The Basic Element of Organization

Today we shall study certain basic matters as they relate to the Spirit of Prophecy counsels which have to do with the self-supporting work. Go back with me to part one of this study when we traced the inceptions of various lines of denominational work. Early in our experience, and closely following the beginnings of the publishing work, the attention of Sabbath-keeping Adventists was directed to the importance of organization. The visions imparted to Ellen White were nearly always given under very practical circumstances, and that was so in the case of the vision on December 25, 1850. The brethren had a great message, but as they faced the responsibility and privilege of carrying this message to those about them, they soon became aware of discordant elements that were beginning to insinuate themselves into the little group of Sabbath-keeping Adventists. The gospel net draws in all types of individuals—all types of minds—and there were some who held views out of harmony with the essentials that had been drawn together in the Sabbath conferences of 1848. Those individuals felt a burden to enter the field of labor and promulgate their views, doing so in the name of the little remnant, or “the scattered flock”, as the Sabbath-keeping brethren designated themselves. Who was there to define what was truth? Who was there to say who should go into the gospel field? Of the vision given to Ellen White, to which I have just referred, she tells us:SPCSSW 17.2

“I saw how great and holy God was. Said the angel, ‘Walk carefully before Him, for He is high and lifted up, and the train of His glory fills the temple.’ I saw that everything in heaven was in perfect order. Said the angel, ‘Look, ye, Christ is the head, move in order. Have a meaning to everything.’ Said the angel, ‘Behold ye and know how perfect, how beautiful, the order in heaven, follow it.’”—Manuscript 11, 1850. Quoted in Messenger to the Remnant, page 45.

This gave the leaders of the work courage as they met with the loosely knit company of believers—believers who were earnest in their convictions, but fearful that to organize would lead them to complacency and perhaps the disfavor of God. Shortly thereafter we find Elder and Mrs. White at a general meeting in Washington, N. H., where the Adventists first began to keep the Sabbath. James White wrote, in a letter dated Nov. 11, 1851, now published in the Messenger to the Remnant, page 45:SPCSSW 17.3

“The burden of the meeting was church order, pointing out the errors of_____and_____, and the importance of church action as to the course of some brethren. Ellen had a vision. Saw that the frown of God was upon us as a people because the accursed thing was in the camp, that is, errors among us, and that the church must act; and the only way to do Brethren_____and_____ good was to withdraw fellowship from them in their present position. All acted on the light given. All received the vision, and even to an individual all raised the hand to withdraw fellowship from them.”

Thus we find a loosely knit group of Sabbath-keeping Adventists as early as 1851, with the encouragement of James and Ellen White, pulling themselves together with sufficient strength to hold up their hands in an action to cast out of their group those who were teaching discordant views. This is the first record of a practical carrying out of the principles of church organization among us. Do not misunderstand me—it wasn’t until eleven years later that this group of believers were finally unified in a sound, organized church relationship.SPCSSW 18.1

The battle of organization was not won in a day, or a week, or a year. Through the 1850’s, James and Ellen White labored to pull the lines together. Other important visions were given to Sister White on this subject and she wrote in 1853, what we now have in Early Writings, 97, in the article entitled “Gospel Order”, opening with the words:SPCSSW 18.2

“The Lord has shown me that gospel order has been too much feared and neglected. Formality should be shunned; but, in so doing, order should not be neglected. There is order in heaven. There was order in the church when Christ was upon earth, and after His departure order was strictly observed among His apostles. And now in these last days, while God is bringing His children into the unity of the faith, there is more real need of order than ever before.”

Following this a number of points were touched setting forth the hazard of men going into the field to preach who were not prepared, either by spirituality, judgment, or experience, and the angel gave instruction that “the church should feel their responsibility and should look carefully and attentively at the lives, qualifications, and general course of those who profess to be teachers” (page 100). It was also stated that, “It is the duty of the church to act and let it be known that these persons (traveling without being called of God) are not acknowledged as teachers by the church.... I saw that this door at which the enemy comes in to perplex and trouble the flock can be shut. I inquired of the angel how it could be closed. He said, ‘The church must flee to God’s Word and become established upon gospel order, which has been overlooked and neglected.’” (See page 100.)SPCSSW 18.3

Thus the Lord was calling for the development of order and organization in His work. Before there could be proper advancement, before the Lord could lead His church even into an understanding of certain lines of truth and endeavor, the principles of order and organization must be clearly established. And it should. be noted that this was years before there was any regular or assured financial provision for the support of the ministry.SPCSSW 18.4

The struggle to bring about organization in the church filled the decade of the 1850’s and ran into the 60’s. In 1860 a name for the denomination was chosen, but only after considerable study as to whether this would be appropriate or not. In 1861, as efforts were made to bind the company of believers together in churches, it was found that the battle was still not won. There must be some type of simple statement to which the church members would pledge themselves, and this led to a discussion of a creed. It was early decided that Seventh-day Adventists should have no creed except the Bible and that to drive credal stakes would make it impossible for God to lead His people through the counsels of the Spirit of Prophecy. James White wrote regarding this in the The Review and Herald, October 8, 1861:SPCSSW 19.1

“Making a creed is setting the stakes, and barring up the way to all future advancement.... A creed and the gifts thus stand in direct opposition to each other.”

But the brethren finally came to agreement upon a simple declaration of faith in two sentences, upon which the churches were knit together and the foundations were laid for the full establishment of local conferences, in 1862, and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 1863. God was guiding in each step of the development of church organization.SPCSSW 19.2

When this was finally brought about, Seventh-day Adventists numbered 3,500. And again and again in prophetic voice the admonition was heard, “Press together, press together... In union there is strength.”—Testimonies to Ministers, page 56.SPCSSW 19.3

One of the greatest perils of the Advent movement down through the years has been that of divisiveness. With no creed, with men and women eager to learn the truth and to teach the truth, there could easily come about differences of opinion in doctrine; and burdened with the work of spreading the message, there could develop differences of opinion as to the best methods of procedure. But, “We are laborers together with God,” and through the agency of His choice God has given instruction and guidance. He has bound all Seventh-day Adventists together in a very close unity, and anything which would disturb that unity is to be feared.SPCSSW 19.4

Speaking of the purposes and place of organization, Ellen White, in that assuring article, appearing in Testimonies to Ministers, entitled, “Organization and Development”, stated this:SPCSSW 19.5

“As our numbers increased, it was evident that without some form of organization there would be great confusion, and the work would not be carried forward successfully. To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable.”—Testimonies to Ministers, page 26.

With the work now knit together in a solid organizational establishment, the prospects of the denomination reaching its objectives were greatly enhanced. Its objectives were to preach the gospel and to bring to the attention of men and women everywhere the third angel’s message with its testing truths. The Seventh-day Adventist church has no justification for existence except to accomplish this. In addition to the preaching of the word, which is God’s means of warning men and women, there were many adjuncts to the reaching of the hearts of men and women, opening avenues of approach to the heralding of the third angel’s message.SPCSSW 20.1

As far as the Spirit of Prophecy is concerned, there is no line drawn between the basic responsibilities of Seventh-day Adventists, whether or not they are drawn into the circle of those regularly employed in some line of denominational work. True, the minister upon whom the hands of ordination have been laid is especially dedicated to his sacred task. But our schools have trained many men and women who devote full energy, talents and time to proclaiming the message—some employed under salary in the Seventh-day Adventist church, and others not employed on denominational salary. In some line of institutional work, whether operated by the conference or by laymen, the worker on salary, or supported in some manner that may be determined upon, is able to make his contribution to the cause at large. And beyond this, the lay member pursuing his chosen line of employment for the support of his family, either in his native community or in some needy field to which he has gone, may let his light shine. It was largely in this setting that Ellen White envisioned initially the contributions of those dependent upon themselves for their support. Each man and woman possessed talents. For the proper use of these he was answerable to God.SPCSSW 20.2

The call published in 1902 stirred many to action. Wrote Ellen White:SPCSSW 20.3

“In the South there is much that could be done by lay members of the church, persons of limited education...

“Let Sabbathkeeping families move to the South and live out the truth before those who know it not. These families can be a help to one another, but let them be careful to do nothing that will hedge up their way. Let them do Christian help work, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:227.

I might bring you a number of statements of similar character which constituted the call which led many lay families to enter the lines of work which were called for.SPCSSW 20.4

When there were clear and definite calls for Seventh-day Adventist laymen to share the burden of entering and evangelizing new fields, these were often accompanied by certain cautions—safeguarding counsels. In 1888, when a call for advance movement along missionary lines by laymen throughout our ranks was sounded through the columns of the Review and Herald, it was accompanied by this counsel:SPCSSW 20.5

“There are many workers in the cause who are not properly equipped for this great work, and when they are given some measure of success, they are in danger of becoming elated and self-sufficient. They work in their own strength, and do not discern their danger, and therefore do not avoid the perils that are in their pathway....There are those who have independent ideas and will not receive counsel. They choose to follow their own course.

“Those who would labor in word and doctrine, should be firmly established in the truth before they are authorized to go out into the field to teach others. The truth, pure and unadulterated, must be presented to the people.”

“God has a special work for the men of experience to do. They are to guard the cause of God. They are to see that the work of God is not committed to men who feel it their privilege to move out on their own independent judgment, to preach whatever they please, and to be responsible to no one for their instructions or work. Let this spirit of self-sufficiency once rule in our midst, and there will be no harmony of action, no unity of spirit, no safety for the work, and no healthful growth in the cause.... Christ prayed that his followers might be one as he and the Father were one. Those who desire to see this prayer answered, should seek to discourage the slightest tendency to division, and try to keep the spirit of unity and love among brethren.

“God calls for laborers; but he wants those who are willing to submit their wills to his, and who will teach the truth as it is in Jesus.... One who works in harmony with the counsel of God, and in unity with the brethren, will be more efficient to do good than ten will be who do not realize the necessity of depending upon God, and of acting in harmony with the general plan of the work.”

“Let those who contemplate giving themselves to the work, place themselves in connection with those who have had a good experience in the ways of God, and a knowledge of his cause.”—The Review and Herald, May 29, 1888.

As already noted, it was the South, at the turn of the century, that presented the great challenge and Seventh-day Adventists responded. Ellen White spoke of it as a part of the Lord’s vineyard which called for an approach different from other fields. It was a field in which, up to that time, the church had failed to meet its full responsibilities. Direct mention is made of this situation by Elder C. C. Crisler in 1914, as he introduced a statement from Sister White. Elder Crisler explained:SPCSSW 21.1

“In a letter addressed to the president of the General Conference in 1901, the principle is set forth that when appointed agencies in the church fail to do a work which must be done by some means, it is in harmony with the will of God that such work be undertaken by individuals impressed by the Holy Spirit to do this work:

“The South is a field that can not be compared with any other field. The work there can not be conducted in the same way that the work in other places is conducted. It can not be carried forward in the regular lines; for this would be inconsistent....

“If the work in this field had in the past been recognized by the General Conference, if the help had been given that the importance of the field demands, there would be some reason why the work should be carried in the regular lines. But in many parts of the South the regular lines can not now be followed.... The work has been hindered in such away that God has been greatly dishonored. The strange neglect of the Southern Field is a standing rebuke to those who bear the name of Seventh-day Adventists.”—The Value of Organization, page 16 (pamphlet).

And thus Ellen White wrote of the conditions as they existed 58 years ago in the South, conditions which she felt justified the call and presented the opportunity for certain lines of work which could be especially developed there. The call was not at first essentially for institutions, but for families; and then followed the counsels for a school to be started to educate teachers to go among the neglected peoples of the communities. Plans for a training school were developed by Professors Sutherland and Magan, who were joined by Miss DeGraw and others. Sister White’s counsel was earnestly sought.SPCSSW 22.1