Earlier text: NOT THE SLIGHTEST DEGREE OPPRESSIVEI have been given message after message for those who were standing at the head of the work here, for Elder Daniells and Elder Prescott, and for all connected with them in the work. The blessing of the Lord came upon me as I would write to them, saying, Be of good courage in the Lord. He is leading and guiding. He will bless you as you move forward. He will be your helper. Suppose that our brethren had not come to Washington when they did. Suppose that they had dallied for six months or a year. What would have been the result? — The bill concerning Sunday legislation would have been slipped right in, and I do not know how long or how severe a battle we should have had to fight. But in the mercy of God our brethren were able to forestall this movement, although, in order to do this, they had to neglect other pressing work. I can assure you that their hands and hearts were full. They prayed, they reached out to God, and they sent out tracts and pamphlets everywhere. And wherever this reading-matter has gone, the light of the Sabbath truth has penetrated. Earnest work was done, and constantly our prayers ascended to God, that He would let His power rest upon every one engaged in the work. — From an address before the General Conference at Takoma Park, May 16, 1901, published in Review and Herald, May 25, 1905, p. 15. I have received your letters regarding the council held in New York, and the efforts that are being made in behalf of the multitudes, in the large cities. . . . The position you have taken is in the order of the Lord, and now I would encourage you with the words, Go forward as you have begun, using your position of influence as President of the General Conference for the advancement of the work we are called upon to do. In this way you can disappoint the enemy. . . . You will now be able, not only to take up the work yourself, but also to exercise your influence as president of the General Conference to lead out in the very work that the Lord has appointed to be done. . . . I can now take hold with you in full confidence for the doing of the work that rests upon us. . . . He will give you sustaining grace, and we will draw with you and give you all the help we can to use your position of influence as president of the Conference, and to work wisely in the education of others to labor in the cities. Your influence will be under the Lord’s wise care, and although you may meet with hard and trying experiences in this great effort, if you exercise the wisdom and the sanctification of Christ, you will have power and grace from above, and the Lord’s approval. He will impart unto you wisdom and power, and will also bring to you the joy of success. Angels of God will be with you, and you can use all the influence that your office as president of the Conference has given you, to encourage others to take up the same work. I will not write a word to discourage you or to weaken your hands, but will say, Go forward in the name of the Lord. His name is a power against the enemy. — Let-68-1910 Let not one man feel that his gift alone is sufficient for the work of God; that he alone can carry through a series of meetings, and give perfection to the work. His methods may be good, and yet varied gifts are essential; one man’s mind is not to mold and fashion the work according to his special ideas. In order for the work to be built up strong and symmetrical, there is need of varied gifts and different agencies, all under the Lord’s direction; He will instruct the workers according to their several ability. Cooperation and unity are essential to a harmonious whole, each laborer doing his God-given work, filling his appropriate position, and supplying the deficiency of another. One worker left to labor alone is in danger of thinking that his talent is sufficient to make a complete whole. Where there is a union of workers, there is opportunity for them to consult together, to pray together, to cooperate in labor. None should feel that they cannot link up with their brethren because they do not work in exactly the same line as they themselves do. Those who entertain such thoughts, show that they need the converting power of God upon their own hearts and characters, that their peculiarities may not become a hindrance to the work for the salvation of their fellow-men. Among the workers there will be some who are active and energetic; there will be some who are slow. They are so long in arriving at conclusions that if their way is followed, much precious time is lost, and often the delay proves dangerous. The slow worker should be constantly learning75 of the diligent, quick worker. “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Every one who enters the service of Christ should constantly feel that he is a laborer, and should improve in his habits and his manner of work. He is to blend with his brethren, not flattering himself that his methods of work are the very best. Let him learn in the school of Christ the lessons of meekness and lowliness. All who do learn of Christ will work in Christ’s lines; then we shall surely harmonize. He who is inclined to criticize and depreciate his brethren, will find that the Spirit of God is not with him. He does not obey the injunction to esteem others better than himself; but, like the self-righteous Pharisee, he draws comparisons between his brother’s work and his own. Cooperating with God, every laborer will work as Christ worked. You must be constantly learning, constantly advancing. No one can stand in our place and do our individual work. There is no such thing as making a groove for certain brethren to move in; no minister can embrace the work in his finite arms, and dictate how every other one shall labor. You must receive help through any channel by which God may send it. You who have had more experience must teach those of less experience how to work. Take them by your side, educate them, bear patiently with them. Never close the door of the heart by sharp words and unkind criticism. Let the love of God rule in your own hearts, and be communicated to your associate workers. — Series A, No. 7, pp. 14–16. You are constantly inclined to individual independence. You do not realize that independence is a poor thing when it leads you to have too much confidence in yourself, and to trust to your own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly estimate the judgment of your brethren, especially of those in the offices which God has appointed for the saving of His people. God has invested His church with special authority76 and power which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising; for in so doing he despises the voice of God. — 3T 417 DANGER OF ELATION THROUGH SUCCESS
The Lord has given abundant evidence of the truthfulness of His promises and threatenings. His people may trust His word. Will they then, in the face of light and evidence, follow a course of their own choosing, independent of God’s ordained agencies. Even good men need to be guarded on every hand, lest they shall become so elated over the blessings God has given them that the applause and praise from worldlings, shall be as a stimulus for them to display their great wisdom and acquisitions. The Lord sees, the Lord knows, He will certainly humble all such aspirations; for He hates pride and selfishness and covetousness. The more prosperous the work may be in itself, the less appropriate is it for men to exalt themselves, as though they were the ones who should be lifted up. Our trust must be in God. He has entrusted men with abilities and capabilities, that they may act a prominent part in His work. Let them take heed how they shall exalt themselves. INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT TO BE SUBSERVIENT
Though we have an individual work and an individual responsibility before God, we are not to follow our own independent judgment, regardless of the opinions and feelings of our brethren; for this course would lead to disorder in the church. It is the duty of ministers to respect the judgment of their brethren; but their relations to one another, as well as the doctrines they teach, should be brought to the test of the law and the testimony; then, if hearts are teachable, there will be no divisions among us. Some are inclined to be disorderly, and are drifting away from the great landmarks of the faith; but God is moving upon His ministers to be one in doctrine and in spirit. — T.M. 30 I write this to you, my dear brother, in the hope of helping you. You are in an unsettled state of mind, and are tempted to do a strange work, which God has not appointed you to do. None of us are to strike out alone; we are to link up with our brethren, and pull together, and God will give us influence and self-control. We are to draw near to God, that He may draw near to us. — Let-40-1903 BE SURE OF THE SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE
The Lord God of heaven is constantly at work for us. His angels are ministering spirits to all who will receive their guardianship. Human impulse will try to make us believe that it is God who is guiding us, when we are following our own way. But if we watch carefully, and counsel with our brethren, we shall understand; for the promise is, “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” We must not allow human ideas and natural inclinations to gain the supremacy. . . . One thing I urge upon you: the necessity of counseling with your brethren. There are those who will feel that anything you may have to do with boats, is a snare; but my son, if there is a class of people in out-of-the-way places who can be reached only by means of boats, talk the matter over with your brethren. Pray earnestly in regard to it, and the Spirit of God will point out the way. I see no reason why a boat should not be utilized as a means of bringing to those in darkness the light of Him who is “the bright and morning star.” As a people, we have been so often reproved for doing so little, that we should not hinder with discouragement any effort to extend the influence of the truth. Be careful that the enterprise you speak of does not cripple other lines of work. . . . The best way to succeed, in all enterprises for the advancement of the truth, is to go promptly and steadily forward, willingly making the78 sacrifices that God’s cause demands, and trusting Him whose we are and whom we serve to supply our temporal needs. It is easy for Him who owns the world and who has at His command the resources of heaven, to increase or diminish the possessions of human beings. He will see that those who serve and obey Him have all things needful. The Lord is not unmindful of the wholehearted service offered Him. No work done in faith will be in vain. -- Let-139-1902. Those who find it difficult to associate in harmony with the Lord’s workers in this world, and who are anxious to remain apart by themselves, will have to pass through an entire change of character, else they will never see the kingdom of God. We are not all formed in the same mold of character; therefore association is a needful discipline, in order that we may learn to love God with all the affections and with every power of the mind. The whole being is to be transformed after the similitude of the heavenly Father, and of His Son Jesus. Those who are thus transformed, will have the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. This barricades the soul from every assault of the enemy. - Let-32-1906 INDIVIDUAL TALENT AND RESPONSIBILITY
In all the Lord’s arrangements, there is nothing more beautiful than His plan of giving to men and women a diversity of gifts. The church is His garden, adorned with a variety of trees, plants, and flowers. He does not expect the hyssop to assume the proportions of the cedar, nor the olive to reach the height of the stately palm. Many have received but a limited religious and intellectual training, but God has a work for this class to do, if they will labor in humility, trusting in Him—
Let.-122-1902 Though your Christian brother may not occupy a position equal to yours in prominence, yet he fills a place of usefulness according to his ability. God has come very near you, guiding you and holding your hand. This should lead you to show Christian courtesy in all business matters. You are to be a man of God’s opportunity, acting in His place. You, a cedar of the mountain, are to remember that God has cedars of the vale.
Let-112-1901 EXACT METHODS NOT TO BE PRESCRIBED
We fully believe in church organization, but this is not to prescribe the exact way in which we shall work; for all minds are not to be reached by the same methods. Nothing is to be allowed to keep the servant of God from his fellow-men. The individual believer is to labor for the individual sinner. Each person has his one lamp to keep burning, and if the80 heavenly oil is emptied into these lamps through the golden pipes, if the vessels are emptied of self and prepared to receive the holy oil; its light will be thrown on the sinner’s path to some purpose. More light will shine on the pathway of the wanderer through one lamp than through a whole procession of torch-lights got up for a show. - Let-54-1899 SAFEGUARD YOUR BROTHER’S INFLUENCE
Our religious experience is to be in strict conformity to the word, in which are defined the principles of mercy and the love of God. God calls upon His people to unify as the burdens of the work press upon them. They should engage often in earnest, humble prayer, for the Lord’s guidance, and then they should follow His guidance to the letter. There should not be made one careless, indifferent move, or one selfish proposition that would hurt or cut off the influence of one of the Lord’s workers. Each is His purchased possession, bought to labor for other souls. - MS-17-1908 Mercy and righteousness have their foundation in the word of God, and this word forbids that any arbitrary power be exercised by man over his fellow-men. Those who seek counsel of God in meekness of heart, presenting their petitions in the name of their Mediator, will receive grace and guidance. “The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way.” Psalm 25:9. But the unbelieving and rebellious can have no share in the blessings that the humble receiver will receive. Not in numbers, not in bodily strength, lies the security of the believer, but in faith in Jesus Christ. We have come to a point in our experience when everything that savors of a domineering power is to be put away from among us. In the name of the Lord I call upon our ministers to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make His paths straight. . . . God appointed that His people should be bound together in the bonds of sacred union. But a man-ruling power came gradually into our ranks. Men were appointed to be rulers over their fellow-men,—men whose ways were not the ways of the Lord, and whose works were not His works. God has never decreed that man should thus be made amenable to his fellow-man, or that one brother should dictate to another concerning individual duty. He has never bidden any man accept the words and experience of a fellow-worker, and to follow the judgment of a man-ruling power. . . . I am instructed to say to Seventh-day Adventists the world over, God has called us as a people to be a peculiar treasure unto Himself. He has appointed that His church on earth shall stand perfectly united in the Spirit and counsel of the Lord of hosts to the end of time. Satan has taken advantage of the inclination of the human mind, to cause a dominating power to be exercised, so that those who would cannot follow the leadings of the Lord without being brought to task by men. But God wants us to learn that His Spirit is to be the chief counselor of His people. I am instructed to say in the name of the God of Israel, Everything that savors of a domineering power is to be set aside. The Lord of hosts is to be the ruler of the people He has chosen. Those who believe the truth are to have the privilege of counseling with their brethren in the faith, of praying with them when difficulties and trials and sorrows come. As fellow-workers they are to be a help one to another. But I have been instructed to oppose the spirit that would lead men to exercise authority over their fellow-men in their spiritual experiences. — Let-54-1908 I am bidden to say to every professing child of God, Go not to human agencies to learn your duty. Take your case to the One who has tasted death for every man. “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His82 brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:17,18. The worker who considers himself in a position of such high responsibility that he allows the members of the churches to look to him to voice their decisions and control their actions, is educating men and women to wear a human yoke. They are not learning of the divine teacher. To the one who is being led to have such an experience I would say, Go to Christ; ask Him to give you an experience; learn to emulate His faultless character, and do not look for experience or guidance to any human being, who is as liable to err as yourself. There are reasons why we should not put our trust in men who are placed in positions of large responsibility. It is often difficult for them to maintain a humble and teachable spirit. They suppose that their position gives them the power to control their fellows, and they flatter themselves, as did Peter, that they will not fall under temptation. — Let-324-1907 EACH SOUL TO BE TAUGHT OF GOD
Personal responsibility, personal activity in seeking the salvation of others, must be the education given to all newly come to the faith. Spiritual despotism is in the very atmosphere, which is impregnated with the subtilty of Satan’s oppression. This despotism becomes more and more pronounced as we near the close of this earth’s history. Personal faith is to be acted and practiced, personal holiness is to be cultivated, and the meekness and lowliness of Christ is to become a part of our practical life. The work is to be thorough and deep in the heart of every human agent. Those who profess to receive and believe the truth are to be shown the deadly influence of selfishness and its tainting, corrupting power. The Holy Spirit must work upon the human agent, else another power83 will control mind and judgment. Spiritual knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent is the only hope of the soul. Each soul is to be taught of God, line upon line, precept upon precept; he must feel his individual accountability to God to engage in service to His Master, whose he is, and whom he is required to serve in the work of saving souls from death. . . . The members of the church of God in every place are organized in order that they may do their work intelligently in church capacity. They must realize the fact that if they constitute members of Christ’s body, of his flesh and of his blood, they are to receive from the living head capabilities, light and efficiency to bless the world. Missionary responsibilities are to be studied, information is to be obtained and seriously considered. What can the church do in this time of peril and obligation, as the Macedonian cry comes from every quarter, “Come over and help us.” — MS. 25-1899 CORRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKERS
LINKED BY CORDS OF SYMPATHY
By means of one Agency, Christ Jesus, God has mysteriously linked all men together. To every man He has assigned some special line of service; and we should be quick to comprehend that we are to guard against leaving the work given us in order that we may interfere with other human agencies who are doing a work not precisely the same as our own. To no man has been assigned the work of interfering with the work of one of his fellow-laborers, trying to take it in hand himself; for he would so handle it that he would spoil it. To one, God gives a work different from the work that He gives another. Let us all remember that we are not dealing with ideal men, but with real men of God’s appointment, men precisely like ourselves, men who fall into the same errors that we do, men of like ambitions and infirmities. No man has been made a master, to rule the mind and conscience of a fellow being. Let us be very careful how we deal with God’s blood-bought heritage. To no man has been appointed the work of being an over-seer of his fellow-men. Every man is to bear his own burden. He may speak words of encouragement, faith, and hope to his fellow-workers; he may help them to bear their special burdens by suggesting to them improved methods of labor; but in no case is he to discourage and enfeeble them, lest the enemy shall obtain an advantage over their minds,—an advantage that in time would react upon himself. By the cords of tender love and sympathy the Lord has linked all men to Himself. Of us He says, “Ye are laborers together with God. Ye are God’s husbandry; ye are God’s building.” This relationship we should recognize. If we are bound up with Christ, we shall constantly manifest Christlike sympathy and forbearance toward those who are striving with all their God-given ability to bear their burdens, even as we endeavor to bear our appointed burdens. In our several callings there is to be mutual dependence on one another for assistance. A spirit of authority is not to be exercised, even by the president of a Conference; for position does not change a man into a creature that can not err. Every laborer entrusted with the management of a Conference is to work as Christ worked, wearing His yoke and learning of Him His meekness and lowliness. A Conference president’s spirit and demeanor, in word and in deed, reveals whether he realizes his weakness and places his dependence on God, or whether he thinks that his position of influence has given him superior wisdom. If he loves and fears God, if he realizes the value of souls, if he appreciates every jot of the help that the Lord has qualified a brother-worker to render, he will be able to bind heart to heart by the love that Christ revealed during His ministry. He will speak words of comfort to the sick and the sorrowing. If he does not cultivate a masterly manner, but bears in mind always that One is His Master, even Christ, he can counsel the inexperienced, encouraging them to be God’s helping hand. The feeble hands are not to be deterred from doing something for the Master. Those whose knees are weak are not to be caused to stumble. God desires us to encourage those whose hands are weak, to grasp more firmly the hand of Christ, and to work hopefully. Every hand should be outstretched to help the hand that is doing something for the Master. The time may come when the hands that have upheld the feeble hands of another, may, in turn, be upheld by the hands to whom they ministered. God has so ordered matters that no man is absolutely independent of his fellow men; — Let-10-1903 To all our ministers I would say, Encourage your brethren to connect with you in your labors. All the gifts and talents of the church are to be set to work. Let all desire on the part of any to have a controlling power be put away. There has been danger with some of marking out exactly what this or that man should do. Let the Lord do this work, and guide His own servants. “We are laborers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” Give the Lord room to work human minds. Give the workers abundant freedom to work out the plans of God in harmony with their brethren. This will save much overwork for the few. Let the strong traits of character that would lead to the control of others be subdued by the grace of Christ. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” — R. & H. April 23, 1908. UNITY AND FREEDOM IN COUNCIL MEETINGS
When ministering brethren come together in council, let deference be shown to the expression of intelligent principles, let intellectual freedom be freely accorded to all. There should be unity and love and freedom in communicating one with another. It should be a pleasure to consult one with another, to compare ideas and to review plans. An atmosphere of goodness, confidence, and love should be diffused; for this is the assurance of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The presence of God should be felt, and the soul should be humbled in acknowledging the condescension of God in planning for every soul for whom Christ has died, and thus hearts would be softened and broken. . . . Link up with your brethren, if you would have them link up with you, and give you their confidence. Confidence and faith will beget confidence and faith. You should gather into your confidence not only your ministering brethren, but those with whom you are brought in contact, and show them that99 you have confidence, and that you believe that they are taught of God as much as you yourself are taught of God. Open your plans before them. One will be free to speak, and another will be free to speak, and they may call your attention to some things that you had not thought of before. God does not open everything to one mind, but He teaches one, and another, and still another. Men are to stand in God, and without having the fear of criticism before them, they are to speak as God shall give them utterance, and to write as God shall dictate. After they have written their thoughts, let them be free to read their articles to their brethren, and let them receive any kindly word or caution that the brethren may see fit to offer in the spirit of brotherly kindness and love. . . . The cautions which God has given are to be regarded. Christ has said concerning His disciples, “All ye are brethren.” Every one is to give an account of himself to God. . . . Do not lay down any specified rules or prescribe any details as to how God’s agents shall do their work. . . . The Teacher said, “While you are so earnest to call to mind the details, the time that is of so great value has been consumed, . . . and the minds of the workers have been called to dwell upon non-essentials which should have been left for workers in the field to plan for themselves, . . . Many things that are too important to be set aside have been lightly dwelt upon, and many things that are of little consequence have been largely dwelt upon, when there is no reason why men should dictate concerning the matters they have laid out in detail.”— Let-53-1894. REMEMBERING ONE’S OWN MISTAKES
Let no one be sharp and dictatorial in his dealing with God’s workers. Let those who are inclined to censure remember that they have made mistakes as grievous as those they condemn in others. Let them bow in contrition before God, asking His pardon for the sharp speeches they100 have made and the unguarded spirit they have revealed. Remember that God hears every word you speak, and that as you judge, you will be judged. Christ is pleading the case of every tempted soul, but while He is doing this, many of His people are grieving Him by taking their stand with Satan to accuse their brethren, pointing to their polluted garments. Let not the criticised ones become discouraged; for while their brethren are condemning them, Christ is saying of them, “I have graven them upon the palms of My hands.” By creation and redemption they are Mine.” — MS-143-1902 I wish to speak to my brethren who occupy positions of trust. As God’s husbandry you are invested with the responsibility of acting in His stead, as His helping hand. Those who are placed in positions of trust must have the authority of action, but they are never to use this authority as a power to refuse help to the needy and helpless. It is never to be exercised to discourage or depress one struggling soul. Let those to whom have been given positions of influence ever remember that God desires them to carry out the mind of Christ, who, by creation and redemption, is the owner of all men. — Let-7-1901 CULTIVATING THE SPIRIT OF COMPANIONSHIP
I have words from the Lord for you. Do not suppose that you can carry the work alone. You can not; and you must not think that you can be supreme authority. Counsel and pray with your brethren. There is work of different kinds to be done, and you are to stand by the ones who carried the work forward before you united with it. The different workers are to supply one another’s deficiencies. The Lord desires you to link up with your fellow-workers. You are not to shut yourself up to yourself. Every day you are to gain a stronger confidence that you are God’s appointed agent, not to labor alone, but in union with those who have borne responsibilities. Let all the workers unite in counsel. You are to have no secret chamber, closed to some who have just as intense an interest in the work as you have. . . . The Lord would have you cultivate the spirit of companionship. If you wrap yourself about with garments of self-sufficiency, refusing to admit others into brotherly relationship, you will fail of gaining the experience that you need; and others also will be losers. Let your fellow-workers see that you regard them as of value. . . . There is to be no ordering, no domineering, no masterly authority. The love of God, in a healing, life-giving current, is to flow through your life. Your spirit and words and deeds are to show that you realize that you are acting in Christ’s place. The power you are to receive from the great Teacher is the power to educate others, not the power to order or dictate. Come to Christ as one who desires to know how to teach and help others. God will test and try you. When you have the love of Christ in your heart, when His mind is your mind, you will be willing to counsel with those who have had an experience in the work. You will look upon others as being as capable of helping you as you are of helping them.—
Let.—174a—1902 I was charged not to neglect or pass by those who were being wronged. I was especially charged to protest against any arbitrary or overbearing action toward the ministers of the gospel by those having official authority. Disagreeable though the duty may be, I am to reprove the oppressor, and plead for justice. I am to present the necessity of maintaining justice and equity in all our institutions. If I see those in positions of trust neglecting aged ministers, I am to present the matter to those whose duty it is to care for them. Ministers who have faithfully done their work are not to be forgotten or neglected when they become feeble in health. Our conferences are not to disregard the needs of those who have borne the burdens of the work. — MS-63-1906 CAUTION AGAINST CRITICIZING ANOTHER’S DEFECTIVE WORK
If one does a piece of work which is not wholly perfect, shall his brethren pull it to pieces, speaking of it soothingly and contemptuously? The one who has made mistakes may be doing his very best. Did Christ treat the work of His disciples thus? If He should treat erring human beings as their shortcomings deserve, what would become of them? Well may every mortal say, “Let me fall into the hands of the living God, rather than into the hands of men.” God is too wise to err and too good to do us harm.—
MS-73-1901 Last night, I was in a sleepless state much of the time. Many representations passed before me. One was a scene in a council meeting where several were present. One man arose and began finding fault with one of his brethren. I looked at the speaker’s garments, and saw that they were very undesirable. Another person rose, and began to state his grievance against a fellow-laborer. His garments were of another pattern, and they, too, were undesirable. Still another, and yet another arose, and uttered words of accusation and condemnation regarding the course of others. Every one had some trouble to speak of, some fault to find with some one else. All were presenting the defects of Christians who are trying to do something in our world; and they declared repeatedly that certain ones were neglecting this or that or the other thing, and so on. There was no real order, no polite courtesy, in the meeting.
In their anxiety to speak, some crowded in while others were still talking.
Voices were raised, in an effort to make all hear above the din of confusion. The dress of the speakers was unbecoming and grotesque. This, I was shown, was a representation of defective character. . . . In this council meeting that I saw in the visions of the night, Christ Himself was present. An expression of pain came over His countenance as one after another would come forward, with uncouth dress, to expatiate upon the faults of various members of the church. Finally the heavenly Visitant arose. So intent were those present on criticising their brethren, that it was with reluctance that they gave him opportunity to speak. He declared that the spirit of criticism, of judging one another, is a source of weakness in the church today. Things are spoken that should never find utterance. Every one who by word of mouth places an obstruction in the way of a fellow Christian, has an account to settle with God. With earnest solemnity the Speaker declared: “The church is made up of many minds, each of whom has an individuality. I gave my life in order that men and women, by divine grace, might blend in revealing a perfect pattern of My character, while at the same time retaining their individuality. No one has the right to disparage the individuality of any other human mind, by uttering words of criticism and fault-finding and condemnation.” These words He repeated with solemn earnestness; and then He turned and grasped a standard, and held it aloft. From this standard, in burning letters, clear and distinct, gleamed God’s law. The speaker declared: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” As the light from the uplifted standard flashed upon these men in council, they shrank from it as if it were a burning flame. Some prostrated themselves; some turned and went away. As I looked upon the scene, the names of the fault-finders appeared before them, and opposite each name were written out the faults of the erring one. None were free from defects of character. In the light of the uplifted standard, all were guilty. The churches have had light, great light. Infinite light and power are promised those who go forth in the name of the Master to do His bidding. While all do not labor in the same manner, or say the same things, yet the word of one will balance the words of another. In the midst of diversity there will be a beautiful harmony. Let every one attend to his own individual case before God. Let every one confess his own sins with humility of mind. Let every one appropriate the rich promises of God’s Word, and while working out his own salvation, with fear and trembling, labor for the salvation of others as well.—R. & H. Sept. 20, 1906. PATIENCE UNDER CONDEMNATION
To every man God has given a work to do. This is a solemn thought. Some will be regarded with suspicion by men who cannot discern spiritual things. Criticism will be freely given. But shall this stir up the passion of the human heart? or will the voice of God’s workman be heard in song, “Rock of ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in thee.” The work of the very best of God's laborers will often be commented upon by men who have not a genuine experience in what it means to hide in Christ. Condemnation will be passed upon those who may be trying to do their work faithfully. Then is the time for God's workers, to show their gentleness, to hide in the cleft of the Rock. God's voice.105 says to them, “Be still and know that I am God”- Let-66-1898 POINTING OUT DUTY IN A COMPULSORY WAY
We are God’s property. In Jesus Christ we are to behold a pattern of what we should be. Every soul should be educated to look not to his fellow-men, but unto Christ. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. Let no man think it his place to point out to others in a compulsory manner their duty. This God forbids. All are to be guided in the path of duty, by the plain word of God. — Let-172-1907 SATAN FIERCELY ASSAILS RESPONSIBLE MEN
Observing carefully every direction that the Lord has specified in regard to the Christian armor, you will walk before Him softly, and will work discreetly. You will not carry with you any yokes to bind men to your plans, nor will you attempt to make the Lord’s workers amenable to any finite mind. The maxims and precepts of men are not to control His laborers. Let no man be placed in a position where he can lord it over God’s heritage; for this imperils alike the soul of him who rules and the souls of those who are under his rule. No man is so high in power and authority but that Satan will assail him with temptation. And the more responsible the position a man occupies, the fiercer and more determined are the assaults of the enemy. Let God’s servants in every place study His word, looking constantly to Jesus, that they may be changed into His image. The inexhaustible fulness and the all-sufficiency of Christ are at our command if we walk before God in humility and contrition. . . . Among the Lord’s servants there is to be no commanding. No yokes are to be placed on the necks of God’s blood-bought heritage. Every yoke is to be broken. Men and women are more precious in the sight of God than the human mind can estimate. Christ understands their value; for He sacrificed106 Himself for their redemption. We are His property, the purchase of His life-blood. Sign not away your allegiance to any human jurisdiction or power. “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Cor. 6:19,20. Take unto you the whole armor of God, and never forget the gospel shoes of peace. Go not to any man with a heavy tread or with anger in your voice. Let all God’s servants, from those occupying the highest positions, to those in the lowliest service, walk humbly before Him.
MS-140-1902 The cause of God today needs men who will first commune with God to learn their duty, and will then go forth to do what He commands irrespective of the bribes or threats of those who would bear rule over them. Men are needed who are guided by the Lord, and whom God qualifies to give to the people a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Men are needed who pray to God for wisdom, and who under the guidance of God, can put new life into the old methods of labor, and can invent new plans and new methods of awakening the interest of church members and reaching the men and women of the world. . . .