(ADVENT MESSENGER) — “Do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” Matthew 23:3.
In the above Bible verse, Jesus plainly rebukes the Pharisees for not practicing the rules that they imposed on the rest of the nation. Sadly, we’ve arrived at that place in Adventism. The church today has been engaged in a process to cancel Dr. Conrad Vine from speaking in our churches for merely suggesting that church entities that go woke—pro LGBT+, pro women’s ordination, and the lowering of our standards—should not be paid with tithe. Yes, the Spirit of Prophecy does tell us that our organizations need to have standards for keeping employees.
“It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p 553).
“I was shown how important it is that the ministers who engage in the solemn, responsible work of proclaiming the third angel’s message be right … There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine” (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 261).
God is telling our leaders to retrain these people or get them replaced. Failure to follow these divine counsels has led us to where we are today. And because Dr. Vine is pointing this out, the church accuses him of violating church policy regarding the redistribution of tithes. But it turns out that the General Conference, for a $164 million dollar contribution, was willing to deviate from the same policy that is being used against Dr. Vine. When the church enforces its policies with a double standard and treats individuals differently, favoring the elite within the church over individuals, such as Pastor Conrad Vine, this undermines the principle of equal treatment under God’s law, which is the cornerstone of His kingdom; it erodes public confidence in fairness and impartiality; and distorts the character and image of God.
For $164 million, the church actively participated in a multi-year tithe redistribution scheme but is now crucifying Dr. Conrad Vine for merely suggesting it. Here is what the long-standing written policy says about the General Conference receiving money:
“Since tithe is returned to the Lord, not given, it is inappropriate for that tithe to come with stipulations as to how and where it is to be used. After being receipted by the treasury where it was received, such tithe is to be returned anonymously to the local conference/mission field/union of churches where the member holds membership.” (General Conference Working Policy Section V, 09 05 5.c).
Basically, the General Conference is forbidden, by church policy, to receive tithe directly from anyone! General Conference Working Policy says in black and white that the General Conference cannot receive any direct tithe contribution from members or individuals. This means all tithes. Tithe is tithe, whether it’s $1 or $100,000,000, and according to policy, the General Conference can’t keep it. Any and all money that is sent directly to the General Conference must be returned to the local conferences, and they must allow those funds to work their way up through the channels—local conferences, unions, divisions, and then to the General Conference. These are long-standing voted policies of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Unless, of course, there is someone wanting to give $164 million dollars. What does the General Conference do since they are not allowed by their own policy to receive any money directly from its members? Here’s what they did. You will see in the video above that the General Conference voted to make a one-time, temporary “variance” to the rules in order to receive this $164,000,000 contribution. How convenient. But it’s not a violation; according to them, it’s a “variance.” A one-time variance. Just once. Very conveniently, however, this so-called one-time “variance” has turned into several payments that have extended for nine long years! As you will see in the video, for nine years the General Conference has been redistributing tithe and bypassing the conferences, unions, and divisions. They have been receiving “variance” payments that go against voted General Conference Working Policy. For nine years, this so-called temporary “variance” dragged on.
Oh, but policy was still being followed, we were told. Church policy was being upheld. And policy will continue to be enforced on all, including Dr. Conrad Vine. And even though the General Conference violated the policy on the redistribution of tithes because they voted to give themselves a “variance” to the rules, they were actually considered, in their own eyes, to still be in compliance with church policy.
My brothers and sisters, the Lord despises duplicity.
“But if ye have respect (show favor) to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2:9.
God doesn’t call having two different sets of rules for the people a “variance.” He calls it sin. He calls this double standard a violation of His moral law.
In the video, Juan Rafael Prestol-Puesán, the former General Conference Treasurer, attempts to explain in a roundabout way why the General Conference received a “variance” to the General Conference Working Policy. He tries to overwhelm his listeners with so many words and introduced side-issues that have nothing to do with why the General Conference accepted $164 million.
Towards the end of the video, Pastor Randy Roberts of Loma Linda University Church calls attention to the General Conference’s double standard and disregard for church policy. He further questioned that if the General Conference could deviate from church policy on tithe redistribution, why couldn’t the church do the same for women’s ordination? In other words, if the General Conference is authorized to violate church policy by granting themselves a “variance,” then it is imperative that this “variance” be applied fairly and equally to those who support women’s ordination.
Pastor Vine, who has been calling for revival and reformation, has been canceled from preaching in our church for simply making a suggestion when it comes to tithe. Nothing was redistributed. Not a single penny. Nevertheless, he is being banned from speaking in our pulpits. Will the General Conference also be canceled for actually participating in a tithe redistribution scheme that lasted for at least 9 years? Regretfully, Conrad Vine is being targeted by an unfair two-tiered justice system that has infiltrated the church and treats people disproportionately.
The cancellation of Pastor Vine symbolizes a major contradiction, since the church is far more guilty of what they accuse Pastor Vine of. The church’s response to publicly ostracize him is problematic given its own history of “tithe redistribution variance” and protecting its own higher-ups. This blatantly obvious double standard not only betrays our biblical beliefs, but it also alienates the members, revealing a gap between politics and principles, and will likely go down as one of the greatest scandals in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The church’s unwillingness to discuss the actual evil that Brother Conrad Vine so thoroughly describes in his sermons is a moral failure and a missed opportunity. The current leadership is not interested in discussing liberty of conscience. They have no desire to discuss how members suffered, passed away, or lost their jobs due to the church’s position during the pandemic. They refuse to discuss the billions in grants that the church receives from the state—the possible motive for supporting tyranny during the crisis. They are unwilling to offer any kind of apology. And of course, they won’t resign their positions. No, all they want to do is deflect away from the real issues and talk only about the gold.
“Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” Isaiah 56:11.
“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?” Matthew 23:16-17.
This blog has been reposted from Advent Messenger.
Sunday Laws Are Coming 