p. 9 | The Author of Order by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1907

The Author of Order

By J. S. WASHBURN

J. S. WASHBURN

“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” A pamphlet recently written conveys the idea that every church is independent, and that there should be no conference organization. All general organization is branded as Babylon and the papacy. But if this principle were to prevail, there would indeed be a very Babylon of confusion and disorder among us. Each church sending out its workers here and there without co-operation, with no central executive committees to carry out the wishes of all the churches, everything would certainly be running at cross-purposes.

But the whole plan is contrary to the plan of God and the order of heaven, and the order among his own people, as indicated by many scriptures. “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” We are members one of another.

Heaven is not conducted on the principle of independent congregations. There was a high and mighty angel, who started the idea in heaven of congregational independence. He gathered together his followers. But the Lord had no room for an independent congregation in heaven, and that mighty angel was cast out, and all the members of his church with him, out of the unity of the one family in heaven, separated from the family, cut off by the divine surgeon from the great body. This surgical operation has caused him pain, and has caused us all much tribulation. We have had enough of this experiment of congregational independence.

It is true that in the New Testament, the church in Jerusalem, the church in Antioch, the church in Rome, are mentioned; but it is also true that the whole body of God’s people is many times called “the church of Christ,” “the church of the living God,” etc. Matt. 16:18: “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” What church was this? I ask. Was it the church in Jerusalem, the church in Antioch, the church in Corinth?—No. It was the church, the whole church, the body of believers.

Again: “God hath set some in the church, first apostles,” etc. In what church?—In the church. Of Jesus, Paul writes that God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” What local church is this? This is not a local church. This is the church of the living God.

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Eph. 5:25. “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Verse 27. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth,” 1 Tim. 3:15. The Scripture speaks clearly of the “general assembly and church of the First-born, which are written in heaven.”

Thus it is plain that the divine plan does not contemplate independent, unrelated organizations scattered here and there, but the church as one united whole. There is one Lord, one Spirit, one faith, and logically the church of God is one church. The Lord is bringing out such a people from the Babylon and confusion of the world, and forming them into one, welding them together.

The most wonderfully organized people the world has ever known was Israel. The excellent advice of Jethro to Moses that there should be companies and order by divisions, and yet all recognizing a common church government (for Israel was “the church in the wilderness”), is still good counsel, written for our learning. And when Israel was divided and scattered among the hills and valleys of Palestine, they were still one church, one body in government and organization.

The council at Jerusalem is an evidence that the disciples believed in and practised an organized unity. Note that at this council certain orders were given. These were the result of their counsel. Note the expression, “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.” Read further Acts 16:4, 5: “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

These decrees that were ordained of the apostles and elders were not popery. Here was a central council, a conference, that had ordained certain things; and they went through all the different churches, delivering these decrees for them to keep; and so, that is, by this means, was the church established in the faith, and increased in number daily. In this connection read also Acts 15:41: “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

This certainly is as clear as the resolutions that are passed by the General Conference and are sent out to all our people; though our General Conference has never taken upon itself as yet to call

them decrees, as the decisions of the apostles were called in the early days after their General Conference at Jerusalem. What can be more clear than this: “So were the churches confirmed”? And any work that pulls down this organization will not confirm the church, but rather bring in disintegration, division, and ruin.

General organization, organized unity, is God’s plan and purpose. The whole principle is laid out in what we know of the order of heaven, in the order of Israel, and in the order of the apostolic church. But God has given men brains and common sense to apply the principles of his Word to their daily life and the daily perplexities and difficulties which they meet.

Through much labor and perplexity there has been formed among the people who believe in the near coming of the Lord an organization which has been indorsed from beginning to end by the spirit of prophecy. Whoever seeks to overthrow it is doing the work of the enemy who sought to bring an independent organization into the family of heaven. No man liveth unto himself; neither does any church live unto itself, or any conference. We are all one, members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Let us abide in the body. Let us stay on board the ship.

Many have arisen in days that are past, and are arising to-day, preaching independence and false liberty, which is license. The liberty of organized unity, wherein each feels definitely related to every other one of the church of the living God, is true liberty. He who is cut off can no more live, prosper, and bear fruit than the branch severed from the vine. If ever there was a time when organization and unity were essential, it is to-day. A small people, united with God, and welded together as one, can face the divided interests of the world’s great Babylon, and win eternal victory.

Nashville, Tenn.