We are told by historians that as the apostles died and new leaders arose, they gradually remodeled the church. Standards were lowered, and the people were no longer encouraged to walk in the ways that Christ and the apostles had marked out for them. Step by step they went farther and farther away from God,—all due to the laxity of their leaders.
Again as we survey the centuries we find that many religious movements have traversed the same pathway. When they first came into existence, they had lofty ideals. They had leaders who loved God more than their own lives, men who were willing to sacrifice and to suffer for the cause of God. Those leaders maintained high standards for the church. And so long as those early pioneers lived and worked, we find that the church was strong and pure, and a light and blessing in the world. But as the pioneers were laid to rest and other leaders arose, little by little they began to lower the standards; worldliness crept into the church; and before long, because of the unfaithfulness of the leaders, the church apostatized.
Let us now consider our own movement, our own church. We all know how it came into existence; how God raised up faithful, humble, God-fearing men who sacrificed their all to start this movement and to carry to the world this blessed truth, this message you and I have learned to love. They set high standards for the church, and they maintained them.
Now the early pioneers are gone, and the leadership of the church has passed into new hands. What will be the experience of the church under our leadership? I often tremble as I think of the tremendous responsibility resting upon us. In "Gospel Workers," page 68, we read: "Never before was there so much at stake; never were there results so mighty depending upon a generation as upon these now coming upon the stage of action." I recently inquired as to when these words were written, and was informed by one in a position to know, that it was at least twenty-five or thirty years ago.
These words, then, were addressed primarily to those who were just coming into responsibility twenty-five or thirty years ago. How many of us here at this Council were coming on the "stage of action" at that time? Twenty-five years ago I had just been ordained to the gospel ministry. The majority here present were young men or young women then, having recently entered the work, and some were still boys and girls at home. I conclude, therefore, that this message in "Gospel Workers" was intended for us. With that in mind let us read further from the same page:
"The burden bearers among us are falling in death. Many of those who have been foremost in carrying out the reforms instituted by us as a people, are now past the meridian of life, and are declining in physical and mental strength. With the deepest concern the question may be asked, Who will fill their places? To whom are to be committed the vital interests of the church when the present standard bearers fall? We cannot but look anxiously upon the youth of today as those who must take these burdens, and upon whom responsibilities must fall. These must take up the work where others leave it, and their course will determine whether morality, religion, and vital godliness shall prevail, or whether immorality and infidelity shall corrupt and blight all that is valuable."
Most of the men who were carrying the burdens and responsibilities of leadership in the various lines and departments of our work when those words were penned, are gone, and younger men have stepped into their places. I have been impressed with this fact repeatedly during these last few days in which we have met with the medical, the educational, the publishing, the home missionary, and other department groups that have come here for study and counsel; and I am impressed with the same thought as I face this audience of denominational leaders.
What, then, are we as younger men doing in meeting the responsibilities that have come to us? Was there any reason for the concern expressed by Sister White when she wrote the lines I have just read? As we have come into this work and the responsibility of leadership has been placed upon us, have we followed faithfully in the footsteps of our predecessors? Have we set the same noble examples? Have we maintained the same high standards? Is the church of God under our leadership as pure, as Christlike, and as true as it was in those earlier days?
Sometimes I fear that the bars are being lowered, and that worldliness is creeping into the church. I fear there is not the same carefulness in dress, in Sabbath keeping, in tithe paying; not the same humility, earnestness, and zeal; not the same hatred of sin. Do we realize as leaders that God is holding us responsible for the state of His church? Our course, we are told, "will determine whether morality, religion, and vital godliness shall prevail, or whether immorality and infidelity shall corrupt and blight all that is valuable." To us God has committed His church,—the most precious thing He has upon earth. How are we caring for it? Are we getting it ready for translation?
We talk much about the present crisis in the world, and the financial difficulties that face us in our work. This is a serious situation. It fills us with anxiety. But this situation does not weigh upon me as heavily as the spiritual condition of the church. That is of far greater importance.
There are conditions under which we work in several of the countries in our division that are most serious and perplexing—prohibitory laws, persecution, and imprisonment. But I do not feel half so much concerned about persecution and trouble as I do about this question: Are we, as leaders in the various lines and departments of the work, true to our trust? Are we, upon whom God has placed great responsibility, faithfully holding up the standards? Are we setting the right example in Christian living? Or are we allowing the banner of truth to trail in the dust? May God especially help those of us who are younger to be humble, loyal, and true.
Bern, Switzerland.
* Abstract of an address given by the president of the Southern European Division at the Battle Creek Autumn Council, at the devotional hour for the day. —Editors.
