But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Christ alone is Master and Teacher of His people, and all His followers stand on the same level as brethren with no hierarchy of religious authorities entitled to special deference. The title of master belongs to Him alone, so His followers are not to seek or accept exalting titles that set one above another and transfer to human beings honor belonging to Christ and to God. No person is therefore permitted to rule over a brother, rule his conscience, control his mind and judgment, or come between the soul and Christ. Equality is the law of heaven, for all are children of one family with one Father, with no distinction of race, wealth, rank or social standing to create a different rule or barrier. Because all are brethren, contention must be put away and each is to treat the other with humility, tenderness, courtesy and love, bearing burdens, guarding interests, and striving daily for unity and harmonious cooperation.
Wording and Historical Setting
The verse belongs to the woes Christ pronounced upon the scribes and Pharisees. Those woes are scathing rebukes for impenitence and opposition to truth and righteousness, and were He on earth today priests and rulers would hear the same rebukes pronounced upon them. They condemn pride, love of status, and desire to be first and to assume undue authority, while neglecting judgment, mercy, and love of God. They describe people blinded to the relative importance of what they should understand, giving undue weight to lesser matters while neglecting the principles that must shape life. Christ's denunciations and His warning not to follow blind leaders were preserved as an admonition for later generations against human religious authority ruling the conscience in place of Christ.
His followers must not seek their own glory or authority over others, but humble themselves, bear the cross, and follow His example in self-denial and service. Those who would help reform others must first reform themselves and act in His spirit, seeking the salvation of souls through sympathy, love, patience, and courtesy rather than force or harshness.
The words were spoken to the twelve in the hearing of the multitude. This was on the final day of teaching in the temple, when He exposed the character of the rulers and elders to free the people from customs, traditions, and unquestioning faith in a corrupt priesthood. They rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for seeking supremacy and taught a principle meant to guide the church throughout the Christian age and for people of every age and nation. Faithfulness to this principle preserves the church's purity, while departure from it marks corrupt forms of Christianity, including setting one man over the church with claims of infallibility.
Rabbi means master. The title of rabbi or master belongs to Christ alone rather than to human beings, for He alone is Master and His followers are brethren as children of one Father and members of one family of God. No person should claim a title that implies control over another's conscience or faith. Seeking it as an honor displays vanity and ambition rather than true humility, and rebukes selfish ambition for religious rank and honor.
One position presents the verse as spoken in His sermon on the mount as a motive and obligation governing the lives of His followers. There it lays down a principle of heaven for their dealings with one another, belonging to love to fellow men enjoined by the last six commandments. Christ lived out this brotherhood in His life of humanity, and gave example commanding His followers to treat one another as those bought by His blood.
Christ Alone as Master
One is the Master, even Christ, and all who follow Him are brethren on the same level, not a graded order of religious authorities entitled to special deference nor members under a competing human master. The command not to be called Rabbi forbids seeking or accepting a title that sets one above the others, though the repeated address is pleasing to the ear, and it rebukes selfish ambition for honor, power and supremacy, including a show of humility that hides envy and greed. This is a principle meant to guide the church throughout the Christian age, so that faithfulness to it preserves the church's purity while departure from it marks corrupt forms of Christianity, including setting one man over the church with claims of infallibility. Followers must therefore not depend on human beings as spiritual authorities or seek homage from one another, and no living person is to take God's place in another's mind. Seeing the faults of others should lead to humility and less self-confidence rather than feelings of superiority, and those who humbly serve to glorify God rather than seek human praise will receive eternal life. In this way the verse expresses the equality and brotherhood of mankind as a principle of Christ's religion.
No man is to place his spiritual interests under another man as a child is guided and directed by an earthly father, and desiring ecclesiastical superiority and trusting men with sacred titles injures the men so trusted and confuses the sacredness of the prerogatives that belong to God. Every living person has the same right and privilege to trust Christ directly, rest in Him alone for salvation, and serve under Him rather than serve under man or any counsel of men or yield allegiance to another. No minister or leader is above another brother minister, and none has the right to rule over a fellow worker, rule his fellow men, leave him out of confidence, refuse to sustain him, deny him a place to work, handicap him from doing God's work, manage his field, censure his movements, or counterwork God by a masterly ruling spirit. Such man-rule is condemned because it separates the soul from God, teaches trust and dependence on human agents, and puts man in the place of God. A brother in God's service is God's property under bonds to God to present the Word, to be set at work and dealt with just as one would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances, and those chosen by God must be left far more to God's management and far less to the supposed wisdom of human instrumentalities. All must therefore stand in God with life pure only under God's control for individual present and eternal good, looking to Christ alone as the Master from whom His people receive wisdom while serving God in meekness and integrity, and no one is to yield up will and judgment to follow the counsel of men nor look to leaders to know duty but look to God to know duty.
Christ is the true Teacher, Leader, Companion and great Teacher from whom His people receive light and wisdom at its source, and believers as brethren can come together in humility to learn from Him. His followers are to listen to Him and obey God's Word rather than render obedience to human beings, and instead of directing others each person is to take up his own appointed work, seek with all the powers of his soul to understand the will of God concerning himself, and place himself where he can learn from Christ. No man has been appointed by God to order his brethren, and those who influence others must not rule over them or exercise authority as though they were above them, because all are brethren. No minister is to control another person's mind or lay down rules and commands for fellow workers, but God's servants are to look to Him for direction and treat one another with respect and trust. Human teachers must look to His instruction for their wisdom, placing Christ's teaching above ordinary textbooks and worldly wisdom and leading students to learn under His direction, and in medical missionary work Christ is the chief instructor rather than education from physicians who reject His authority being treated as most essential or human guidance being followed in His place.
Each person is responsible and accountable to God, to be governed by Him as a free, responsible agent rather than forced or compelled into a course of action. That responsibility is faithfully discharged by doing everything, in word or deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus, serving God and caring for one another rather than making one another lords or ultimate authorities over life. No human being of whatever position may put another in a low place, lord over him, or keep him from expressing his opinion, and no one should dictate detailed rules for how God's workers must carry out their work, but matters of little consequence should be left to workers in the field to plan for themselves. Every worker is a laborer together with God, guided by Bible rules in daily life, which in institutions for the youth requires new principles and decided movements to aid the youth to apply Bible principles to all they do, correcting mistakes without harshness, never neglecting, overburdening or overlooking workers, making no discrimination against them and setting them a correct example on which their future may depend. God's workers are to acknowledge Christ's authority rather than any earthly person's mastery, recognizing accountability to God for how they use the talents entrusted to them. They are learners in His school who must practice His lessons with meekness, keeping business subordinate to spiritual and eternal interests when it presses too closely upon them.
Having Christ as Master means God's will becomes the believer's will, for believers are His blood-bought heritage whose physical, mental and spiritual gifts are to be used as God plainly directs in the Bible in a way that pleases Him. This gives increased knowledge of God and real advancement in knowledge and virtue by learning Christ's meekness and lowliness and bearing His yoke and burdens. Thus followers cooperate with Christ, reveal His spotless character, and become examples of purity and nobility, proving that through the infinite sacrifice made for them human beings can live pure, holy lives carrying out the principles of the heavenly kingdom. In this world they fit themselves to take their places among the nobility of heaven, to be prepared for translation to the courts above, and to enter through the gates into the city as the family of the redeemed through the grace of Christ. This forbids looking on self as gods able to carry out own will and devising, and requires that those pledged to live for His name's glory have the veil separating them from Him drawn aside to accept Him as Master, Companion and Teacher, remembering that success depends on being sustained by God with the power Christ gives to all who believe in Him to become sons of God, faithfully discharging the duties enjoined in the Word and shunning everything that makes character like the archdeceiver.
Rejecting Titles and Ambition
The command forbids followers from seeking or accepting the title Rabbi, father, or Reverend, for Christ alone is Master and all believers stand as brethren on the same level. Though the repeated address was pleasing to the ear, such honorifics set one above others and transfer to people honor belonging to Christ and to God's holy name. No title belonging to Christ is to be given to another person, and no human title is to suggest that anyone controls another person's conscience or faith. No man is to place his spiritual interests under another man as a child is guided and directed by an earthly father, for priests, scribes, rulers, and people are all children of one God. Desiring ecclesiastical superiority and trusting men with sacred titles injures the men so trusted, leads people to give clergy undue reverence, puts human beings in God's place, and obscures the sacred prerogatives that belong to God.
The prohibition rebukes selfish ambition for honor, power, supremacy, religious rank, and the highest place, rather than establishing a hierarchy of religious authorities entitled to special deference. It exposes a show of humility hiding envy and greed, and the hypocrisy and fraud of people who use high position unfairly. Disciples are not to be rivals for the highest place or to seek titles, status, and distinction over one another, and those who seek the highest place are to be reminded that they are all brethren. Strife for supremacy has no place in His kingdom, for all His servants are equal. Those who humble themselves and serve through self-denial and self-sacrifice develop qualities that commend them to God, while those who exalt themselves are brought low.
There is to be no rank, caste, or distinction of status among Christ's servants, because the kingdom of God is established on different principles than the kingdoms of this world. Believers are not to act after the manner, precept, or example of men in earthly authority, but to minister to others and be servants to all. The rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the bond, and the free are equally God's heritage, and the wealthy must not be favored over the poor, even to renting pews. True greatness is genuine humility, dependence on God, and devotion to serving all, and the one most exalted in God's sight is the one with the most genuine humility, the deepest sense of unworthiness, and the greatest realization of dependence upon Him. There are no kings to be exalted in God's work, so all must walk meek and lowly of heart in Christ's footprints and hold the beginning of confidence firm unto the end so as not to take a false step that injures the cause of truth.
Being called Rabbi and receiving public honor for apparent wisdom and religion is only an earthly reward and not true happiness, for honor from people is all the reward such seekers will receive. No kings, rulers, or popes are to take Christ's place among His people, for Christ is the only Master and Authority and all believers are brethren and children of God with the same privilege before Him. The pope breaks this command by claiming authority over conscience and practice and placing himself in the position of God, keeping the weak and uninformed from the knowledge of their privilege as children of God. No pope is entitled to supremacy in the church, and a Christian leader is due only the submission due to any follower of Christ. Those brought out from the world must diligently heed this and allow no such human authority among them.
Leadership Without Human Domination
No one is permitted to exercise ruling power over a fellow human being, to dominate another, to rule a brother's conscience, to control mind and judgment, to dictate the details of work, or to sit in judgment upon him, for Christ alone is Master and King and all stand equal as brothers on the same level. Self-exaltation in setting oneself up as king over others dishonors the Lord and makes the work a failure, so every work is to begin with humble prayer, a sense of dependence on God, and willingness to be worked by His Spirit. Those who influence others must not rule over them or exercise authority as though above them, but listen to Christ as true Teacher and Leader and obey God's Word rather than render obedience to human beings. No leader's position makes him the voice or conscience of fellow workers, gives license to exclude some from counsel, to expect others to carry out personal ideas by command, to claim ownership of mind, abilities and choices, or to set conditions and dictate use of capabilities, for workers entrusted with sacred responsibilities are accountable to God under His tutorship, are to look to Jesus for direction, to be trusted to use judgment, and to counsel together as equals with tenderness, cooperation and perfect harmony. There is no virtue in disagreement and antagonism among brethren displeases God, yet cooperation as far as possible and honoring those due honor does not allow any living person to come between the soul and Christ the heavenly Counselor, and all are to treat others as they wish to be treated.
Office does not confer kingly authority to command or control fellow workers, for leaders are to serve as advisers, counselors, helpers and examples of thanksgiving, treating coworkers with the consideration they would want themselves and learning Christ's meekness. Position does not make a man greater before God, infallible, unable to err, or superior in wisdom, and at Christ's first advent the Sanhedrin used authority to control people and bind those Christ came to free, a warning that those in authority must act in Christ's Spirit rather than lord it over God's people. Those who stand as presidents and overseers, even when appointed by God, are only men and not God, sharing common ambitions and weaknesses, so appointment gives no right to rule fellow believers or make one's own will the ruling power, but requires love to God and fellow laborers with kindness, courtesy, gentleness, grace, unity and love toward all, with character shaped by God's goodness, mercy, love, honor and righteousness. God's people belong to Him at the cost of Christ's blood and must be treated with care, with no human being master of another's mind or conscience.
Those in official position have no authority to put yokes on the necks of fellow servants, to restrict work, to forbid work, or to frame rules and regulations that hinder and cramp laborers and missionary training. Such yokes must be removed, with recognition that fellow workers sometimes know just as well how to use wisely the talents and capabilities entrusted to them, with credit for love for souls and unselfish desire to promote the cause, and with encouragement rather than watching, criticizing and blocking. This includes the right to solicit means for support of work such as the Madison school, to accept gifts or loans to invest in needed work, and to enter new fields and lines of labor, standing free on the high platform of truth and wearing Christ's yoke of meekness and lowliness instead.
No publishing house should dominate, control, absorb or claim controlling superiority over another, and no leader should do so, for all are brethren under one Master not to be ruled by one another as masters. The Pacific Press is to retain its own individuality and independence and do its own work under God's guidance rather than be merged under Battle Creek's authority. Likewise agreements that give men control over others are to be refused, including binding sanitariums together under one association.
Managing others' bodies and souls belongs to the Holy Spirit alone, and no person or group has authority to do that guiding work or to expect obedience to personal ideas by command because of responsible position. Men chosen of God are to be left far more to His management and far less to the supposed wisdom of human instrumentalities, for no one may assume the place of God, take a fellow laborer away from work, forbid service to God, refuse to link with him, leave him out of confidence, refuse to sustain him, deny a place to work, or handicap him from doing God's work. Lifting self up against a fellow laborer who does not follow one's ideas and plans comes from souls lifted up in self and repeats the spirit the Pharisees manifested in Christ's day, which brought God's displeasure and separates the soul from God by teaching trust and dependence on human agents. The remedy is more love and less self, walking humbly with God without exalting self, standing in God with life pure only under God's control for individual present and eternal good, looking to God to know duty rather than yielding will and judgment to follow counsel of men or looking to leaders, and dealing with a brother in God's service as God's property under bonds to God just as one would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances. When those in responsible positions lift up men to control others and suppose because of position their word must be done just after their own idea, they speak vanity open before God and make a mistake that compromises truth, honor and integrity to gain advantages, causing justice to fall and equity to be shut out.
No man is Lord over another, so pride, self-exaltation, and imposing a finite erring human will on fellow men by force in a rule-or-ruin spirit are forbidden. One holding responsibility who rules down others, treats souls as personal property, and carries things by storm contradicts the life of Christ and puts brotherhood out of practice, for souls belong to God as His property because Christ bought them with His most precious blood and must be treated accordingly with Christian meekness, kindness and thoughtfulness for another's interest. Such ruling hardens hearts Christ died to save and becomes a stumbling block to the ruler's own soul and to every soul within influence, and until the Spirit of God takes possession to lead him to plan and work in Christ's lines he cannot be a co-laborer with Jesus Christ. Every desire to dominate must be completely suppressed and every trace of that spirit burned out of the soul by the refining, purifying sanctification of the Holy Spirit, for Christ will not remain with those who cherish a desire to rule, religion from Christ is entirely different from domineering profession, and those lacking Christ's love will never be welcomed into the gates of the city of God unless decidedly changed, while when His love is shed abroad in the heart the lovely flavor of His character is manifested.
All are brethren standing together under Christ their Prince and Master and under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, so teachers in schools and every teacher, minister and leader are to attend to appointed work of laboring together with God in winning souls to Christ rather than engage in politics or ventilate political opinions. Those who distinguish themselves by zeal in politics are not to be kept in work and responsibility, the tithe is not to pay for speechifying on political questions, and those stirred to political ventilating must be converted by belief in the truth or give up work and have credentials taken, lest they do only harm.
Warnings against the scribes and Pharisees and their undue assumption of authority belong to admonition for later generations, teaching that human religious authority must not rule the conscience in place of Christ. Christ's denunciations and warning not to follow blind leaders were preserved to guard against accepting claims without examining Scripture for oneself and against using authority for unlawful ends. God's word in Scripture, understood by the mind, must rule the conscience rather than the priesthood treated as infallible guide.
No branch of service is to be exalted in a way that diminishes the gospel ministry proceeding under God's guidance rather than under control or restrictions of a human leader. Ministers of the Word are to be respected as Christ's ambassadors while all believers remain brethren under Christ alone as Master. Those who direct others must themselves take orders from Christ and follow His example of loving service, workers belong to Christ and must not be treated oppressively but as fellow members of His family, and in institutions all are to serve together in unity looking to God as Director and source of power rather than placing controlling authority in human leaders.
Universal Equality of Brethren
Equality is the law of heaven, for all people are brethren under one Master, which is the principle of Christ's religion. All are God's offspring, children of one family with one Father, on the same level with no first and last and none less respected or less important. With God there is no respect of persons whether high or low, rich or poor, learned or ignorant, and all are exposed to the same temptations and are precious in His sight. Selfish seeking of the highest place near Christ and striving over who is greatest is forbidden, and when Christ dwells in the heart His followers share His spirit and love in close fellowship bound by love in universal brotherhood. Rich and poor meet together in church as disciples with all distinctions lost sight of, embracing one another as Christians, for those who are one with Christ will be one with each other. As brethren they are pilgrims and strangers seeking a better heavenly country for which God has prepared a city, and even those lifted into elevated circles are to remain humble and childlike, laying riches, honor, influence and precious talents lent by God at His feet. Souls are of far greater value than money, so brethren in error must be met with goodness, mercy, truth and yearning fatherly love rather than stern watching to denounce and condemn or refusal of help on a legal excuse. Brotherhood means doing His Word and manifesting His attributes through self-denial, self-sacrifice, patience, mercy, long-suffering and love to bring the erring to look and live and return to repentance and fellowship with God, bringing reformation in souls, families and the church under the Holy Spirit. Believers must therefore guard one another's interests and do to others as they would be done to, rather than warring against and weakening one another by imagining evil.
There is no distinction of race or color, for all who believe stand on the same level before God. Faithful Black believers are precious in God's sight and must receive just as much respect as any other child of God. Speaking harshly to them or despising them offends God, shuts Jesus out of the heart, and despises those purchased by Christ's blood. Those who insult or despise the poor, discarded and oppressed need Christ's transforming grace in their own hearts to give them His pitying tenderness toward fellow believers who love God. From the Bible's standpoint rather than the world's customs, Christians are one brotherhood under Christ not divided by rank or race, called to equal respect, tenderness and care in Christ's Spirit.
Wealth, rank, learning or social standing create no barrier and give no different rule, for God recognizes no caste of masters and dependents or of socially superior and inferior. Among true Christians those entrusted with wealth or responsibility are to represent Christ's compassionate spirit through good works, treat believers and unbelievers with tender respect, and give substantial help especially to the poor and sorrowing. The wealthy are not to be honored above the poor and no difference is to be made between them in worship, so churches are to be established where all may worship together on equal terms and seats are not to be rented to favor those who can pay. Entrusted capital is to be used to bless the needy rather than for self-indulgence. Those with greater talents and influence bear greater obligation to return to God what He has entrusted to them, since all are accountable to the same law.
Difference in nationality does not release believers from duty to one another, but unity in the truth calls for practical generous assistance. It is not enough merely to say they are brethren, but workers in America who have received great mercies must show practical sympathy by sharing means with fellow workers struggling with difficulties in England and Europe. This requires prompt and liberal action in financial crisis so brethren do not stand bankrupt before the world to God's dishonor, and help to provide facilities, educational advantages and built-up institutions in English-speaking countries such as England and Australia so the plants increase in usefulness and prosperity and workers can carry truth rapidly with twentyfold more influence to many places including darker heathen nations.
Workers in every school, printing office, health institution, publishing house, food factory and sanitarium must not be divided into an aristocracy. Wages must not be fashioned after the worldling's standard but by excellent judgment that keeps equality as far as possible. A few must not demand large wages while others equally deserving receive far less, nor must large wages be offered as inducement to secure ability and talents, for that puts reward on a worldly principle and brings selfishness, pride, display, self-gratification and needless extravagance while tithe-paying people remain in poverty. Managers and directors must treat fellow workers with respect, kindness, fairness, honesty, justice and mercy in Christ's Spirit, paying according to faithful work and never holding back earned wages to add to profits or show financial gain, dealing with others as they wish to be dealt with by Christ. Position does not make the man, and the same justice and self-denial must govern salaries of ministers and physicians, for both are in the same Master's service for salvation of body and soul with the worldwide message most important, so ministers must not receive a limited salary while medical workers receive a large wage nor must large sums bind about the ministry. All God's servants are to walk humbly as self-sacrificing missionaries seeking eternal life rather than making large demands for service.
Believers belong to God who purchased each of them, share birth by the same Spirit, membership in one body, the Spirit's work, and sustenance from one source. They feed on Christ the Son of God through the Word which is spirit and life, and because they share this spiritual life and close relationship they must act in harmony rather than prize differences, for failure denies the source of their life. Differences in habits, character, temperament, education, training, talent or expression are not grounds for division nor to be prized, and no one is an independent whole or self-exalting rival, for each is only one member to be controlled by the Holy Spirit under one Head in heaven. Even the least saint who believes in Jesus as personal Saviour is a vital member united to the body and to Christ the living Head, as branches attached to the parent stock centered in Him. This oneness makes believers shine as lights, carrying in all dealings with the world a distinct atmosphere superior in spirit and words, with power to improve, refine and elevate others depending on vital connection with Christ, distinct separation from the world, and perfection of contrast to it. Whether preaching, teaching, practicing medicine, cultivating soil, following a trade, acting in councils, or going to foreign lands beyond all human domain, each is to look to the Lord as companion, counselor, guide, helper and friend, give all tact and strength of mind and heart, do his best, be clean, and keep unspotted from the world. They are to draw together in unity of the Spirit, show brotherly love by unselfish deeds, and value one another as purchased by the same blood and sustained by the same Source.
Success comes not from learning, position, numbers, entrusted talents or human will. Feeling their inefficiency, all workers must contemplate Christ who is the strength of all strength and the thought of all thought. Self must be humbled today, tomorrow and constantly, and with willing sanctified hearts workers must cooperate with God, letting Him take away the sin that hinders yoking with Christ, for through Him the willing and obedient gain victory after victory. When yoked with Him He as Emmanuel supplies every weakness with strength and every inefficiency with power, but if workers take glory to themselves He removes His excellency and they no longer ride prosperously. Men in every position of trust are ruled by God as Judge, Lawgiver and King and must guard every soul as His purchased possession, prevent oppression, manifest unselfishness and self-denial in all dealings, and bring God's laws into practical life especially to rule institutions. There is not one rule of action for men in authority and another for those expected to submit, nor one for directors and another for supposed inferiors, for many treated as inferiors are approved by heaven and precious in God's sight, and true learners keep the same holy standard with tenderness and love.
Unity and Harmonious Cooperation
Because all are brethren, contention in the church brings a dearth of spirituality and keeps the Lord from being glorified, so it must be avoided by cultivating grace, lifting the heart in prayer for keeping power, restraining unsanctified words that cast reflection on others, being true to one another, and glorifying God in word and act as those bought with a price. Believers must daily strive to live in unity, allowing no variance or strife to enter, never losing sight of the light and glory of God, for sweet fellowship is possible if they will it, and such striving for unity is the best medical missionary work. They must not strive for supremacy but act according to the Lord’s will rather than selfish independence, treating one another with love as those made one in Christ and redeemed from Satan’s power by His untold agony on the cross. Men of the same faith must not turn their weapons against each other in blind warfare, which astonishes the heavenly universe and grieves Jesus, nor present opposite opinions before the world without first coming together in love to compare views and see if they cannot come into harmony. They must meet like brethren with the Bible in hand, consider points of difference prayerfully and in a Christlike spirit, plainly state differences face to face, guard speech, and refuse to spread reports that bring reproach on one another, using speech to bless and not to injure souls.
Shared standing as brethren under one Master calls each person to do the work appointed in his own place in harmony with one another, building up God’s work and serving in whatever task is needed rather than treating others as superior. No one has been appointed to order his brethren, so instead of directing others each is to take up his own appointed work, seek with all the powers of the soul to understand God’s will concerning himself, and place himself where he can learn from Christ. This must be ingrained in character, for inventive power, scientific skill, organizing tact, and power to restore order to distracted elements and place the work on a solid basis of industry and durability come from God, and those entrusted with them must look ahead with far-seeing judgment, tact and ingenuity to establish the work aright, not by making the proudest show among the nations. Teachers in particular are to attend to their appointed work rather than engage in politics, standing together under Christ their Prince and Master, and none are to seek human instruction where God’s Word gives plain guidance.
Believers under Christ should take counsel with God and with one another in carrying forward His work, counseling and praying together on important matters and following Christ in all things rather than acting independently or allowing one person to control the work, for unity guards against dissension and mistakes. No one should exercise dominion over fellow workers or order and dictate to them, and disagreements should be considered together prayerfully and in a Christlike spirit rather than turned into public battles. Differences in habits, character, temperament, education, training and talent are not grounds for division or for prizing difference as a virtue, for brethren share the same spiritual life and sustenance, belong to the same body, are brought together by the same Spirit, are purchased by the same blood, and are sustained by the same Source. They may differ because temperaments and convictions differ and each may state convictions freely, remembering personal mistakes, dealing in Christ’s spirit, refusing to answer provocation with bitterness or a mean spirit, drawing together in unity of the Spirit and showing brotherly love through unselfish deeds.
Diversity centered in Christ is the power of usefulness, like branches centered in one vine sharing its nourishment and bearing rich fruit, requiring laying down self and the desire for supremacy, for having one’s own way, and for childish emulation and strife, with each helping the other to courage, hopefulness and perseverance. Allowing individual unsanctified traits to discourage one another offends God, and when workers are bent on their own way He cannot impart His Holy Spirit, while great discouragement also comes from Satan and his confederacy of evil. God does not require servants to work in precisely the same way, so each worker should be thankful for his own part in the vineyard and believe the Lord is leading fellow workers just as truly as himself. The spirit that measures workers against one another and estimates value by human judgment is not the Spirit of Christ and is forbidden, and workers wherever they labor are to come close to brethren, preserve unity and love through the pledged power of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bind sympathies together, and cooperate harmoniously for the salvation of souls. No worker is to hold aloof, judge fellow laborers coldly, or withdraw sympathy, kindness, love and practical help, but is to divide and share means with needy laborers in the same field, for such sharing is well pleasing to the Lord and withdrawing sympathy brings His displeasure.
The work is one, so workers in the printing office, school, food factory and sanitarium are to blend interests, with those connected with one branch feeling an interest in every other branch, every department conducted according to principles of the Word under His counsel with not one thread of selfishness woven into the web. There is need of daily conversion to feel true concern for the work as a whole, harmonizing together, loving as brethren, and honoring all as laborers together with God. The hope of the cross abides as followers joined to one another develop Christ’s attributes and draw inspiration from Him, and shared dependence on the atonement leaves no place for pride or dissension over lesser things, calling them to live in unity with Christ and one another in kindness, patience, courtesy and love. Kinship calls servants of God to join in the work rather than hold aloof, criticize or despise one another, for despising those who bear God’s message despises the Lord who gave them their message and work.
Practical Brotherly Love in Action
Brotherhood under one Master requires humility and restraint in judgment, treating one another with equal respect, tenderness, courtesy, patience, gentleness, pity and love, without exalting self over another, bearing down with a strong spirit, misjudging, or treating anyone as inferior. Self-exalting control must die so that God may live in the heart, and servants of Christ are to act as His helping hands with tender compassionate sympathy, since harsh unloving treatment that wounds God's children grieves the angels. No one is to seek to rise above God's chosen servants, but each is to apply the verse personally by living humbly, esteeming others above self, honoring Christ rather than self, and treating fellow workers with respect, love and confidence rather than judging by personal preference or criticizing faults. Despising or harshly addressing anyone because of race despises those purchased by Christ's blood, for the oneness of Master and brethren forbids such contempt.
Speech must be wise, courteous, kindly and sanctified rather than strong, harsh or contentious, for contention brings a dearth of spirituality and prevents the Lord from being glorified. No one has privilege to bear down with a strong spirit, misjudge, place a wrong estimate, use strong language about another's course, or speak undeservedly, but must give a right and just estimate, recognizing faithful service without designed injury. Before censuring moves that seem selfish and deserving reproof there must be waiting and care lest a worse mistake be made by unjust judgment, and words must be wise to stand just and reasonable before God, since harsh censuring of one who will make the wrong right offends Christ. Reports bringing reproach are to be refused and not spread, and speech is to glorify God, bless others, and preserve unity and peace rather than injure souls. When even an experienced and esteemed brother blunders he needs encouragement not censure, not I told you so, for he may feel deeply, the Lord loves and pardons him while the blamer's mistakes may be greater, and his mistake is not to be kept in mind as a triumph or spoken of until he sees and acknowledges it with regret, but met with patience and encouraging words in silence.
Egotism and religious pride must be put away rather than measuring one another, for spiritual prosperity depends on unselfish love and Christian fellowship. Suspicion, accusation, unforgiving spirit, envy, jealousy and evil surmising have no place among brethren, and no one is to treat another as an offender over a careless word or action. Kindness and courtesy are owed to one another especially when someone has erred, and those who judge harshly need to humble themselves, recognize their own need of forgiveness, and love with sympathy and confidence while looking to Jesus. Envy, jealousy and suspicion require entire transformation of mind and character, with professed truth sanctifying the heart into Christlike deportment rather than frivolity, lightness, jesting and joking, since God shows no favoritism of one above another and all stand equal.
Brethren are to bear one another's burdens, guard one another's interests with no injustice or false dealing, and do to others as they would be done to. Money and advantages entrusted by God are to be used to serve and bless one another, protect each other, keep unity among covenant-keeping people, be a praise to Him, and proclaim the gospel by cooperating with Him in saving others as His hands of ministration imparting His blessings. Antagonism among brethren displeases God, and cooperation in perfect harmony is required, with officers of sound judgment refusing arbitrary ruling authority, honoring those due honor, yet allowing no living person to come between the soul and Christ the heavenly Counselor. Selfishness and insisting on one's own way contrary to co-workers' judgment have no place, and in sanitariums and other institutions love shown in kind words, pleasant looks and condescending demeanor, with counseling together and no favoritism of chosen favorites, has great power for good.
The law to love neighbor as self binds all to all without excuse, calling for human sympathy cherished as a God-given quality never cast aside toward the needy, wounded, bruised, disconsolate and oppressed. As the Samaritan helped the traveler from Jerusalem to Jericho, so brethren must show practical mercy with the charge to go and do likewise. Churches under covenant to love God supremely and neighbor as self are to do Christ's work of going about doing good, reaching people where they are in cities and byways and hedges to relieve physical, mental and moral suffering, a work to be borne by the many with angels cooperating, correcting moral apathy. With no hardness of heart and no favorites with God, an enlightened brother fallen into poverty must be relieved, put on his feet and placed where he can support himself rather than refused help, under plain duty requiring daily self-denial, cross-bearing and following Jesus, lest those who withhold be brought over the same ground of need.
Brotherhood must be proved in action not merely in word by imparting mercies promptly and sharing abundance with struggling workers in other fields. American stewards and workers in Australia, England, Europe and other parts stand together in harness as equals with the same calling, and requiring and retaining everything at home while fellow workers have nothing and the cause is marked by manifest poverty robs brethren and robs God, whom Christ loves equally in every field. Means must supply necessities to plant work in new fields, equip institutions and sanitariums, provide facilities, educational advantages and built-up institutions, and give a fair chance to exercise tact and ability and magnify truth by correct principles, so plants increase in usefulness, prosperity comes, and English-speaking workers carry truth rapidly with twentyfold influence even to darker heathen nations. Holding back from covetousness and selfishness forfeits blessing and weakens influence, while letting overflow go to needy places in self-denial and love of neighbor as self pleases the Lord, and selfish withholding brings loss, displeasure, and need of cleansing of heart and mind. No worker is to hold aloof, judge coldly, or withdraw sympathy, kindness, love and practical help, but come close, bind sympathies together, believe the Lord leads fellow workers as truly as self, divide and share means with needy laborers, refuse to measure workers against each other by human judgment, and cooperate harmoniously for souls.
Erring brethren and ministers under difficulty and temptation must be pitied, comforted, helped and spoken to gently rather than denounced, discarded, handicapped in ministerial work, shut out of work, or judged from the judgment seat, for no permission to rule a brother's conscience has been given. All have imperfections, natural and hereditary weaknesses needing refinement, all are amenable to God, and all have erred and shown want of faith yet God has not discarded them but sees works differently than men and knows how to deal with many kinds of men without harsh human judgment. Lifting self against a fellow laborer who does not follow one's ideas repeats the Pharisees' spirit, brings God's displeasure, and forbids taking a brother from work, forbidding his service, or refusing to link with him, while God's chosen must be left far more to His management and less to supposed human wisdom, with more love, less self, and humble walking with God. Souls are of far greater value than money, and those in error must be met with goodness, mercy, truth and yearning fatherly love, not as under a stern watching God nor refused on legal excuse, but led to look and live as Christ revealed the Father. Doing His Word by eating His flesh and drinking His blood means manifesting His attributes in self-denial, self-sacrifice, patience, mercy, long-suffering and love like Him who was wounded for transgressions, to bring back the erring to repentance and fellowship, lifting hanging hands and making straight paths so the lame is healed rather than turned aside, working reformation in souls, families and church under the Holy Spirit.
There must be no partiality, decided preferences, or exclusive close partnerships and admiration societies of two, three, five or more that shut out fellow workers while leaning on select human help and wisdom and neglecting others. Every brother is to be treated as equal and brought near with the same care and planning as favored ones, leaning heavily on God with single aim for His glory, for God will not countenance partiality or bless exclusiveness which endangers and mars the work. Selfish insistence on one's own way, choosing a few favorites, and failing to counsel with brethren have no place on the one level under Christ. Washing the feet of followers touches Christ Himself present by the Holy Spirit uniting hearts, since believers are identified with Christ and through grace identical with one another. Keeping that ordinance of humility requires self-denial and self-sacrifice at every step to become one with Christ, with self-examination strengthening noble principles, drawing heart to heart as Christ lives within, and loving as brethren with kindness, tenderness and courtesy in daily service toward another's woe.
All are connected in one web of humanity with mutual obligations and dependence, none independent, each bound up with fellow men and with God as part of the Lord's great whole. The well-being of each affects another who carries influence to still others in an endless chain, by God's design that each feel pledged to promote the happiness of every member of God's family and necessary to the other's welfare. Rich and poor meet as disciples with distinctions lost sight of, embracing as Christians one with each other when one with Christ, as pilgrims and strangers seeking a better heavenly country for whom God has prepared a city, so that even those elevated with goods and talents remain humble and childlike laying riches, honor and influence at His feet. Even a friendly greeting and conversation can express the heart-to-heart bond of brethren.
God's servants work together in one common vineyard not as rivals exalting self, making a show, or drawing souls to a minister, but converting them to Jesus and lifting Him up. No one should belittle another's differing work, engage in worldly underhand sharp schemes benefiting self while injuring another, or watch for faults in fellow workers. Different gifts and different work serve together with success from God alone. Practicing this brotherhood to uplift and restore fallen humanity belongs to those sanctified by the Spirit with kind warm sympathetic hearts, cool heads, sound sense, unbiased judgment, good administrative powers, large capacity for work, patient thorough investigation of needs in various fields, strong convictions, clear understanding, careful weighing before approving or condemning, and fearless firmness in saying No or Yea and Amen.
Those who govern are to protect, restore and relieve never oppress, treating the poor kindly, aiding the oppressed, and granting the greatest kindness and freedom to every redeemed person rather than placing subjects beneath a human ruler. Position does not make the man, so managers in schools, publishing houses, sanitariums and food factories must treat workers with respect and kindness, dealing fairly, honestly, justly and mercifully in Christ's Spirit, paying for faithful work without holding back earned wages for profit or show of gain, and dealing as they wish to be dealt with by Christ. Authority gives no right to make personal will rule or to force unjust actions, but requires Christlike humility, fairness, and action under the Holy Spirit with each case treated as one's own. If those in charge expect respect they must carry obedience into daily life through faithful duty from love to Christ, which will stir co-workers to love and good works. Fellow workers should treat one another with respect, confidence and unselfishness, sharing best understanding rather than concealing plans, though dealings with unbelievers may require different discretion, standing together as brothers and sisters ready to learn and serve one another. Loyalty to Christ as sole Master is shown in watching, praying and trusting the living God, including giving a widowed mother needed help and care without breaking the laws of the marriage relation.
Church Order and Daily Life
Christ alone is Master and his followers are brothers, so no living person may come between the soul and Christ the heavenly Counselor or take God's place in another person's mind. No one is to depend on human beings as spiritual authorities, demand homage from one another, or exercise ruling power and domination over fellow men, for all stand equal as brothers under one Master. Recognizing the faults of others should produce humility and less self-confidence rather than feelings of superiority, with discernment about each person's proper place and no confidence in one's own judgment. Applied to the church, officers appointed for sound judgment must not act with arbitrary authority as rulers, there is no virtue in disagreement, and while believers are to cooperate as far as possible in harmony and honor those to whom honor is due, they must treat others as they wish to be treated and reject antagonism as displeasing to God. Those who humbly serve to glorify God rather than seek human praise will receive eternal life.
No one is to yield up will and judgment to follow the counsel of men, nor look to leaders to know duty, but is to look to God to know duty and stand in God with life pure only under God's control for individual present and eternal good. A brother in God's service is God's property under bonds to God to present the Word, and no one has right to handicap him, manage his field of work, censure his movements, or counterwork God by a masterly ruling spirit; he is to be set at work and dealt with just as one would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances. No leader's position makes him the voice or conscience of his fellow workers, or gives him license to exclude some from counsel and dictate every detail of their work. Workers entrusted with sacred responsibilities are accountable to God and are under His tutorship, they should look to Jesus for direction and be trusted to use their judgment in serving Him, and fellow laborers are to be treated with confidence, respect, fair consideration and trust rather than control that treats them as unworthy of trust. No minister is to control another person's mind or lay down rules and commands for fellow workers, for Christ alone directs His servants while believers stand as brethren on equal ground.
All are brethren, members of one family with one Father, so no human being of whatever position may put another in a low place, lord over him, or keep him from expressing his opinion. Every worker is a laborer together with God, guided by Bible rules in daily life. In institutions for the youth this requires new principles and decided movements to aid the youth to apply Bible principles to all they do, correcting their mistakes without harshness or any manifestation of Satan, never neglecting, overburdening, or overlooking workers, making no discrimination against them in favor of the youth and setting them a correct example on which their future may depend.
Christ alone is Master and Teacher of His people, and all His followers stand on the same level as brethren with no hierarchy of religious authorities entitled to special deference. The title of master belongs to Him alone, so His followers are not to seek or accept exalting titles that set one above another and transfer to human beings honor belonging to Christ and to God. No person is therefore permitted to rule over a brother, rule his conscience, control his mind and judgment, or come between the soul and Christ. Equality is the law of heaven, for all are children of one family with one Father, with no distinction of race, wealth, rank or social standing to create a different rule or barrier. Because all are brethren, contention must be put away and each is to treat the other with humility, tenderness, courtesy and love, bearing burdens, guarding interests, and striving daily for unity and harmonious cooperation.
Wording and Historical Setting
The verse belongs to the woes Christ pronounced upon the scribes and Pharisees. Those woes are scathing rebukes for impenitence and opposition to truth and righteousness, and were He on earth today priests and rulers would hear the same rebukes pronounced upon them. They condemn pride, love of status, and desire to be first and to assume undue authority, while neglecting judgment, mercy, and love of God. They describe people blinded to the relative importance of what they should understand, giving undue weight to lesser matters while neglecting the principles that must shape life. Christ's denunciations and His warning not to follow blind leaders were preserved as an admonition for later generations against human religious authority ruling the conscience in place of Christ.
His followers must not seek their own glory or authority over others, but humble themselves, bear the cross, and follow His example in self-denial and service. Those who would help reform others must first reform themselves and act in His spirit, seeking the salvation of souls through sympathy, love, patience, and courtesy rather than force or harshness.
The words were spoken to the twelve in the hearing of the multitude. This was on the final day of teaching in the temple, when He exposed the character of the rulers and elders to free the people from customs, traditions, and unquestioning faith in a corrupt priesthood. They rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for seeking supremacy and taught a principle meant to guide the church throughout the Christian age and for people of every age and nation. Faithfulness to this principle preserves the church's purity, while departure from it marks corrupt forms of Christianity, including setting one man over the church with claims of infallibility.
Rabbi means master. The title of rabbi or master belongs to Christ alone rather than to human beings, for He alone is Master and His followers are brethren as children of one Father and members of one family of God. No person should claim a title that implies control over another's conscience or faith. Seeking it as an honor displays vanity and ambition rather than true humility, and rebukes selfish ambition for religious rank and honor.
One position presents the verse as spoken in His sermon on the mount as a motive and obligation governing the lives of His followers. There it lays down a principle of heaven for their dealings with one another, belonging to love to fellow men enjoined by the last six commandments. Christ lived out this brotherhood in His life of humanity, and gave example commanding His followers to treat one another as those bought by His blood.
Christ Alone as Master
One is the Master, even Christ, and all who follow Him are brethren on the same level, not a graded order of religious authorities entitled to special deference nor members under a competing human master. The command not to be called Rabbi forbids seeking or accepting a title that sets one above the others, though the repeated address is pleasing to the ear, and it rebukes selfish ambition for honor, power and supremacy, including a show of humility that hides envy and greed. This is a principle meant to guide the church throughout the Christian age, so that faithfulness to it preserves the church's purity while departure from it marks corrupt forms of Christianity, including setting one man over the church with claims of infallibility. Followers must therefore not depend on human beings as spiritual authorities or seek homage from one another, and no living person is to take God's place in another's mind. Seeing the faults of others should lead to humility and less self-confidence rather than feelings of superiority, and those who humbly serve to glorify God rather than seek human praise will receive eternal life. In this way the verse expresses the equality and brotherhood of mankind as a principle of Christ's religion.
No man is to place his spiritual interests under another man as a child is guided and directed by an earthly father, and desiring ecclesiastical superiority and trusting men with sacred titles injures the men so trusted and confuses the sacredness of the prerogatives that belong to God. Every living person has the same right and privilege to trust Christ directly, rest in Him alone for salvation, and serve under Him rather than serve under man or any counsel of men or yield allegiance to another. No minister or leader is above another brother minister, and none has the right to rule over a fellow worker, rule his fellow men, leave him out of confidence, refuse to sustain him, deny him a place to work, handicap him from doing God's work, manage his field, censure his movements, or counterwork God by a masterly ruling spirit. Such man-rule is condemned because it separates the soul from God, teaches trust and dependence on human agents, and puts man in the place of God. A brother in God's service is God's property under bonds to God to present the Word, to be set at work and dealt with just as one would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances, and those chosen by God must be left far more to God's management and far less to the supposed wisdom of human instrumentalities. All must therefore stand in God with life pure only under God's control for individual present and eternal good, looking to Christ alone as the Master from whom His people receive wisdom while serving God in meekness and integrity, and no one is to yield up will and judgment to follow the counsel of men nor look to leaders to know duty but look to God to know duty.
Christ is the true Teacher, Leader, Companion and great Teacher from whom His people receive light and wisdom at its source, and believers as brethren can come together in humility to learn from Him. His followers are to listen to Him and obey God's Word rather than render obedience to human beings, and instead of directing others each person is to take up his own appointed work, seek with all the powers of his soul to understand the will of God concerning himself, and place himself where he can learn from Christ. No man has been appointed by God to order his brethren, and those who influence others must not rule over them or exercise authority as though they were above them, because all are brethren. No minister is to control another person's mind or lay down rules and commands for fellow workers, but God's servants are to look to Him for direction and treat one another with respect and trust. Human teachers must look to His instruction for their wisdom, placing Christ's teaching above ordinary textbooks and worldly wisdom and leading students to learn under His direction, and in medical missionary work Christ is the chief instructor rather than education from physicians who reject His authority being treated as most essential or human guidance being followed in His place.
Each person is responsible and accountable to God, to be governed by Him as a free, responsible agent rather than forced or compelled into a course of action. That responsibility is faithfully discharged by doing everything, in word or deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus, serving God and caring for one another rather than making one another lords or ultimate authorities over life. No human being of whatever position may put another in a low place, lord over him, or keep him from expressing his opinion, and no one should dictate detailed rules for how God's workers must carry out their work, but matters of little consequence should be left to workers in the field to plan for themselves. Every worker is a laborer together with God, guided by Bible rules in daily life, which in institutions for the youth requires new principles and decided movements to aid the youth to apply Bible principles to all they do, correcting mistakes without harshness, never neglecting, overburdening or overlooking workers, making no discrimination against them and setting them a correct example on which their future may depend. God's workers are to acknowledge Christ's authority rather than any earthly person's mastery, recognizing accountability to God for how they use the talents entrusted to them. They are learners in His school who must practice His lessons with meekness, keeping business subordinate to spiritual and eternal interests when it presses too closely upon them.
Having Christ as Master means God's will becomes the believer's will, for believers are His blood-bought heritage whose physical, mental and spiritual gifts are to be used as God plainly directs in the Bible in a way that pleases Him. This gives increased knowledge of God and real advancement in knowledge and virtue by learning Christ's meekness and lowliness and bearing His yoke and burdens. Thus followers cooperate with Christ, reveal His spotless character, and become examples of purity and nobility, proving that through the infinite sacrifice made for them human beings can live pure, holy lives carrying out the principles of the heavenly kingdom. In this world they fit themselves to take their places among the nobility of heaven, to be prepared for translation to the courts above, and to enter through the gates into the city as the family of the redeemed through the grace of Christ. This forbids looking on self as gods able to carry out own will and devising, and requires that those pledged to live for His name's glory have the veil separating them from Him drawn aside to accept Him as Master, Companion and Teacher, remembering that success depends on being sustained by God with the power Christ gives to all who believe in Him to become sons of God, faithfully discharging the duties enjoined in the Word and shunning everything that makes character like the archdeceiver.
Rejecting Titles and Ambition
The command forbids followers from seeking or accepting the title Rabbi, father, or Reverend, for Christ alone is Master and all believers stand as brethren on the same level. Though the repeated address was pleasing to the ear, such honorifics set one above others and transfer to people honor belonging to Christ and to God's holy name. No title belonging to Christ is to be given to another person, and no human title is to suggest that anyone controls another person's conscience or faith. No man is to place his spiritual interests under another man as a child is guided and directed by an earthly father, for priests, scribes, rulers, and people are all children of one God. Desiring ecclesiastical superiority and trusting men with sacred titles injures the men so trusted, leads people to give clergy undue reverence, puts human beings in God's place, and obscures the sacred prerogatives that belong to God.
The prohibition rebukes selfish ambition for honor, power, supremacy, religious rank, and the highest place, rather than establishing a hierarchy of religious authorities entitled to special deference. It exposes a show of humility hiding envy and greed, and the hypocrisy and fraud of people who use high position unfairly. Disciples are not to be rivals for the highest place or to seek titles, status, and distinction over one another, and those who seek the highest place are to be reminded that they are all brethren. Strife for supremacy has no place in His kingdom, for all His servants are equal. Those who humble themselves and serve through self-denial and self-sacrifice develop qualities that commend them to God, while those who exalt themselves are brought low.
There is to be no rank, caste, or distinction of status among Christ's servants, because the kingdom of God is established on different principles than the kingdoms of this world. Believers are not to act after the manner, precept, or example of men in earthly authority, but to minister to others and be servants to all. The rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the bond, and the free are equally God's heritage, and the wealthy must not be favored over the poor, even to renting pews. True greatness is genuine humility, dependence on God, and devotion to serving all, and the one most exalted in God's sight is the one with the most genuine humility, the deepest sense of unworthiness, and the greatest realization of dependence upon Him. There are no kings to be exalted in God's work, so all must walk meek and lowly of heart in Christ's footprints and hold the beginning of confidence firm unto the end so as not to take a false step that injures the cause of truth.
Being called Rabbi and receiving public honor for apparent wisdom and religion is only an earthly reward and not true happiness, for honor from people is all the reward such seekers will receive. No kings, rulers, or popes are to take Christ's place among His people, for Christ is the only Master and Authority and all believers are brethren and children of God with the same privilege before Him. The pope breaks this command by claiming authority over conscience and practice and placing himself in the position of God, keeping the weak and uninformed from the knowledge of their privilege as children of God. No pope is entitled to supremacy in the church, and a Christian leader is due only the submission due to any follower of Christ. Those brought out from the world must diligently heed this and allow no such human authority among them.
Leadership Without Human Domination
No one is permitted to exercise ruling power over a fellow human being, to dominate another, to rule a brother's conscience, to control mind and judgment, to dictate the details of work, or to sit in judgment upon him, for Christ alone is Master and King and all stand equal as brothers on the same level. Self-exaltation in setting oneself up as king over others dishonors the Lord and makes the work a failure, so every work is to begin with humble prayer, a sense of dependence on God, and willingness to be worked by His Spirit. Those who influence others must not rule over them or exercise authority as though above them, but listen to Christ as true Teacher and Leader and obey God's Word rather than render obedience to human beings. No leader's position makes him the voice or conscience of fellow workers, gives license to exclude some from counsel, to expect others to carry out personal ideas by command, to claim ownership of mind, abilities and choices, or to set conditions and dictate use of capabilities, for workers entrusted with sacred responsibilities are accountable to God under His tutorship, are to look to Jesus for direction, to be trusted to use judgment, and to counsel together as equals with tenderness, cooperation and perfect harmony. There is no virtue in disagreement and antagonism among brethren displeases God, yet cooperation as far as possible and honoring those due honor does not allow any living person to come between the soul and Christ the heavenly Counselor, and all are to treat others as they wish to be treated.
Office does not confer kingly authority to command or control fellow workers, for leaders are to serve as advisers, counselors, helpers and examples of thanksgiving, treating coworkers with the consideration they would want themselves and learning Christ's meekness. Position does not make a man greater before God, infallible, unable to err, or superior in wisdom, and at Christ's first advent the Sanhedrin used authority to control people and bind those Christ came to free, a warning that those in authority must act in Christ's Spirit rather than lord it over God's people. Those who stand as presidents and overseers, even when appointed by God, are only men and not God, sharing common ambitions and weaknesses, so appointment gives no right to rule fellow believers or make one's own will the ruling power, but requires love to God and fellow laborers with kindness, courtesy, gentleness, grace, unity and love toward all, with character shaped by God's goodness, mercy, love, honor and righteousness. God's people belong to Him at the cost of Christ's blood and must be treated with care, with no human being master of another's mind or conscience.
Those in official position have no authority to put yokes on the necks of fellow servants, to restrict work, to forbid work, or to frame rules and regulations that hinder and cramp laborers and missionary training. Such yokes must be removed, with recognition that fellow workers sometimes know just as well how to use wisely the talents and capabilities entrusted to them, with credit for love for souls and unselfish desire to promote the cause, and with encouragement rather than watching, criticizing and blocking. This includes the right to solicit means for support of work such as the Madison school, to accept gifts or loans to invest in needed work, and to enter new fields and lines of labor, standing free on the high platform of truth and wearing Christ's yoke of meekness and lowliness instead.
No publishing house should dominate, control, absorb or claim controlling superiority over another, and no leader should do so, for all are brethren under one Master not to be ruled by one another as masters. The Pacific Press is to retain its own individuality and independence and do its own work under God's guidance rather than be merged under Battle Creek's authority. Likewise agreements that give men control over others are to be refused, including binding sanitariums together under one association.
Managing others' bodies and souls belongs to the Holy Spirit alone, and no person or group has authority to do that guiding work or to expect obedience to personal ideas by command because of responsible position. Men chosen of God are to be left far more to His management and far less to the supposed wisdom of human instrumentalities, for no one may assume the place of God, take a fellow laborer away from work, forbid service to God, refuse to link with him, leave him out of confidence, refuse to sustain him, deny a place to work, or handicap him from doing God's work. Lifting self up against a fellow laborer who does not follow one's ideas and plans comes from souls lifted up in self and repeats the spirit the Pharisees manifested in Christ's day, which brought God's displeasure and separates the soul from God by teaching trust and dependence on human agents. The remedy is more love and less self, walking humbly with God without exalting self, standing in God with life pure only under God's control for individual present and eternal good, looking to God to know duty rather than yielding will and judgment to follow counsel of men or looking to leaders, and dealing with a brother in God's service as God's property under bonds to God just as one would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances. When those in responsible positions lift up men to control others and suppose because of position their word must be done just after their own idea, they speak vanity open before God and make a mistake that compromises truth, honor and integrity to gain advantages, causing justice to fall and equity to be shut out.
No man is Lord over another, so pride, self-exaltation, and imposing a finite erring human will on fellow men by force in a rule-or-ruin spirit are forbidden. One holding responsibility who rules down others, treats souls as personal property, and carries things by storm contradicts the life of Christ and puts brotherhood out of practice, for souls belong to God as His property because Christ bought them with His most precious blood and must be treated accordingly with Christian meekness, kindness and thoughtfulness for another's interest. Such ruling hardens hearts Christ died to save and becomes a stumbling block to the ruler's own soul and to every soul within influence, and until the Spirit of God takes possession to lead him to plan and work in Christ's lines he cannot be a co-laborer with Jesus Christ. Every desire to dominate must be completely suppressed and every trace of that spirit burned out of the soul by the refining, purifying sanctification of the Holy Spirit, for Christ will not remain with those who cherish a desire to rule, religion from Christ is entirely different from domineering profession, and those lacking Christ's love will never be welcomed into the gates of the city of God unless decidedly changed, while when His love is shed abroad in the heart the lovely flavor of His character is manifested.
All are brethren standing together under Christ their Prince and Master and under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, so teachers in schools and every teacher, minister and leader are to attend to appointed work of laboring together with God in winning souls to Christ rather than engage in politics or ventilate political opinions. Those who distinguish themselves by zeal in politics are not to be kept in work and responsibility, the tithe is not to pay for speechifying on political questions, and those stirred to political ventilating must be converted by belief in the truth or give up work and have credentials taken, lest they do only harm.
Warnings against the scribes and Pharisees and their undue assumption of authority belong to admonition for later generations, teaching that human religious authority must not rule the conscience in place of Christ. Christ's denunciations and warning not to follow blind leaders were preserved to guard against accepting claims without examining Scripture for oneself and against using authority for unlawful ends. God's word in Scripture, understood by the mind, must rule the conscience rather than the priesthood treated as infallible guide.
No branch of service is to be exalted in a way that diminishes the gospel ministry proceeding under God's guidance rather than under control or restrictions of a human leader. Ministers of the Word are to be respected as Christ's ambassadors while all believers remain brethren under Christ alone as Master. Those who direct others must themselves take orders from Christ and follow His example of loving service, workers belong to Christ and must not be treated oppressively but as fellow members of His family, and in institutions all are to serve together in unity looking to God as Director and source of power rather than placing controlling authority in human leaders.
Universal Equality of Brethren
Equality is the law of heaven, for all people are brethren under one Master, which is the principle of Christ's religion. All are God's offspring, children of one family with one Father, on the same level with no first and last and none less respected or less important. With God there is no respect of persons whether high or low, rich or poor, learned or ignorant, and all are exposed to the same temptations and are precious in His sight. Selfish seeking of the highest place near Christ and striving over who is greatest is forbidden, and when Christ dwells in the heart His followers share His spirit and love in close fellowship bound by love in universal brotherhood. Rich and poor meet together in church as disciples with all distinctions lost sight of, embracing one another as Christians, for those who are one with Christ will be one with each other. As brethren they are pilgrims and strangers seeking a better heavenly country for which God has prepared a city, and even those lifted into elevated circles are to remain humble and childlike, laying riches, honor, influence and precious talents lent by God at His feet. Souls are of far greater value than money, so brethren in error must be met with goodness, mercy, truth and yearning fatherly love rather than stern watching to denounce and condemn or refusal of help on a legal excuse. Brotherhood means doing His Word and manifesting His attributes through self-denial, self-sacrifice, patience, mercy, long-suffering and love to bring the erring to look and live and return to repentance and fellowship with God, bringing reformation in souls, families and the church under the Holy Spirit. Believers must therefore guard one another's interests and do to others as they would be done to, rather than warring against and weakening one another by imagining evil.
There is no distinction of race or color, for all who believe stand on the same level before God. Faithful Black believers are precious in God's sight and must receive just as much respect as any other child of God. Speaking harshly to them or despising them offends God, shuts Jesus out of the heart, and despises those purchased by Christ's blood. Those who insult or despise the poor, discarded and oppressed need Christ's transforming grace in their own hearts to give them His pitying tenderness toward fellow believers who love God. From the Bible's standpoint rather than the world's customs, Christians are one brotherhood under Christ not divided by rank or race, called to equal respect, tenderness and care in Christ's Spirit.
Wealth, rank, learning or social standing create no barrier and give no different rule, for God recognizes no caste of masters and dependents or of socially superior and inferior. Among true Christians those entrusted with wealth or responsibility are to represent Christ's compassionate spirit through good works, treat believers and unbelievers with tender respect, and give substantial help especially to the poor and sorrowing. The wealthy are not to be honored above the poor and no difference is to be made between them in worship, so churches are to be established where all may worship together on equal terms and seats are not to be rented to favor those who can pay. Entrusted capital is to be used to bless the needy rather than for self-indulgence. Those with greater talents and influence bear greater obligation to return to God what He has entrusted to them, since all are accountable to the same law.
Difference in nationality does not release believers from duty to one another, but unity in the truth calls for practical generous assistance. It is not enough merely to say they are brethren, but workers in America who have received great mercies must show practical sympathy by sharing means with fellow workers struggling with difficulties in England and Europe. This requires prompt and liberal action in financial crisis so brethren do not stand bankrupt before the world to God's dishonor, and help to provide facilities, educational advantages and built-up institutions in English-speaking countries such as England and Australia so the plants increase in usefulness and prosperity and workers can carry truth rapidly with twentyfold more influence to many places including darker heathen nations.
Workers in every school, printing office, health institution, publishing house, food factory and sanitarium must not be divided into an aristocracy. Wages must not be fashioned after the worldling's standard but by excellent judgment that keeps equality as far as possible. A few must not demand large wages while others equally deserving receive far less, nor must large wages be offered as inducement to secure ability and talents, for that puts reward on a worldly principle and brings selfishness, pride, display, self-gratification and needless extravagance while tithe-paying people remain in poverty. Managers and directors must treat fellow workers with respect, kindness, fairness, honesty, justice and mercy in Christ's Spirit, paying according to faithful work and never holding back earned wages to add to profits or show financial gain, dealing with others as they wish to be dealt with by Christ. Position does not make the man, and the same justice and self-denial must govern salaries of ministers and physicians, for both are in the same Master's service for salvation of body and soul with the worldwide message most important, so ministers must not receive a limited salary while medical workers receive a large wage nor must large sums bind about the ministry. All God's servants are to walk humbly as self-sacrificing missionaries seeking eternal life rather than making large demands for service.
Believers belong to God who purchased each of them, share birth by the same Spirit, membership in one body, the Spirit's work, and sustenance from one source. They feed on Christ the Son of God through the Word which is spirit and life, and because they share this spiritual life and close relationship they must act in harmony rather than prize differences, for failure denies the source of their life. Differences in habits, character, temperament, education, training, talent or expression are not grounds for division nor to be prized, and no one is an independent whole or self-exalting rival, for each is only one member to be controlled by the Holy Spirit under one Head in heaven. Even the least saint who believes in Jesus as personal Saviour is a vital member united to the body and to Christ the living Head, as branches attached to the parent stock centered in Him. This oneness makes believers shine as lights, carrying in all dealings with the world a distinct atmosphere superior in spirit and words, with power to improve, refine and elevate others depending on vital connection with Christ, distinct separation from the world, and perfection of contrast to it. Whether preaching, teaching, practicing medicine, cultivating soil, following a trade, acting in councils, or going to foreign lands beyond all human domain, each is to look to the Lord as companion, counselor, guide, helper and friend, give all tact and strength of mind and heart, do his best, be clean, and keep unspotted from the world. They are to draw together in unity of the Spirit, show brotherly love by unselfish deeds, and value one another as purchased by the same blood and sustained by the same Source.
Success comes not from learning, position, numbers, entrusted talents or human will. Feeling their inefficiency, all workers must contemplate Christ who is the strength of all strength and the thought of all thought. Self must be humbled today, tomorrow and constantly, and with willing sanctified hearts workers must cooperate with God, letting Him take away the sin that hinders yoking with Christ, for through Him the willing and obedient gain victory after victory. When yoked with Him He as Emmanuel supplies every weakness with strength and every inefficiency with power, but if workers take glory to themselves He removes His excellency and they no longer ride prosperously. Men in every position of trust are ruled by God as Judge, Lawgiver and King and must guard every soul as His purchased possession, prevent oppression, manifest unselfishness and self-denial in all dealings, and bring God's laws into practical life especially to rule institutions. There is not one rule of action for men in authority and another for those expected to submit, nor one for directors and another for supposed inferiors, for many treated as inferiors are approved by heaven and precious in God's sight, and true learners keep the same holy standard with tenderness and love.
Unity and Harmonious Cooperation
Because all are brethren, contention in the church brings a dearth of spirituality and keeps the Lord from being glorified, so it must be avoided by cultivating grace, lifting the heart in prayer for keeping power, restraining unsanctified words that cast reflection on others, being true to one another, and glorifying God in word and act as those bought with a price. Believers must daily strive to live in unity, allowing no variance or strife to enter, never losing sight of the light and glory of God, for sweet fellowship is possible if they will it, and such striving for unity is the best medical missionary work. They must not strive for supremacy but act according to the Lord’s will rather than selfish independence, treating one another with love as those made one in Christ and redeemed from Satan’s power by His untold agony on the cross. Men of the same faith must not turn their weapons against each other in blind warfare, which astonishes the heavenly universe and grieves Jesus, nor present opposite opinions before the world without first coming together in love to compare views and see if they cannot come into harmony. They must meet like brethren with the Bible in hand, consider points of difference prayerfully and in a Christlike spirit, plainly state differences face to face, guard speech, and refuse to spread reports that bring reproach on one another, using speech to bless and not to injure souls.
Shared standing as brethren under one Master calls each person to do the work appointed in his own place in harmony with one another, building up God’s work and serving in whatever task is needed rather than treating others as superior. No one has been appointed to order his brethren, so instead of directing others each is to take up his own appointed work, seek with all the powers of the soul to understand God’s will concerning himself, and place himself where he can learn from Christ. This must be ingrained in character, for inventive power, scientific skill, organizing tact, and power to restore order to distracted elements and place the work on a solid basis of industry and durability come from God, and those entrusted with them must look ahead with far-seeing judgment, tact and ingenuity to establish the work aright, not by making the proudest show among the nations. Teachers in particular are to attend to their appointed work rather than engage in politics, standing together under Christ their Prince and Master, and none are to seek human instruction where God’s Word gives plain guidance.
Believers under Christ should take counsel with God and with one another in carrying forward His work, counseling and praying together on important matters and following Christ in all things rather than acting independently or allowing one person to control the work, for unity guards against dissension and mistakes. No one should exercise dominion over fellow workers or order and dictate to them, and disagreements should be considered together prayerfully and in a Christlike spirit rather than turned into public battles. Differences in habits, character, temperament, education, training and talent are not grounds for division or for prizing difference as a virtue, for brethren share the same spiritual life and sustenance, belong to the same body, are brought together by the same Spirit, are purchased by the same blood, and are sustained by the same Source. They may differ because temperaments and convictions differ and each may state convictions freely, remembering personal mistakes, dealing in Christ’s spirit, refusing to answer provocation with bitterness or a mean spirit, drawing together in unity of the Spirit and showing brotherly love through unselfish deeds.
Diversity centered in Christ is the power of usefulness, like branches centered in one vine sharing its nourishment and bearing rich fruit, requiring laying down self and the desire for supremacy, for having one’s own way, and for childish emulation and strife, with each helping the other to courage, hopefulness and perseverance. Allowing individual unsanctified traits to discourage one another offends God, and when workers are bent on their own way He cannot impart His Holy Spirit, while great discouragement also comes from Satan and his confederacy of evil. God does not require servants to work in precisely the same way, so each worker should be thankful for his own part in the vineyard and believe the Lord is leading fellow workers just as truly as himself. The spirit that measures workers against one another and estimates value by human judgment is not the Spirit of Christ and is forbidden, and workers wherever they labor are to come close to brethren, preserve unity and love through the pledged power of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bind sympathies together, and cooperate harmoniously for the salvation of souls. No worker is to hold aloof, judge fellow laborers coldly, or withdraw sympathy, kindness, love and practical help, but is to divide and share means with needy laborers in the same field, for such sharing is well pleasing to the Lord and withdrawing sympathy brings His displeasure.
The work is one, so workers in the printing office, school, food factory and sanitarium are to blend interests, with those connected with one branch feeling an interest in every other branch, every department conducted according to principles of the Word under His counsel with not one thread of selfishness woven into the web. There is need of daily conversion to feel true concern for the work as a whole, harmonizing together, loving as brethren, and honoring all as laborers together with God. The hope of the cross abides as followers joined to one another develop Christ’s attributes and draw inspiration from Him, and shared dependence on the atonement leaves no place for pride or dissension over lesser things, calling them to live in unity with Christ and one another in kindness, patience, courtesy and love. Kinship calls servants of God to join in the work rather than hold aloof, criticize or despise one another, for despising those who bear God’s message despises the Lord who gave them their message and work.
Practical Brotherly Love in Action
Brotherhood under one Master requires humility and restraint in judgment, treating one another with equal respect, tenderness, courtesy, patience, gentleness, pity and love, without exalting self over another, bearing down with a strong spirit, misjudging, or treating anyone as inferior. Self-exalting control must die so that God may live in the heart, and servants of Christ are to act as His helping hands with tender compassionate sympathy, since harsh unloving treatment that wounds God's children grieves the angels. No one is to seek to rise above God's chosen servants, but each is to apply the verse personally by living humbly, esteeming others above self, honoring Christ rather than self, and treating fellow workers with respect, love and confidence rather than judging by personal preference or criticizing faults. Despising or harshly addressing anyone because of race despises those purchased by Christ's blood, for the oneness of Master and brethren forbids such contempt.
Speech must be wise, courteous, kindly and sanctified rather than strong, harsh or contentious, for contention brings a dearth of spirituality and prevents the Lord from being glorified. No one has privilege to bear down with a strong spirit, misjudge, place a wrong estimate, use strong language about another's course, or speak undeservedly, but must give a right and just estimate, recognizing faithful service without designed injury. Before censuring moves that seem selfish and deserving reproof there must be waiting and care lest a worse mistake be made by unjust judgment, and words must be wise to stand just and reasonable before God, since harsh censuring of one who will make the wrong right offends Christ. Reports bringing reproach are to be refused and not spread, and speech is to glorify God, bless others, and preserve unity and peace rather than injure souls. When even an experienced and esteemed brother blunders he needs encouragement not censure, not I told you so, for he may feel deeply, the Lord loves and pardons him while the blamer's mistakes may be greater, and his mistake is not to be kept in mind as a triumph or spoken of until he sees and acknowledges it with regret, but met with patience and encouraging words in silence.
Egotism and religious pride must be put away rather than measuring one another, for spiritual prosperity depends on unselfish love and Christian fellowship. Suspicion, accusation, unforgiving spirit, envy, jealousy and evil surmising have no place among brethren, and no one is to treat another as an offender over a careless word or action. Kindness and courtesy are owed to one another especially when someone has erred, and those who judge harshly need to humble themselves, recognize their own need of forgiveness, and love with sympathy and confidence while looking to Jesus. Envy, jealousy and suspicion require entire transformation of mind and character, with professed truth sanctifying the heart into Christlike deportment rather than frivolity, lightness, jesting and joking, since God shows no favoritism of one above another and all stand equal.
Brethren are to bear one another's burdens, guard one another's interests with no injustice or false dealing, and do to others as they would be done to. Money and advantages entrusted by God are to be used to serve and bless one another, protect each other, keep unity among covenant-keeping people, be a praise to Him, and proclaim the gospel by cooperating with Him in saving others as His hands of ministration imparting His blessings. Antagonism among brethren displeases God, and cooperation in perfect harmony is required, with officers of sound judgment refusing arbitrary ruling authority, honoring those due honor, yet allowing no living person to come between the soul and Christ the heavenly Counselor. Selfishness and insisting on one's own way contrary to co-workers' judgment have no place, and in sanitariums and other institutions love shown in kind words, pleasant looks and condescending demeanor, with counseling together and no favoritism of chosen favorites, has great power for good.
The law to love neighbor as self binds all to all without excuse, calling for human sympathy cherished as a God-given quality never cast aside toward the needy, wounded, bruised, disconsolate and oppressed. As the Samaritan helped the traveler from Jerusalem to Jericho, so brethren must show practical mercy with the charge to go and do likewise. Churches under covenant to love God supremely and neighbor as self are to do Christ's work of going about doing good, reaching people where they are in cities and byways and hedges to relieve physical, mental and moral suffering, a work to be borne by the many with angels cooperating, correcting moral apathy. With no hardness of heart and no favorites with God, an enlightened brother fallen into poverty must be relieved, put on his feet and placed where he can support himself rather than refused help, under plain duty requiring daily self-denial, cross-bearing and following Jesus, lest those who withhold be brought over the same ground of need.
Brotherhood must be proved in action not merely in word by imparting mercies promptly and sharing abundance with struggling workers in other fields. American stewards and workers in Australia, England, Europe and other parts stand together in harness as equals with the same calling, and requiring and retaining everything at home while fellow workers have nothing and the cause is marked by manifest poverty robs brethren and robs God, whom Christ loves equally in every field. Means must supply necessities to plant work in new fields, equip institutions and sanitariums, provide facilities, educational advantages and built-up institutions, and give a fair chance to exercise tact and ability and magnify truth by correct principles, so plants increase in usefulness, prosperity comes, and English-speaking workers carry truth rapidly with twentyfold influence even to darker heathen nations. Holding back from covetousness and selfishness forfeits blessing and weakens influence, while letting overflow go to needy places in self-denial and love of neighbor as self pleases the Lord, and selfish withholding brings loss, displeasure, and need of cleansing of heart and mind. No worker is to hold aloof, judge coldly, or withdraw sympathy, kindness, love and practical help, but come close, bind sympathies together, believe the Lord leads fellow workers as truly as self, divide and share means with needy laborers, refuse to measure workers against each other by human judgment, and cooperate harmoniously for souls.
Erring brethren and ministers under difficulty and temptation must be pitied, comforted, helped and spoken to gently rather than denounced, discarded, handicapped in ministerial work, shut out of work, or judged from the judgment seat, for no permission to rule a brother's conscience has been given. All have imperfections, natural and hereditary weaknesses needing refinement, all are amenable to God, and all have erred and shown want of faith yet God has not discarded them but sees works differently than men and knows how to deal with many kinds of men without harsh human judgment. Lifting self against a fellow laborer who does not follow one's ideas repeats the Pharisees' spirit, brings God's displeasure, and forbids taking a brother from work, forbidding his service, or refusing to link with him, while God's chosen must be left far more to His management and less to supposed human wisdom, with more love, less self, and humble walking with God. Souls are of far greater value than money, and those in error must be met with goodness, mercy, truth and yearning fatherly love, not as under a stern watching God nor refused on legal excuse, but led to look and live as Christ revealed the Father. Doing His Word by eating His flesh and drinking His blood means manifesting His attributes in self-denial, self-sacrifice, patience, mercy, long-suffering and love like Him who was wounded for transgressions, to bring back the erring to repentance and fellowship, lifting hanging hands and making straight paths so the lame is healed rather than turned aside, working reformation in souls, families and church under the Holy Spirit.
There must be no partiality, decided preferences, or exclusive close partnerships and admiration societies of two, three, five or more that shut out fellow workers while leaning on select human help and wisdom and neglecting others. Every brother is to be treated as equal and brought near with the same care and planning as favored ones, leaning heavily on God with single aim for His glory, for God will not countenance partiality or bless exclusiveness which endangers and mars the work. Selfish insistence on one's own way, choosing a few favorites, and failing to counsel with brethren have no place on the one level under Christ. Washing the feet of followers touches Christ Himself present by the Holy Spirit uniting hearts, since believers are identified with Christ and through grace identical with one another. Keeping that ordinance of humility requires self-denial and self-sacrifice at every step to become one with Christ, with self-examination strengthening noble principles, drawing heart to heart as Christ lives within, and loving as brethren with kindness, tenderness and courtesy in daily service toward another's woe.
All are connected in one web of humanity with mutual obligations and dependence, none independent, each bound up with fellow men and with God as part of the Lord's great whole. The well-being of each affects another who carries influence to still others in an endless chain, by God's design that each feel pledged to promote the happiness of every member of God's family and necessary to the other's welfare. Rich and poor meet as disciples with distinctions lost sight of, embracing as Christians one with each other when one with Christ, as pilgrims and strangers seeking a better heavenly country for whom God has prepared a city, so that even those elevated with goods and talents remain humble and childlike laying riches, honor and influence at His feet. Even a friendly greeting and conversation can express the heart-to-heart bond of brethren.
God's servants work together in one common vineyard not as rivals exalting self, making a show, or drawing souls to a minister, but converting them to Jesus and lifting Him up. No one should belittle another's differing work, engage in worldly underhand sharp schemes benefiting self while injuring another, or watch for faults in fellow workers. Different gifts and different work serve together with success from God alone. Practicing this brotherhood to uplift and restore fallen humanity belongs to those sanctified by the Spirit with kind warm sympathetic hearts, cool heads, sound sense, unbiased judgment, good administrative powers, large capacity for work, patient thorough investigation of needs in various fields, strong convictions, clear understanding, careful weighing before approving or condemning, and fearless firmness in saying No or Yea and Amen.
Those who govern are to protect, restore and relieve never oppress, treating the poor kindly, aiding the oppressed, and granting the greatest kindness and freedom to every redeemed person rather than placing subjects beneath a human ruler. Position does not make the man, so managers in schools, publishing houses, sanitariums and food factories must treat workers with respect and kindness, dealing fairly, honestly, justly and mercifully in Christ's Spirit, paying for faithful work without holding back earned wages for profit or show of gain, and dealing as they wish to be dealt with by Christ. Authority gives no right to make personal will rule or to force unjust actions, but requires Christlike humility, fairness, and action under the Holy Spirit with each case treated as one's own. If those in charge expect respect they must carry obedience into daily life through faithful duty from love to Christ, which will stir co-workers to love and good works. Fellow workers should treat one another with respect, confidence and unselfishness, sharing best understanding rather than concealing plans, though dealings with unbelievers may require different discretion, standing together as brothers and sisters ready to learn and serve one another. Loyalty to Christ as sole Master is shown in watching, praying and trusting the living God, including giving a widowed mother needed help and care without breaking the laws of the marriage relation.
Church Order and Daily Life
Christ alone is Master and his followers are brothers, so no living person may come between the soul and Christ the heavenly Counselor or take God's place in another person's mind. No one is to depend on human beings as spiritual authorities, demand homage from one another, or exercise ruling power and domination over fellow men, for all stand equal as brothers under one Master. Recognizing the faults of others should produce humility and less self-confidence rather than feelings of superiority, with discernment about each person's proper place and no confidence in one's own judgment. Applied to the church, officers appointed for sound judgment must not act with arbitrary authority as rulers, there is no virtue in disagreement, and while believers are to cooperate as far as possible in harmony and honor those to whom honor is due, they must treat others as they wish to be treated and reject antagonism as displeasing to God. Those who humbly serve to glorify God rather than seek human praise will receive eternal life.
No one is to yield up will and judgment to follow the counsel of men, nor look to leaders to know duty, but is to look to God to know duty and stand in God with life pure only under God's control for individual present and eternal good. A brother in God's service is God's property under bonds to God to present the Word, and no one has right to handicap him, manage his field of work, censure his movements, or counterwork God by a masterly ruling spirit; he is to be set at work and dealt with just as one would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances. No leader's position makes him the voice or conscience of his fellow workers, or gives him license to exclude some from counsel and dictate every detail of their work. Workers entrusted with sacred responsibilities are accountable to God and are under His tutorship, they should look to Jesus for direction and be trusted to use their judgment in serving Him, and fellow laborers are to be treated with confidence, respect, fair consideration and trust rather than control that treats them as unworthy of trust. No minister is to control another person's mind or lay down rules and commands for fellow workers, for Christ alone directs His servants while believers stand as brethren on equal ground.
All are brethren, members of one family with one Father, so no human being of whatever position may put another in a low place, lord over him, or keep him from expressing his opinion. Every worker is a laborer together with God, guided by Bible rules in daily life. In institutions for the youth this requires new principles and decided movements to aid the youth to apply Bible principles to all they do, correcting their mistakes without harshness or any manifestation of Satan, never neglecting, overburdening, or overlooking workers, making no discrimination against them in favor of the youth and setting them a correct example on which their future may depend.