Chapter 22—John Our Example

How careful we must be to guard against being swept off our feet in the modern ecumenical movement that claims to bind together all men everywhere under the banner of love. John the apostle was confronted with this problem and wrote out his warning in his Epistles. His love for souls permeated his writings, yet he refused to compromise:CEESDAH 18.6

“The epistles of John breathe the spirit of love. It seems as if he wrote with a pen dipped in love. But when he came in contact with those who were breaking the law of God, yet claiming that they were living without sin, he did not hesitate to warn them of their fearful deception....

“We are authorized to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple those who claim to abide in Christ while living in transgression of God’s law. There exist in these last days evils similar to those that threatened the prosperity of the early church; and the teachings of the apostle John on these points should be carefully heeded....

“While we are to love the souls for whom Christ died, we are to make no compromise with evil. We are not to unite with the rebellious and call this charity [love]. God requires His people in this age of the world to stand for the right as unflinchingly as did John in opposition to soul-destroying errors.

“The apostle teaches that while we should manifest Christian courtesy we are authorized to deal in plain terms with sin and sinners; that this is not inconsistent with true charity [love].”—The Acts of the Apostles, 554, 555.

How artfully and carefully the great adversary has maneuvered to embarrass those who would stand firm and true to God’s Word. What we are called upon to do will not be easy or make us popular. We must refrain from judging in the wrong sense; we must ever reach out to others with love in our hearts; but our security comes only in keeping before us the criteria that God has established.CEESDAH 18.7