p. 9 | J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 7, 1907

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

Things That Differ—No. 2

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

In a former article we found that in establishing and maintaining the apostolic churches, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, strict order was observed, and responsibility was placed upon men to care tenderly for the flock. Even the apostle Paul, on whom rested a care for all the churches, said, “Ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.” 1 Thess. 2:11.

In Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians we read: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition [teaching] which he received of us.” 2 Thess. 3:6. To the Philippians Paul said, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.” Phil. 3:17.

The apostle saw that it was needful to have order in the church, and that responsibilities for the care of the church be laid upon such as had demonstrated ability in governing the household, and so he gave instruction regarding the same to Timothy, and also to Titus, to whom he gave a special commission to “set in order the things that are wanting.” If this was needful in apostolic days, how much more important in these last days, when the world is filled with iniquity, love of pleasure, false teachings, and apostasies.

In the instruction which was given in early days to Seventh-day Adventists we read: “Gospel order has been too much feared and neglected. Formality should be shunned; but, in so doing, order should not be neglected. There is order in heaven. There was order in the church when Christ was upon earth, and after his departure, order was strictly observed among his apostles. And now in these last days, while God is bringing his children into the unity of the faith, there is more real need of order than ever before; for, as God unites his children, Satan and his evil angels are very busy to prevent this unity and to destroy it.”—“Supplement to Experience and Views,” page 12.

In a foot-note on the same page we read: “After the time passed [1844], there was great confusion, and the majority were strongly opposed to any organization, holding that it was inconsistent with the perfect liberty of the gospel.”

One of the principal claims made by those who warred against organization when introduced among Seventh-day Adventists was that it “abridged their liberty and independence, and that if one stood clear before the Lord, that was all the organization needed.” Upon this point, when church order was contested, this statement was made, “Satan well knows that success can only attend order and harmonious action. He well knows that everything connected with heaven is in perfect order, that subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host. . . . He deceives even the professed people of God, and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality; that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course. . . . All the efforts made to establish order are considered dangerous, a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are feared as popery.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 650.

When those who, earlier in this work, witnessed the battle to establish church order, now hear persons uttering almost the identical words then used by those opposing order, it need not be wondered that we fear the result of such utterances. I mention in this connection the following, made by one who was pleading for individual liberty, and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit alone: “Perfect unity means absolute independence, each one knowing for himself. Why, we could not have outward disorganization if we all believed in the Lord. . . . The question of organization is a simple thing. All there is to it is for each individual to give himself to the Lord, and then the Lord will do with him just what he wants to, and that all the time. Our only safety, under God, is to go back to the place where God is able to take a multitude of people and make them one, without parliamentary rules, without committee work, without legislation of any kind.” Such a statement is also in harmony with one which I recently read to the effect that every one was to get his instruction directly from the Holy Ghost, and that “no one had a right to say to him what he should do.”

Superficially considered, that might appear to be a blessed state, a heaven indeed. It is not, however, in exact harmony with the experience of the wise man, who said, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Prov. 11:14. Nor is it in accord with the following instruction given to this people: “The God of heaven is a God of order, and he requires of his followers to have rules and regulations to preserve order.” And again: “One point will have to be guarded, and that is individual independence. As soldiers in Christ’s army,

there should be concert of action in the various departments of the work. . . . Followers of Christ will not act independently of one another.”—Ibid., No. 32, page 30; No. 33, pages 62, 63.

In 1894, in “Special Testimony,” No. 3, page 19, the following instruction was given to those contending for individual liberty: “The less of the meekness and lowliness of Christ the human agent has in his spirit and character, the more he sees perfection in his own methods, and imperfection in the methods of others. Our only safety is to watch unto prayer, and to counsel together, believing that God will keep our brethren as well as ourselves, for there is no respect of persons with him.”

In a communication, dated Jan. 14, 1894, we are thus counseled: “Why not keep steadily at work in the lines that God has given us? Why not walk in the clear lines he has revealed, and in place of tearing to pieces that which God has built up, work on the side of Jesus Christ? . . . We want to hold the lines evenly, that there shall be no breaking down of the system of regulation and order. In this way license shall not be given to disorderly elements to control the work at this time.”

Again we read: “As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power, knowing that his time is short. Especially will his power be exercised upon the remnant. He will war against them, and seek to divide and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown. . . . Order must be observed, and there must be union in maintaining order, or Satan will take advantage.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 210.

While some are now teaching that all the order needed is in each individual church, and that each member is to look to the Lord alone for guidance, we find quite different the instruction the Lord gives his people respecting it, and also respecting the order established among Seventh-day Adventists. Of this we read in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, pages 236, 237: “Every member of the church has a voice in choosing officers of the church. The church chooses the officers of the State conference. Delegates chosen by the state conferences choose the officers of the union conferences; and delegates chosen by the union conferences choose the officers of the General Conference. By this arrangement, every conference, every institution, every church, and every individual, either directly or through representatives, has a voice in the election of the men who bear the chief responsibilities in the General Conference.”

In “Christian Education,” page 136, we are told that “the Lord wrought in the organization which has been perfected.” In this matter, as in all others where there is a difference, may the Lord give wisdom to prove “the things that differ,” that we may be found in harmony with the instruction of his Word, and the special instruction for these last days.

Healdsburg, Cal.