A Letter by I. C. Sultz

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

A Letter

By I. C. Sultz

I. C. SULTZ

It gives us much courage to know that there are those among us, who, having been much in the home of Sister White, and present at the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy, have had their courage and faith in the Lord greatly strengthened thereby. With the prayer that the faith of many doubting ones might be strengthened, I quote the following significant and self-explanatory letter written to a doubting brother by a daughter of one of the old pioneers in the message:—

“DEAR BROTHER ——: Since hearing your sermon yesterday my soul has been greatly burdened, and I have felt impressed either to visit or write you. Perhaps what I say will do no good. But with the prayer that God will help me by his Spirit, I take up my pen to address you.

“O Brother ——, I fear you are standing on dangerous ground! I beg of you to consider well the position you are taking. Will the Word of God bear you out in it?

“You spoke in your discourse of the danger of being led by a head, and referred to the evils resulting to the children of Israel on account of their depending on the leadership of Moses. Now I ask you, Brother ——, did Moses set himself up as a leader, or did God call him to be the leader of his people? If God did ordain him to be the leader of Israel from Egyptian bondage to the land of Canaan, did he make such a mistake as to cause the people to worship the golden calf while Moses was away forty days? Instead, I think it plainly shows the need and importance of their having a leader.

“How many times God has manifested his displeasure when the leader was spoken against! How was it with Aaron and Miriam? Numbers 12. How was it when the whole camp murmured against him? Numbers 14. What was the result when Korah, Dathan, and

Abiram, and ‘two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown,’ rose up in rebellion and said, ‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?’ Please read the whole chapter of Numbers 16. Was it the instrument, or was it God against whom they were speaking? The fearful judgments that came upon those that took part in the rebellion answer the question too plainly to admit of a shadow of doubt.

“‘Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.’ God has always led his people by human instrumentalities. He speaks through his chosen servants to make known his will to his people. It is not the human instrument as a person we are to follow, but the voice of God to us spoken through his servant. If it is dangerous to have a head or leader, then God has made a great mistake in all his dealings with his people, for his plan has been to raise up men or women to lead out in every phase of his work, and he is still doing so.

“What would an army do without a head or leader? What would any corporation do without a head or leader? What is the use of church officers? What is the need of preachers to teach us, if every one is to be led personally by the Spirit of God, as you say? It seems to me that if this idea were carried out, it would bring in utter confusion and tear up the very foundation of our faith—the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. If we give this up, we may as well give up the whole truth which we have held so dear these many years. And that is just what all have done who have rejected the Testimonies in the past. They have gone into darkness; and where are they?—God has rejected such. I have yet to know of one that has made a success. It is a fearful thing to fight against God. The very course that many are taking at the present time is the strongest proof of the inspiration of the Testimonies that have been given in the past, one of which stated that some of our brightest lights would go out in darkness.

“I have been connected with this truth from my childhood. I have seen it rise in feebleness, obscurity, and poverty. I have seen how God has blessed those who have stood firm and loyal to his truth. I have seen it grow in brightness and splendor until it encircles the earth, and thousands are now rejoicing in its glorious light. If God had not led in this message, it would have come to naught long ago. And how has he led?—By the humble instrument of his choice, which was but a poor weak vessel, but God spoke through the human instrument.

“Right here I want to ask, What is there in any of the Testimonies that is contrary to the Bible? What is there that will injure us in the least? Only our pride and selfishness are crossed. What is there in them that, if lived up to, will lead us away from God and his truth, or cause us to sin and commit wickedness? Is not the very opposite true? ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’

“God is and has been in this message, and it will triumph gloriously. If we turn our backs upon it, it will make no difference with the truth; God will take care of that. But it will make a difference with us. If we reject it, God will reject us, and we shall lose the blessing pronounced upon those that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, and with it our right to the tree of life and an entrance through the gates into the city.

“It is neither man-worship nor woman-worship to heed the voice of God spoken through his chosen servants, be they men or angels. In Rev. 19:10 the angel told John not to worship him, for, he says, ‘I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’

“Hoping you will pardon the liberty I have taken in thus addressing you, and praying that God will add his blessing to the humble thoughts I have penned, and that God will bless and lead you into all truth, I am,

“Your unworthy sister in Christ.”