Resources For SDAs Only Letters Between Clarence Settle & Elder Lawrence Nelson
| Letters Between Clarence Settle & Elder Lawrence Nelson |
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"When
men endanger the work and cause of God by their own wrong course
of action, shall they hear no voice of reproof? If the wrongdoer only were
concerned, and the work reached no farther than him, he alone should
have the words and warning; brat when his course of action is doing
positive harm to the cause of truth, and souls are imperiled, God requires that
the warning be as broad as the injury done." 2SM:153
Clarence Settle to
December
19, 1999
Dear
Pastor Nelson:
As
fellow creationists we are well aware of "the establishment's"
attitude of ignoring, twisting and manipulating, and outright rejecting the
evidences presented to them regarding the origins of the universe. I, Pastor
Nelson, charge you before God Almighty Himself and all the universe of doing
the very same thing with the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy as evidenced by
your recent audio tape sermon entitled "FACING THE CRISES" (Will the
Remnant Church Triumph?) regarding the present standing of the Seventh-day
Adventist structure.
This
is indeed a most serious charge and I know that these words, as I write them
and as you read them are being recorded in the books of heaven, and that one
day we will both be judged by them.
I
further charge Pastor Nelson, that what you are advocating is not true
Adventism but rather is outright denominationalism and unless you repent and
make restitution, will result in the eternal loss not only of your own soul,
but of those hundreds or thousands of souls which are being influenced to
accept your reasoning, and their blood God will require at your hand. The Bible states "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I Thess. 5:21, and before I refer back to some of your very own quotes from your sermon I will list a few of the principles given to us for understanding the truth that you have apparently chosen to ignore or reject.
1.
"Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but
time and place must be considered." 1SM: 57.
2.
"It should be remembered that the promises and threatenings of God are
alike conditional." Ibid.: 67.
3.
"The principle of God's dealing with men are ever the same." GC:
343
4a.
"The unbelief that demands perfect knowledge will never yield to the
evidence that God is pleased to give. He requires of His people faith that
rests upon the weight of evidence, not upon perfect knowledge. Those
followers of Christ who accept the light that God sends them must obey the
voice of God speaking to them when there are many other voices crying out
against it. It requires discernment to distinguish the voice of God." 3T:258.
4b.
"Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not
propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. - He gives evidence, which
must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and
all should decide from the weight of evidence." Ibid: 255.
I
will now quote some of your very own statements to see if they adhere to these
principles before continuing on with this letter.
You
state in reference to 2 Tim. 2:20 "Now Paul did not encourage us
to leave the great house. As you read on he addresses and advises us to
avoid the foolish and the unlearned, but never does he encourage us to
depart from the church." Despite what you may emphatically state, Paul
constantly speaks of separation from the apostate structure. I will give
you some examples from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.
1.
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God." Romans 1:1. Can it be only
coincidence that in the very first verse of his very first epistle Paul is not
at all bashful about using the "S" word even though "And the
same time there arose no small stir about that way." ? Acts 19:23
It seems as though things haven't changed at all Pastor, there is still
"no small stir" being made about those who call for separation from
apostasy!
2.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid then." Romans
16:17. Here the apostle Paul is referring specifically to those "new
theology church members" and telling the faithful to avoid them (1578
ekklino: to shun.) The dictionary definition of shun is
"to keep clear of." How can you join in fellowship with an apostate
and avoid him at the same time? But to go on:
3.
"Now we commend you brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not
after the tradition which he received of us." 2 Thess. 3:6.
Here Paul strongly and unmistakably counsels the faithful to separate
themselves (4724 steno: abstain from associating with-avoid,
withdraw self.) not only from those fellow church members who are
morally corrupt but also from those who do not believe and practice the true
faith-directly contrary to your
4.
"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man
and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." 2 Thess.
3:14. Do we really need to comment on this clear and unmistakable
verse referring again to those who hold nor love not the truth.
5.
"Be not ye therefore partakers with them." Eph. 5:7. (4830
summetochos: a co-participant).
Again,
not supporting your sentiments at all.
6.
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them." Eph. 5:11. (4790 sugkoinoneo: to
share in company with, i.e. co participate in--communicate [have
fellowship] with, be partaker of.) It would be difficult to be find stronger
expressions advocating separation than these, don't you agree Pastor Nelson?
7.
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn
away." 2 Tim. 3:5. "Turn away" from
them does not mean to mingle with them, as you profess Pastor. The Lord will
hold you into account for trying to make the Scriptures say the opposite of
what they mean.
8.
To illustrate that Paul was referring to the General Conference SDA church of
that time let us turn to Galatians 5:1 and 7: "Stand fast therefore in
the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage." No different than the yoke of
loyalty to the Church Manual and the man-made creed that the SDA church of
today demands you to adhere to if you wish to remain a member in good and
regular standing. "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that we should
not obey the truth?" Margin: "Or who did drive you back?"
(Back into what? Back into the apostate SDA structure of his day!)
9.
But let us now let the Spirit of Prophecy speak and compare it with your
statement that "never does he encourage us to depart from the
church"? We read: "Fearing that the faith of the believers would
be endangered by continued association with those opposers of the truth, Paul
separated from them and gathered the disciples into a distinct (dict:
separate, individual) body." AA: 286.
So
now, who are we to believe? You Pastor, who claim that Paul never advocated
separation, or the many verses of Scripture, and the plain, unmistakable
SOP quotation that teaches 180 degrees opposed to what you so strongly state?
But let us go on and see what example Jesus Christ Himself left for us.
We
read, regarding a time when the ingrained denominational concepts of His
followers were challenged, in John 6:66: "From that time many of
his disciples went back (back into the apostate SDA church of His
day, as is happening today as people return back to the apostate structure they
had previously left), and walked no more with Him." Again we read: "So
there was a division among the people because of Him." John 7:43.
"Suppose ye that 1 am come to give peace on earth? 1 tell you, Nay; but
rather division." Luke 12:51.
And
reading from the Spirit of Prophecy these inspired words, "The
Sanhedrin had rejected Christ's message and was bent upon His death; therefore
Jesus departed from Jerusalem (the General Conference
Headquarters), from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the
people who had been instructed in the law (sounds like this describes the
entire apostate SDA structure of His time), and turned to another class to
proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to
all nations.
"As
the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the
days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every (including our) succeeding
generation. Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from
"Christ
had finished the work that was given Him to do. He had glorified God on the
earth. He had manifested the Father's name and had gathered out those who were
to continue His work among men. . . Thus in the language of one who has divine
authority, Christ gives His elect church in the Father's
arms." DA: 680. You cannot deny that Christ advocated
separation down to this day! In fact, we are told: "It is Satan's
work to mingle evil with good, and to remove the distinction between good and
evil. Christ would have a church that labors to separate the evil from the
good." 4RH: 243.
Again
you quote: "Once again permit me to emphasize. It is the tares that
leave or separate from the wheat! Never do we find in the Scriptures that the
wheat leaves the tares, or serrate from the church." The only place in
the Scriptures where tares are mentioned is in that 13th chapter of
Matthew, and for you to make such an emphatic statement can only lead one to
believe that you have little or no knowledge regarding the harvest process. The
inspired statements of E.G. White depict this process accurately, for despite what
again you so emphatically (and without substantiation) state, the
tares are always gathered and left in the field to burn and
the wheat is always gathered up out of the field and taken away
to the barn to be winnowed.
We
read: "Said my accompanying angel, 'Fearful is his work. Awful is his
mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat FROM the
tares, and seal or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner." EW:118.
Again we read: "It is impossible for men to read the human heart, for
the tares so closely resemble the wheat. It is not given to human beings to try
to separate them. But the angels of God know them, for their fruits declare
their character. Have they not been commissioned to counterwork the work of
those who fight against the truth of God's word? These angels will never make a
mistake in gathering the wheat FROM among the tares." 16MR:
271. Again you make the same gross error in quoting 5T: 81 in an attempt to strengthen your position which states: "In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church." You then state: "This test of faith will remove the tares out of the church. . ."
You have
totally reversed the meaning of this statement again Pastor Nelson. Let us look
at it closely. Both the gold and the dross are in the church, and it is the
gold that is separated FROM the dross, and it is the dross that remains in the
church! Has your long service in denominational office so affected your
spiritual eyesight that you are unable to see so plain a distinction? And then
you emphatically state: "God has used the plainest language to
encourage us never to separate from the church." Dear me, what
presumption!
I
must also reprove you for doing something that had to be deliberate, Pastor
Nelson! I refer to your quoting only partially a significant prophecy that is
seeing its fulfillment in the SDA church at this very present time. You quoted
only the first part of the prophecy in TM: 409-410 that states: "Many
will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands,
kindled from the hellish torch of Satan." And although you rightly
applied that to the present situation in the church, you stopped there,
well knowing that to continue with the rest of that prophecy would go directly
contrary to your anti-separation position. That part you deliberately omitted
states: "If doubts and unbelief are cherished, the faithful
ministers will be removed from the people who think they know so
much." How about that Pastor Nelson? The unfaithful ministers left in
the church and the faithful ministers separated from the
apostate structure which you so emphatically state we should never separate
from! And I sincerely believe that the false prophecy kindled from the hellish
torch of Satan that the false ministers are deceiving the people with the very
same false prophecy that the false teachers in Jerusalem were telling the
people back in AD 67 to AD 70, the very same prophecy that is mentioned in 5T:
211 "He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment," the
very same false prophecy that men like yourself and others are
preaching--"Stay with the ship. The ship is going through-- after all we're
God's true, remnant church."
You
quote 2SM: 397: which states: "I am instructed to say to
Seventh-day Adventists the world over, God has called us as a people to be a
peculiar treasure unto Himself. He has appointed that His church on earth shall
stand perfectly united in the Spirit and counsel of the Lord of host to
the end of time." And then you state: "Isn't that
encouraging?"
Like
the Jews of old you totally ignore the principles of time, place and
conditionality in applying this promise to a corrupt, apostate, harlot church
that we are plainly told God no longer graces with His presence (but more on
that later). It is quite possible that even as Jesus hung dying on the cross,
and it is quite possible as Rome was marshaling her armies around that doomed
SDA enclave in AD 70, that the church was comforting (and deceiving) itself
with these verses that are much stronger than any promise God has ever made to
the present SDA church.
We
read: "Thus saith the Lord which giveth the sun for a light by day, and
the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which
divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is his name:
If
those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord then the seed of
Thus
saith the Lord: If heaven above can be measured and the foundations of
the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for
all that they have done, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 31:35-37
According
to this verse, no matter how corrupt or apostate the Jewish church would
become, the very laws of nature would have to be overturned before God would
reject His promised people, His remnant church. Perhaps then in view of this
irrefutable promise we should all convert to Judaism?
You,
along with many others, quote that prophecy from 2SM: 380 in support of
your theory: "The church may appear as about to fall, but it
does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in
Apparently
you are not familiar with these SOP quotations on the wheat and the tares
because your position is diametrically opposed to what the word of Inspiration
tells us. We read:
"Those
who have sought an excuse to avoid the cross of separation from
the world, will, with the world, be taken in the snare. They mingled with
the tares from choice. Like drew to like in transgression. It is a fearful
assimilation." SPTA 04: 6.
"I
then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel. 'Fearful is his work,
awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the
tares, and seal or bind the wheat for the heavenly garner.' These things should
engage the whole mind, the whole attention. Again I was shown the necessity of
those who believe we are having the last message of mercy, being
separate from those who are daily receiving OR imbibing new error. (So
here we see that it isn't necessary to actually believe the falsehood, just
simply being in a position to hear it is going contrary to God's will.) I
saw that neither young nor old should attend the assemblies of those who are in
error or darkness. Said the angel, `Let the mind cease to dwell on things of no
profit.'" 5MR: 425
"The
wheat is not to sow itself among the tares. . .in joining them we are
registered in heaven as partakers of their evil deeds, responsible for their
works of evil, and bound up in bundles with them as tares. . .The tares will be
bound into bundles to be burned, the wheat gathered into the heavenly
garner." 4RH: 01-10-93.
Pastor
Nelson, could your erroneous and false sentiments be due to the fact that you
really don't know what God, in His word, means by His church? Let's look at
that for we will find that there are two, and only two factors that determine
what constitutes God's true church. . . Perhaps you have read these statements,
but apparently you have not really grasped their significance. We read:
"God
has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national
establishment, neither is it the various denominations; It is (1)
the people who love God and keep His commandments.
`Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them.' (Matt. 18:20) Where Christ is even among the humble few, this
is Christ's church, for (2) the presence of the High and Holy One
who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church." UL:
315.
"The
church on earth, composed of those who are faithful and loyal to God is
the `true tabernacle' whereof the Redeemer is the minister. God, and not man,
pitched this tabernacle on a high and elevated platform." SDA BC7: 931.
"There
is no other church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and are
purified by it." SOP4: 237.
"From
the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth." AA:
11.
So
here we see that two vital ingredients are required to constitute God's true
church, only two!
1.
THE PRESENCE OF GOD-- No Divine presence, no true church regardless of claims.
2.
FAITHFUL SOULS--Those who are faithful to His truth. Not to an
organization, a structure, a name, a leader, a denomination--only His
truth-- those who keep His commandments, whose loyalty is first and foremost to
God, and God alone.
On
the other hand if you have a denomination where the unfaithful souls
have chosen to discard His truth, that cannot be God's true church, and if you
have a denomination, an organization where God is no longer present, it is
impossible for that to be God's true church. Let's look at that.
You
stated Pastor Nelson, "As we see apostasy creeping into the church. .
." To say that what is going on in the denomination is "apostasy
creeping into the church" is to truly lack an understanding of
denominational history, for there has seldom been a period in the church when
apostasy hasn't been "creeping into the church" Just to name a
few--the McCullagh apostasy in Australia, the Canright and Oviatts apostasy,
the Kellog apostasy, the Holy Flesh apostasy, the Brimsmead apostasy, etc.,
etc. The significant difference between apostasies in the church before and
what we have today ("The omega will be of a most startling
nature." 1 SM: 197), and the reason why I strongly believe that
E.G. White never left the denomination, is that during all these apostasies
sweeping the church, the leadership still held fast to its trust. They did not
betray or compromise the fundamental principles of truth entrusted to them. But
that no longer holds true, as I will prove to you from their very own words.
You
quoted the statement: "We cannot now step off the foundation that God
has established We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this
would mean apostasy from the truth." MAR: 203. And I will also
prove to you unequivocally that the church you are so ardently defending and
imploring the people not to separate from is exactly that--a new organization.
And you, of all people, Pastor Nelson should be aware of that. But let's not
trust to memory or recollection alone. Let us look at the inspired word.
We
read: "The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a
great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this
reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars
of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. (Individuals
don't engage in a process of reorganization--this is denominational process.) Were
this reformation to take place, what would result? (Here we're told how
you, Pastor Nelson, and I can determine if this treachery takes place. Have you
closed your eyes to it?) The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has
given to the remnant church, (The very principles that make it the
remnant church!) would be discarded. Our religion would be changed (This
alone would make it a new organization, something different from that which God
established!) The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for
the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A NEW
ORGANIZATION would be established. (There you have it! You may choose to
reject it, ignore it, deny it, but you cannot change it.) Books of a new
order would be written. (New books for the NEW ORGANIZATION.) A system
of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founder of this system
would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course would
be lightly regarded (Haven't you preached sermons on these very things
happening in your SDA church today?) as also the God who created it. Nothing
would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would
teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, (back to this
later) they would place their dependence on human power, which, without
God is worthless. (No wonder they believe that you can't have victory
over sin--you can't, without God.) Their foundation would be built on the
sand and storm and tempest would sweep away THE structure." 1SM:
204-5.
The
dictionary defines apostasy as "the public abandoning of a religious faith
or doctrine." We read that 1) Our pillar doctrines would be given up. 2)
Our principles of truth would be discarded, and 3) Our religion would be
changed. Do you know that the SDA church has, like the papacy, claimed to have
the authority to change the word of God? Here it is: ". . .the General
Conference of the Church, the only body having authority to ALTER
the structure of the CHURCH either in DOCTRINE or organization." EEOC
vs. PPPA, Civ.#73-2025 Cap, p.17. (Reply brief for the Church: Pacific
Press Publishing Assoc. vs. Equal Employment Opportunity Council--1975).
Again
we read: ". . .the General Conference session holds the singular
authority for REVISING the Church Manual--including the CHURCH'S
FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS. . ." Adventist Review: July 5, 1990.
After
this irrefutable proof Pastor Nelson, how can you maintain that it is only
"apostasy creeping in," and how can you deny that this is not merely
apostasy in the church, but rather, a church in apostasy?
And to further emphasize this deplorable condition of the church, we read: "There is ANOTHER universal and TRULY
CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION, the
That
he said what he meant and meant what he said is evidenced by the fact that 4
years later at the New Orleans General Conference five times he referred to some
of his vice-presidents as CARDINALS! But what did he really mean?
Raymond F. Cottrell, Associate Editor of the SDA Bible Commentary, and one of
the intelligentsia of the denomination, spelled it out clearly for us. We read:
"Structure.
At the local conference level the
Also
in March 1984 in the Harris Pines Mill court case Judge Hart made this
compatible observation regarding the SDA church: "Next to the ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH, the Adventist church is the most centralized of all the major
denominations in the country."
You
see Pastor Nelson, the church you cherish, and defend, and plead for, is NOT
the same church that God established in 1844. It is an apostate new
organization. All those statements out of the SOP that you use are taken
with utter disregard for the principles of time, place, condition and evidence.
But it only gets worse for your message forbidding separation.
In
reference to the church at this present time as God showed Ezekiel in chapter
9, we read in 5T: 210: "The earnest prayers of this faithful few
(a separated "little company" standing in the light while the
rest of the church was in deep darkness--see page 209) will not be in vain.
When the Lord comes forth as an avenger (against the church first--"Men,
maidens and little children all perish together." Pg. 211), He
will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in
ifs purity, and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this
time that God has promised to avenge His own elect (the criteria has not
changed since the days of Christ.) which cry day and night unto Him, though
He bear long with them.
The
command is, 'Go through the midst of the. city, through the midst of
So
here we have clear evidence that God's presence is not with the
Seventh-day Adventist church. Not clear enough evidence for you, you say? Well
then, so that there will be absolutely no doubt, let us go to Volume 8 of the
Testimonies. We will look at a chapter which was written some 10 days after the
General Conference in session voted to accept the hierarchical form of
organization that would lead to what Neal Wilson so succinctly
described--"another truly Catholic organization."
We
read: "In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist
church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and
advantages that she has had IF her spiritual experience does not
correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on
her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted
to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence, 'Found wanting.' By the light
bestowed, the opportunities given will she be judged." 8T: 247.
"God
has not changed toward His faithful servants who are keeping their garments
spotless. But many are crying 'Peace and safety' while sudden destruction
is coming upon them . . .Who can truthfully say, 'Our gold is tried in the
fire; our garments are unspotted by the world'? I saw our Instructor pointing
to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid
bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: 'Can you not see how they have
pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? How
is the faithful city become an harlot? My Father's house is made a house of
merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed!
For this cause there is weakness and strength is lacking.'" Ibid:
250.
So
please answer these questions Pastor Nelson, from the Bible and the SOP,
please. Now since we have just read that though manyinside are standing in the pulpits with light kindled from the
hellish torch of Satan, then WHO are the many worshipping, WHO are they
praying to, and WHO is answering their prayers?
Also,
since Christ Himself labeled the Seventh-day Adventist church an harlot, is it
still an harlot or not? If not, when did it cease to be so? I Cor. 6:16 tells
us: "What? Know Ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one
body? For two, saith He, shall be one flesh." If, however, it is still
an harlot, in view of Rev. 14:4 which tells that the 144,000 will not be
defiled by women,, and an harlot is certainly a defiled and defiling woman,
please tell me Pastor Nelson, how is it possible to be one of the 144,000 and
to unite with the corrupt and defiling harlot and yet not become defiled also?
And what are we to do with inspired statements such as the following? Who are
they addressed to and why, in your many sermons do you and others like yourself
advocating unity at any cost, never quote or use them? Please answer me.
"It
is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure...
God and Christ and the heavenly host would have man know that if he unites
with the corrupt, he will become corrupt." 4RH: 137.
"Even
though you may not feel able to speak a word to those who are
working on wrong principles, leave them. Your withdrawal and
silence may do more than words. Nehemiah refused to associate with
those who were untrue to principle, and he would not permit his workmen
to associate with them The love and fear of God were his safeguard . . Dare
to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone. Thus, as did Moses, you will endure the
seeing of Him who is invisible. But a cowardly and silent reserve before evil
associates, while you listen to their devices makes you one with them. Conte
out from among them and be separate; with the Lord and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be
my sons and daughters, with the Lord Almighty." 4RH: 42.
"Some
who have received warning and instruction from God have deliberately turned
from the messages sent them. They have, as it were, walked blindfolded into
Satan's prepared snares. Satan is playing the game of life for their souls. And
some who might be in a position to help these ensnared souls have themselves
become ensnared as captives to the archdeceiver. . . I am instructed to say
that we must do all we can for these deceived ones. Their minds must be freed
from the delusions of the enemy, and if we fail in our efforts to save
these erring ones, we must 'come out from among them' and be separate. .
. For years the backward tendencies of many have greatly hindered the work of
God. Now, just now, the Lord's people are to show their loyalty. The
time has come when the Lord would have all who will honor Him take their
stand firmly on the side of truth and righteousness. NO LONGER ARE WE TO
BE A MIXED MULTITUDE." MS 106, Nov. 20, 1905.
Let
us also look at these statements: "1 was pointed to those who claim
to be Adventists, but who reject present truth, and saw that they were
crumbling and that the hand of the Lord was in their midst to divide
and scatter them (separate them) now in the gathering time, so that
the precious jewels among them, who have formerly been deceived, may have their
eyes opened to see their true state. And now when the truth is presented to
them by the Lord's messengers, they are prepared to listen, and see its beauty
and harmony, and to leave their former associates and errors, embrace
the precious truth and stand where they can define their position."
(What happens if you try to stand and define your position in the SDA
church today, Pastor Nelson? If Ellen White or Jesus Christ Himself were to
walk into an SDA church today, they would not be "authorized" to
stand in the pulpit, and you know that I am not exaggerating one whit!) "Every
jewel will be brought out and gathered, for the hand of the Lord is set to recover
the remnant of His people, and He will accomplish the work
gloriously." EW: 69, 70.
"I
saw that God has honest children among the nominal (in name only,
professed) Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall
be poured out, (Can you deny that we are there now?) ministers and
people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the
truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel (Again,
a time indicator.) is given, he raises an excitement in these (the
nominal Adventist and other churches) religious bodies, that those who
have rejected the truth may think that God is with them (GOD BEING
REMOVED!) He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that
God is still working for the (nominal Adventist and fallen) churches.
But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen
churches, and take their stand with the remnant." Ibid.: 261.
(So Pastor Nelson, in view of just this one statement how dare you claim that
the nominal SDA church is God's remnant church?
I
know Pastor Nelson, that some like yourself, try to justify their position by
stating that they support home churches "where churches within the
organization refuse to preach truth and righteousness and/or promote
blasphemous worship services" as if this makes everything alright, but we
read:
"The
great heart of the work is at
Another
essential principle that you are unaware of or have ignored Pastor Nelson, is
that of corporate accountability. This principle is illustrated for us in the
story of Achan. Only Achan had violated God's command, but all
"He
shows us that when His people are found in sin they should at once take decided
measures to put that sin from them, that His frown may not rest upon
them all. But if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible
positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will
be held responsible for these sins. In his dealings with His people in the past
the Lord shows the necessity of purifying the church from wrongs. One
sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire
congregation. If wrongs are apparent among His people, and if the servants
of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain and justify the
sinner, and are alike guilty and will just as surely receive the displeasure of
God; for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty."
3T: 265-266.
Pastor
Nelson, in the case of Achan the rest of the camp never even knew that
the sin had been committed, so a tribe by tribe search had to be conducted to
search out the guilty party. So when you are part of a corrupt, apostate
structure, and you continue to defend and support the structure, well knowing
that it is corrupt, do you believe the Lord is going to excuse you and not hold
you accountable? How can you, with a clear conscience, continue to be part of,
and implore others to be a part of an ecumenical, NLP using, papacy embracing
new organization that claims to have the authority to change God's truth, that
has given up the fundamental principals of the Advent movement (Sanctuary,
atonement, nature of Christ, etc.) and believe that God holds you in His favor?
And
in closing Pastor Nelson, please tell me how you can claim to be preaching the 3
Angel's messages when all 3 of them call for separation! Listen:
"It
was to separate the
(Second
angel) "
"The
third angel's message must do its work of separating from the churches (Please
do not insert "except the SDA church" in here. Ye shall not add. . .)
a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth."
6T: 61.
Pastor
Nelson, you are preaching directly contrary to these messages. You are telling
the people to unite with apostasy when God has never sanctioned or
approved of that. You are telling the people to stand on the platform of a
counterfeit, new organization structure guided by consensus and majority vote,
when God calls for a people who will take their stand on the immovable platform
of eternal truth. That movement is going through to the kingdom, but
that movement is not the Seventh-day Adventist church of today, and your
failure to recognize and acknowledge this God will require at your hand if you
do not repent of the great harm you're doing to the cause of truth.
"As
in the Days of Noah and Lot, There must Be a Marked Separation from Sin and
Sinners: There Was a Coming Out, a Decided Separation from the Wicked, an
Escape for Life. So it Was in the Days of Noah, So with Lot; So with the
Disciples Prior to the Destruction of Jerusalem and So it Will Be in the
Last Days." PP; 167
Pastor
Nelson, WHY AREN'T YOU GIVING THIS MESSAGE?
"A
Long Continual Resistance of Truth Will Harden the Most Impressionable Heart.
Those Who Reject the Spirit of Truth Place Themselves under the Control of a
Spirit That Is Opposed to the Word and Work of God. For a Time They May
Continue to Teach Phases of the Truth, but Their Refusal to Accept All the
Light That God Sends, Will, after a Time, Place Them Where They Will Do the
Work of a False Watchman." MR 125: JULY 4.1906.
In
deepest concern for your soul, and those whom you affect,
Clarence A. Settle
Response
of
Keep the Faith
Audio Tape Ministry
•
• Phone (530)
367-5160 - Fax (530) 367-3269
January 6, 2000
Clarence A. Settle
Bonners
Dear
Clarence,
Thank
you, for your letter of December 19, 1999. You had stated in your letter that I
am not advocating true adventistism, but rather out right denominationalism
I
think you have overlooked the basis of these tapes. When I quote on the tape,
"Should We Abandon Zion's Ship?" I quoted from the Upward Look p. 315. "God
has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national
establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who
love God and keep His commandments." "Where two or three are gathered
in thy name, there am I in the midst of them." [Matt 18:20] "Where.
Christ is even ,fig the humble &)Y, this is Christ
church. The presence of the high and holy one who inhabits eternity can
alone constitute a church." I continued "'The Church is NOT the
`structure'; it is not the organization as it is so often accepted as being an
undisputed fact. The church " IS the people".
"God
does not save or translate and take to heaven a structure or a corporation. He
saves only individuals. Individuals who work as officers and leaders in the
corporation--yes! Individual laymen who sit in pews of our churches--yes!
Individuals of various ranks and position, spiritual conditions, make up God's
church. After the church is purified and faultless it will consists only of the
people who love God and keep His comnts."
These
plain facts which I have stated as plain as I know how when I refer to the
church this is what I mean. It is impossible; however, every time I speak to
remind the listener that this is what I believe is God's church By God's grace
I hope to be a part of the faithful few who will ever be true to commandments
of God and the faith of Jesus. This is why I have chosen the slogan "Keep
the Faith"!
In
service for the Master,
LMN/lbj
Clarence Settle to
January
22, 2000
Dear
Pastor Nelson.
Thank
you for responding to my letter, though I can hardly say that you answered the
many questions I asked you, however I realize that you are quite busy
fulfilling the duties of your ministry so I won't take up anymore time than I
believe is necessary.
You
quote Upward Look p. 315 as the church you were referring to in your tape, and
then you state "The church `IS the people'"TM: 410 and again:
"The Lord hates all deception, secrecy and guile. This is Satan's work;
the work of God is open and frank." Ibid.: 274
I
know, Pastor Nelson that you are not intending to be deceptive, or less than
frank with your message, but everyone I spoke with who had listened to
your tape is under the impression that what you are emphatically warning the
people not to separate from is not the spiritual ideal of Upward
Look p. 315, (The faithful people) but rather the corporate Seventh-day
Adventist church - especially when you make statements such as "...never
does he (Paul) encourage us to depart from
the church." Also when you applied the prophecy of TM 409-410 as being
fulfilled in our churches! So would you please clear up the confusion in
my mind as to just what exactly you mean by answering a simple yes or no?
Are
you advocating that we not separate from the corporate SDA
organization with headquarters in Silver Spring, MD at this present time (along
with all that implies-ie: not supporting the church with our tithes and
offerings, not accepting and/or using their lesson helps and other similar publications,
not attending church sponsored gatherings etc.) YES OR NO!
Also,
since you did not respond at all to my statements regarding the position you
took on Paul and the wheat and the tares, do you still maintain that same
position as you stated in your tape, YES OR NO?
And
one last query going back to the TM: 409-410 statement, (which you only use the
first part of). What, in your estimation, is Ellen White referring to when she
states "our pulpits", and what are the faithful ministers
removed from, and where are the unfaithful ministers left in, and when
do you believe this will take place?
Thanking
you for your time and patience,
Prayerfully
Yours,
Clarence A. Settle
Keep
the Faith Audio Tape Ministry
•
• Phone (530)
367-5160 • Fax (530-367-3269
January 31, 2000
Clarence A. Settle
Banners
Dear
Clarence,
I
apologize for not answering your request sooner. 4n January ?2, 2000 I received
your fax, but I have been ill and even now I am too sick to think clearly.
However, I have felt you deserve an answer and yours is the first letter I have
written to anyone.
All
I can say is that I stand by the two tapes and I trust that this will give you
the answers to my position.
Keep
the Faith!
In
service for the Master,
LMN/lbj
February 5, 2000
Dear Pastor
Nelson:
I faxed you a
letter on the 22nd of January and am still awaiting your reply. Hope
to hear from you soon so that these matters will be made clear. Perhaps yon can
answer this one at the same time.
The Bible tell
us: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1
Thess. 5:21 We also read: "Study to show thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth." 2 Tim. 2:15, and: "But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1
Peter 3: 15
Because of your
many years of denominational employment and preaching the gospel, I know that these
are verses very familiar to you, but as "people of the Book"
sometimes we forget these very basic principles and let our human opinions and
ideas speak for us instead of the word of Inspiration, isn't that right, Pastor
Nelson?
The two simple
questions I have for you are in reference to your teaching that soon God will
sift the sinners out of the church and many of those now out in the churches of
My first question
to you Pastor Nelson is this. Since the "wrath of God" is the seven
last plagues (EW: 64, 282, 289 etc.) and they are going to fall on the
church first, and all--not one is left-- perish, where does the cleansed
and purified church fit into this scheme of things? If it's before this
happens, then if it's cleansed arid purified why does it happen? And it
can't happen after, because probation closes irrevocably once the plagues start
falling. So just where does the cleansed and purified church fit in here? Would
you clear this up for me please?
Also, my last
question. You also believe I am sure, that the church will never become
Sincerely,
Clarence A. Settle
Clarence Settle to
February
6, 2000
Dear
Pastor Nelson:
I
wish to thank you for responding to my letters. I am sorry for your illness. I
do hope you are feeling better to where you can think clearer, because I am
even more sorry that you insist on making lies your refuge and falsehood your
hiding place, as we read in Isaiah 28:15.
I
have never met you Pastor Nelson, but I have heard many of your sermons and
they have inspired and enlightened me, but now when God says "wheat from
tares" you say "tares from wheat". Where He says "gold from
dross" you say "dross from gold"; where He says
"separate" you say "unify". To you "spewed out"
means "going through" We are counseled: "My message to you
is: No longer consent to listen without protest to the
perversion of truth. Unmask the pretentious sophistries which, if received
will lead ministers and physicians and medical missionary workers to ignore the
truth. Every one is now to stand on his guard. God calls upon men and women to
take their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. l have been
instructed to warn our people; for many are in danger of receiving theories and
sophistries that undermine the foundation pillars of the faith." 1
1SM:196.
These
words are difficult for me to write Pastor Nelson, for I truly wish I could be
rejoicing and praising the Lord with you, but instead there is an ache in my
heart and tears rimming my eyes because you have become another bright light
who has allowed pride and tradition to blind your eyes from a plain "thus
saith the Lord."
With
a heavy heart I read: "It is with reluctance that the Lord withdraws
His presence from those who have been blessed with great light and who have
felt the power of the word in ministering to others. They were once His
faithful servants, favored with His presence and guidance; but they departed
from Him and led others into error, and therefore are brought under the
divine displeasure." 5T: 212.
Pastor
Nelson, are you going to insist on clinging to the apostate new organization,
waiting for God to send an angel to cleanse it instead of recognizing that all
around you He is calling out His true church right now?! If you do, you
will surely be counted among "The ancient men, those to whom God had
given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of
the people had betrayed their trust." of 5T: 211.
I
will not expect a response for this letter, I only pray that you will turn back
to the
Yours
in Heavenly Hope,
Clarence
A. Settle P. S. Please remove my name from your mailing list.
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