All who live in Battle Creek will have a fearful account to render to God if they suffer sin upon a brother. It is an alarming fact that indifference, sleepiness, and apathy have characterized men in responsible positions, and that there is a steady increase of pride and an alarming disregard of the warnings of the Spirit of God. The barriers which God’s word places about His people are being broken down. Men who are acquainted with the way in which God has led His people in the past, instead of inquiring for the old paths and defending our position as a peculiar people, have linked hands with the world. The most alarming feature in the case is that warning voices have not been heard in remonstrance, entreaties, and warnings. The eyes of God’s people seem to be blinded, while the church is fast drifting into the channel of worldliness. {4T 513.1}

Alle som bor i Battle Creek vil have et frygteligt regnskab at aflægge for Gud, hvis de tillader synd begås mod en bror. Det er en alarmerende kendsgerning at ligegyldighed, søvendrukkenhed og apati har kendetegnet mennesker i betroede stillinger og at der er en stadig større stolthed og alarmerende ligegyldighed over for Guds Ånds advarsler. De barrierer, som Guds ord sætter omkring sit folk, er blevet nedbrudt. Mennesker, som kender til den vej Gud har ført sit folk på førhen, har i stedet for at forhøre sig om de gamle stier og forsvare vor position som et særskilt folk, lænket hænderne sammen med verden. Det mest alarmerende i sagen er at advarende stemmer er blevet hørt i form af protester, bønner og advarsler. Det er som om at Guds folks øjne er forblindede, medens menigheden driver hurtig i verdslighedens kanal.