Effective organization in the work of God can be brought about only by the unhampered operation of the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit is always attended by organized movement — order, harmony, precision; for " God is not the author of confusion," but directs that " all things be done decently and in order." The more fully the Spirit is bestowed upon the church, the more perfect becomes the organization of the church. There is a perverted view of organization which leads to considering the matter of organization as a mere machine, a necessary evil, a cold, formal tool borrowed from the world with which to adjust spiritual affairs. Such a view leads straight to confusion and disorganization, and is one of the most subtle snares of the enemy of souls. Under the Spirit's leadership and directing power, organization becomes a living, pulsating agency for the salvation of men.
The operation of the Spirit in the channel of organization is revealed in the physical world as truly as in the spiritual world. On creation morn it was " the Spirit of God " brooding over the chaotic mass that brought forth organization — system, harmony, program which has controlled the universe with precision and accuracy from that moment to the present time. The history of creation furnishes an object lesson to man of the divine principle of organization by which he is to be governed and controlled in the exercise of his " dominion " rights in the physical world.
The object lessons set forth in the word of God to show the operation of organization in the spiritual realm, are numerous. A few instances in this connection will suffice. Take the case of Gideon, of whom it is written: " The Spirit of the Lord came upon [clothed] Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him." Judges 6: 34.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Gideon first led to the calling and organization of the militant in Israel to the defense of the nation. The organization under the control of the Holy Spirit was perfected step by step:
(1) The segregating from among those responding to the call, of the men fitted for the conflict and who could be depended upon in the moment of crisis;
(2) The dividing of the selected company into smaller units and appointing their specific action; (3) the selecting and placing under responsibility of capable leaders for the effective results expected from the small groups. The result of this Spirit-indited organization was the overthrow of the enemy, and the peace and quietness of the children of Israel so long as they remained faithful to their God.
The wonderful organization of the children of Israel during the wilderness journey, stands as a monument to the divine plan of organization, and serves as an example and admonition to those " upon whom the ends of the world are come." The organized camp, orderly march, and unity of action as exhibited by the hosts of Israel, struck terror to the hearts of their enemies.
The organization of the apostolic church and movement of the first century, was the outworking of the Holy Spirit. Within a brief period of thirty years, that divinely organized, Spirit-filled movement surmounted every barrier, and made its -way into the entire known world. Here is the outstanding example of world-wide organization in the spiritual realm. The church as a whole was " scattered abroad, . . . except the apostles." Acts 8: 1. The apostles remained in Jerusalem, and directed the work of the church from that center. They constituted the " conference committee " of that period of the church.
From purely human reasoning, we conclude that the organization of the remnant church should lack none of the elements of the divine principles of organization which have been portrayed in the sacred history of God's dealings with His people, but rather be strengthened and fortified by the combination and addition of specific instruction for meeting the attacks of the enemy in the last great struggle of earth's drama. The work of the remnant church is to reach " every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," and the manifestation of the Spirit of God is recognized through the development and perfection of a system of organization covering every square foot of earth's surface. All peoples and all lands come within the bounds of conference or mission field organization connected with this great spiritual movement.
As a special guide and aid in the organization required at this time, the Lord has given minute instruction through the spirit of prophecy. When in the year 1888 the message came to us through this source that the hour had arrived for the "loud cry of the third angel," we were a small company of people, with no established work in South America, China, India, very little in Africa, and only a small beginning in Europe. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in what we term " the latter rain " that gives power to the loud cry of the third angel; and with the outpouring of the Spirit which began in 1888, has come the perfecting of the system of organization. In this mighty movement is seen to-day a clasping of hands from the General Conference to the division conference, from the division to the union conference, from the union to the local conference, from the local conference to the church, and from the church to the individual. This close relationship obtains in the providence of God in order that the spirit of counsel and continuity of leadership may be established.
The Israel of God, while journeying through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, marched en masse, keeping rank, and accomplished the purpose of God. In the advent movement of these last days, organization is a divine and essential factor, and every individual in the movement, whether officer, leader, or layman, must recognize this fact, and stand faithfully in his allotted place in the organized movement. The presence of the Spirit of God with this people, _ operating through the divinely appointed channel of organization, is the only way whereby victory can come to the Israel of to-day.
Mount Vernon, Ohio.
