Arbitrary Control
St. Helena, California
March 1908
Previously unpublished.
I thank the Lord that He has given me strength to do His will and that on this first Sabbath in Oakland I was able to speak distinctly to a crowded congregation in the new church. I did not have any special effort to make. The words came readily. Dores Robinson took the discourse. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 1
I feel deeply the need of a special effort being made in the spiritual reviving of the third angel’s message in all our churches. Business meetings should not be entered into as they have been in our camp-meetings. These seasons of gathering should now, as never before, be seasons of deep searching of heart. Do not defer this spiritual examination until the meeting is about ready to close. At the very beginning of the meeting, let there be heart searching. Earnest work is to be begun to cure the alienation one with another, not by talking the matter over and over, but [by] letting every soul seek the Lord for his individual self. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 2
We need the strength of every worker, and none are prepared to work unless they first empty the heart of self. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Humble the heart before God. The light given me is that the Lord is willing to give, but there is now a work to be done represented in Revelation 3. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 3
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Revelation 3:1-3. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 4
This describes the position of the church in Oakland. For the past three years there has been coming in a spirit which the Lord does not accept. The men who have been in the most responsible positions have carried things in a strong way. The Lord has not given them any such work to do. Men have been permitted to occupy responsible places who have not a sense of what these responsible positions embraced. They were taking upon themselves work to do—to guard ministers and people, that they should be dependent upon the president of the conference to define their work and not to engage in the work unless they should first ask permission of the ones taking charge of the conference. These overseers were to be voice and judgment. This has made them rulers of ministers and church members. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 5
Threats have been made that if they [the overseers] were not consulated and permission obtained to go to certain places—that if they [the ministers] went without thus consulting, and when and where the Lord would have them—they should not have wages. I am to say to those who have withheld means from the ones who have been fulfilling the requirements of the Word that would bring souls to the truth, that they have been under the condemnation of God for their assumed power of authority. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 6
The Lord had a message for me to bear that the work that has been carried on for the last three years, of man dominating over the flock of God, was now to be no longer tolerated. Again and again messages have been borne in various places that forbid man’s ruling over the servants of God in religious matters. But all the messages given were disregarded and were not of any force to these men. My soul has been burdened grievously. The same ruling of man has been kept up through years, but the underworking of the men ruling in office was to carry the impression that the testimony of Sister White was no longer of force. This underworking was bringing unbelief in the testimonies, and what could correct the evil? 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 7
When men are placed in office year after year without faithful, close investigation of the result of their work, it is a mistake. They place a mold upon the work after their own similitude of character; and light has been given me the last three years of this kind of work being carried on, until through their representations, ministers and physicians were inoculated with their poison of unbelief. These men in office have heard the testimonies God has given me under the influence of His Holy Spirit. They gave no heed to the testimonies, but were sowing their tares of unbelief, and many minds have been poisoned. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 8
Their unbelief has become as the sowing of tares among the wheat during these years past, until the message came to me from the Lord, and in decided, forcible words, that I must bear a message to those men who were sowing the tares of unbelief and carrying a dominating power, that the Lord would not accept their services officiating another year. Never were they to link up together to spoil the churches with their misrepresentations and will power. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 9
And the men who should have stood firm as a rock against this evil work had received the words of these two men—Elder Corliss and Elder Knox. They have done their work, and those who have drunk of their words have lost faith in the testimonies God has given. Now it will take time, as soon as it is proper, to listen to the evidence in misrepresentations, falsifying and affirming their own position until the Lord has said, I will not accept their work in any position unless they humble their hearts. They should have been separated from the work long ago. Say to My people, the words these men have spoken are out of their own minds and hearts to sow the seeds of questioning and doubt. Elder Corliss and Elder Knox, especially, should not be entrusted with the flock of God. The word spoken has shown their neglect to heed any message God may send to correct their evil work. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 10
None but men who are daily learning lessons from the Great Teacher can be true and sound, as Christian gentlemen. A neglect to conform in every particular to God’s requirements means certain failure in managing the Lord’s work. Having failed to give heed to the messages the Lord has sent for the benefit of His people for more than half a century, it would be a dishonor to God to have them acknowledged in any line as accepted laborers. They trusted themselves, failing to heed the words the Lord has given His servant to speak the last three years. They have strengthened themselves in their own will and purposes and ways, refusing to heed the words of warning and to surrender their will and unsanctified course of action. They make grave mistakes in exhibition of self. They have both spoiled the work in their hands, being untrue to principle and exalting self, unsanctified self. God refuses to connect with them unless they repent and are converted. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 11
The sin both are guilty of is rejecting the message God has given His people for the last half a century. The sin that is most hopeless and incurable is self-conceit. This sin stands in the way of all spiritual growth. He who is imbued with self-sufficiency cannot see that the work he has chosen spoils the flock of God. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 12
Now the sad part of this is that all these years the flock of God has been spoiled as far as these men’s influence is concerned. In words and in spirit and self-confidence they are placing themselves where they will mislead others. I have said the Great Teacher bore long, waiting for fruit unto repentance. While occupying positions in connection with the work of God, these men have heard the straightforward messages I have given them over and over. God has borne long with them. Men placed in high positions of responsibility have not borne fruit God can accept. They were not left in darkness. They were standing in positions of high, sacred trust, and yet the fruit was not such as would glorify God, because they bore wild fruit. The words spoken have had their influence because of their position. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 13
I have much on my mind, but I am not able to present it. That which I have spoken and written to them has been treated by them as idle tales. The Lord weighs the men in the balances of His sanctuary. You have both given your example to others, and you have leavened the flock of God. Now my work is largely increased to counterwork your work because of your influence on the flock of God in works and words given in your three years’ service. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 14
The Lord said to me, “These men are spoiling the flock of God by their words and works, so that many are becoming confused, unable to distinguish righteousness from unrighteousness. He sees and does not accept. They have been misled by selfish, ambitious projects. They are deceived and continuing to be deceived. If after the light I shall give you for them they still fail to distinguish right from wrong in betraying the cause of God, they are to be disconnected from the work, and they shall not serve another year. The sooner they are disconnected from the work, the purer and more elevated will be the character of the work in the future. They who would place more confidence in their own judgment than in the message I have given My servant to bear reveal that they have not spiritual discernment. They have lost the gem of discernment and have been accepting wages as if they were to be trusted as faithful guardians when they have developed this specious unbelief. They cannot distinguish between righteousness and truth and falsehood and error. And unless they repent, evil angels will be their teachers to misled those who have not discernment to judge between truth and righteousness and error and falsehood.” 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 15
There are those who will be confirmed in their unbelief, and I am to speak thus plainly to guard the flock of God strenuously. Some will have received such impressions during these three years of service that they will never become straight again. The apprentices that have been under discipline to the influences they have received must now by decided action be retaught the right way. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 16
Oh, how much I have suffered during the last two and three years at the thought that the man put in as president was not fitted for such a place, did not carry the work of God intelligently in his mind, [so] that he could work as with an eye single to the glory of God. No man who himself refuses to be led should in any case be retained after one year’s trial in any important position as leader unless he carries the burden of his responsibilities. Elder Knox has been in his position as president of the conference, working with a determination to carry his ideas concerning Elder Rice and wife, whose work has been acceptable to God as set forth in Isaiah 58:6-14. The work that has been done has been a good work. Plenty of testimony has been borne, and the Lord accepts their work. 23LtMs, Ms 16, 1908, par. 17