UNITY OF ACTION by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 26, 1877

UNITY OF ACTION.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THERE is nothing in the Christian religion but what ennobles the mind, enlarges the heart, and cultivates a spirit of disinterested benevolence. It is not at all strange for ministers to become strongly attached to those fields of labor where God has blessed their labors. Neither is it at all strange that those who embraced the truth under the labors of such men should feel an attachment to them, and desire to have their labors. But if any branch of the work or any portion of the field should be left to one mind, there would be loss; for it would bear the mark of the human more than the divine. It is God that is leading in his work, and it is safest to follow the united judgment of God's people. The General Conference represents the combined judgment of his people. The State Conference comes next. It is therefore unwise for any one man to follow his private judgment, or yield to his personal feelings independently of the body, unless he is acting without any connection with the people of God.

We are about entering the season of tent labor, and there should be a feeling of freedom with ministers to confer with their respective Conference Committees. Not that the Committees will assume the dictatorial position, or that the minister should lose his identity; but a free interchange of ideas will elicit much light and give a better understanding of each other. God will approve of such a course. Quite frequently there are reasons why ministers should change their fields of labor. Those having an eye to all parts of the field may see reasons which they whose labors and feelings have been local do not appreciate.

It is both reasonable and consistent for churches to esteem those highly who have been instruments in the hands of God in bringing them into the truth, but a change of gifts is also beneficial to them. It is the clean provender winnowed from the chaff of error, that gives spiritual growth, and not so much the vessel through which it may be received. Ephraim was like a cake unturned—a good Christian under certain circumstances; but a change of circumstances, and his goodness became like the morning dew. God is jealous for his people, angels are weighing

moral worth, and watching the development of character. When influences are causing a defect in their experience, his providence will indicate, at least, a change of circumstances that will reveal to them another page of their hearts, and learn them something more of themselves. Therefore a yielding, submissive spirit is necessary on the part of all.

S. N. Haskell.