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THE CHURCH

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 9, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 28.

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THE CHURCH.

By John Norton Loughborough

Delegate Conference and Church Organization.
ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
“They determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” Acts 15:2.
Concerning this gathering and its deliberations, we read in “Spiritual Gifts,” Vol. III, page 375, that it “was composed of the founders of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Elders from Jerusalem and Antioch were present; and the most influential churches were represented.”
“The entire body of Christians were not called to vote upon the question. The apostles and elders—men of influence and judgment—framed and issued the decree.”
In the Testimonies we are counseled to study carefully the experiences of the past which led to the establishment of order among Seventh-day Adventists. In tracing these, in the order of their occurrence, we now come to the fifth and sixth steps, which were Conferences composed of duly elected delegates, and church organization.
We were instructed that it was God’s will that order should be established to avoid confusion. When discordant elements came in, it led to prayerful study whether action should not be taken to remedy this difficulty. We were taught that “the angel of God had said,” that in order to shut the door against such discord we must “flee to the word of God, and become established upon order.”
In our assemblies in those early times when no restraint was upon any one,—where one had just as much right to occupy the time in our public meetings as another,—we were greatly annoyed by turbulent spirited men. At one of our gatherings in Battle Creek, Mich., a minister from another denomination, who had lately begun the observance of the Sabbath, a stranger to us all, actually undertook to open and control the meeting. In the gathering of 1860, when it was finally decided to legally organize, we were much annoyed with advocates of freedom. This all led to prayerful study of what was “wanting” to promote union and harmony in our yearly State meetings. Taking the Scriptures, and looking at the councils of the Jewish Church where points of interest to all were to be settled, the action seemed to be that of elders, and rulers selected by the people. So it was also in the Christian Church, as we have seen in their mode of procedure at Jerusalem, on the question of circumcision.
In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 652, we read that “the travels of the children of Israel are faithfully described. . . . Their perfect organization and special order, their sin in murmuring . . . and rebellions . . . this faithful picture is hung up before us, as a warning lest we follow their example of disobedience, and fall like them.”
The same writer, in speaking of the apostolic Church, said, “We should take as special measures as they did to secure the peace, harmony, and union of the flock.”—“Supplement to Experience and Views,” page 16.
We find in an address delivered by Elder James White before the Conference assembled in Battle Creek, in April, 1861, published in the REVIEW, June 11, 1861, that a more complete organization of our churches was called for. Those assembled made and adopted the recommendations favoring this, and a committee of nine ministers was selected, who were requested to hold a Bible class and seek light upon this subject, and that the same be published in the REVIEW. Their report was prepared, which set forth the Scriptural testimony on church order and church officers. It also called attention to the propriety of elected delegate representation from the several States in a general Conference, and similar representation of churches in their State Conferences. In reality this was the first suggestion of the plan of having delegates duly elected for our general associations.
In reference to the question of church organization, we read in “Christian Education:” “Much light was given to us in reference to the organization of churches, and yet we had a hard battle to fight in perfecting organization; but the victory was gained at last, and now shall the Church be disorganized because of indifference, formality, and pride?”
One of the principal claims made by those who warred against organization was that it abridged their liberty and independence, and that if one stood clear before the Lord, that was all the organization needed, etc.
Of the position of opponents at the time of the contest for church order, we read: “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.
The following is what the Lord has said on this subject: “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 Jesus Christ will not act independently one of another.”—Id., page 63.
The danger of cultivating a spirit of independence is thus stated: “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.”—“Special Testimony,” No. 3, page 19.
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.”
The summer of 1861 was not only important because of the Civil War in the United States; but many important moves were being considered in connection with the cause of truth. So important were the times that a second general gathering of our people that year was held in October. On the sixth of the month, the Michigan Conference was organized by the election of a chairman, a secretary, and an executive committee of three. By vote the Conference recommended that the churches organize, adopting the following as a church covenant: “We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves together as a church, taking the name Seventh-day Adventists, covenanting to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.”
A committee was appointed to prepare an address formulating plans for organizing churches. This address appeared in the REVIEW of Oct. 15, 1861.
The plan and principles of organization, set forth in the address mentioned in this article, are so well stated in an article from Elder James White, in the REVIEW of Jan. 4, 1881, that we quote them:—
“Organization was designed to secure unity of action, and as a protection from imposture. It was never intended as a scourge to compel obedience, but rather, for the protection of the people of God. Christ does not drive His people. He calls them. . . .
“Christ never designed that human minds should be molded for heaven by the influence merely of other human minds. ‘The head of every man is Christ.’ His part is to lead, and to mold, and to stamp His own image upon the heirs of eternal glory. However important organization may be for the protection of the Church, and to secure harmony of action, it must not come in to take the disciple from the hands of the Master. . . .
“Those who drafted the form of organization adopted by Seventh-day Adventists labored to incorporate into it, as far as possible, the simplicity of expression and form found in the New Testament. The more of the spirit of the gospel manifested, and the more simple, the more efficient the system.
“The General Conference takes the general supervision of the work in all its branches, including the State Conferences. The State Conference takes the supervision of all branches of the work in the State, including the churches in that State. And the Church is a body of Christians associated together with the simple covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
“The officers of a local church are servants of that church, and not lords, to rule over it with force. ‘He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.’ Matt. 23:11. These officers should set examples of patience, watchfulness, prayer, kindness, and liberality, to the members of the church, and should manifest a good degree of that love to those they serve exhibited in the life and teachings of our Lord.”
The Michigan Conference in the session of Oct. 6, 1861, decided that its ministers should carry papers of recognition, consisting of a certificate of ordination, and credentials signed by the chairman and secretary of the Conference: these credentials to be renewed annually.