What Shall Be Done? by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1872

What Shall Be Done?

By John Norton Loughborough

Done with what? Done with whom? What shall be done with the cases of persons who have so little sense of the great magnitude and solemn importance of the work of God at this time, that they study more to serve their own selfish ends than to serve God’s cause? Not having a burden of the work upon them, they are not prepared to sympathize with those who are bearing heavy burdens, and are ready to call in question, and sit in judgment upon, the manner in which the true burden-bearers do their part in the work. And these complainers—whom Jude calls “spots in your feasts of charity”—while they call in question the manner of doing, are the last persons to suggest any better plan of doing. Always complaining, yet hardly ever found ready to take any burdens themselves. Not willing to do what they might do if their energies were dedicated to the Lord, but, aspiring to do some “great thing,” if they ever do act, and to get positions they are wholly incompetent to fill, and Korah, Dathan, and Abiram like, they are saying to, or of, those with whom the advancement of God’s cause is dearer than life, “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them.”

These complainers are, withal, usually the most sensitive people in the world, inclined to look out for slights, sure others intended to hit them in their remarks, when such was not the case. Getting in the way of the tools of those who consider that they must faithfully serve the Master, thus they get hit, and then make a great ado over it; whereas, if they had been about the Master’s business, lifting where, and as, they might, instead of being in the way of the laborers, they would not have been hit, nor be so sensitive lest others should hit them. Having their hearts and hands engaged in cheerful labor in the work, they would have no time to spend, like a nervous dyspeptic, in watching their own feelings.

What shall be done with them? Why, tell them plainly, yet mildly, and in love, that they must either go to work, or “get out of the way,” and then you go faithfully on with your duties, without stopping to explain much to gratify their feelings. If they want their judgments instructed so they can see how, and where, to take hold, we should ever be ready to do it; but if they simply wish to hold us to reconcile their poor, selfish feelings, we shall beg to be excused.

These things are brought forcibly home to my mind by a letter just received, in which one poor brother, who has been watching his feelings for the last two years, for fear somebody would step on them, has at last made a final break, and he says, “I hereby declare disfellowship with the Adventist church of ——, Cal., until restitution is made to my wounded heart.” “Nov. 15, 1872.”

To my certain knowledge, the church in —— have never designed to do a single thing against this brother’s heart, but have had great anxiety that his course might not reproach the cause, he, supposing himself called to do a work which they were as fully satisfied he was incompetent to perform. This has made much anxiety on their part lest the cause should suffer through him. And now, as his letter has thrown perplexity upon the church, they, desirous, as usual, of doing just right, inquire, “What shall we do in this case?”

As one brother in that church, when an important question was once up, was asked, What are you going to do? and he said, “I am going to fear God and keep his commandments, for Solomon said, ‘This is the whole duty of man,’” so I say now, I think you should still go on faithfully in the discharge of all your duties, as though nothing had happened.

If the Lord will, I will call upon you not many days hence, and then we can look the matter over more definitely, and if explanations are needed, I have no doubt you, as a church, are willing to make them. If this brother thinks he can get along without the church, it should not dampen the zeal of the church.

This cause is of God, his hand is set to the work, and he will carry it forward. If we take hold to dedicate ourselves to the work, to do our duties faithfully, making the cause of God of more consequence than everything else, God will bless, and the message of truth will move on in our midst. When the people of God stand in the light, and do their duties faithfully, it is as natural for the Spirit of God to be with them, as for water to run down hill, or for it to seek its own level. And why? Because he has said, “Ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

I was reading a few days since one of Beecher’s illustrations of those who think to stop the great train of truth by their own selfish complaining and fault-finding. He said it reminded him of a little dog’s barking after a train of cars as it is starting from the depot. The dog seems to make good headway at first, but, as the train increases in speed, and thunders away in the distance, the poor dog is left behind in the dust, perhaps wondering that the train did not stop for his barking.

So, here, it has seemed to me that in the early days of this cause, ministers and churches have been held too much of their precious time in trials growing out of somebody’s poor, jealous, sensitive feelings. God’s people are taking their position upon a higher plane. The great train of the third angel’s message is increasing its speed. Energy is demanded of every one now. “Watch,” “pray,” and “work,” are the three important watchwords. We say to all, Die to self. Die to sin. Put away the spirit of complaining and fault-finding. Find your proper place, no matter how humble it may be. Get your heart imbued with the Spirit of God. Work! WORK!! it will prove, with God’s blessing, a sure cure for your “spiritual dyspepsia.” Get aboard the train, if you do die to self, and get your all on board. If you do not, and still continue in the old course of murmuring and complaining, it will ruin your own souls, but it will not stop the progress of the great train of truth; but will leave you, ere you are aware of it, far behind in the dust, and you, perhaps, when it is “too late,” when the work is cut short in righteousness, and when the people of God are called home, may, with your poor, selfish hearts be found unprepared.

The time has come that God’s people, the true, faithful, burden-bearers, should claim their liberties, and be no longer trammelled by unconsecrated ones. They are arousing to the true position and work of the times. They feel that complainers, and self-caring ones, shall no longer hinder them from doing, in the fear of God, their whole duty. Woe unto those who stand in the way of the solemn work of God. They may be told to get out of the way. Let us all consider our true position before God, and, with true consecration, becoming the times, decide for ourselves in our position, and condition, What shall be done by us.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.