p. 98 | ORGANIZATION by EARNEST A. RAYMOND

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 12, 1901

ORGANIZATION

By EARNEST A. RAYMOND

The Early Church

EARNEST A. RAYMOND

The instructions of Paul on organization are not the empty vaporings of a visionary enthusiast, but come from the depths of personal experience, the most accurate knowledge. He knew whereof he wrote; for he had witnessed its practical demonstration. Let us briefly notice the organization, the rise and progress, of the early Church.

Its great Founder was about to depart, leaving to a mere handful of disciples the most far-reaching and comprehensive commission mankind has ever received: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,” were almost His parting words, and the solemn injunction has been handed down as a sacred trust from generation to generation.

Man’s Leader and Guide, his only Master and Lord, left no visible representative. He said, to His followers: “They which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” “One is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.”

Such was the divine foundation principle upon which was to rise the superstructure of the Church,—unselfish ministry, mutual service and helpfulness,—and the great Master himself came to set the example, “not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”

There once was a time when his Lord showed very plainly to Peter his own special duty; he was to feed the sheep and lambs of his Master’s flock. Even before this, he had been bidden of his Lord, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” His was a precious gift, an exceedingly important work. He was to become one of the chief apostles, a pillar in the Church.

But Peter had somewhat to learn. Casting his eye about, he saw one following, a sheep of that flock he had been bidden to feed. He doubtless thought to begin his work at once. He said: “Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry [linger, doing nothing] till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” Peter was indeed to feed the sheep, to be used of God in nourishing and preparing them for the most efficient service, but his was not the task of apportioning the Master’s work. “As every man hath received the gift,” wrote Peter, some time later, in words which sound the keynote to the solution of the whole question, “even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

“Beginning at Jerusalem,” at home, the center of the work, the ministry was to go forth through Judea and Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

What human power, what strength of earth, was sufficient for such a work, the preaching of repentance for the remission of sins, in that proud city which had seen such light, which made such high professions of divine favor and holiness!

“But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

System, plan, harmonized effort, was indeed necessary, but it was to come as the fruit, the natural result, of the Spirit’s organizing power. “Tarry ye . . . until ye be endued with power,” is an injunction that should be heeded till the end of time. Such was the command; and as a blessed gospel came to their minds the promise, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.”

“Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet. . . . These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. . . . And they prayed.” “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Such was the preparation then for the descent and reception of the “early rain,” the enduing of that Spirit which should organize, energize, work,—and save.

At last, when God’s appointed time was fully come, the Spirit descended in power. Of His wonderful manifestation we need not particularly speak, except to note the salient features. Peter, standing in the midst of the disciples, and addressing the wondering multitude, exhorted them, in words which the Spirit burned to their inmost souls, to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

And of the results, the Scripture states, “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” “And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. . . . And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” “And of the rest durst no man join himself to them. . . . And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

But why multiply proof? The record is replete with examples which witness most powerfully to the fact that then the Church was organized and operated according to God’s own plan, a system and work which indeed “increaseth with the increase of God.” The Creator of heaven and earth, the Head

of the Church, has placed His everlasting seal of approval on the organization and work, on the system of mutual helpfulness and ministry of upbuilding, that then prevailed and flourished. “The tree is known by his fruit.” Let us examine a little more closely, the fruit of that tree which then grew so luxuriantly; for thus shall we be able ever after to distinguish between the tree of life and that which can bring forth only to death.

Even before the Spirit descended in fullness, as the disciples were all together, engaged in prayer, God moved in a special manner upon their hearts. “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, . . . One must be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection [in place of Judas]. And they [the disciples assembled] appointed two, . . . and they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two thou hast chosen. . . . And the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven.”

Again: “When the number of the disciples was multiplied, . . . the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, . . . whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands” on him.

Note the result of the course taken: “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. . . . And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

Another example: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas . . . and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed.”

To the remnant Church, living in the time when the latter rain is due, the following points are of special importance:—

Tarrying, waiting, for the reception of power from above; spending the time in preparation and prayer.
The perfect equality of all. The Holy Spirit as the presiding, systematizing, unifying agency.
Even the chief apostles, when specially moved of the Spirit, simply “stood up in the midst of the disciples,”—that is, spoke only as common members,—yet, having messages direct from God, they spoke with a power and authority which the multitude, being of one mind (of the Spirit), recognized.
The absence of committees for the originating of any movement or appointment.
Appointments were made by the multitude. The apostles and elders simply ratified the choice made.
Heaven’s approval of the course taken. Measures thus inaugurated were wonderfully blessed. Men thus chosen, “being sent forth of the Holy Ghost, departed.”