Book: Clarence Creager Crisler, Organization: Its Character, Purpose, Place, and Development in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1938). HTML, PDF.
[p. 61]
Chapter 7: Independence and Fanaticism
In the earliest numbers of the published Testimonies for the Church, written during the time of anxious labor preceding the final establishment of gospel order among Sabbathkeeping Adventists, there is given much instruction dealing with principles underlying individual responsibility, and revealing the close relationship existing between independence of spirit and fanaticism. To quote:
“November 20, 1855, while in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly and powerfully upon me, and I was taken off in vision. …
“I saw that the enemy is busy to destroy souls. Exaltation has come into the ranks; there must be more humility. There is too much of an independence of spirit indulged in among the messengers. This must be laid aside, and there must be a drawing together of the servants of God.
“There has been too much of a spirit to ask, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ Said the angel, ‘Yea, thou art thy brother’s keeper. Thou shouldst have a watchful care for thy brother, be interested for his welfare, and cherish a kind, loving spirit toward him. Press together, press together.’ ”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. I, pp. 113, 114.
In a testimony written October 21, 1858, God’s people are exhorted to move unitedly, in order to avoid the confusion that is sure to follow unorganized effort:
“Some run ahead of the angels that are leading this [p. 62] people; but they have to retrace every step, and meekly follow no faster than the angels lead. I saw that the angels of God would lead His people no faster than they could receive and act upon the important truths that are communicated to them. But some restless spirits do not more than half do up their work. As the angel leads them, they get in haste for something new, and rush on without divine guidance, and thus bring confusion and discord into the ranks. They do not speak or act in harmony with the body.”—Id., p. 207.
As pointed out in the extract just quoted, a spirit of independence opens the door wide for fanaticism and rebellion. This is further shown in messages of warning and reproof sent to some brethren and sisters whose minds and hearts were not “united and in union with the work.” These manifested a desire to “draw off from their brethren,” and seemed to have no regard for order. Refusing to be taught by workers of experience, they willfully, stubbornly followed their own course. As a result, their judgment was perverted by Satan’s power. God gave them their choice, to be instructed through His servants in His own appointed way, or to go on, maintain their willful course, and fall into bewildering fanaticism. Because of their desire to work independently of the counsel of those whom God had seen fit to place at the head of the work, they were finally left to follow their own blind judgment, and soon they became involved in foolish, wild fanaticism. (See Id., pp. 228-232, 311-323, 326-340.)
Thorough Discipline
In 1863 the brethren and sisters in the East were urged by Mrs. White to unite heartily with the workers [p. 63] in Michigan and elsewhere in an effort to perfect the organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In this appeal some of the early experiences with fanatics were reviewed, and a policy was outlined, which, when carried out, brought strength and stability to the cause throughout New England:
“The only remedy for the East is thorough discipline and organization. A spirit of fanaticism has ruled a certain class of Sabbathkeepers there; they have sipped but lightly at the fountain of truth, and are unacquainted with the spirit of the message of the third angel. Nothing can be done for this class until their fanatical views are corrected.”
“God is bringing out a people and preparing them to stand as one, united, to speak the same things, and thus carry out the prayer of Christ for His disciples: ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.’ John 17:20, 21.
“There are little companies continually arising who believe that God is only with the very few, the very scattered, and their influence is to tear down and scatter that which God’s servants build up. Restless minds who want to be seeing and believing something new continually, are constantly arising, some in one place and some in another, all doing a special work for the enemy, yet claiming to have the truth. They stand separate from the people whom God is leading out and prospering, and through whom He is to do His great work. They are continually expressing their fears that the body of Sabbathkeepers are [p. 64] becoming like the world; but there are scarcely two of these whose views are in harmony. … They all want full religious liberty, and each acts independent of the others, and yet they claim that God is especially at work among them. …
“God has led out men who have toiled for years, who have been willing to make any sacrifice, who have suffered privation, and endured trials to bring the truth before the world, and by their consistent course remove the reproach that fanatics have brought upon the cause of God. They have met opposition in every form. They have toiled night and day in searching the evidences of our faith, that they might bring out the truth in its clearness, in a connected form, that it might withstand all opposition. Incessant labor and mental trials in connection with this great work have worn down more than one constitution, and prematurely sprinkled heads with gray hairs. They have not worn out in vain. God has marked their earnest, tearful, agonizing prayers that they might have light and truth, and that the truth might shine in its clearness to others. He has marked their self-sacrificing efforts, and He will reward them as their works have been.
“On the other hand, those who have not toiled to bring out these precious truths, have come up and received some points, like the Sabbath truth, which are all prepared to their hand, and then all the gratitude they manifest for that which cost them nothing, but others so much, is to rise up like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and reproach those upon whom God has laid the burden of His work. They would say, ‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them.’ Num. 16:3. They are strangers to [p. 65] gratitude. They possess a strong spirit, which will not yield to reason, and which will lead them on to their own destruction.
“God has blessed His people who have moved forward, following His opening providence. He has brought out a people from every class upon the great platform of truth. Infidels have been convinced that God was with His people, and have humbled their hearts to obey the truth. The work of God moves steadily on.
“Yet notwithstanding all the evidences that God has been leading the body, there are, and will continue to be, those who profess the Sabbath, who will move independent of the body, and believe and act as they choose. Their views are confused. Their scattered state is a standing testimony that God is not with them. By the world, the Sabbath and their errors are placed upon a level, and thrown away together. …
“No occasion should be given to unbelievers to reproach our faith. We are considered odd and singular, and should not take a course to lead unbelievers to think us more so than our faith requires us to be. …
“There is a great work for us to do in the world, and God would not have us take a course to lessen or destroy our influence with the world.”—Id., pp. 411, 417-422.
The Value of Wise Counsel
“Some who have but little experience, and are least qualified to teach the truth, are the last to ask advice and counsel of their experienced brethren. …
“Ministers of experience, who realize the sacredness of the work, and feel the weight of the cause upon them, [p. 66] … consider it a privilege to advise with their brethren.”—Id., p. 444.
In a communication addressed to a self-sufficient worker, Mrs. White emphasized the necessity of taking heed to the counsel of men of experience:
“You despised counsel, and would not listen to God’s servant whose whole soul was devoted to the work. God in His providence provided you an adviser whose talents and influence entitled him to your respect and confidence, and it could in no way have injured your dignity to be guided by his experienced judgment. God’s angels marked your self-sufficiency, and with grief turned from you. He could not safely display His power in your behalf, for you would have taken the glory to yourself, and your future labors would have been of but little value. … You should not, in your labors, lean upon your own judgment, which has so often led you astray. You should yield to the judgment of those of experience. Do not stand upon your own dignity, and feel so self-sufficient that you cannot take the advice and counsel of experienced fellow laborers.”—Id., pp. 626, 627.
“There are many restless spirits who will not submit to discipline, system, and order. They think that their liberties would be abridged were they to lay aside their own judgment and submit to the judgment of those of experience. The work of God will not progress unless there is a disposition to submit to order, and expel the reckless, disorderly spirit of fanaticism.”—Id., p. 413.