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Organization

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 4, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 18.

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Organization

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES
IN the early days of our work we had no organization. As a result there were some poor representatives of our work who attempted to preach the message.
As time passed on, some of our leading brethren saw that some kind of organization must be formed. Others thought that to organize would be to return to Babylon, and when Elders White and Loughborough and others advocated it, these strongly opposed it. As this question was being discussed, it became apparent that there was a lack of unity among our ministers on this great question. Not only this, but there were ministers who professed the truth, but whose teaching was not calculated to lead others into the truth.
In the matter of taking a name, some of our good brethren honestly felt that it was decidedly wrong, that it was copying after the world, and would bring disaster to our work.
In the midst of these perplexities the servant of the Lord was shown that “the name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, it will wound the transgressors of God’s law, and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” This counsel from the Lord settled the question with those who believed in this important gift in the church.
It seems to me that in the wonderful conversion of Saul the Lord teaches us the respect we should have for his organized church. When Saul asked the question, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” he was at once directed to the church. In “Sketches from the Life of Paul,” pages 28 and 31, we read as follows:—
“Jesus sends the inquiring Jew to his church, to obtain from them a knowledge of his duty. Christ performed the work of revelation and conviction; and now the penitent was in a condition to learn of those whom God had ordained to teach his truth. Thus Jesus gave sanction to the authority of his organized church, and placed Saul in connection with his representatives on earth. The light of heavenly illumination deprived Saul of sight; but Jesus, the great Healer, did not at once restore it. All blessings flow from Christ, but he had now established a church as his representative on earth, and to it belonged the work of directing the repentant sinner in the way of life. The very men whom Saul had purposed to destroy were to be his instructors in the religion he had despised and persecuted. . .
“The Redeemer of the world does not sanction experience and exercise in religious matters independent of his organized and acknowledged church. Many have an idea that they are responsible to Christ alone for their light and experience, independently of his recognized followers on earth. But in the history of the conversion of Saul, important principles are given us, which we should ever bear in mind. He was brought directly into the presence of Christ. He was one whom Christ intended for a most important work, one who was ‘a chosen vessel’ unto him; yet he did not personally impart to him the lessons of truth. He arrested his course and convicted him; but when asked by him, ‘What wilt thou have me to do?’ the Saviour placed him in connection with his church, and let them direct him what to do.” In all God’s dealing with Saul he recognized his church, which had been established on the earth to carry forward his work.
It will be readily seen from God’s dealing with Paul that he was not fitted for the full work of the gospel minister until his ordination. I am well aware that this ordinance has been greatly abused by some churches, and men have put more stress upon an outward ordination than on having the heart right in the Lord’s sight. At the same time my observation has taught me that where there is an independent course taken, and men insist on going ahead independently of the recognized church which God has established in the earth, it has always resulted in confusion.
My heart has been made sad of late to see some advocating doctrines that are not in harmony with the spirit of prophecy, which God has placed in the church. I believe that from this time till the close of the work there will be more and more to draw us away from the message. No doubt there will be side issues and mystical interpretations of the plain message until the truth that is so dear to us will be eclipsed in many minds, and they will become more interested in fine-spun theories than in the important work God has given this people to perform, and thus some will draw away from the closing message, instead of building up the work.
Brethren, the Lord will not reveal new light, which is entirely foreign to the church and the Testimonies of his Spirit, to one individual. Our ministers make mistakes, but the Lord is leading in the message, and our safety is in keeping on board the old ship of the third angel’s message, and in avoiding the fine-spun theories that draw away from the testing truths for our time. I know I have written very plainly, but I have watched these things for years, and my observation is that those who switch off on these various side issues, sooner or later give up the truth, or come back and take their stand in the message.
Cedaredge, Colo.