Perfect Union Only in Christ by Clarence Santee

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

Perfect Union Only in Christ

By Clarence Santee

CLARENCE SANTEE

To-DAY men are associating themselves together in unions of different types, with the hope of making economic conditions better. When one organization fails to accomplish its purpose, it seeks a stronger one, evidently believing that ultimately the combination will be so strong that all opposition will be overborne, and the goal will be attained.

But what is the goal sought? Is it to make men better? Is it to relieve the wants of a larger number of suffering men and women? Combinations and unions, actuated by the right spirit, could be a means of accomplishing these much-to-be-desired ends; but as long as self rules in the hearts of men, such combinations will but add to the distress that it is vainly hoped will be removed. The prophet, looking with the eye of inspiration down the ages, has said: “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught. . . . Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy.”

We do not need to seek far to find the reasons why unions and associations do not, and under present conditions can not, conduce to the permanent betterment of social relations. The object sought is to wield a greater power, a more successful warfare, against all who may oppose or obstruct their progress toward universal control.

The heart of the individual is the same, whether alone or associated with others of like ambitions. It cries out, as did Lucifer, “I will be like the Most High.” Even if that object were attained, the craving spirit would not be at rest, but would weep that there were not other worlds to conquer. Self can never rest content.

Disguise the issue as we may, the desire to build up self upon the basis of other men’s downfall and financial ruin, —though these men may be equally good, equally deserving, with helpless loved ones equally depending upon them, —enters into all the ambitions of sordid, money-loving, worldly hearts; and of such as these, unions are largely composed.

If some philanthropist, with a desire to accomplish some great achievement, associates with himself other men for counsel and additional means, it is but a short time before the element of life and growth for all is lost from this laudable enterprise, or association, and the self-centered principle of absorption becomes the ruling, controlling power that binds it together.

Legislation can not eliminate the dangerous element. One reason for this is that legislation—if “by the people”—is enacted by the same persons who form these unions, which exist for the different ends sought, and which are often directly opposed the one to the other. Another reason is that legislation can not change the human heart. If one leak is apparently stopped, another must break out. Unions and their aims are but the outgrowth of the sentiments and desires of human hearts; and these sentiments and desires, no laws, however wisely framed, can control or change. Only the acceptance of the spirit of the Man of Calvary can change the desires of the heart, and cause the spirit of the sacrifice of self for others’ good to enter and reign.

While this spirit may obtain the mastery in willing individual hearts, by acceptance of the power of God in Christ, it is foreign to unions and confederations, to their aims, and to the causes for their existence. This being so, they can not but be a hindrance to the only power that can work permanent good and salvation to men.

Loma Linda, Cal.