p. 6 | E. K. SLADE by E. K. Slade

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 18, 1913

E. K. SLADE

By E. K. Slade

Gospel Finance — No. 20: Our Financial System and Our Organization

E. K. SLADE

If the enemy of God's work cannot find selfishness enough in a man to make him withhold his tithes and offerings, he will suggest that each individual ought to say just where they shall be paid, even to the placing of them in the hands of the individual user. Thus the way is opened for any sort of self-appointed preacher or evangelist to receive support from consecrated funds, regardless of his standing, fitness, or qualifications. A glib talker, a pleaser of the people, with winning personality and the ability to cause the tears to flow freely, would walk away with his pockets full; while a purer, better man, too honest to do that, would go hungry and naked rather than make a play upon the people's sympathies to get funds for his personal needs. Such a state of things would make it possible for men to receive financial support and pose as public workers in the Lord's work through the approval of one or two or a very few. The standard of those supported by the tithes and gifts of the people should be that demanded and agreed to by the whole body. When, in recognition of gospel order, all funds are placed in the Lord's treasury, they are used to support only those workers whose lives and labors will warrant such support according to the judgment, not of one or two or a few, but of the whole body.

Let the reader imagine, if possible, what our work would be if each one were to pay tithes and offerings promiscuously to whomsoever or whatever might appeal to his fancy. There are those who move about in our conferences

advocating such an arrangement, and bidding for such support. Unusually pleasing sermons are preached and timely truths are presented by men who manifest a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of those who listen to them, but their opposition to gospel order in directing and financing the work and their disregard of the spirit of prophecy are made prominent. We have no warfare with such men, but we appeal to those who love God's closing work to be true to the message and the great world-wide movement by which it is being carried to the world. The enemy hates to have it go as it is going, and he hates the grand and effective system and the financial arrangement, the benefits of which he understands better than we do; and for this reason he would, if possible, place in operation a movement in opposition to that which is so essential to such advancement. Those who love to see the work prosper and who properly regard their own eternal welfare, will do nothing by word, act, or gift to encourage or sustain such a movement.

It is wise that our churches do not invite men to occupy their pulpits whose relation to the truth is such that the General Conference or the division, union, or local conferences will not grant them credentials or recommend their support. When place is given to such persons or when contributions are made to them, to that extent the purpose of our God-given organization and financial system is defeated. Approximately two million dollars are contributed and distributed annually in our work, and every dollar of that amount is accounted for and appropriated with care and systematic management. Who can feel that it would be profitable to the cause to have it otherwise?

Our foreign mission operations have assumed gigantic proportions. An inspection of the Mission Board budget will convince one of this. In going through the budget for 1914 recently, it inspired confidence in the management of our work as well as emphasized the necessity of order, to see with what exactness the needs of the fields of the world are anticipated and provided for, and how carefully every cent of money sent abroad is accounted for. There is no haphazard work about this. The needs of every field are carefully studied. Will an opposer of organization and of our financial system venture to say how the work of God in these great fields could be carried forward without our church, conference, and general organization?

We have in our ranks hundreds of faithful veterans who have given their lives to the work until disabled by age, and those who have failed in health from bearing heavy burdens. Their support must come from some source. They are not to be treated as subjects of charity. Their support is properly provided for in the same systematic way, so that this faithful class of God's servants is not left to suffer. Who would have this effective and equitable system set aside, and these disabled servants of God neglected? He who by precept or practise consents to the payment of tithes or offerings wherever one's fancy may dictate, loses sight of one of the most vital and fundamental parts of the great system of truth committed to the remnant church. That the enemy strikes a blow at that point is significant. In our study of gospel finance, this question of our financial system and organization is not the least important. It will be appreciated more as the work develops and as the enemy tries harder to bring in confusion.