NECESSITY OF CHURCH ORDER.
By Rufus Baker
THE necessity of order in the church must be apparent to all who have given the subject an impartial investigation, from the fact that we have entered the perils of the last days, and are living in a time when Satan is trying with all his power to overthrow the message of the third angel, by bringing confusion and distraction among the people of God. It truly seems as though the children of light ought to manifest as much wisdom in conducting their affairs as the children of this world. To illustrate: Suppose the government of the United States should call out their subjects and send them south to fight without qualified leaders, or even enrolling their names or having any principle of order by which they could concentrate their forces. Should we not think there was a great lack of wisdom in such proceedings? Surely we would; and it would be no marvel if half their number never reached their place of destination; and those who did reach it would be at the mercy of their enemy, liable to be cut to pieces or taken captive by them at their will. But this is not the case. On the contrary, we find them calling for volunteers, who, after being suitably inspected and having their names properly enrolled, have to go through with a thorough course of discipline before they are considered capable to be brought into action. So likewise should it be with those who are brought out under the proclamation of the third angel's message. They should be such as are willing to obey God by keeping his commandments and the faith of Jesus, and then be brought into gospel order and disciplined in the school of Christ, and thereby be brought into one solid phalanx to attack their common enemy, who is going to make war with the remnant of the seed of the woman. Rev. xii, 17. I cannot bring myself to believe that God is calling out a people to go to distraction; and without order we are all liable to be imposed upon by impostors or unqualified teachers. It has been shown through the gift of prophecy that this door through which the enemy comes in to perplex and trouble the flock can be shut by fleeing to God's word and becoming established upon gospel order. Order was observed in the days of the apostles; for Paul said to Titus, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order things that are wanting," &c. Titus i, 5. It appears from this testimony that what was wanting was order. This order consisted partly in ordaining elders in every city or church. Acts xiv, 23. The apostle, after giving the qualification of the elders, proceeds in verse 10 to give some reasons why it was necessary that the church should be thus organized. For, says he, there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, &c. Are we any more free from unruly and vain talkers and deceivers now than the apostles were in their day? I leave the reader to judge. Again: Acts xx, 29. Here the great apostle to the Gentiles, after giving the elders their charge to take the oversight of the flock, and feed the church of God, over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers, subjoins his reason: For, says he, I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Has Satan grown so stupid for the last eighteen hundred years that we have nothing to fear from this source? I think not. But on the contrary, he has come down with great wrath, knowing that his time is short, and he is to work with all power, signs and lying wonders here in these last days. Therefore we see the necessity of being prepared to shun his deceptions. For, as says the apostle, we are not ignorant of his devices. Past experience also justifies us in this position; for it is a fact that those churches prosper best which have organized under the order of the New Testament. The fanatical spirit which arose in Wisconsin last winter, originated, and did its greatest work, among those who were opposed to order. If we may be permitted to learn from experience, it truly seems as though we should try to close this door of the enemy. Wisdom is justified of her children. I sincerely hope that the time may soon come when the subject of organization will be more fully entered into, and carried out through all the various branches of the church of Christ. A stormy future is before us. Satan is mustering his forces for the great battle. Therefore we do well to prepare for the conflict, by pressing together and striving to fortify ourselves for the attack. I confidently believe that the Lord is stirring up his faithful children to the subject of more thorough organization. May God grant to speed on the work and hasten the time when we all shall see eye to eye on this subject, is my prayer. RUFUS BAKER. Mackford, Green Lake Co., Wis.