When I was working, many times I was called out in regards to a man, or men, who were bullying and threatening their peaceful neighbors. Always, before I became involved, the innocents always tried to placate and compromise with the bully, but he, or they, would only see weakness and fear in their victims. The threats and bullying only grew worst. Then, when the victims finally called law enforcement, the conflict only grew worst.
The bullies were used to their victims seeking peace at any cost and refusing to stand up to evil. When I arrived, I always had a much harder fight with the bullies because they did not expect anyone to stand against them. They were always angry that anyone would dare to confront them. After the inevitable fight was over, and I took them to the hospital and then to jail, I warned them that there would be no more threats against their neighbors or else I would be back. This ended the trouble as they would usually move out of the area.
It is the same with those who are trying to 'legalize' W.O. They are the bullies and those who oppose them are the friendly neighbors. I understand that most men do not like confrontation and will seek to avoid it at all costs. But in refusing to do what is immediately necessary for the good of the Church will only make things worst. Since the pro-W.O. group have made their threats to split and accused those who are standing against this in-Biblical practice of not acting in a Christ like manner, they will only see that the GC has backed down and they have "won" the war. This is how the wicked, carnal mind works. They will not see the actions of the GC as an attempt to bring peace, but as the action of a weak and fearful body.
In fearing to stand for what is true, I fear that the GC is only prolonging the inevitable fight with falsehood. It will thereby make the inevitable battle harder to win with more hard feelings than if they confronted it now. Sides are already drawn and delaying to meet the problem head-on will do no good for the Church and only make things worst.
"Shortly before I sent out the testimonies regarding the efforts of the enemy to undermine the foundation of our faith through the dissemination of seductive theories, I had read an incident about a ship in a fog meeting an iceberg. For several nights I slept but little. I seemed to be bowed down as a cart beneath sheaves. One night a scene was clearly presented before me. A vessel was upon the waters, in a heavy fog. Suddenly the lookout cried, “Iceberg just ahead!” There, towering high above the ship, was a gigantic iceberg. An authoritative voice cried out, “Meet it!” There was not a moment’s hesitation. It was a time for instant action. The engineer put on full steam, and the man at the wheel steered the ship straight into the iceberg. With a crash she struck the ice. There was a fearful shock, and the iceberg broke into many pieces, falling with a noise like thunder to the deck. The passengers were violently shaken by the force of the collisions, but no lives were lost. The vessel was injured, but not beyond repair. She rebounded from the contact, trembling from stem to stern, like a living creature. Then she moved forward on her way." {1SM 205.3}
"Well I knew the meaning of this representation. I had my orders. I had heard the words, like a voice from our Captain, “Meet it!” I knew what my duty was, and that there was not a moment to lose. The time for decided action had come. I must without delay obey the command, “Meet it!”. {1SM 206.1}
"After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.
Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people."{GC 45.3}
"Does anyone suppose that the messages of warning will not come to those whom God reproves? The ones reproved may rise up in indignation and seek to bring the law to bear upon God’s messenger, but in doing this, they are not bringing the law upon the messenger, but upon Christ, who gave the reproof and the warning. 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 of warning; but 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. The testimonies will not be hindered. The words of rebuke and warning, the plain “Thus saith the Lord,” will come from God’s appointed agencies; for the words do not originate with the human instrument; they are from God, who appointed them their work. If a suit is instituted in earthly tribunals, and God suffers it to come to trial, it is that His own name may be glorified. But a woe will be upon the man who gives himself to do this work. God reads the motives, whatever they may be. I pray that the Lord will teach our brethren to be straightforward, and make no compromise in the matter. The cause of God has been bruised and wounded by any such men connecting with it, and the sooner they are separated from it, the better.... {2SM 152.4}
God calls for men of decided fidelity. He has no use in an emergency for two-sided men. He wants men who will lay their hand upon a wrong work and say, “This is not according to the will of God.”—Letter 19 1/2, 1897. {2SM 153.1}
"Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls,—the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest. The servants of Christ are called to the same work, and they should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth. They are to “follow after the things which make for peace” (Romans 14:19); but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle. And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition. A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience."{DA 356.1}