Chapter 8—Love for the Erring I was shown that while Sister J and Brother and Sister K have seen wrongs in others, they have not made efforts to correct those wrongs and help those whom they ought to have helped. They have left them too much alone, and held them off at arms’ length, and felt that it was of no use to try to do anything for them. This is wrong. They commit an error in so doing. Christ said: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” The Lord would have us help those who most need help. While you have seen the errors and wrongs in others, you have shut yourselves too much to yourselves, and have been too selfish in your enjoyment of the truth. God does not approve this being satisfied with the truth and making no sacrifice to aid and strengthen those who need strength. We are not all organized alike, and many have not been educated aright. Their education has been deficient. Some have had a quick temper transmitted to them, and their education in childhood has not taught them self-control. With this fiery temper, envy and jealousy are frequently united. Others are faulty in other respects. Some are dishonest in deal, overreaching in trade. Others are arbitrary in their families, loving to rule. Their lives are far from being correct. Their education was all wrong. They were not told the sin of yielding to the control of these evil traits; therefore sin does not appear to them so exceedingly sinful. Others, whose education has not been so faulty, who have had better training, have developed a much less objectionable character. The Christian life of all is very much affected for good or for evil by their previous education. {2T 73.1}

Jeg fik vist at selvom søster J og Bror og søster K har set fejl i andre, har de ikke gjort sig møje for at rette disse fejl og hjælpe dem som de burde have hjulpet. De har overladt dem for meget til sig selv og holdt dem på afstand og følt at det ikke var til nogen nytte at prøve at gøre (74) noget for dem. Dette er forkert. Ved dette begår de fejl. Kristus siger: »Jeg er ikke kommen for at kalde retfærdige, men syndere til omvendelse.« Herren vil at vi skal hjælpe dem som mest trænger til hjælp. Når I har set på andres fejl, har I holdt jer selv for meget ude og har været for selviske i jeres glæde for sandheden. Gud billiger ikke denne tilfredshed for sandheden og manglende opofrelse for at hjælpe og styrke dem som behøver styrke. Vi er ikke alle disponeret på samme måde og mange er ikke rigtig oplærte. Deres opdragelse har været mangelfuld. Nogle har fået et hidsigt temperament og deres opdragelse i barndommen har ikke lært dem at beherske sig. Med dette iltre temperament, støder misundelse og jalousi ofte sammen. Andre er mangelfulde i andre henseender. Nogle handler uærligt og bedrager når de håndterer deres ting. Andre er egenmægtige i deres familier og elsker at herske. Deres livsførelse er langt fra det rigtige. Deres opdragelse var helt forkert. De er ikke blevet fortalt om eftergivenhedens synd der styrer disse onde træk; derfor er synd for dem ikke så overordentlig syndigt som for andre. For andre, hvis opdragelse ikke har været så mangelfuld, som har haft en bedre oplæring, har udviklet en noget mindre stødende karakter. Alle de kristnes liv er ganske meget påvirket til at gøre godt eller til at gøre ondt, fra deres tidligere opdragelse.