Relation of the Young People's Society to the Church
By R. T. EMERY
The church and the Young People's Society have the same object. Perhaps that may best be expressed in the motto which the young people have adopted—“The Advent Message to All the World in This Generation.” The church has been preaching it for years, and has been working steadily to accomplish it. From the labors of a few pioneers the believers in this message have rapidly increased in number until now they are scattered in all parts of the world. Our Young People's Society has arisen to fill a definite place in God's closing work—a God-given place. It might be profitable to consider for a few minutes just what that place is. What reason does the Young People's Society have for existence?—To help finish the work; to prepare workers to take the places and to assume the responsibilities necessarily given up by the older men. Yes, and in doing this the society will also fulfil another mission. The number of Adventist young people has constantly increased, until now they form a large army. Many of these are the children of faithful parents, but they themselves do not have the same aspirations, are not guided by the same Spirit which directs their elders. To aid in the salvation of these young people is a great object with the society. No matter how good the home influences may be, the members of a consecrated band of young people are of great service to one another. Out of these needs have grown many enterprises. Active work is everywhere recognized to be necessary for healthy growth. Just so, spiritual work is necessary for spiritual growth, and young people are no exception to the rule. Many missionary enterprises adapted for the young have been introduced. To-day we have a well-organized, progressive society, constantly aiming to do better and more efficient work for the God of heaven. This being the object of the young people's organization, there is no reason why there should not be perfect harmony between it and the church. If both are in the right place, there can be nothing else. I am thankful that to-day the two are working more harmoniously than ever before; that we can see a constantly strengthening bond of union between them. It would seem that both are striving to get nearer the place God designs for them to fill.11 But there are many ways by which harmony may be secured. We should never think ourselves independent of the church, or possessed of privileges which the church as a whole does not enjoy. We must always remember that we are only a small part of the church, a weak and inexperienced part at that, and we must not forget the respect due from our Young People's Society to the parent organization. Our attitude in this will affect our work in all its branches. We are told in 2 Tim. 3:2 that one of the signs of the last days is disobedience to parents; and another, given in the succeeding verse, is a lack of natural affection. We see these fulfilling in the world around us. To-day we see mere children despising all authority, and growing up to follow their own unbridled passions. The same spirit may be seen trying to gain a foothold in our own church, and even in our own individual lives. May God grant that the Spirit which is from above may defeat any such attempt. It is well for us to study to see what the Bible teaches regarding respect due to our elders, and then to practise it in our every-day lives. And in our Young People's Society we can gain much by paying proper respect and deference to the advice of the church. We should always consider it as coming from the older members of the Lord's great family upon this earth. But now this advice would not be needed if the society was not doing something; for where nothing is being done, there is no danger of doing any positive wrong. We as young people need to keep constantly at work, and we should try, so far as practicable, to cultivate the habit of working out our own problems, always, of course, with God's aid. Young people who are wanted now, who can be of most service in God's cause, are those who have met and conquered difficulties. God wants experienced young men and women to-day. God has delegated one church to carry his message for to-day to all the world. All classes and all ages are united in one common working force. To aid some of them to do better work the Young People's Society has been established; but never is it designed that the society shall take the place of the church to any class. There are not two organizations—one for the young, another for the older people; there is but one, the church. We young people are first members of the church, and then of the Young People's Society. It is important for us to remember that the aim we should set before us is to fit for service, and serve. The society members need to be faithful in church duties,—to remember the Sabbath-school, church, prayer, and missionary meetings. The inspiration they will gain from a live organization seems certain to fit them for better church work. And then they can be a benefit to the church. There is no provision for any figure-heads in God's great organization. There is no one who has nothing to do. And if each has a place, he certainly helps the whole whenever he tries to fill that place. There is, moreover, no reason for idleness or misunderstanding between workers, for there is an abundance of work to be done, enough to cause us to wonder how it will ever be accomplished. One great help will be for all to try to place the church in a position where it may be said of it,— ‘Like a mighty army
Moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.’