Earlier text: FOREWORDAs brethren located where you must be more or less connected, you must draw closer together in your councils, in your associations, in spirit, and in all your works. One man among you is not to be made the counselor for all. Each one is to stand in his lot and in his place, doing his work. Every individual among you must before God do a work for these last days that is great and sacred and grand. Every one must bear his weight of responsibility. The Lord is preparing each one to do his appointed work, and each one is to be respected and honored as a brother chosen of God, and precious in His sight. One man is not to be selected to whom all plans and methods shall be confided, while the others are left out. If this is done, errors will be made; wrong moves will be taken. Harm, rather than good will be done. No one of you needs to be afraid of the other, lest the other shall have the highest place. Without partiality and without hypocrisy each is to be treated. The same line of work is not to be given to each worker; and for this reason you need to counsel together in that freedom and confidence that should exist among the Lord’s workmen. All need to have less confidence in self, and far greater confidence in the One who is mighty in counsel, who knoweth the end from the beginning. When you respect each other, you will respect Jesus Christ. You are to show no preferences; for the Lord does not show preferences to29 his chosen ones. He says, “I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” This is the confidence that the Lord would have you cherish in each other. Unless you do this more than you have done in your past experience, you will not walk and work under the dictates of the Spirit of God. God would have you united in pleasant cords of companionship. As the Lord’s workmen, you are to open your plans one to another. These plans must be carefully and prayerfully considered; for the Lord will leave those who do not do this to stumble in their own supposed wisdom and superior greatness. . . . One person must not suppose that his wisdom is beyond making any mistake. God would have the greatest cherish that humility that will lead him to be the servant of all, if duty thus orders it. But while you are to love as brethren, and think soul to soul, heart to heart, life to life, you are individually to lean your whole weight on God. He will be your support. He is not pleased when you depend on each other for light and wisdom and direction. The Lord must be our wisdom. Individually we must know that He is our sanctification and our redemption. To Him we may look; in Him we may trust. He will be to us a present help in every time of need. Whatever your duties in the various lines of work may be, remember that God is the general over all. You must not withdraw from Him to make flesh your arm. You have been too much inclined to measure yourselves among yourselves, and compare yourselves one with another, estimating the importance of your work. Will you remember that your comparisons may fall wide of the mark? It is not position or rank by which the Lord estimates. He looks to see how much of the Spirit of the Master you cherish and how much of the likeness of Christ your work reveals. — Let. 49-1897 CONSIDERATION OF OTHER’S OPINIONS
Those who are placed in responsible positions should feel it their duty to recognize talent. They should learn how to use men, and how to advise them. If mistakes are made, they should not withdraw themselves, thinking it easier to do the work themselves than to educate others. Those who are learning should be patiently instructed, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little. Every effort should be made, by precept and example, to teach them right methods. Many of those who have responsibilities laid upon them, who are chosen to be presidents of conferences, are not selected because of their perfection of character or because of their superior knowledge, but because the Lord signified that if they would be humble enough to learn, and not think they were already to graduate, He would teach them His way. There is much for men in responsible positions to learn. When men feel that their ideas are without a flaw, it is time for them to change their position from president to that of a learner. When they think that their ideas, their judgment, should be accepted without question, they show that they are unfit for their position. God sees not as man sees. Whatever position a man may be called to fill, his judgment is not to be regarded as unerring. His entrusted responsibility makes it far more needful than it otherwise would be for him to be free from all egotism and willing to receive counsel. The idea that one man’s mind and judgment can mould and direct important interests, and that he can be regarded as a voice for the people, is a great evil, and has, and still continues to endanger the one who is placed in a position of responsibility, and those also who cooperate with him. God has not given to any one man all the wisdom, and wisdom will not die with him. Those placed in positions of trust should modestly regard the opinions of others as worthy of respect and likely to be as correct as their own. They should remember that God has made other men just as valuable31 as they are, and that God is willing to teach and guide these men. These placed in positions of trust should have connected with them as helpers men whose minds do not run in exactly the same lines as their own. To every man has been given talents, according to his several ability. One mind may have a larger scope than another. When men are linked together, each supplies the other’s deficiency, and thus they are a complete whole. But one man cannot bear the responsibilities which necessarily fall upon him if he is placed in sacred office. God would have His people linked together, doing His work in perfect harmony. — MS-55-1897 For years appeals have been made to men in responsible positions urging upon them the necessity of being kind, tender hearted, to deal in a Christlike manner with those with whom they come in contact. . . . No one has a right to control another’s mind, and judge for another, prescribing what is his duty. There are certain rights that belong to every individual in doing God’s service. No man has any more liberty to take these rights from us than to take life itself. God has given us freedom to think, and it is our privilege to follow our impressions of duty. We are only human beings, and one human being has no jurisdiction over the conscience of another human being. . . . You belong to the Lord by creation and redemption. Man has no right to take away that which he cannot give. Our bodies, our souls, and our intellect belong to God. His stamp is upon us. I cannot vindicate the course that many feel is the right course,—to exercise authority and to dictate as they may choose to their fellow men. I have seen this course pursued until my heart is sick and sore over the results. Each one of us has an individuality, and identity that cannot be surrendered to any other human being. We are individually the workmanship of God. . . . God deals in infinite tenderness with His heritage. He is not a tyrant, and no man, whatever may be his position or calling, has a right to be harsh and dictatorial. No one is approved of God in being severe, in bruising the souls of his fellowmen. — Let., 1895 The Lord’s vineyard demands men and means, and when you have built up an interest with little help and sympathy, pass not over to the General Conference the buildings erected, but make them secure in some way without doing this that they may fulfil the very object for which they have been brought into existence. Brother wrote me in regard to a work he had been doing and wanted my advice. He had accomplished the work on his own responsibility, I think, and the Conference wanted the deed of the building. It was not theirs at all, and they had no right to it. In every place where there is any evidence that God is working to advance his own work and his own glory, let men be careful not to repress and discourage; for this is Satan’s way of working. There are plenty in the enemy’s ranks that will do this kind of work. Let God’s people stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, voice with voice heard in words of encouragement and faith. Satan’s position toward the work to be accomplished in enlightening the world is to burden, depress, and block the way, and shall brethren engage with him in his work, to depress and discourage those who give evidence that God is using them? If this is done, it is advancing the work of Satan. We must fight the powers of invisible foes, and the warfare is a keen and relentless antagonism. — Let.-136a-1898 INJUSTICE TO ONE WHO HAS MOVED UNWISELY
I have been deeply moved. In the night season, as we were in a meeting where several were assembled, we were setting forth the present situation, and how few there were to do the work so important and essential to be done. One of commanding appearance, who had been listening to the description of the condition of things, arose and said, “Will you please look carefully, and see if you are accepting the men that are waiting to do service for the Master? Have you not mistaken your calling, and what it comprehends, in the position you occupy toward one who has moved to another field of labor? What if this move was not according to your ideas of order, or according to your human wisdom? Have you, in your experience, been faultless? Have you not made mismoves and blunders? He has his strong traits of character, and you have yours. All these imperfections God sees. He sees that some have made independent moves, even without the counsel of God.” “All ye are brethren.” To no one has the Lord given permission to rule over a brother. All need their hearts refined, and cleansed from weakness, from natural and hereditary traits of character. All are amenable to God. If a brother errs in his ministerial work, remember that you have all erred, and shown great want of faith in the Lord. Yet God has not discarded you, and given you no place to work. Had he done this, His action would have been just as sensible as your action in this case. Be careful what power you take into your finite hands. Be careful how you denounce those whom you should only pity, and comfort, and help. The Lord does not see the works of men with the same vision that men see them. He has many kinds of men to deal with, and He knows just how to deal with all. But let every man, whatever his position, remember that he is not to rule any man’s conscience, or sit on the judgment-seat against any man. The Lord does not pronounce as just the judgment you have34 formed. . . . Speak gently to ministers who are seeking, fully as earnestly as your own self, to do their duty under difficulties. They are but men, with all the clamoring of Satan to discourage them. “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” Be careful to “make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but rather let it be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Heb. 12:12-15. The Lord has accepted men, and borne with them, when their brethren have treated them indifferently. They have allowed their masterly spirit to come in to rule, and in thus doing they have counterworked the work of God. You have managed this case, from first to last, in an evidently faithless manner. Take your hands off your brother. He is God’s property. He is in God’s service. You have no right to handicap him as you have done. You should deal with him just as you would choose to be dealt with under like circumstances. By going to another field to work, without consulting his brethren or opening his mind to them, he moved unwisely. But his brethren do not understand just how the Lord will bring about the accomplishment of the work He would have done. This very moving to another part of the field may be wholly in the Lord’s order. Let men be delicate, and exercise their caution when it will tell for God’s glory in the end. But this brother was not so much to be censured in his actions; for your own course of action revealed movements that did not encourage confidence in your faith or in your judgment. He was willing to submit to the judgment of others, altogether too much so. The Lord is not pleased when men go to men, and yield up their own will and judgment to follow their counsel,35 when the one giving it has not more wisdom and faith than themselves. It is all a mistake. Erratic movements will be made according to present appearances, and not according to the mind and will of God. All must stand in God. If there was not another person on the globe but ourselves, we should be Christians, for our own individual present and eternal good. Life can be pure only when it is under God’s control. No man is to rule his fellow-men. . . . Learn lessons of love from the life of Jesus. Let men be careful how they speak to their fellow-men. There is to be no egotism, no lording it over God’s heritage. A bitter sneer should not rise in any mind or heart. No tinge of scorn should be heard in the voice. Speak a word of your own; take an indifferent attitude, show suspicion, prejudice, jealousy, and by mismanagement the work will be done for a soul. Ministers are but men; and God has said that one man’s mind and judgment are not to control another man’s mind. Let the graces of our Elder Brother be revealed. With heart and spirit, and all the power that piety and art can bestow, do true, faithful work. Show thyself an example by working earnestly for the Master, drawing all men to Christ. . . . Cry unto God the Lord, Pardon our infirmities, and their infirmities; but give not up one hour of service. Keep all at work in their own lines, and handicap none of God’s servants because they did not come to you for counsel, and do according to your bidding. You have bidden and directed too much. God’s ministers should look to Him for their directions. Your plans were not God’s plans. Had your brother come to you for instruction, you would have discouraged or misdirected him. No man whom God has chosen to do His work is to be under the control of any other man’s mind. Men may converse as equal men, but when it comes to laying down rules and commands, leave that for the Lord to do. This is not the line in which you are called to work. The Lord has been working to bring certain things around for His own name’s glory. Had your brother done just as you think he should have done, he would have become discouraged by the way you would have handled his case. God would have you work with your fellow-men with this idea in view, — that they are human like yourself, subject to temptations; and you are to meet them on equal ground. Treat them respectfully, as men who are chosen of God. They may not always have been wise or perfect in their judgment; but humanity must meet humanity just where it is, remembering that all are of value with God. Your brethren are as precious in God’s sight as your individual selves. Under stress of circumstances, because you did not exercise faith and reveal trust in God, you have made grave blunders. If men err in the same lines in which you have erred, if they move hastily by looking at appearances, do not do with them as you have done in the case of the one who has been laboring for the Master. You cannot bind him to your heart or influence him for good by the course of action you have pursued. Come into union and agreement without delay. Act your part nobly; for you have erred. You have dealt with him as no minister should deal with a fellow-laborer. The Lord will not sanction any such example for your fellow-workers to follow. . . . Never say, “It is time to make an example of this brother,” even though he may have erred. Wait till you can say, “It is time to make an example of me by the withdrawal of your confidence and favor, because I have not moved wisely.” But there are so many who, though willing to make out a recipe that others may take the bitter medicine, would not be pleased to take it themselves. With many it makes every difference whether it is I or my brother. Well did the apostle say, “Ye have many teachers, but few fathers.” It is spiritual fathers that we need in our gospel work. . . . I wish that occasionally the curtain could be rolled back, that all could see the manner of the Lord’s working, and the wonderful activity in57 the courts above. The Lord often works in a manner which is not in accordance with the ideas of the men who are in responsible positions. The speculations and calculations of human minds are not always the wisdom of God. Some move altogether too slow, and their caution is as a defective spoke in the wheel, keeping it from rolling. Again, others may devise and plan how this one and that one shall work, when the Lord has other work for these men to do and other places where He wants them to fill in as His agents. Let.-50-1897 A CHRISTLIKE ATTITUDE TOWARD INJUSTICE
Every worker should realize his personal responsibility. Say: “I am a Christian; I must obey the holy precepts of the law of God. I am a Christian; I can not but do the works of Christ. I am not authorized to let one word of guile escape my lips. Never did Christ speak harsh, unbecoming words. Whatever men in position of trust may do that seems altogether unjust and unreasonable, it is no excuse for me to retaliate, and add a greater sin to the one already committed. That righteous One who measures character, weighing it in the golden scales of the sanctuary, will judge me by the fruit I bear. The Lord has said, “This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” I Peter 2:19-23. Say to yourself, “I must watch, I must pray, not merely for my own soul’s interest; there are souls connected with me whose welfare should constrain me to strict guardianship of myself. If I am careless of my words, if I show disrespect for those in authority, the leaven will spread. . . . The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is the only sword which I can safely use. I must honor all my brother-workers, uttering only kind, peaceful words.” — MS-13-1891 NEED FOR SELF-CONTROL UNDER PROVOCATION
We should not be discouraged if things of a trying nature arise. Do not let your passion rise. Control yourself. When things occur which seem unexplainable, which do not appear to be in harmony with the great Counsel Book, do not allow your own peace to be spoiled. Remember that there is a Witness, a heavenly Messenger, by your side, who is your shield, your fortress. Into it you can run, and be safe. But a word of retaliation will destroy your peace, and your confidence in God. Who then is injured? — Yourself. Who is grieved and wounded? — The Holy Spirit of God. On every occasion be armed and equipped with “It is written.” God is your armor, on the right hand, and on the left. A flood of hasty words may seek for expression, but say, No; no. I will not place my feet on Satan’s ground. I will not sacrifice my peace and honor as a child of God. I will keep in the only safe path, close beside Jesus, who has done so much for me. . . . Be not surprised if great changes are made. Do not wonder if the men who felt themselves capable of handling the consciences of their fellow-men, and of controlling the minds and talents God has given them should go back, and walk no more with those who believe the truth. The truth makes too great a demand upon them. When they see that they must39 die to self, and practice the principles of self-denial, they are displeased because they cannot gratify their ambitious desire to rule other men. Their true characters will appear. Some will make total shipwreck of the faith. “They went out from us, but they were not of us,” said John, and so it will be again. Hold fast to the truth, the precious, sanctifying truth. You are then in the best of company, and the very highest intelligences are beholding your course of action. You are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Under provocation, your work is to hold the faith and a good conscience, “which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.” . . . God only can read the motives which prompt to action. Then why should man seek to fill this situation? Why should he say to one, “Sit thou at my right hand,” and to another, whom he does not favor, or who does not sanction his plans and ideas, “Sit thou at my footstool?” This is the work of men who are not worked by the Holy Spirit, who have taken to themselves the privilege of excusing their own sins, and condemning others. To all such God says, “Take heed how you put forth your finger, and speak words of vanity against those whom the Spirit of God has not destroyed, but restored and pardoned.” — Let.-17-1897 SMITING THE HAND OF JUSTICE
No action is transacted toward one of your fellow-men in which God is not concerned. He is the eternal, universal guardian of justice. You cannot get away from His presence, if you would. He takes part against all who would commit one act of wrong against their fellow-men, high or low, rich or poor. His own hand is spread out as a buckler over the rights of brother toward brother. No man can wound or bruise the soul or rights of his brother without smiting against the hand of justice which holds the sword.—Letter 5, 1896. THE EVILS OF OVERBEARING CONTROL
Those who are called of God, should be in touch with God, in order that they may have fine, keen, clear perceptions of what constitutes equity in judgment. Men in responsible positions should remember that the ten commandments are to be practiced in every line of work lest the cause of truth shall bear the imperfections of the mold of man and God be dishonored, and stumbling blocks be laid before the precious souls over which they will stumble to their ruin. The followers of Christ must watch, pray and work, having the eye single to the glory of God, knowing that they are working in the sight of the universe of heaven. Men have made the cause of God an excuse for allowing oppression and suffering to come to souls. The cause of God must be represented by men whose hearts are as tender, pure, true and compassionate as is the heart of Christ. Those who handle the sacred work in Christ’s stead must have a pure heart and clean hands. They must adopt Christ’s maxims, for if they fail to do so, they will be deceived, betray Christ and dishonor the truth of God. — Let.—22—1894. COMPASSION FOR FELLOW-SINNERS
It is of great importance what attitude we assume toward those who are laborers together with God. I am so sorry to write that the Lord withholds many blessings which He longs to bestow upon those who have41 a knowledge of the truth. He cannot pour out His blessing upon the human agents because of their attitude toward their fellow-laborers and their fellow-men. Those who claim to be members of Christ’s body will allow their own fancies, their likes and dislikes, to shape their conduct toward even God’s own delegated servants. The presidents of conferences have hurt and bruised the souls of God’s workers because they felt inclined to do it. What power was prompting to action? — the power from beneath. After Christ has made the infinite sacrifice to redeem us from the oppressive power of Satan, shall we fail to pity and help those who are fallen and sinful like ourselves? Shall one man usurp an authority over his brethren and hurt their souls because he imagines that he has authority and can do this work? The Lord “suffered no man to do them wrong, yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” Psalm 105:15. . . . The following words were written not to meet the case of a few who are great sinners, but to meet the case of men who have been entrusted with special responsibilities, — men who are not to be lords over God’s heritage, but to be examples to the flock. “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it; thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart. O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15. “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams; or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to43 love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Micah 6:7. — MS-45-1894 RECOGNITION OF A BROTHER’S GIFT
The positions and offices of those in God’s work are appointed by Christ. All our talents are His gifts. Let us not disappoint the Lord by an improper use of the talents entrusted to us. Let us not fail to recognize the position and capabilities God gives to another. Be not envious or suspicious as your brother uses his gifts to do something for the honor of God. In no case should we demerit the gift and work God has given another. — MS-158-1898 EVERY WORK BROUGHT INTO JUDGMENT
Let every one who professes the name of Christ consider the fact that he must meet every act of injustice, give an account for every harsh word, at the judgment seat of Christ. It will not be pleasant to review the words that have been spoken that have wounded and bruised souls, to review the decisions that have worked against souls for whom Christ died. Every action will come into judgment, and the spirit that prompted it will be made manifest. The fruit of every selfish, arbitrary exaction will be made plain, and men will see the results of their doings even as God sees them. They will see that they have turned precious souls out of the right path by dealing with them in an unchristlike manner. We are living in the great day of atonement, and it is now time that every one should repent before God, confess his sins, and by living faith, rest upon the merit of a crucified and living Saviour. My brethren and sisters, will you bear in mind that in dealing with God’s heritage you are not to act out your natural characteristics? The people of God are Christ’s purchased possession, and what a price He has44 paid for them! Shall any of us be found aiding the enemy of God and man in discouraging and destroying souls? What will be the retribution brought upon us if we do this class of work? Every one of us should weed out of our conversation everything that is harsh and severe. We should not indulge in condemning others, and we will not do so if we are one with Christ. We are to represent Christ in our dealings with our fellow-men.
May 7, 1895. — T.M. 224-5 PUBLIC EXPOSURE OF A WORKER’S MISTAKES
We are to direct the weapons of our warfare against our foes, but never to turn them toward those who are under marching orders from the King of kings, who are fighting manfully the battles of the Lord of lords. Let no one aim at a soldier whom God recognizes, whom God has sent forth to bear a special message to the world and to do a special work. The soldiers of Christ may not always reveal perfection in their step, but their mistakes should call out from their fellow-comrades not words that will weaken, but words that will strengthen, and will help them to recover their lost ground. They should not turn the glory of God into dishonor, and give an advantage to the bitterest foes of their King. Let not fellow-soldiers be severe, unreasonable judges of their comrades, and make the most of every defect. Let them not manifest satanic attributes in becoming accusers of the brethren. We shall find ourselves misrepresented and falsified by the world, while we are maintaining the truth and vindicating God’s down-trodden law; but let no one dishonor the cause of God by making public some mistake that the soldiers of Christ may make, when that mistake is seen and corrected by (the) ones who have taken some false position. . . . God will charge those who unwisely expose the mistakes of their brethren with sin of far greater magnitude than he will charge the one who makes a misstep. Criticism and condemnation of the brethren are counted as criticism and condemnation of Christ. — Let.-48-1894 SUPERIORS WHO ARE INFERIOR
God has not given men power over the church or over individuals. He has not given them power to treat the subjects of His kingdom as their perverse tempers shall dictate. Christ will not sustain any man, whatever may be his office, who exalts himself as superior, when by his actions he makes himself in the sight of God, inferior. O, it is the saddest sight in the world to see men and women who have not enough of the grace of God to control themselves, seeking to control others. The work of God must be done in gentleness and true courtesy. O, how much out of place are pride, selfishness, covetousness, and dishonesty. The Lord will punish those who lift themselves up in haughtiness and self-sufficiency, who refuse to show love and compassion for their brethren, or to encourage them in any way. These self-sufficient ones are the cause of the dearth in the church of the prosperity and success given by the Holy Spirit. — MS-16-1900 OVERBEARING CONTROL REPROVED
Men, fallible men, are not to think it is their prerogative to control, to mark out, or to prescribe the labors of their fellow-men. When God works upon the human instrumentality, let men be very careful how they intermeddle; for in its process, the work of God is divine. The46 work of God has often been hindered by men considering that they had power to say “Go here” or “go there,” “do this” or “do that,” without consulting the individual himself, or respecting his convictions as a laborer together with God. God has promised His presence to every believer; and let those who are in positions of authority, presidents of conferences and board councils and everyone who has to do with the human mind, respect the individuality of mind and conscience. These workers are in co-partnership with Jesus Christ, and you may interpose yourself so as to interfere with God’s plans; for the human agent is under His special authority and dictation. . . . The Lord requires the men who have a directing influence in His work to be wholly consecrated to Him. He wants them to have hearts of flesh and not of steel. . . . Christ is our example, and every soul placed in a position of trust, needs the subduing influence of the Spirit of God upon his heart day by day. Christ wept with those that wept. In all their afflictions, He was afflicted, and was touched with the feelings of their infirmities. He was a tender and faithful High Priest. He considered the cases of the tempted and tried ones as verily His own, and He ministered unto them. These weak ones of the flock are to be carefully nourished with the manna Christ has supplied. They are to be educated not to look to men and trust in men, whatever may be their calling. God would have all such confederacies broken to atoms and remodelled upon Christlike principles. The foundation stone must be mercy. Human minds are not to be trammelled and harnessed up and driven by human hands. The Lord Jesus must hold the reins in His own hands, pierced to bring peace and comfort and hope to every soul who will believe on Him. He gives to the purchase of His blood the guardianship of His grace; they shall move in His light, clad in the robes of His righteousness. To every man is given his work, and while souls are brought47 into church capacity, work is assigned them of God. They are to move as minds that are under the controlling influence of God. Men are educated to look to men, to be dependent on men. One man, by virtue of his position, exercises authority over them as if they were to be led by lines, this way and that as dumb animals. God has not directed in this way. God is our Chief, God is our Instructor, and to Him we must look. We must ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and expect to be led and controlled by it. The church organization is to be respected, but it is not to be made in any way a galling yoke. Men are not to assume the prerogative of God, and think to rule and coerce and oppress the souls of God’s purchased possessions. All heaven is indignant at what man, with complacency, will do to his fellowmen, claiming at the same time to be a representative of Jesus Christ. . . . Men in official position must realize that their position gives them no license to be unkind and discourteous, no license to be oppressive, and to let their tongues, which should be sanctified, speak words which will open a door of temptation, and help the great adversary in his work of discouraging souls. God has given us a work to do in saving souls from the companionship of Satan. — MS-43-1895. DICTATORIAL RELATIONSHIP TO BE AVOIDED
HOW THE WHEELS OF PROGRESS ARE CLOGGED
If it were possible, the enemy would clog the wheels of progress and prevent the truths of the gospel from being circulated everywhere. With this object he leads men to feel that it is their privilege to control the consciences of their fellow-men according to their own perverted ideas. They dismiss the Holy Spirit from their councils, and then, under the power and name of the General Conference, they invent regulations through which they compel men to be ruled by their own ideas and not by the Holy Spirit. . . . There is need of an education in regard to the rights and duties of men in authority who have lorded it over God’s heritage. When a man is placed in a position of trust, who knows not what kind of spirit he should exercise in dealing with human minds, he needs to learn the very first principles as to his authority over his fellow-men. Right principles must be brought into the heart, and wrought into the warp and woof of character. Men are wanted who feel their need of wisdom from above, men who are converted at heart, who understand that they are but sinful mortals, and must learn their lessons in the school of Christ before they are prepared to mould other minds. When men have learned to depend on God, when they have faith that works by love, and purifies their own souls, then they will not lay on other men’s shoulders burdens that are grievous to be borne. — Let.—83-1896. DANGER OF PRESCRIBING LIMITATIONS
The field of labor is vast; agencies of every kind will be set in action to oppose the work of God, and by indifference and unfaithfulness now we shall range ourselves on the enemy’s side. No wall of selfishness is to be erected to prescribe certain limits to any person’s work in seeking to get light in any way before the people. One single act in this line is a link in a chain which will extend to others. Let there be no selfish practice in God’s work. Let there be no narrow ideas; for they may shut out opportunities and privileges whereby souls may be reached. Limits may be prescribed which will dishonor God, and encourage selfishness. And the spirit of selfishness is strange fire which should not be mingled with God’s sacred service. The work is one in every place the world over, and any selfish ideas and plans that may be allowed to creep in even in arrangements for the management of the work of God is a far greater evil than in common worldly matters. There are to (be) no selfish confines in dealing with God’s work. If prosperity attends the work, it will be because there is not a thread of selfishness interwoven with it. . . . God gives to every man his work, and he is to do his best in every place, working for the recovery of the world. He is to sow the seed beside all waters. Not a hand should be raised, not a barrier be placed to prescribe or limit the work. . . . Our means of doing good is never to be limited to any man’s ideas or devising. We are empowered of God at every step to work in Christ’s lines. Lay hold of the work in any place, and this will set in motion the heavenly agencies to prepare the way for the sowers and the reapers. — THE RESULTS OF DOMINATION
The holy principles that God has given are represented by the sacred fire; but common fire has been used in place of the sacred. Plans, contrary to truth and righteousness, are introduced in a subtle manner on the plea that this must be done, and that must be done, because it is for the advancement of the cause of God. But it is the devising of men that leads to oppression, injustice and wickedness. The cause of God is to be free from every taint of injustice. It can gain no advantage by robbing the members of the family of God of their individuality or of their rights. All such practices are abhorrent to God. . . . The right handed power that has been developed, as though positions had made men gods, makes me afraid, and ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever, and by whomsoever it is exercised. This lording it over God’s heritage will create such a disgust of man’s jurisdiction that a state of insubordination will result. The people are learning that men in high positions of responsibility cannot be trusted to mould and fashion other men’s minds and characters. The result will be a loss of confidence even in the management of faithful men. . . . The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our conferences. If a man is sanguine of his own powers and seeks to exercise domination over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him, lest great harm be done, and he lose his own soul, and imperil the souls of others. “All ye are brethren.” This disposition to lord it over God’s heritage will cause a reaction unless these men change their course. Those in authority should manifest the spirit of Christ. They should deal as he would deal with every case that requires attention. They should go weighted with the Holy Spirit. A man’s position does not make him one jot or tittle greater in the sight of God; it is character alone that God values. — Letter 55, 1895.