p. 363 | Development of Order-No. 1

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 4, 1901

DEVELOPMENT OF ORDER.—NO. 1.

By John Norton Loughborough

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph. 4: 14–16.

If the growth of the body of Christ—the Church—is a growth in “all things,” then in that growth will be seen a system of order, such as is essential for the harmonious development of the Church. It may be a matter of interest to note the introduction and practical working of the “order and system” which, in the opening providence of God, have aided in the successful rise of the Third Angel’s Message.

The following, from the pen of Sister White, found in “Christian Education,” published about 1874, states some interesting things relative to church order:—

“I am sure that the Lord has wrought in the organization that has been perfected, and the fact that there are discouraging features in the work should not be thought a sufficient reason for disorganization. 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? Shall we go back to disorder because unconsecrated members of the church have placed upon the work the mold of man, and sought to fashion the church to meet a popular standard?”—Pages 135, 136.

The word “perfect” is used as applying to the system and plan of organization, and not to perfection in the men working with those plans; for it clearly states that the mold of man had been put on the work, not because the system of order was imperfect, but because of indifference, formality, and pride,—following a form merely as a form without the vitalizing power of godliness.

In a Testimony found in the General Conference Bulletin of 1892, Sister White says: “It is nearly forty years since organization was introduced among us as a people. I was one of the number who had an experience in establishing it from the first. I know of the difficulties that had to be met, the evils it was designed to correct; and I have watched its influence in connection with the growth of the cause. At an early stage in the work, God gave us special light upon this point; and this light, together with the lessons that experience has taught us, should be carefully considered.

“As our numbers increased, it was evident that without some form of organization, there would be great confusion, and the work could not be carried forward successfully. To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying on the work in new fields, for protecting both the church and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for other objects, organization was indispensable.”—Bulletin of Jan. 29, 1892.

As we carefully “consider the light and experience” in the development of organization, it will lead us to note the difficulties to be met, and how the order established met the difficulties. In the Bulletin of 1893 we read still further respecting organization: “All this was missionary work of the highest order. Our work was not sustained by large gifts and legacies; for we had few wealthy men among us. What is the secret of our prosperity? We have moved under the order of the Captain of our salvation. God has blessed our united efforts. The truth has spread and flourished. Institutions have multiplied. The mustard seed has grown to a great tree. The system of organization has proved a grand success.”

“Let none entertain the thought, however, that we can dispense with organization. It has cost us much study, and many prayers for wisdom, that we know God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built up by His direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down; for you will thus bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord, I declare to you it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled.

“At God’s command, ‘Go forward,’ we advanced when difficulties to be surmounted made the advance seem impossible. We know how much it has cost to work out God’s plan in the past, which has made us as a people what we are. Then let every one be exceedingly careful not to unsettle minds in regard to those things God has ordained for our prosperity and success in advancing His cause.”—Bulletins of Jan. 29, 30, 1893.

From an unpublished Testimony of July, 1894, we quote these words: “Now, just now, is the time, when the perils of the last days are thickening around us, that we need wise men for counselors, not men who will feel it duty to stir up and create disorder, and who cannot possibly give wise counsel, but who can organize and arrange that every stirring up shall bring order out of confusion, and rest and peace in obeying the word of the Lord. Let every man be found in his true place, ready to do some work for the Master, according to his several ability. None should be left to drift, to make a vast amount of trouble and confusion.”

In a Testimony dated Jan. 14, 1894, we read: “O how Satan would rejoice to get in among this people, and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential, and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings, and to refute claims not indorsed by the word of God. 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. We are living in a time when order, system, and unity of action are most essential. And the truth must bind us together like strong cords, in order that no distracted efforts may be witnessed among the workers. If disorderly manifestations appear, we must have discernment to distinguish the spurious from the

genuine. Let no messages be proclaimed until they have borne a careful scrutiny in every jot and tittle.”

Again we see that it is the system that is recommended. Disorganizing would of course tend to throw matters in the line they were before the system was established. We see also that the object to be gained by the system of order is that of unity and harmony in carrying forward the work. So the danger pointed out should we now disorganize was the apparent danger when organization and a system of working was brought to the attention of this people at the first.

In “Testimonies for the Church,” No. 33, these words are found: “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.”—Page 62.

On the point of individual independence we read still further in “Gospel Workers:” “The laborers should counsel together. No one is to strike out on his independent judgment, and work according to his own mind, regardless of the counsel of those connected with him. If we think ourselves sufficient to manage the work of God, and depend for success on our own wisdom to plan and execute, we may expect defeats and losses; for they will surely come.”—Page 355.

These quotations present, as it were in a nutshell, what was contemplated in the plan and system or organization. It was that of securing unity of action in the work of presenting the message to the world. It can readily be seen that a people who had been thrust out from organized bodies and placed where each had to think and act for himself, and who had become accustomed to a sort of independence in thought and action, would be in danger of confusion in labors under the Third Angel’s Message, unless some system were established for the promotion of harmony of action. This is the object that was first presented, and which has been kept in view as the different phases of the work have been developed. It is not a plan calculated to prevent people from searching for truth, from seeking divine guidance for themselves; but is an arrangement in which should appear unity among a multitude of thinkers.

The matter of private judgment and union with the body is plainly stated in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, published in the year 1875: “I have been shown that no man’s judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any one man. But when the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered. Your error was in persistently maintaining your private judgment of your duty against the voice of the highest authority the Lord has upon the earth. After you had taken your own time, and after the work had been much hindered by your delay, you came to— in answer to the repeated and urgent calls of the General Conference. You firmly maintained that you had done right in following your own convictions of duty. You considered it a virtue in you to persistently maintain your position of independence. You did not seem to have a true sense of the power that God has given to His Church in the voice of the General Conference. You thought that in responding to the call made to you by the General Conference, you were submitting to the judgment and mind of one man. You accordingly manifested an independence, a set, willful spirit, which was all wrong.”—Page 492.

These words are not to be understood that a conference of men who were led by human wisdom and had the “mold of men” was “the highest authority of God on earth.” Nay, verily, for such assemblies have been declared not the voice of God. It is rather an assembly of representatives of the work, “gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,” with them (1 Cor. 5: 4, 5), whose decisions are ratified by the Lord.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.