet more plainly. Through their reverence for tradition and their blind faith in a corrupt priesthood, the people were enslaved. These chains Christ must break. The character of the priests, rulers, and Pharisees must be more fully exposed.” Ibid., 611, 612.
The Voice of Stern Rebuke
When studying His rebukes, we see that Jesus never sought to protect or defend “self” (humanity). His life on this earth was to do the will of His Father, not to promote an earthen vessel, earthly temple, or kingdom. His “self” was hidden in His Father. (See Luke 2:49; Matthew 12:50.) “Self” did not rise to retaliate when He was treated cruelly, mocked and scourged, or when His beard was being pulled out and He was spit upon.
It is my belief that this is where we, as humans, have a hard time. It is our tendency to look out for number one.
“Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ (Manuscript 148, 1897).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1075.
Because we are thus motivated, when we see or hear someone (and it does have to come from a person) sounding the voice of stern rebuke, we assign our motives to that person. I further believe that if we had been sitting with the multitude on the hillside in Matthew 23:1 when Jesus began to rebuke the leaders, or if we had been in the temple either time He turned it upside down, we would not have said “Amen!” Rather, our response would most probably have been a little more indignant—“Who does He think He is?” And He was God! He did it perfectly. And they nailed Him on a cross.
Mere Mortals
Here on the brink of eternity, God in His all-knowing, all-understanding wisdom, has seen fit, rather than send a heavenly messenger to do the work of rebuke, to use human beings. Throughout the Bible, we find evidence of human beings having been used to do this work. In fact, the first few chapters of The Great Controversy have some fascinating stories about human beings that God used to bring His people out of darkness through a period of time we now, in retrospect, refer to as The Dark Ages. Those human beings we now refer to as Reformers. Our heroes! Mighty men like Wycliffe, Huss and Jerome, and Luther, to name just a few. These men were just men. Imperfect human beings. They knew themselves that they were mere mortals. And in their neighborhoods and communities, their countrymen knew their imperfections as well, and that caused their message to be received by the people with prejudice.
“The messengers God has seen fit to send have not been infallible. They have been weak, erring human beings; but the Lord wrought through them as they gave themselves up to his service. The word spoken was adapted to the necessities of God’s people; the evidence of truth was clearly and distinctly presented. The reason the word did not have the desired effect on the hearers was not that there was a lack of evidence; for link after link was produced until the chain was complete; but the minds of the hearers were filled with prejudice. They were not willing to accept evidence, and tried to make the Bible sustain their ideas, instead of changing their ideas to meet the Bible.” Review and Herald, June 3, 1902.
But when God moved upon their hearts, they could not hold their peace. Can you imagine what would have happened if any of the Reformers through the ages had refused God’s orders? Sure there were those who worked at cross purposes with God, but are we not thankful these men did not succumb to such pressure?
“It is the greatest presumption for man to assume the right of dictation and control over his fellow men. God is the owner of man. To his Maker, man stands or falls. To God he is responsible, not to his fellow men. Every man has an individuality of his own, which is not to be submerged in any other human being. The life of each one must be hid with Christ in God. Men are under God’s control, not under the control of weak, erring human beings. They are to be left free to be guided by the Holy Spirit, not by the fitful, perverse spirit of unsanctified men.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 225.
That Certain Sound
“I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” Ezekiel 33:7.
Why is it that we so seldom hear the voice of stern rebuke today? God says that it will be heard in these last days, for when it ceases, it is all over. Those who are called to do so must be sure of their calling, and they must walk worthy of their calling. They certainly need our prayers.
“Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke; for grievous sins have separated the people from God. Infidelity is fast becoming fashionable. . . . The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression; the trumpet does not give a certain sound. Men are not cut to the heart by the plain, sharp truths of God’s word.” Prophets and Kings, 140.
“All have not the same form of work to do. Let the workers lift the voice of rebuke against presumptuous rulership over God’s heritage. We are safe only when we individually commit ourselves fully to works of righteousness.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 404.
“In every age there is given to men their day of light and privilege, a probationary time in which they may become reconciled to God. But there is a limit to this grace. Mercy may plead for years and be slighted and rejected; but there comes a time when mercy makes her last plea. The heart becomes so hardened that it ceases to respond to the Spirit of God. Then the sweet, winning voice entreats the sinner no longer, and reproofs and warnings cease.” The Desire of Ages, 587.
Intoxicating Words
“The words are more than an indication of character; they have power to react on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by their words and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are.” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, 575.
“Say nothing that you would not be willing to say in the presence of Jesus and the angels. . . . However provoked you may feel, restrain the hasty word. . . .
“Many, many times I have wished that there might be circulated a pledge containing a solemn promise to speak only those words that are pleasing to God. There is as great need for such a pledge as there is for one against the use of intoxicating liquor. Let us begin to discipline the tongue, remembering always that we can do this only by disciplining the mind, for ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh’ [Matthew 12:34].
“Through the help that Christ can give, we shall be able to learn to bridle the tongue. Sorely as He was tried on the point of hasty and angry speech, He never once sinned with His lips. With patient calmness He met the sneers, the taunts, and the ridicule of His fellow workers at the carpenter’s bench. Instead of retorting angrily, He would begin to sing one of David’s beautiful psalms; and His companions, before realizing what they were doing, would unite with Him in the hymn. What a transformation would be wrought in this world if men and women today would follow Christ’s example in the use of words!” Our High Calling, 291.
Having Ears to Hear
“Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. . . . Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.” Job 34:2, 4.
On the other hand, all of us are called to listen. Yes, even those who are called to speak, are also called to listen. But who wants to be reproved? Who wants to get their toes stepped on?
Did you know that God has told us: “Reproof is more to be prized than flattery.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 338.
In our “if it feels good, do it” generation, we more closely fit the description found in 11 Timothy 4:3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”
“There is nothing which will please the people better than to be praised and flattered when they are in darkness and wrong, and deserve reproof.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 345.
“To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot harken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.” Jeremiah 6:10.
“But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.” Jeremiah 17:23.
We have indeed become a generation of stiff-necked people who do not want to listen. And there are good and bad reasons for that. The bad reason is that we have become content with our condition. Remember that we are, all of us, Laodicean. But those who continue in the lukewarm condition will not make it. God has made provision for us to overcome, to become “red-hot” instead of being “lukewarm”: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19. He rebukes and chastens as part of the cure.
Growing Weary
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9.
The other reason, the good reason, is that today, with every wind of doctrine flying around us, to whom can we safely listen? We certainly do not want to fall into the category of those who will hear only smooth things, but if we are not careful, that is all we will hear. The problem, once again, is our condition. Now I know there are some honest Bible students today, but for the most part, we are lazy. As Revelation 3:17 says, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing . . . .” Leave me alone and let me sleep. I’m tired. I don’t want to have to “test” everything (see Isaiah 8:20).
Friends, we have been in the wilderness too long. We have been going around and around too long. It is time we put ourselves to the test. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I really want to be an overcomer?
Do I want my words, my thoughts, and my actions to reflect that I really am a Christian?
Do I want to go all the way with the Lord?
These may seem to be rhetorical questions, but I assure you, if we do not clean up our words, thoughts, and actions, one day very soon it will be too late. If we do not start paying attention to the places we go, the things we hear, the words we say, the things we see, without knowing it, we will end up on the wrong side of the great controversy. God has made ample provision for us to be overcomers. Let us not grow weary from the battle.
Blessed Assurance
“But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57, 58.
“Those who choose to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, must reveal their choice by bringing their words and actions into harmony with the principles they advocate.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 105.
“Christianity means more than making good resolutions, more than having a fitful, spasmodic experience. Our thoughts must be brought into captivity to Christ. There must be a steady, persevering cultivation of Christ-like thoughts. There must be earnest prayer. Weaken the hands of the enemy by wrestling with God in prayer. Pray in the name of Christ for what you need, and then in His strength answer your prayer by bringing your actions into harmony with it. Remember that unless you follow Christ in self-denial, your prayers will not reach the throne of God. Christ points you to the path of self-denial, saying, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ [Matthew 16:24.] He has made abundant provision for the sufficiency of those who will to do His requirements. As soon as He sees a child of His in contrite, persevering prayer, He comes to him with the words, ‘Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me.’ [Isaiah 27:5.]” Pacific Union Recorder, June 5, 1902.
Kill the Spider
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, . . . He that hath an ear, let him hear . . . .” Revelation 3:21, 22.
I hope this will challenge you to study this topic for yourself and to cooperate with our Saviour to make whatever changes are appropriate in your life. Let each one of us do what we must do to clear away the cobwebs—kill the spider!
“Let us double our diligence to make our calling and election sure. Victory, victory, will be ours if we endure a little longer.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 223.
“We are to realize that the divine Presence is constantly by our side. Christ has said, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ [Matthew 28:20.] He hears every unkind word, every harsh, cutting expression. Could we see Him standing by our side, would we speak such words?” The Signs of the Times, February 18, 1903.
[All emphasis supplied.]
Cathy Summers Timmons, a member of LandMarks’ editorial staff, writes from her home in Wichita, Kansas. She may be contacted by e-mail at cathytimmons@stepstolife.org.