Poor Brother C felt the influence of the Spirit of God, but was deficient in experience. He did not fully turn from his old habits. He failed to make God his strength continually, and his feet slipped. There is no concord between Christ and Belial. You might have helped him, had you been connected with Heaven as you should have been. But your course of inactivity, your manner of conversation, your influence, have strengthened him in his backsliding and quieted the voice of conscience within him. Your course has not been a reproof to him in his downward track. You could do good, were you living for God. Your strength is utter weakness, your wisdom foolishness; but you do not realize it. You have been too well satisfied with a theory, a correct form of doctrine, but have not felt the necessity of the power of God; you have neglected the spiritual part of religion. Your whole being should cry out for the Spirit of God—the life and power of religion in the soul, which would lead to the crucifixion of self and a firm trust in your Redeemer. {2T 223.2}

Den stakkels bror C følte Guds Ånds påvirkning, men manglede erfaring. Han fralagde sig ikke helt sine gamle vaner. Han gjorde ikke hele tiden Gud til sin styrke og hans fødder gled. Der er ingen overensstemmelse mellem Kristus og Belial. Havde du været knyttet til himlen, hvad du burde, kunne du have hjulpet ham. Men din passive handlemåde, din måde at omgås andre på, din indflydelse, har styrket ham i hans frafald og dæmpet samvittighedens stemme inde i ham. Din opførsel har ikke været en irettesættelse overfor hans nedadgående kurs. Du kunne gøre godt, om du levede for Gud. Din styrke er ubetinget svag, din klogskab er dårskab; men du indrømmer det ikke. Du har været alt for tilfreds med en teori, en korrekt form af læren, men har ikke næret nødvendigheden af Guds kraft; du har forsømt den åndelige del af religionen. Du skulle råbe efter Guds Ånd af hele den krop og ånd - religionens liv og kraft i sjælen, som ville lede til korsfæstelse af selvet og en fast tillid til din Forløser.