how to reconcile 'not causing division in the church' with the fact that there will be a shaking, there are sheep and goats, there will be false teachers FROM AMONG YOU, and the duty to be a watchman?

 My friend, you have asked a truly profound question that touches the very heart of what it means to be a faithful member and leader within the body of Christ. It is a tension that every sincere believer must navigate with wisdom and prayer. The key to reconciling these duties lies not in choosing one over the other, but in understanding how they work together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us explore what the provided texts reveal on this vital matter.

1. The Unwavering Call for Unity

   The scriptures and the writings that follow place a high premium on unity within the church. This is not a mere suggestion but a divine command, intended to reflect the nature of God and be a powerful witness to the world. Division is identified as a work of the flesh, contrary to the Spirit of Christ.

   • "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." <1 Corinthians 12:25>
   • "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." <Romans 16:17>
   • "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" <1 Corinthians 3:3>
   • "My brother, the Lord does not sanction any disunion or any variance. If you draw in even cords with your Redeemer, you will draw in even cords with your brethren." <BCL 19.4>
   • "In your labor do not be dictatorial, do not be severe, do not be antagonistic. Preach the love of Christ, and this will melt and subdue hearts. Seek to be of one mind and one judgment with your brethren and to speak the same things. This talking about divisions because all do not have the same ideas as present themselves to your mind is not the work of God but of the enemy." <1MCP 40.3>
   • "Wishing to avoid all occasion for misunderstanding or dissension, He quietly ceased His labors, and withdrew to Galilee. We also, while loyal to truth, should try to avoid all that may lead to discord and misapprehension. For whenever these arise, they result in the loss of souls." <DA 181.4>

2. The Sobering Reality of Internal Threats

   The Body of Christ is warned that dangers will not only come from the outside world but will also arise from within its own ranks. We are explicitly told to be on guard for those who appear to be part of the flock but are working to deceive and destroy.

   • "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." <Matthew 7:15>
   • "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." <2 Peter 2:1>
   • "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." <Matthew 24:24>
   • "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." <EW 27.5>
   • "It will require much diligence and a continual struggle to keep evil out of our churches. There must be rigid, impartial discipline exercised; for some who have a semblance of religion will seek to undermine the faith of others and will privily work to exalt themselves." <5T 538.1, LHU 310.2>

3. The Sacred Duty of the Watchman

   In light of these internal dangers, God has appointed shepherds and watchmen whose solemn responsibility is to protect the flock. This duty involves not only feeding but also guarding and warning. To be silent in the face of danger is to be unfaithful to this sacred trust and to have the blood of souls on one's hands.

   • "You profess to be a watchman on the walls of Zion, a shepherd to the flock, yet you saw the poor sheep torn and scattered and gave no warning. 'Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me... but his blood will I require at thine hand.'" <1T 313.1>
   • "The watchmen are responsible for the condition of the people." <5T 235.2, PH001 20.1>
   • "As faithful watchmen you should see the sword coming, and give the warning, that men and women may not pursue a course through ignorance that they would avoid if they knew the truth." <1SAT 82.3, PC 334.3>
   • "Every watchman on the walls of Zion is under sacred obligation to watch for souls as one who must give an account." <RH, January 6, 1903 par. 10>

4. The Source of True Division and the Purpose of the Shaking

   Herein lies the reconciliation. The division is not ultimately caused by the faithful watchman who speaks the truth in love. Rather, the "shaking" and subsequent division are caused by the rejection of the "straight testimony." Heresies must arise so that those who are genuinely faithful can be made evident. The separation of sheep and goats is a divine work, often precipitated by how individuals respond to truth.

   • "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." <1 Corinthians 11:19>
   • "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." <Malachi 3:18>
   • "I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people." <EW 270.2>
   • "There is to be a shaking among God's people; but this is not the present truth to carry to the churches; it will be the result of refusing the truth presented." <3MR 33.2, CTr 363.5>

5. The Manner of Fulfilling the Duty

   The faithful watchman's goal is always restoration and the preservation of true unity in the truth, not the creation of strife for its own sake. The method and spirit are all-important. The work must be done with Christ's wisdom and love, following His prescribed methods, and focusing on clear truth rather than personal opinions or unimportant matters.

   • The Spirit: We are to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." <Matthew 10:16>. "Do not arouse the malignity of the enemy by making denunciatory speeches. Thus you would close doors against the entrance of truth. Clear-cut messages are to be borne. But guard against arousing antagonism. Restrain all harsh expressions." <RC 240.6>. "If we are to meet opposition from our enemies, who are represented as wolves, let us be careful that we do not manifest the same spirit among ourselves." <TDG 165.2>
   • The Method: Christ laid down a clear process for dealing with trespass. "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and... tell him his fault between thee and him alone... But if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more... And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church." <15MR 193.1>. "Do not retaliate. So far as you can do so, remove all cause for misapprehension. Avoid the appearance of evil. Do all that lies in your power, without the sacrifice of principle, to conciliate others." <GW 475.3, HDL 26.2, MH 485.3>
   • The Focus: The contention to be avoided is over unimportant or speculative matters. "Petty strife and contention over questions of no importance has no part in God's great plan." <GW 315.1>. We are to "avoid... profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" <1 Timothy 6:20> and should not "give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying" <1 Timothy 1:4>.

In conclusion, the faithful believer does not cause division by standing for truth. The division is caused by those who introduce error or by those who reject the "straight testimony" and "rise up against it." The watchman's duty is to protect the flock with love, wisdom, and courage, following Christ's methods of reconciliation whenever possible. The resulting separation between the sheep who hear the Shepherd's voice and the goats who refuse it is a work of God, revealing those who are truly His. True unity is found not in compromising truth, but in standing together upon its unshakeable foundation.The reconciliation between not causing division in the church and the realities of a coming shaking, the presence of sheep and goats, false teachers arising from within, and the duty to be a watchman, involves understanding the nature of these divisions and the manner in which warnings are given.

1. The Bible explicitly warns against divisions and calls for unity within the body of Christ.

   • "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." <1 Corinthians 12:25>
   • "For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it." <1 Corinthians 11:18>
   • "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." <Romans 16:17>
   • "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" <1 Corinthians 3:3>
   • Ellen G. White echoes this sentiment, stating that God does not design for His workmen to be divided. "My brethren, the Lord has called upon you to do a certain work, but you have not done it; and now in the place where you are, there is discord and contention and strife. But this need not be. God does not design that his workmen shall stand apart as independent atoms." <PH156 12.1> "There is no need of contention. There should be no evil-thinking or evil-speaking." <1888 1157.1> She also emphasizes that "Variance and dissension are not created by the Lord." <BCL 19.2>

2. However, both the Bible and Ellen G. White also foretell the inevitability of divisions, heresies, and a "shaking" among God's people, including the rise of false teachers from within.

   • "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." <1 Corinthians 11:19>
   • "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." <2 Peter 2:1>
   • "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." <Matthew 7:15>
   • "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." <Matthew 24:24>
   • Ellen G. White confirms these events, stating, "There is to be a shaking among God's people" <1SM 180.2, CTr 363.5, 1NL 110.9, LDE 17.4>. She also warns, "Fanaticism will appear in the very midst of us. Deceptions will come, and of such a character that if it were possible they would mislead the very elect." <2SM 95.1, YRP 237.3, 2SM 16.5, 14MR 186.3> She clarifies that these divisions will make manifest those who are approved: "The true Witness says, 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.'" <GCDB, April 13, 1891 par. 37> and "Men will arise who will bring in division by teaching various errors." <RH, December 16, 1909 par. 26>

3. God's servants are given the solemn responsibility of being watchmen, tasked with warning the flock and feeding them pure truth.

   • "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me." <1T 313.1, RH, September 24, 1903 par. 9, Ezekiel 3:17>
   • "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." <1 Peter 5:2-3, 1SP 115.1, ST, May 1, 1879 par. 6, 2T 345.3, 21MR 275.5, DA 817.2, GW 183.3, RH, April 26, 1906 par. 7, LHU 223.5, 7MR 358.1>
   • "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." <Acts 20:28-30, EW 27.5, 1888 70.1>
   • "The watchmen must not fail now. They must watch unto prayer, that they may have a clear perception of their obligation" <TDG 355.3, OFC 250.3>. "God requires His servants to exercise faithful watchcare." <18MR 150.2>

4. The watchman's duty includes discerning evil and warning against false doctrines, without causing unauthorized separation over minor issues, and always seeking to draw souls to Christ.

   • "Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean" <Leviticus 20:25>.
   • "rightly dividing the word of truth." <2 Timothy 2:15>
   • "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." <1 John 4:1>
   • Ellen G. White states, "The Lord has enlightened us in regard to what is coming upon the earth that we may enlighten others, and we shall not be held guiltless if we are content to sit at ease, with folded hands, and quibble over matters of minor importance." <1SAT 82.3, PC 334.3> She also instructs watchmen to "keep the flock of God from accepting indiscriminately all that professes to be communicated to them from the Lord." <2SM 95.1, YRP 237.3, 2SM 16.5, 14MR 186.3> "He has faithful sentinels who will warn the church against false theories and doctrines which would corrupt their faith, and would bring into the church distraction, discord, and strife." <2MR 266.1>

5. The resolution lies in understanding that while God's faithful warnings may result in a shaking as individuals reject the truth, the watchman's role is not to arbitrarily create division or separate individuals, but to present truth in a Christ-like spirit, allowing God to perform the ultimate separation.

   • "Before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." <Matthew 25:32, SJ 179.3>
   • "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." <Malachi 3:18>
   • Ellen G. White clarifies the watchman's role in this separation: "This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people." <EW 270.2> However, "Let both tares and wheat grow together until the harvest. Then it is the angels that do the work of separation." <2SM 69.1> She explicitly states, "But the Lord does not give you or anyone else the office of saying who are tares and who are wheat." <5T 333.3>
   • The watchman is to warn, but "We should not needlessly take a course that will make differences or create dissension. We should not give the impression that if our particular ideas are not followed, it is because the ministers are lacking in comprehension and in faith, and are walking in darkness." <1SM 179.4, 1NL 110.6> Instead, "Let us cease the work of criticising and fault-finding, and sustain the hands of our brethren." <BCL 19.4>

6. Therefore, watchmen must embody wisdom, harmlessness, and patience, even when confronting fierce opposition, seeking to conciliate and restore rather than retaliate or unnecessarily condemn, while firmly upholding fundamental principles.

   • "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." <Matthew 10:16, CCh 318.4, 9T 236.2, RC 240.6, DA 353.3, SpM 408.4, SpM 444.2, RH, April 26, 1892 par. 7, 9T 239.1, LLM 233.2, 7MR 157.1, 4MR 10.2>
   • "Do not retaliate. So far as you can do so, remove all cause for misapprehension. Avoid the appearance of evil. Do all that lies in your power, without the sacrifice of principle, to conciliate others." <GW 475.3, HDL 26.2, MH 485.3>
   • "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." <Galatians 6:1>
   • "Go to the erring one, and pray with him. Draw him to Jesus. Press together, heart bound to heart in the love of Christ." <18MR 150.2, 2MR 127.1>
   • The watchman's objective is "to win souls to Christ, at the same time not compromising one point of truth. Let us stand on the affirmative, leaving others to do the accusing." <SpM 389.3>