Working by Proxy by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 22, 1910

Working by Proxy

By F. M. W.

THIS is an age of working by proxy. There has come, in almost every phase of human experience, a lessening of individual effort and responsibility, and a growing tendency to give over, to committees and associations, work properly belonging to the individual. The authority of the many is delegated to the few. The great majority have ceased to plan for themselves, and leave to others the planning, while they blindly follow the path of leadership. Individual judgment and conscience are being subordinated more and more to the decisions of controlling boards, and the consciousness of personal responsibility is being lost. In consequence it is considered that moral responsibility may be shifted from the individual to the union or organization to which the individual may belong.

This spirit is rapidly bringing the world into the condition where master minds and leading spirits will, under the control of Satan, marshal the multitudes against God and his truth. One man or a few men will be enabled to control thousands of others.

There is danger that the church of God will be affected by this baneful spirit of the world. It is so natural for the human heart to shift moral responsibility! Thus many are inclined to lay aside all personal burden of church work. How easy it is to elect a board of church officers, and then leave to them the responsibility of all church affairs! If the church has financial obligations, are not the deacons or trustees elected to look after these? If souls are backsliding from God, and need words of encouragement, is it not the work of the elders to put forth necessary labor in their behalf? Many reason in this way, leaving to others the burden of responsibility which should be justly shared by all, and turning over to others the missionary work in which all should take a part. In consequence there is largely lost that rich spiritual blessing which can come only as a result of personal effort.

In his providence, God has called this people to a great and noble work,—the giving of the message of a soon-coming Saviour to all the world. This burden does not rest upon a few. It does not belong alone to the elder of the church, to the president of the State conference, nor to the president of the General Conference. It does not belong alone to these men with all their associated committees in every department of the work. The call of God is to you and me individually. The responsibility must be divided. Every believer in this message should sense the responsibility which falls to him alone.

In the organization of this work, departments have been created, and committees and boards have been chosen; but these boards and committees have not been chosen to do the work of themselves, or to lessen in any degree the individual responsibility which rests upon every member of the church. The work of organization is to bring about such a condition that the efforts of the believers shall not be scattering and misdirected, but harmonious and united. With this system, the value of individual effort is increased. Without it, much of disorder, counter-effort, and duplication would result. It is safe to say that individual effort, thus harmonized and directed and unified, will accomplish a thousand times more than it could accomplish single-handed. But this by no means lessens individual responsibility, nor does it interfere in any degree with the personal relationship which exists between every believer and his divine Father. In union of effort there can be freedom in Christ.

There is opportunity afforded for the exercise of every talent. This is for the reason that true organization is for the purpose of developing every talent and ability which can be utilized in the carrying forward of God's work. It is for every member of the church to seek for divine guidance as to what God would have him do. At the same time, he should seek counsel of his brethren. The Spirit of God will lead his mind and theirs, and will be pleased to reveal through them what the Lord would have done.

In these evil days, when voices are sounding on every side, when Satan is seeking to draw us continually from the path of duty, we need in our individual experiences the special leading of God. We need also to keep close to our brethren

in counsel, that we shall not make mistakes and be switched from the great main track of truth. Let the prayer of each believer be, What wilt thou have me to do? God will send the answer, and in ways of his own choosing will lead each in the path wherein he should walk.

F. M. W.