THE CHURCH by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1901

THE CHURCH.

By John Norton Loughborough

Timely Advice to the Church

ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

“Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jer. 17: 5-8.

In a Testimony dated Sept. 19, 1895, the following remarks are found, based on the foregoing scripture: “Let no plans or methods be brought into any of our institutions that will place mind or talent under the control of human judgment, for this is not in God’s order. God has given to man talents of influence, which belong to him alone, and no greater dishonor can be done to God than for one finite agent to purchase from men their God-given talent, or the product of such talent, to be absolutely under his control, even though the benefit of the same be used to the advantage of the cause. In such arrangements, one man’s mind is ruled by another man’s mind, and the human agent is separated from God, and exposed to temptations. Satan’s methods tend to one end,—to make men the slaves of men. And when this is done, confusion and distrust, jealousies and evil surmisings, are the result. Such a course destroys man’s faith in God, and in the principles which are to control His work, to purge from guilt and from every species of selfishness and hypocrisy.”

What was contemplated in the plan of organization adopted by the Seventh-day Adventists was that those placed in responsible positions should act as counselors to the flock, being themselves, in all things, an example of the instructions they gave. Thus by mutual counsel, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the work would move on harmoniously. We subjoin a few quotations, illustrating the statement that it is a “perversion of organization,” and not organization itself, that is responsible for the state of things which the Lord condemns.

In the REVIEW of Feb. 28, 1893, is the following: “Those who have the oversight of the churches should select members who have ability, and place them under responsibilities, at the same time giving them instruction as to how they may best serve and bless others. . . .

“Let those who are just gaining an experience be invited to meet with more experienced workers, and as did the disciples after their first missionary effort, let them tell what they have done, and what have been their failures or successes. In this way opportunity will be given to reprove or encourage, as the case may demand, and teach them how to work in the best manner. . . .

“If in accepting responsibility, in seeking to impart light to others, they tremble under the cross, they will be led to the Saviour to find strength and grace and power. Through this experience they will learn to rely, not on their ministers, but on the Lord himself.”

This thought is again brought out in the REVIEW of March 6, 1893: “Well organized work must be done in the Church, that its members may understand the manner in which they may impart light to others, and thus strengthen their own faith and increase their knowledge. . . . Why do not the overseers of the Church have councils to devise ways whereby young men and women may be trained to put to use their intrusted talents?”

While these instructions pointed out the course that should be taken, Satan was busy in perverting the work, as set forth in the REVIEW of Aug. 7, 1894: “The people of God have educated themselves in such a way that they have come to look to those in positions of trust as guardians of truth, and have placed men where God should be. When perplexities have come upon them, instead of seeking God, they have gone to human sources for help, and have received only such help as man can give. . . . It is a mistake to make men believe that the workers for Christ should make no move save that which has first been brought before some responsible man. Men must not be educated to look to men as to God. While it is necessary that there be counseling together and a unity of action among the laborers, one man’s mind and one man’s judgment must not be the controlling power.

“Every true follower of Christ has some work to do for Him, for which he is responsible to his own Master; and that work he is expected to do with fidelity, waiting for command and direction from his leader. . . . The president of the Conference is not to do the thinking for all the people. He has not an immortal brain, but has capabilities and powers like any other man. And to every man God has given his work.”

In the REVIEW of Aug. 14, 1894, the same topic is continued, in these words: “The education that should be given to all is that they should exercise faith, that they should go to God in earnest prayer, and learn to think for themselves. To meet difficulties and plow through them by the help of God is a lesson of the highest value. If men and women do this, they realize that their help has not come from a human source, but from the living God, and that, having sought wisdom of God, they have not sought in vain. It is the privilege of every soul to go to God for himself, and to have a personal connection with the source of all power. Then the lips can speak forth the praises, not of men, but of God.”

This instruction is in harmony with the plan adopted in the early times of our organized Conferences. In the public meeting the requests for labor, and the openings for the same, were presented freely and fully, after which all the ministers were requested to seek God, to learn for themselves where the Lord would have them labor. In a later session experiences were related of how the Lord was leading and impressing their minds. So when the respective field of labor was finally assigned to the minister, it was evident to the entire assembly that the Lord was leading. The after-results showed that the Lord had a work prepared for these laborers in the field to which He led them. It was after seeking the Lord for ten days, in 1868, that the decision was made to send the laborers to California.

The benefit to accrue from a personal seeking of the Lord in reference to duty is again set before us in the REVIEW of July 16, 1895: “We need to leave more room for the working of the Holy Spirit, in order that laborers may be bound together and may move forward in the strength of a united body of soldiers. Let all remember that we are ‘a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.’ Therefore each one should inquire, with meekness and fear, What is my path of duty? . . .

“The work of God is retarded by criminal unbelief in His power to use the common people to carry forward His work successfully. . . . Every individual is to become an instrument in His hands to work for the salvation of souls. Not one who desires to labor for the Master is to be refused a place if he is a true follower of

Christ. Every one has his responsibilities to bear in the cause of Christ. The efficiency of the Spirit of God will make effectual the labors of all who are willing to submit to His guidance.”

“Special Testimony,” No. 3, Aug. 3, 1894, contains the following: “A hard, unjust, critical spirit has been indulged among those who have held positions of trust in the work of the Lord. Unless those who have indulged this spirit are converted, they will be relieved of the responsibility of acting a part in committees of counsel even in the transaction of business. Unless they are converted, their voice must not be heard in the council; for the aggregate result is more injurious than beneficial.”—Pages 10, 11.

“The Lord must be believed and served as the great ‘I AM,’ and we must trust implicitly in Him. Let not men prescribe laws to take the place of God’s law. Never educate men to trust in men; for man’s wisdom is not sufficient to decide as to their right to engage in the Lord’s work. When God lays a work upon individuals, men are not to reject His sanction. God must not be impeded in the working out of His plans by man’s interference, but this has been done again and again. . . . If men will not meddle with God’s plan, and will let Him work upon mind and character, building them up according to His plan, a work will be accomplished that will stand through the severest trial.”—Id., page 40.

In a testimony, dated May 26, 1896, we read: “Organizations, institutions, unless kept by the power of God, will work under Satan’s direction to bring men under the control of men; and fraud and guile will bear the semblance of zeal for truth, and for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Whatever in our practice is not as open as the day, belongs to the methods of the prince of evil.

“The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our Conferences. But if a man is sanguine of his own power, and seeks to exercise dominion over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him, lest great harm be done, and he lose his own soul, and imperil the soul of others.

“This lording it over God’s heritage will create such a disgust of man’s jurisdiction that a state of insubordination will result. The people are learning that men in high positions of authority cannot be trusted to mold and fashion other men’s minds and characters. The result will be a loss of confidence even in the management of faithful men. But the Lord will raise up laborers who realize their own nothingness apart from Him.”

From these quotations it is clearly seen that it is not the system of organization that is at fault, but a perversion of it.

“FINALLY, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” . . . This is the only place in the New Testament in which this word “lovely” is to be found. It literally signifies what is dear to any one. It is that quality in the Christian character that engages the affections of all who come into its presence. The phrase “things of good report” also occurs in this passage alone. It means that which excites admiration and wins approbation. The two expressions together signify, in plain English, “be lovable; let your life win the hearts of all around you.”—Theodore L. Cuyler.