***** Chapter 39—Love Among Brethren Dear Brethren and Sisters in -----, My mind has been exceedingly troubled in regard to your condition. I have not been able to sleep, and I arise at twelve o'clock to write to J, and to you as a church. I do not know what might have been the condition of J at the present time had you pursued a righteous, Christian course toward him—such a course as every child of God should pursue in such a case. Some of you will not be able to comprehend my words, for your own course has placed you where you have not sanctified discernment. You have allowed strong, hard feelings against him to come into your hearts, and have justified yourselves in treating him with indifference and even contempt. You have reasoned that by his unbelief and his wrong course he was certainly injuring the church and endangering souls, and you must have no fellowship with him. But will you, in the light of God's great standard of righteousness, critically examine every word and act of …
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
The EGW passage discusses a lack of love and harsh treatment towards a brother, which directly parallels the sentiment expressed in 1 John 4:20 regarding the hypocrisy of claiming to love God while hating one's brother.
"You have opened your heart to doubt and skepticism, but you will never be able to be an honest infidel. You may boast that you do not believe the Bible; but you will be perjuring yourself all the time, for you know better. 5T 341.1"
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"
The EGW passage speaks of people who suppress the truth they know, which aligns with Romans 1:18's description of those who 'hold the truth in unrighteousness.'
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
The EGW statement is a clear call to action based on the principle of confessing Christ before others, as stated in Matthew 10:32.