Forced obedience

    Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .

                          F O R c e d    o b e d i e n c e       (  3  RELATED  PHRASES  )                                       

                  The  phrase  'Forced obedience'  appears  6xx  times in the published writings of EGW               See page on Original website                                              Related Phrase:   forced alliegence  ( below )  - -  exercise of force ( )

  The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love -- service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.    Patriarchs and Prophets, page 34.3  and {SD 38.4}

 

 
   The history of the great conflict between good and evil, from the time it first began in heaven to the final overthrow of rebellion and the total eradication of sin, is also a demonstration of God's unchanging love.... The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love,--service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience.... So long as all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there was perfect harmony throughout the universe of God. It was the joy of the heavenly host to fulfill the purpose of their Creator. They delighted in reflecting His glory and showing forth His praise. And while love to God was supreme, love for one another was confiding and unselfish. There was no note of discord to mar the celestial harmonies.  {SD 18.3}

 

"Why did God allow all this fearful iniquity that men might be made free?  To this there can be but one answer.  It was because He knew the worthlessness of all forced obedience, and that, therefore, the freedom to sin was absolutely necessary to the possibility of righteousness"  The Southern Watchman, May 1, 1906    This article is not on CD-COM
 
The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love -- service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.  {LHU 50.6}

 

                                                                  God does not force                            
God does not force the will or judgment of any. He takes no pleasure in a slavish obedience. He desires that the creatures of His hands shall love Him because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him because they have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence. And all who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.  Great Controversy, page 541.3
It was right for the king to make public confession, and to seek to exalt the God of heaven above all other gods; but in endeavoring to force his subjects to make a similar confession of faith and to show similar reverence, Nebuchadnezzar was exceeding his right as a temporal sovereign. He had no more right, either civil or moral, to threaten men with death for not worshiping God, than he had to make the decree consigning to the flames all who refused to worship the golden image. God never compels the obedience of man. He leaves all free to choose whom they will serve.  Prophets and Kings, page 510.4   Read entire chapter 41

 

                                                                          Forced  allegiance                                                                       

 

The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love -- homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance, and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Himvoluntary service.   Great Controversy, page 493.2

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

                                              Return  to  Phrases related to OBEDIENCE  page

                                              Return  to  Selected Quotations by EGW  page

Related Information

Force Exercise of force Resort to force (12)