LEADERSHIP by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 17, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 25

LEADERSHIP

By James White

On the subject of leadership, we expressed our views quite fully in the REVIEW for May 13. We closed with these words:—

“All true ministers are Christ’s embassadors. ‘Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.’ 2 Cor. 5:20. In their ministry they are to represent the doctrine of Christ, and the interests of his cause in this world. They surrender their own judgment and will to Him who has sent them. No man can be Christ’s ambassador until he has made a complete surrender of his right of private judgment to Christ. Neither can any man properly represent Christ who surrenders his judgment to his fellow-man.”

But the subject must not be left here with the truth partly expressed. The words of Christ and his apostles relative to unity and the ordained means to secure it, and proper discipline, must have a qualifying bearing upon the subject, lest unsanctified men, who do not submit their will and judgment either to Christ or to church authority, assume the gospel ministry, and divide and scatter the flock of God.

But here we wish it distinctly understood that officers were not ordained in the Christian church to order or to command the church, or to “lord it over God’s heritage.” In the case of differences of opinion that arose in some of the primitive churches relative to circumcision and the keeping of the law of Moses, recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Acts, the apostles and elders at Jerusalem acted as counselors, in a manner to give room for the Holy Ghost to sit as judge. The report of that blessed meeting at Jerusalem to settle a festering difficulty, commences on this wise: “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us.” And the brethren who were from among the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, “rejoiced for the consolation.” Differences settled in this way frequently seem more than settled, and generally remain settled; while those disposed of by the exercise of mere church authority are seldom really settled at all.

Between the two extremes, of church force, and unsanctified independence, we find the grand secret of unity and efficiency in the ministry and in the church of God. Our attention is called to this in a most solemn appeal from the venerable apostle Peter to the elders of his time: “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Pet. 5:1-6.

In painful contrast with the foregoing are those ecclesiastical conferences and assemblies of our time where popular ministers distinguish themselves by a spirit of strife and debate, and in the use of language which would be regarded as ungentlemanly in all other respectable associations.

Organization was designed to secure unity of action, and as a protection from imposture. It was never intended as a scourge to compel obedience, but, rather, for the protection of the people of God. Christ does not drive his people. He calls them. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Those who drew the plan of our church, Conference, and General Conference organizations, labored to guard the precious flock of God against the influence of those who might, in a greater or less degree, assume the leadership. They were not ignorant of the evils and abuses which had existed in many of the churches of the past, where men had assumed the position which belongs to Jesus Christ, or had accepted it at the hands of their short-sighted brethren.

It was designed that the General Conference Committee should be men of experience, deep piety, and tender care for the flock, especially for younger ministers, a board of fathers in Christ, who should prayerfully and in the fear of God counsel with one another and their brethren in the ministry in reference to the best good of the cause of God, and those who are laboring for its advancement. As a people, our numbers are small. And while the field is vast, and laborers are few, the work is arduous and wearing. The popular churches are against us. Through them the chilling influence of a cold, unfeeling world is brought to bear upon us, sometimes with almost overwhelming weight. With the churches, the world, the devil and his angels on the one side, it will prove an unequal contest, unless we accept Christ as our all-powerful Leader, and we, his embassadors, stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight, watchfully regarding the feelings, reputation, and interests of our brethren in the ministry. Those members of our committees who have stood upon their dignity, using the little influence given them to dictate to others their duty, and to oppress those who have committed errors, will learn wisdom from their past mistakes. We spare them, lest we be found committing the very error of dealing sharply with the erring, which we would gently reprove.

“Love one another as I have loved you,” said our adorable Leader. If the members of the church of Christ, the rank and file of our people, should take these words home to their hearts, and cherish feelings of the tenderest love and regard for one another, taking the love of Christ to them as a pattern, what relations of sympathy, and care, and regard should be manifested in the ministry toward one another, setting an example in this respect to all the flock of God!

We call to mind scenes that frequently transpired at the close of our little Conferences thirty years since, when such meetings were held in private houses in the warm season of the year. At the suggestion of our venerable brother, Elder Joseph Bates, we would usually enjoy a parting season of prayer out of door, bowed upon the green turf. These were seasons of weeping. Our minds and hearts were imbued with the Spirit of our Great Leader, and we wept for joy that we were accounted worthy to toil in his cause, and suffer reproach for his dear name. Such parting seasons remind us of one described by Luke, where Paul acted a part: “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him.” Acts 20:36, 37. God grant that the day may never come when our dear ministers shall go from our general assemblies with a spirit of unsanctified emulation, willing to build themselves up at the expense of the reputation and influence of their brethren in the ministry.

J. W.