HOW SHOULD WE RELATE TO THE ORGANIZATION? Recently,
we received this by mail: “I
hope you will be first to warn our people of the danger involved in being ‘loyal’
to the apostasy in the SDA Church, thinking that the organization will be “cleaned
up” as is being presented so often today.”—Eastern States. Here
is our reply: Our
loyalty must be to the God of heaven and His written Word first, last, and
always. Our loyalty to men and their organizations can only be to that
extent to which they are in agreement with God and His Inspired Writings. Will
the organization be ‘cleaned up’? Can we be assured of it? Prior to
the immense National Sunday Law crisis, the organization will only be
cleaned up, to the extent to which men in control are willing for it to
happen. God will work no miracle to change wicked hearts. After
the National Sunday Law crisis begins, that crisis, itself, will do a
powerful work of cleaning up, casting down, taking out, and bringing in.
The “church” will be quite different afterward (defining ‘church’
as God’s professed people): Many will be gone and few will be left. But
“church” is not equivalent to “organization.” “Church” is the
people; “organization” is the orderly pattern or arrangement of the
people on various levels (individuals, families, local congregations,
conferences, unions, hospitals, publishing houses, etc.), and the
properties, buildings, equipment and supplies they corporately own. Organizations
are not saved, only people are. Churches are not saved, only individuals
are. Yes,
the “church” will be quite different after the Sunday law begins
because the people constituting it will be different; many will have left
and many will be added. Those still remaining in it will be the ones who
consistently chose a strong dedication to God and obedience to His Word
before the crisis begins. But
what about the “organization?” Will it be cleaned up? Two interesting
points here: First, nowhere in the Spirit of Prophecy writings are we told
anything about “the organization” after the Sunday law begins. Second,
there will probably be no structured “organization” after the Sunday
law—because its very existence will be illegal. (1) Its organizational
relationships will probably be immensely disrupted. The relationships
which will continue will be believer with believer, and small group with
small group. (2) Its property, buildings, equipment, and supplies will
frequently be confiscated. Then
what should be our relationship to the organization (the official
denomination) just now? Within the denominational structure, we should try
to call the attention of the people to the Inspired Writings and the
truths contained therein. We should encourage them to study and learn
those historic standards and beliefs. We should urge them to practice and
teach them to yet others. Along
with this, we should encourage the rapidly growing members of the
“little flock” who are being forced out of the denomination because of
their stand for our historic truths. And,
very important, we should be working for the lost out in the world who do
not know these final messages before time ends. Should
we remain in the denomination? As long as you are able to work within it
and help others, please continue doing so. There are many faithful
believers in the organization who need your counsel and encouragement.
They need your witness for truth. If
you are forced to leave the organization, then do not become discouraged,
but set to work to keep close to the Lord and keep helping others. If
there are others in your area, gather together and study and pray
together. “Where two or more are gathered together . .” But,
if you are in the organization, do not think evil of those who have been
forced to leave. And if you are out of the organization, do not think evil
of those who remain in it. Either way, the devil will tempt you to hate.
Do not do it. Pray for the people instead. Before the crisis breaks, none
can know who will remain true. Being in the denomination will not
guarantee salvation, and giving slavish loyalty to an independent ministry
will not do it either. It will be your personal relationship to Christ
that will count. Your daily consecration to His service, and your
attitudes and work for others will count far more than your position in
relation to the organization. There
is grave danger in imagining that connection with an organization—any
organization—will save the soul. It is connection with Christ and
obedience by faith to His Inspired Books which is crucial. There is grave
danger in thinking that we must remain with the group or a group. That
group may later go into satanic deception and lead us there also. Or, when
the crisis finally breaks, the group may yield to threats of persecution
and imprisonment and try to get all its members to apostatize with it. It
is not wrong to worship with a group of like believers in the faith. But
we must not make that subtle transfer of first loyalty from Christ and His
teachings to the group and its teachings. Men
will not save us, groups will not save us, organizations will not save us.
We are saved individually; we can be lost individually or in groups. Should
we then separate from all organizations and all groups? Not unless it is
absolutely necessary. Satan likes to separate us, and then try to destroy
us individually. “Divide and conquer” is one of his policies. If at
all possible, pray and study with others of like precious faith. Seek to
strengthen and encourage one another. It
is not wrong to remain in your local Adventist church, if the members of
that church are of like faith. But be alert: The time may come when you
can no longer do so, if efforts are being made to separate husbands and
wives, and captivate the children with worldliness. Circumstances differ
according to location. Be
continually watching, praying, studying, working—and on guard—ready on
an instant’s notice to do the will of God as He directs. Remember that His directions will never run counter to His Word. Think not that a traveling preacher, passing through, has “new light” for you. All the new light is in God’s Word; all the new light comes from Him; man has none. All the new light will be clearly stated in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. Degrees, profession, soft words, holy gestures, are nothing compared with the Words of Inspiration. If they speak not according to the Word, believe them not. |
