p. 146 | ORGANIZATION by Earnest A. Raymond

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1901

ORGANIZATION

By Earnest A. Raymond

The Early Church

EARNEST A. RAYMOND

The manifestations of the Spirit are ever in the most perfect order, and according to the most harmonious and efficient system. “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” The apostle says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” And to bring about this efficiency of ministry appears to have been one of Paul’s chief labors among the churches. Paul was a great organizer. No one understood better than he the value and necessity of systematic endeavor. On one of his tours he “ordained them elders in every church.” To the church at Corinth, after a long exhortation on order and harmony, he wrote, “the rest will I set in order when I come.” Titus he left in Crete, to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city,” while his own soul was refreshed while “joying and beholding” the order of the Colossians.

Yet Paul sought to establish no rule of man. He himself, conscious of his direct calling of God, and to escape all hindrance, “conferred not with flesh and blood,” as he started out on his early ministry. And he it was who withstood Peter [one of the pillars] to the face, and even “before them all,” “because he was to be blamed.”

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves,” he writes to elders, “and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.” “The elders which are among you I exhort, . . . Feed the flock of God which is among you; . . . neither as being lords [“overruling,” margin] over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

But, says one, are not “governments” mentioned as one of the gifts of the Spirit? And are not we exhorted in Hebrews to obey them that have the rule over us, and to submit ourselves?—Certainly; and from the original Greek, as is also indicated by the marginal reading, we obtain a clearer understanding of what this governing, this ruling, is. It is to “pilot,” to “guide.” As we learn from Paul’s instructions to Timothy and Titus concerning elders, they were to be men of deep and well-grounded experience in the things of God. Note the prominence given to true personal, family, and social religion; and thus these, above all others, could stand as “ensamples to the flock.” Not “as overruling God’s heritage,” but as skillful pilots, safe guides, “able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” Thus could they feed indeed the Church of God, ministering “as every man hath received the gift.”

Before one can be helped, he must feel his need of help; he must yield himself to be aided. But we are only stewards of the gifts, the manifold grace of God. Whatever therefore may be our gift,—wealth, wisdom, experience, position, and influence, any endowment of body or mind,—let us not expect, let us not allow, our needy fellow men to submit, to surrender, their individuality to ours in order to obtain its benefits, but

have them submit to the Spirit that “worketh all these.” We, on our part, in yielding ourselves to help, submit, surrender, not to their own individuality, but to that same Spirit. Christ has made us debtors to their need, and them to our aid; and both being subject to the same all-supplying Power, a perfect ministry is the result. Thus can all of us be subject one to another, yet enjoy the most perfect liberty, “for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.”

From the record of the work and experience of the early Church, we learn something of the methods used for the supplying of its needs. They “had all things common.” “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, . . . and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”

Afterward, the Lord having signified by His Spirit that there should be a world-wide dearth, “the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” “It hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.”

“Now concerning the collection for the saints. . . . Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him; that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. . . . Beyond their power they were willing of themselves. Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift. . . . But first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

Thus did the members of the body of Christ, as first re-organized, first regenerated, by the “former rain,” recognize, and work in accordance with, their mutual dependence. In all lands, in all ages, it is ever the same,—when men realize that they are not their own, that they are “bought with a price,” having first given “their own selves to the Lord,” they demonstrate His life by life-labor for men. Shall any of us, waiting for the latter rain, say that aught of the things we possess is our own? Let us hold them in trust, as stewards, to be used at the Spirit’s bidding.

The gift and grace of God, the work of the Spirit, is something beyond our human thought or speech; it is a life,—the only life,—learned only by the experience. Thus shall the Spirit be enabled to work all these, and the result, an “effectual working in the measure of every part.”

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”