Another consequence of poor music choices is a rejection or distortion of morality. Brace yourself, because this chapter is a loud trumpet warning. As we have seen, two of the dominant messages communicated by the rhythm, display and lyrics of pop and rock music are sex and rebellion against social norms. Traditional moral values have been challenged and overturned, especially those relating to sexuality. Though many would agree that the Holiness movement of the late 1800s did get some things wrong, they did emphasise a moral lifestyle – especially abstinence from alcohol and gambling, offering men and women a new way of conducting themselves^{2 (p1)} – and they warned of God’s judgement. All too often, today, these components of the gospel message are missing. Emphasis is often placed, instead, on feel-good messages, such as the power of prayer to bring prosperity and health to our lives. When felt convenient, Scripture is ignored or altered to make it more appealing. For example, the scientific view of origins might be accepted over the Biblical story of creation; rules for marriage and sexual relations may be adjusted to align with secular views or the flood story allegorised so that God fits better with our own understanding of what a loving God should look like.

The good works of charity and outreach to the less privileged in society was a notable focus of the Holiness movement and they played a significant role in social reform, which is commendable. Likewise, charity is highly esteemed in modern Christianity, as it should be, and considered a sign of a true Christian. However, because of this emphasis, when a person does good works of charity, their openly practised sins are sometimes disregarded. If a pop star, like Bono, professes belief in Jesus, for example, but lives a lifestyle contrary to His teachings, such as materialism and sexual promiscuity, we look past that and even idolise them, as long as they are supporting worthy charities. This type of good works is considered admirable; while the good works of keeping God’s law is regarded as legalism and is frowned upon. However, works of charity do not save us any more than keeping God’s law. Even wicked people can show acts of kindness and love. We are not saved by any type of works, whether works of charity or works of obedience to the law because we are all sinners. Only the blood of Jesus saves us. If we are truly converted, we will have no desire to continue in sin.

The pop artist, Pink, is involved with several charities and campaigns, yet the content of her music is highly immoral. Love is the fulfilment of the law; therefore, the only way to truly be charitable is to obey and uphold God’s law in a loving way in our lives to ensure we do no harm to others. Though pop stars and other famous people in the entertainment industry are often involved in charities, the irony is that poverty is very often caused by the immorality they embrace.

Being the salt of the earth, we should be showing the world a better way to live, however, our influence as Christians on society is so lacking that, when a father took legal action against his ex-wife for taking their 11-year-old daughter to a Pink concert, the judge said “So what?”⁵²⁵ This was said out of sarcasm, since one of her songs is called So What. In just the couple of Pink songs we reviewed in a previous chapter, the content of Pink’s songs included promiscuous sex, getting drunk, having an attitude, getting into trouble and causing a fight. This is absolutely inappropriate for adults, let alone an 11-year-old, but it is seen as normal viewing for children by much of society nowadays.

Objectionable content – such as violence, alcohol and drug use, profanity, nudity and sexual content – has been gradually increasing in TV shows, movies and other entertainment.⁵²⁶ For example, one organisation estimated a five-fold increase in sexual content, nudity or immodesty in movies and TV shows between 1980 and 2022 and a nine-fold increase in profanity, blasphemy and foul language during the same period.⁵²⁷ A US study has found that the TV content rating system has failed. Parents are finding it increasingly difficult to accurately monitor what children are viewing.⁵²⁸ Few Christian voices are pushing back against this enormous problem.

John Piper, theologian and author of the classic book, Desiring God, describes in a podcast how Christians unwittingly assimilated to the patterns of the world by filling their spare time with secular media and entertainment. This began at a time when Christians still shared many of the same moral constraints as the broader community. Unfortunately, Piper said, “God was absent. And we scarcely noticed, let alone were heartsick or offended.” Now, even the superficial overlap with Christianity has virtually vanished from the entertainment industry. Restraint is absent and sin is celebrated in all its different forms. Rather than objecting to this godless depravity, Christians continue to seamlessly adapt to the change as morality increasingly retreats to a previous era. Piper describes the disturbing consequences of this adaptation to the world:

Sin is consistently destigmatized and normalized in what Christians watch with pleasure…

The church that regularly makes the world the source of its relaxation and enjoyment must become a worldly church. And a worldly church is a powerless church.”⁵²⁹

If the church has lost its power of influence on the morality of society, it has probably contributed more to poverty due to turning a blind eye to immorality, than it has to relieving it by its charity work. Mrs White said:

“The efforts put forth to rescue the outcast and degraded will be of no avail unless the claims of the law of God and the need of loyalty to Him are impressed on mind and heart.”^{16 (p259)}

Though the church, including the Salvation Army, may have contributed much to social reform in the past, perhaps Christianity’s disregard for growing immorality has contributed to the unravelling of much of this good work. Though large Christian charities have been channelling billions of dollars from government and secular sources into aid and development projects, because the work is decoupled from the gospel, the effectiveness of the work is impaired. We might think that Christian charities are doing much good for the downtrodden, while ignoring the evils in society that have led to much of that poverty. Bono, lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, is another example of a popular artist who is known for his works of charity and social activism. The content of U2’s performances even contain openly Christian themes. Unfortunately, Bono has twisted the understanding of Christian morality and anyone who follows them will develop a distorted view of Scripture.

Peter Jones believes that since the 1960s, a new ideology has been emerging with paganism at the heart. Gnosticism, he says, which was defeated in early Christianity, has re-emerged and is the essence of this revival of religious paganism. The goal is to create a new global pagan civilisation which will snuff out the Christian message. It is a massive movement, he warns, driving itself through our culture under the guise of doing good. He said, “there was a time when the sacred canopy was the Christian worldview. Now that canopy is being ripped away and another kind of canopy is being put in its place.”⁴⁷⁶ Just as Gnosticism brought pagan ideology from the outside world into the early church, the same is true today – what is happening in the church is a reflection of what is happening in the culture at large. “Progressive Christianity,” he believes, “is catching on to a pagan reordering of our life in a new form.” Peter said, “I believe that homosexuality is actually the tip of the spear of this new civilization.”⁴⁷⁶ The influential New Testament scholar, James Robinson, who collected and published the Gnostic texts unearthed in 1945, said that these Gnostic texts have much in common with Eastern religions and with the counterculture movements which arose in the ‘60s. Peter said that Gnostics like James Robinson and Carl Jung “saw the value of these texts as fitting the Progressive culture that has been developing since the ‘60s.”⁴⁷⁶ If Peter Jones is correct, then bands like U2, which is openly supportive of the gay movement, would be a major influence in propagating this new pagan ideology and a conduit between the world and the church. But is homosexuality against God’s will? We will discuss more on this topic later in the chapter.

Lust & Secret Vice

People constantly struggle with immoral lifestyles – the type of lifestyles glamourised by popular artists and secular entertainment such as movies and pop songs. The most corrupt Catholic Popes in history were known for their highly immoral lifestyles, including such acts as bribery, brutal murders, lavish lifestyles and adultery.⁵³⁰ Bad habits, addictions and poor lifestyle choices adversely impact ourselves and those around us. Most people have an unhealthy affinity to something. Obesity is of epidemic proportions.⁵³¹ More frequently than ever, teenagers are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses, once considered adult diseases, due to sedentary lifestyles, overindulgence of bad food and other unhealthy habits.

People struggle to maintain a balanced healthy diet, which leads to chronic illness and often premature death. The Western diet typically contains large proportions of meat and processed foods and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Mrs White promoted a plant-based diet and claimed that meat eating can cause cancer. The Cancer Council states:

“Experts from the International Association for Research on Cancer reviewed the evidence and concluded that there is strong evidence to suggest that excess red meat consumption increases the risk of bowel cancer. For this reason, they concluded it was a probable carcinogen, but couldn’t conclude exactly how much it increased your cancer risk by – or say how much needed to be consumed to increase the risk. However, there did appear to be an association with increased cancer risk when more than 100g a day was consumed.”⁵³²

This is equivalent to just over one sausage per day. The evidence is clear, yet we still struggle with appetite and ignore clear counsel. Medical evidence has shown Mrs White’s health claims to be far more accurate than other health reformers of her time.^119,533,534 Rejecting the counsel of God’s messengers can prove fatal (1 Ki 20:35-36, Matt 23:29-36) and that is why it is important to determine if she is truly in harmony with God. We should strive to be obedient in all things – not in a pharisaic way but in a practical sense out of love for God.

Interestingly, Mrs White states:

“A religious life can be more successfully gained and maintained if meat is discarded, for this diet stimulates into intense activity lustful propensities, and enfeebles the moral and spiritual nature.”^{282 (p277)}

Likewise, indulgence of appetite, in general:

“…strengthens the animal propensities, giving them the ascendancy over the mental and spiritual powers.”^{280 (p67)}

This makes sense. Anything that adversely affects our physical health will impact on our spiritual health. Who would not want to do everything they can within their means and with the power of God to optimise their spiritual health? This may be another reason why, apart from rock and pop music, with the over-abundance of meat and rich foods in the modern western diet, that our society has become so sex driven. It is these kinds of statements that make it difficult for some people to accept Mrs White’s writings as genuinely from God. Especially her statements on the consequence of ‘secret-vice’ seem to border on absurd: “catarrh, dropsy, headache, loss of memory and sight, great weakness in the back and loins, affections of the spine, the head often decays inwardly.”^{535 (p27)} Some parts of her writings are just as difficult to swallow as some of the stories recorded by Moses, such as “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods (Num 16:32).”

In a previous chapter we discussed Dr Don McMahon’s findings which are documented in his book, Acquired or Inspired. He argues that Mrs White was shown in vision what health practices were important for us but was not shown why. He believes that this is consistent with Biblical authors who were shown through inspiration what to do, but were not given scientific reasons why. Therefore, he divided all of Mrs Whites health claims into two categories: the whats, or what health principles we are to follow, and the whys, or the science behind the health principles. He concludes that Mrs White’s what statements were highly accurate, while her why statements were no more accurate than any other author of her time. Dr McMahon argues that Mrs White was not shown in vision why certain health practices were important and was reliant on the known science of her day for an explanation.^{119 (p27-35)} If he is correct, and if Mrs White was a prophet, even though she was instructed in vision that we should not practice ‘secret vice,’ (the what), her statements on the effects of secret vice (the why) are based on the scientific understanding of her day.

Modern research suggests that solitary sexual activity may have health benefits. However, due to logistical and ethical constraints, medical consensus relies on relatively small pilot studies and observational data. No large-scale, randomised controlled trials assessing the benefits or harms of masturbation have been conducted. Therefore, it is still possible that indulging in solitary sexual activity could actually have quite detrimental effects on health, not contrary to what was described by Mrs White and other commentators of her day. For example, expert medical opinion suggests that excessive emissions in men could lead to zinc deficiency (hypozincaemia).^536,537 In turn, zinc deficiency can lead to copper toxicity.⁵³⁸ Hypozincaemia can cause: hair loss, frequent infections, vision impairment, delayed wound healing, stunted growth in young people, reduced appetite, reproductive problems, adverse birth outcomes, interference in taste and smell, depression and psychotic disorders.⁵³⁹ Copper toxicity can cause liver disease, cardiomyopathy, cataracts, arthritis, depression, insanity and death, including sudden cardiac death.^538,540,541

Studies are revealing that zinc deficiency could be a common cause of depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions.⁵⁴²Dr David Horrobin from Oxford University said:

“It is even possible, given the importance of zinc for the brain, that 19th-century moralists were correct when they said that repeated masturbation could make one mad!”⁵³⁶

The late Carl C. Pfeiffer, physician and biochemist who researched schizophrenia, in his book Zinc and Other Micronutrients, said:

“We hate to say it but in a zinc-deficient adolescent, sexual excitement and excessive masturbation might precipitate insanity.”⁵³⁷

Though modern research has not linked masturbation with these serious adverse effects, studies are limited and likely have not adequately factored in the potential effects of malnutrition.⁵⁴³ Populations in low- and middle-income countries have high rates of zinc deficiency⁵⁴⁴ and this could well have been the case in America during Mrs White’s time, predisposing those who also lose zinc through frequent emissions to more significant consequences. Perhaps the so-called 19^th century ‘moralists’ were simply describing what had been observed in their time.

Doctors rarely ask patients how often they ejaculate and many patients would likely underreport anyway if it was excessive. The cost and complexity of testing for nutrient derangements makes routine testing prohibitive. Coupled with this the masquerading effect of such a diverse range of presentations would cause the link with any of these conditions to go almost universally unnoticed in medical practice, even in modern times, especially in areas where zinc deficiency is common.

None of this yet proves Mrs White right on this subject, but given her track record, it is wise to keep one’s mind open, since she did say this was revealed to her in vision. Science falls far short of an in-depth understanding of the human body and health. We have been too quick to disregard Mrs White’s health concerns when they sound too outrageous or far-fetched, like the parting of the red sea or the creation story, only to learn years later, as science catches up, that she was right. Note, these biochemical effects, as discussed, are apart from the well-documented direct psychological effects of pornography and lustful thoughts, which are associated with masturbation, and which can be significant in themselves and detrimental to our spiritual walk. Jesus put lust on the level of adultery (Matt 5:27–28). Also, although research has suggested benefits from solitary sexual activity, some studies and commentators have reported associations or concerns such as the development and maintenance of paraphilias,⁵⁴⁵ lower life satisfaction in men and negative effects on sexual and relationship satisfaction among both men and women.⁵⁴³

Instead of heeding the advice of God’s prophets and the Scriptures, we follow our own wisdom and the counsel of the world, oblivious of the damaging effects it is having on our physical and spiritual health. Mrs White counselled:

“Let none who profess godliness regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that intemperance is no sin, and will not affect their spirituality. A close sympathy exists between the physical and the moral nature.”^{280 (p67)}

Immoral Lifestyle Choices

Even more dissenting is the ever-increasing acceptance by Christians of a broad range of behaviours and lifestyles denounced in the Bible. Psalms says “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness (Ps 101:3-4).” Many times over, we are reminded in the Psalms to flee from wickedness. However, these admonitions are largely missing in contemporary Christian songs. Consequently, we forget what wickedness is and the seriousness of dabbling in it. But what about homosexuality? Is it a sin? Is it truly the tip of the spear of a new pagan ideology permeating society as suggested by scholar Peter Jones. Same-sex relationships have become a hotly debated issue within Christianity in recent years; therefore, we must have respectful and open dialogue about this important issue. Throughout the ages, the majority of Christians have believed that homosexuality and adultery are clearly defined in the Bible as sins, based on passages such as Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:8-11. However, as society has changed, some denominations have changed their interpretation of scripture.

In 2024, issue one of a digital magazine produced by an organisation of Seventh-day Adventist members, was released. On page 10, pastors and church members are invited to join them in a statement of apology and to share the statement in their churches. Within the statement, the authors “affirm the right for LGBTQ+ people to belong in our churches, participate in our worship, and serve in our mission.”⁵⁴⁶ Notably, a few prominent members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have signed the petition, including a well-known author and retired pastor, as well as current pastors and employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. These members clearly have a deep concern for the welfare of those who identify as LGBT. Christians supportive of LGBT lifestyles reason that the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual practice is in reference to exploitative forms of homoerotic behaviour only and is not applicable to consenting partners. Though this is not explicitly stated in the Bible, they infer it from the context. However, the majority of members worldwide still believe that the LGBT lifestyle is sinful and, therefore, it remains the official position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which holds that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman and that sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden.²⁸

The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Position Paper reads:

“All persons, including practicing homosexuals, should be made to feel welcome to attend our churches while non-practicing gay persons should be welcomed into membership and church office. All should receive spiritual care from the Church.”⁴⁵² (Gal 6:1)

Adventist Family Ministries states:

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus. We also believe that by God’s grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God’s Word.”⁵⁴⁷

The Salvation Army approach to the interpretation of Scripture has allowed it to accommodate evolving social norms on issues such as sexual identity and maintain its public status as a leading welfare agency.¹⁷⁵ For example, the Salvation Army, at least in certain regions, no longer regards homosexuality as blameworthy, and nobody is excluded from membership in the Army solely on the basis of sexual disposition. Salvationists are encouraged to help people explore their identity by, for instance, praying that God will affirm their authentic identity.⁵⁸ Note, however, that the Salvation Army has a hierarchical organisational structure with regulations being issued under the General’s authority;¹⁵⁴ therefore, the majority of the membership will not always necessarily agree with the official statements of the church.

Seventh-day Adventists who oppose this view of the Salvation Army and Progressive Christianity argue that, like the Sabbath, union between a man and a woman was instituted in the beginning (Gen 1:27, 2:18) and Jesus affirmed this institution (Matt 19:4-5). Adam didn’t choose his partner; she was a gift from God. Devout Christians generally believe we should allow God to choose our marriage partners for us. God created men and women with very different physiological composition producing significant distinctions. Our brains are anatomically and physiologically different,⁵⁴⁸ and our endocrine systems produce hormonal make-ups unique to each gender giving rise to substantial functional but compatible variance⁵⁴⁹ designed by God to form a single unit when combined. Therefore, when a godly man and woman are joined together as one, it produces a wholesome relationship designed by God.

In the Bible, sexual union outside that of marriage between a man and a woman is always associated with sinful acts, such as fornication, violence and idolatry. Nowhere in the Bible does it explicitly affirm same-sex relationships. On the contrary, quoting various verses, those who oppose homosexuality argue that the Bible condemns consensual same-sex relations, for men are not to burn with desire for one another and likewise the women:

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” (Rom 1:26-27)

In this same chapter, Paul echoes back to creation: we receive our understanding of God “by the things that are made (Rom 1:20),” which includes the creation of the image of God in man and woman. Therefore, it is argued, Paul is not referring only to exploitative forms of homoerotic behaviour, but all forms of immorality and sexual deviancy which is contrary to “the things that are made,” hence, they “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man (Rom 1:23).”

Regardless of who is right concerning homosexuality, since we are all sinners, we should remind ourselves that heterosexuals, simply by greater number, do the vast majority of the sinning, and we have largely tiptoed around sexual sins, in general, in our churches. Scripture sets a very high standard and condemns all forms of sexual immorality, including lust. We must try our best to uphold this standard in the church and encourage members to do the same, but every individual must give an account to God for their own beliefs and practices (Rom 14:12). It must be remembered that we are all part of fallen humanity and that Christ came to die for all. We must pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, that we may have unity in truth and remain focused on our primary mission.

Of much greater concern is the disregard for all kinds of immorality that we turn a blind eye to. For example, Christians may point the finger at gay people while at the same time, regularly watching movies filled with lewdness, adultery and other forms of promiscuous sexuality. A person may continue in sin without any repentance or remorse, blaming it on their sinful nature or on their genes. As already discussed, people are attracted to numerous unhealthy lifestyles, such as overeating, a sedentary lifestyle, substance use and pornography, and these tendencies can sometimes run in families, suggesting a genetic link. Indeed, research has demonstrated that genes are responsible for about half of the risk for Alcohol Use Disorder.⁵⁵⁰ Research has failed to meaningfully predict an individual’s sexual preference from their genetic makeup;⁵⁵¹ therefore, it could well be that lifestyle choices and environmental factors play a major role. Regardless, if God instituted marriage between a man and a woman before the fall, then any genetic predisposition to other sexual attractions, including adultery, that has occurred subsequently would be due to corruption of the human nature (Rom 3:23). Likewise, it can be assumed that God did not create humans with the genetic makeup for alcoholism but that it has come about due to the fall. Adulterers and paedophiles gain little sympathy from the claim that their genes made them do it – though, that may change in the future. Just because someone has a strong attraction to a sin of whatever type, does not make it any more legitimate than alcoholism, even if it is inherited.

In the Bible, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, wild parties, greed, idol worship, theft (Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9-10) and many other vices are considered sins no less than the abuse of alcohol. Maybe your bad habit is gossip, bad temper or pride. It is all immoral and God does not want it in our lives. Some people think if it feels good, it must be right; however, how natural or intense a behaviour or attraction to something feels, how young the person was when it began, or how difficult it is to overcome, is not a test of the legitimacy of the behaviour. Immoral behaviour as defined in the Bible is an abomination to God and we owe it to every individual to warn them of the consequences of sin, including the effect it has on themselves, on others and on their spiritual lives – even potentially causing them to forfeit eternal life.

Thoughts and sensory stimuli can produce a dopamine surge that is habit-forming.^552,553 These thoughts can turn into actions that become part of a person’s lifestyle that can be extremely difficult to overcome. One of the symptoms of dependence can be a loss of attraction to healthy habits or relationships.⁵⁵⁴ When a person attempts to give up an unhealthy habit, they often become depressed or anxious and may even develop suicidal thoughts, causing them to turn back to the habit.⁵⁵⁵ Even once overcome, the person may continue to experience surges in dopamine every time they see, smell or think of the thing they are attracted to. That is why relapse is so common.

The person may become so disillusioned with their repeated failures to give up the bad habit that they start to make excuses for the behaviour. They may even convince themselves that it is good for them and that God accepts the behaviour. When they indulge in the habit, it makes them feel good – how could it be wrong? For example, a drug addict may believe the substance enlightens them spiritually and brings them closer to God. They may believe that, even if God disapproves of their behaviour, He will forgive them anyway, since God’s mercy has no limit (they have been taught).

Despite all this, alcoholics, drug addicts and those caught in promiscuous lifestyles, should never give up their fight against their habit, no matter how difficult it is or how long it takes, even if it means fighting it for the rest of their lives. An adulterer who keeps giving in to temptation, should never stop looking for ways to overcome their sinful obsession. Yes, if we sincerely repent, Jesus will forgive us every time we fail because He loves us, but that should not stop us from trying. Just like the alcoholic or drug addict, the person struggling with lust or pornography should never give in to their addiction. Why? Because Jesus is worth it and in His Word He asks us to “depart from iniquity” and to “flee also youthful lusts (2 Tim 2:19,22).” The world calls evil good and good evil, wrapping sin in the garb of morality. Unless we are on our guard, continually harmonising with God’s Word, we will fall for it. All cherished sin leads to destruction – it draws us away from Jesus, the only source of salvation. Instead of giving in to the pressure of the world, we must take up our cross. We must give up that cherished thing that we enjoy if it is contrary to God’s will, and we must warn others to do likewise.

Giving up a bad habit requires a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus, as He is the only one who can give us the strength to persist against the odds and, ultimately, to attain true victory (Gal 5:16-25). Understanding the gravity of sin and the enormity of the sacrifice that Jesus made because of sin helps to provide the incentive to turn to Jesus for healing. Some have argued that we must not wrestle with our sins but just come to Jesus. However, Jesus is not like a genie in a bottle, magically giving us every desire of our heart the instant we ask for it. It is true that we cannot obtain real victory without Jesus, and it is true that He can miraculously transform lives. However, if we are to become physically fit, we do not just come to Jesus and wait for Him to make us fit. We have to get out there and do some exercise and change our diet. Likewise, as discussed in a previous chapter, if we are to improve our moral and spiritual lives, we do not only come to Jesus, but we also have to make an effort and do something about it. Paul said to “run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb 12:1).” Mrs White said, “When we lay hold of Christ by faith, our work has just begun. Every man has corrupt and sinful habits that must be overcome by vigorous warfare.^{12 (p20)}

We must be careful not to discourage those who are struggling with bad habits. Jesus had compassion on the woman caught in adultery and gently encouraged her to sin no more (Jn 8:1-11). Mrs White advises that we should be especially kind and considerate of those from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been brought up in communities surrounded by all kinds of immorality. “We cannot expect that, in all things, they will be as firm and clear in their ideas of morality,” she says. She reminds us that, “even those who have had great advantages in many things often feel hurt if their errors are unduly noticed and if words of counsel and admonition are spoken in an unsympathetic manner.” She goes on to say that “Christ demands from His servants tender compassion for the suffering, sympathy for the unfortunate, and a generous consideration for misdemeanors.”^{196 (p223-4)}

Some might argue that Christianity is too rigid and that expressing sexual freedom is harmless compared to alcoholism and drug addiction. However, it used to be thought that cigarettes were not only harmless but good for us! Apart from the obvious consequences of drugs, alcohol and other unhealthy habits, worldly lifestyles may be unhealthy for us in ways we are not even aware of. We just don’t know all the real consequences of disobedience to God’s commands. That is why we must trust God’s Word and not mould the Bible to the shape of our desires but rather allow His Word to mould our character to His likeness. Experience has shown that if we want to minimise harm to others and ourselves, we should stick to God’s wisdom and not human wisdom. If we sang more often, as David did, of the beauty of God’s law, we may be less inclined to abandon His moral standards in favour of worldly wisdom. Paul says to “Flee sexual immorality (1 Cor 6:18).” When the Bible gives such plain and unambiguous teachings on the immorality of promiscuous sexual activities, we should flee from any thought that it might be pardonable to participate in or condone any form of sexual immorality.

Mrs White says that Moses directed the Israelites to set the words of the law to music. We have failed to sing of God’s law and commit it to heart, just as the Israelites did, and consequently went into Babylonian captivity. The deep crisis of failed families in Western society, and the untold suffering it has caused, should lead us back to an appreciation of God’s ideal and not further from it. In the Bible, God demands strict, selfless union between a man and a woman for life, without lustful thoughts (Matt 5:27-28), let alone adultery, because that is how strict the union is between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That is love. Perfect, selfless unity is what God wants us to strive for. Anything less than this ideal falls short of the glory of God. Fortunately, He forgives us when we fall short, but He expects us to strive for better.

We look with contempt at the disloyalty of the Children of Israel because the Bible clearly lays out their rebellion. We flatter ourselves that we are not as they were and comfort ourselves that God’s love will cover every unrepentant sin. Our songs teach us that God’s mercy has no limit and almost nothing could cause us to lose our salvation as long as we sing of our belief in Jesus’ love. But we are just as prone to perverseness and corruption as the Israelites were and God’s wrath is no less aroused when we deliberately persist in sin and the lusts of this world. According to the Dunning–Kruger Effect, because we sing almost exclusively of God’s love and mercy, we fail to recognise the wrath of God against those who do not take seriously His mercy and justice and, instead, persist in unrepentance and neglect to submit fully to our Lord. For want of knowledge and a balanced understanding of love and obedience, we may be over-estimating our chance of salvation.

How could it be that commandment-keeping Christians reject such a fundamental belief? How could they think that God’s wrath will not be against those who wilfully indulge in sin of any kind? If we never sing of it, we forget. But the song book of the Bible is fair because it gives us adequate warning, such as we find in Psalm chapter 7:

“God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.” (Ps 7:11-13)

Mrs White discusses the case of a Seventh-day Adventist believer who was living in adultery:

“This man embraced the unpopular doctrine that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, in order to give to his religious experience a semblance of honesty. Our views have been clearly defined in our publications, but, concealing this fact, he mixed with truth his own defiling heresies and tried to make others believe that God had given him new light upon the Bible. By thus professing to have great light for the people on the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and kindred truths, he had, to the unsuspecting, an appearance of really being led of God. But when once the confidence is gained, he commences his satanic work of wresting the Scriptures from their true meaning by seeking to show that adultery condemned in the law of God does not mean what it is generally understood to mean. He really tries to make sensible women believe it not offensive to God for wives to be untrue to their marriage vows. He will not even admit that this would be breaking the seventh commandment. Satan rejoices to have sinners enter the church as professed Sabbath keepers while they allow him to control their minds and affections, using them to deceive and corrupt others.”^{197 (p140)}

Error is almost always introduced subtly. When Andy Stanley decided to reject the Bible as the foundation of his faith, he later said openly that:

“I changed the way I talked about the Bible in my message, in my sermons… I didn’t get up and announce it. I didn’t get up and say ‘From now on I’m not going to say this, I’m not going to say that. I’m going to begin using this terminology.’ I just made the change. I didn’t tell anybody and year after year after year I’ve been doing this. In fact, I don’t think anybody has really noticed but I think it’s helped me remove some of the obstacles to Faith for people who are outside the faith looking in.”⁵¹³

When pastors or other church leaders are influenced by worldly opinion to adjust their doctrine, it infiltrates into the church, sometimes in subtle ways, including in our music. If a pastor of a church does not agree with a certain fundamental belief, it will change the way he preaches and teaches. Many Christians, including song writers, may not believe as you do, and this can influence the message given in the songs they write.

If we do not have a sure foundation in Scripture, we are more likely to be persuaded by secular reasoning. Increasingly, we are seeing more and more Christians accepting worldly lifestyles. Because of the disharmony between love and obedience in modern theology, our understanding of what true love is has been distorted. Contemporary Christian music tends to elevate God’s mercy while remaining mostly neutral or silent about morality. Abandoning God’s law leads to oppression, the very thing it endeavours to eliminate. When we are at one with God, we are at one with His law for it is written on our hearts (Jer 31:33). This is liberating, for it emanates out of love. Jesus, who did nothing of His own accord (Jn 5:19), is our role model. Sexual sin is an abomination to God because it is the antithesis of selfless love – it is seeking after something for our own desires that God has not given us. Though it feels loving and right to relax God’s rules, the only way we can obey both the first and second greatest commandments is to learn how to help people feel both loved and convicted. That can only be achieved if we have a close walk with Jesus.

As a church, when God’s moral code is written on our hearts, we gain power. We do not need to relax the rules or bring worldliness into the church to attract the world. Mrs White said:

“The Lord has revealed to me that when the heart is cleansed and sanctified, and the members of the church are partakers of the divine nature, a power will go forth from the church, who believe the truth, that will cause melody in the heart. Men and women will not then depend upon their instrumental music but on the power and grace of God, which will give fullness of joy. There is a work to be done in clearing away the rubbish which has been brought into the church.”^{168 (p512)}

Church pews are empty and we see the decay of society which has come about due to our neglect, and now church leaders are scrambling to bring back control. Rather than achieving this by the power of changed hearts and turning back to true godliness, instead, through Christian nationalism, church leaders are seeking support from government to give its authority back. Also, sermons are getting shorter, theology lighter and the singing lengthier and louder in an attempt to try to draw crowds into church.

Data from recent research into sources of worship music in churches has been provided by Mike Tapper, religion professor at Southern Wesleyan University. His colleague, Marc Jolicoeur, said:

“…any concerns about the theology of the four megachurches, or the recent troubles at Hillsong, which has had several pastors resign in scandal, don’t seem to affect the demand for their music.”⁸¹

This speaks volumes about the attitude to morality when all that counts is how good the music sounds, despite it being produced by churches with questionable theology and lifestyles.

Our Moral Duty to the Poor

Just as the Charismatic megachurches became popular due to its ‘prosperity gospel’ and pop music style, the Salvation Army became popular due to its social gospel and attracted large audiences amongst the working classes due to its music style. According to Roland Robertson, the Salvation Army used its uniforms and brass bands to attract attention, rather than holding conventional worship services.¹⁷⁵ Its initial evangelistic focus was only relatively short-lived, however, and though it attracted large crowds at the beginning, it never succeeded in converting the majority of working-class women and men.^{2 (p5)} General Booth began with the ideal of going for souls and going for the worst of them. He believed if you only saved them, the changes would come naturally. But poverty had proven a more powerful foe than anticipated and for all its effort, the Salvation Army had not managed to convert as many of the very poor as it had hoped. General Booth began to shift His focus to first addressing the social needs and, over time, the evangelistic focus was lost.¹⁵¹ The Salvation Army grew universally popular across all segments of society as it became increasingly recognised as a charitable organisation – including working with military personnel during the war, service to the police and emergency personnel, childcare, youth centres, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and aged care.¹⁷⁵

Though welfare work is an essential part of our Christian duty and morality, social reform and welfare came to dominate the Salvation Army as time progressed.^{2 (p xiii),175} This has required increasing dependence on financial support, including government funding.¹⁷⁵ Even General Booth’s right-hand man became disillusioned with all the focus on charity and fundraising. David Earnshaw describes how George Railton on many occasions would take General Booth to one side and say to him that all they were doing was basically getting involved in meals and in music and they were losing the gospel. Sadly, General Booth really did not take that on board, he said.^{149 (36:55)} The Army was selling anything from summer underwear and soap with pictures of the Booths embossed on it, to shares in a building society. David Earnshaw says that George Railton:

“…was getting quite tired of all these money raising efforts and so at a public meeting at the Exeter Hall he turned up wearing sackcloth and ashes. In front of a huge crowd of Salvation Army people he had some Salvation Army document in his hand about buying this and investing in that and he just ripped it up in public and stamped on it to let people in the Army know ‘I’ve had enough of these silly gimmicks.’”^{149 (44:45)}

In 1890, with a change in leadership, the organisation was divided into two, with a social services wing that came to dominate.^{2 (p234)} The Salvation Army’s social services elevated it to public prominence, gradually gaining it increasing respect from the government, secular organisations and the broader Christian community.^{2 (p240-1)} Some people offered to donate funds only if all religious and propagandist motives were eliminated.^{57 (p192)} Theology and religious practices no longer permeated all aspects of the Army’s work. Few people today even think of the Salvation Army as a religious organisation or a church.

Instead of focusing primarily on just one segment of society, such as the poor or downtrodden, Mrs White encouraged work amongst all classes of society:

“And while working for the poor, we should give attention also to the rich, whose souls are equally precious in the sight of God. Christ worked for all who would hear His word. He sought not only the publican and the outcast, but the rich and cultured Pharisee, the Jewish nobleman, and the Roman ruler. The wealthy man needs to be labored for in the love and fear of God… Men of different vocations and different stations in life have been overcome by the pollutions of the world, by the use of strong drink, by indulgence in the lusts of the flesh, and have fallen under temptation. While these fallen ones excite our pity and demand our help, should not some attention be given also to those who have not yet descended to these depths, but who are setting their feet in the same path? There are thousands occupying positions of honor and usefulness who are indulging habits that mean ruin to soul and body. Should not the most earnest effort be made to enlighten them?”^{16 (p255)}

Mrs White and the early Seventh-day Adventist pioneers developed broad areas of ministry to the community, including health ministries, such as health food, sanitariums and hospitals; education, such as schools and universities; humanitarian work; and publishing, including literature evangelism. Much of this work has retained a spiritual and evangelistic focus, although larger institutions, such as large health food companies and hospitals, have been accused of losing the spiritual focus and the primary goal of the church to spread the three angel’s message. Mrs White said:

“The Lord has instructed us to consider the work in all its bearings, that it may have a proportionate, symmetrical, well-balanced development…

The Lord’s work is one, and His people are to be one. He has not directed that any one feature of the message should be carried on independently or become all-absorbing.”^{16 (pp290,292)}

She also said:

“Never, never build mammoth institutions. Let these institutions be small, and let there be more of them, that the work of winning souls to Christ may be accomplished… The sick are to be reached, not by massive buildings, but by the establishment of many small sanitariums, which are to be as lights shining in a dark place.”^{282 (p323)}

Sanitariums, unlike hospitals which tend to focus on acute care, were to help people recover from chronic illness through a focus on lifestyle and natural therapies. The idea of small sanitariums, however, has largely fallen by the wayside in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and mammoth hospitals and factories have been established.

In her time, Mrs White felt that the most important area of neglect by Adventist members was that of helping the suffering. Though we are good at pointing the finger at the immorality of the secular world, neglect of the poor and marginalised is a significant moral failing of church members to a large extent. Helping the poor and widows is an important part of Christian morality emphasised in the Bible. The Israelites were instructed to care for the poor:

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.” (Deut 15:7-8)

While the Salvation Army was overemphasising welfare work, Mrs White was concerned that not enough was being done by Seventh-day Adventists for the downtrodden:

 “The spirit of the good Samaritan has not been largely represented in our churches. Many in need of help have been passed by, as the priest and Levite passed by the wounded and bruised stranger who had been left to die by the wayside…

… In neglecting this work which is within their own borders, in refusing to bear these burdens, the church is meeting with great loss. Had the church taken up this work as they should have done, they would have been the means of saving many souls.”^{16 (pp294-5)}

Mrs White said that churches should be welcoming to the poor:

“No church should become so lifted up that its members shall feel above the poor, and the poor feel that they cannot enter freely into the house of God. A church that is too rich for the poor to feel at home in is too aristocratic for Jesus to make one in its assembly. This narrow exclusiveness that shuts man away from his brother is an abomination in the sight of God.”⁵⁵⁶

According to Mrs White, helping the needy is essential for developing godly characters:

“he who neglects the poor, who ignores the needs of suffering humanity, who is not kind and courteous, is so conducting himself that God cannot co-operate with him in the development of character.”^{16 (p262)}

Even more bluntly she said:

“many who profess to be Christians are wrapped up in their own narrow interests, and they selfishly withhold God’s blessings from their fellow men…

Many who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ are spending His money for selfish pleasure, for the gratification of appetite, for strong drink and rich dainties, for extravagant houses and furniture and dress, while to suffering human beings they give scarcely a look of pity or a word of sympathy.”^{16 (pp274-5)}   

Seventh-day Adventists then, as now, though they identify themselves as ‘people of the Book’ and proudly uphold God’s law, have probably failed to truly love their neighbours and live out the practical aspects of the gospel to the extent that Jesus would expect of His followers. Likewise, the Booths felt that, in general, the Christian church had failed the people in the street and, therefore, had failed to do their Christian duty. On one occasion at a gathering of well-to-do people, as they sang “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying…” Mrs Booth interjected, saying “You have no desire to rescue the perishing or care for the dying so why are you singing it?”^{31 (30:20)}

Mrs White said:

“Love is the agency through which God works to draw the heart to Him, for ‘God is love.’ In every enterprise of mercy this principle alone can give efficiency; the finite must unite with the Infinite. This work for others will require effort, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. But what is the little sacrifice that we can make in comparison with the sacrifice which God has made for us in the gift of His only-begotten Son?”^{16 (p283)}