Our Roots, Pt. 41

Organization—No. 15 (Review and Herald, May 16, 1907)

The pioneers of this cause upon whom rested the responsibility of developing a system of organization that would meet the requirements of this many-sided, world-wide movement, felt the weight and gravity of such a responsibility. They gave the subject the most careful and prolonged study; they searched the Scriptures privately and together for light; they prayed and counseled together with deep solicitude; and they accepted the counsel that came through the spirit of prophecy. Thus with great care they worked out a plan of organization for churches, conferences, and institutions which they believed was in harmony with the principles of gospel order and organization set forth in the Scriptures.

We have now been testing the efficiency of this system for nearly half a century, and we have found that it has fully met the needs of a growing, expanding work. During the same time we have been giving its fundamental features a rigid comparison with the details of church organization outlined in the Scriptures. This comparison reveals such a close resemblance in all essential features, that we are fully convinced that our predecessors built this organization upon sound gospel principles.

The Scriptures and Testimonies of the spirit of prophecy give us valuable information regarding the character of the organization provided by the Lord for the direction and government of the church in both the Old and New Testament times. By divine instruction the children of Israel at Sinai, who constituted the "church in the wilderness," were placed under the most perfect organization applicable to human society. Regarding this the spirit of prophecy says: —

Here their worship had taken more definite form, the laws had been given for the government of the nation, and a more efficient organization had been effected preparatory to their entrance into the land of Canaan. The government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough organization, wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity, The order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy.

God was the center of authority and government, the sovereign of Israel. Moses stood as their visible leader, by God's appointment, to administer the laws in his name. From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation. Next came the priests, who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary. Chiefs, or princes, ruled over the tribes. Under these were "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens; " and, lastly, officers who might be employed for special duties.— "Patriarchs and Prophets" page 374.

The facts set forth in the quotation above will not be discovered from a hasty reading of the Old Testament, but they will be clearly seen by a careful study of the following passages: Ex. 18:13-26; Deut. 1:9-18; 16:17-20; 17: 2-13; Num. 11:16, 17.

A summary of the details recorded in these scriptures would be something as follows: —

First, there were chosen from among the people able men, such as feared God, men of truth, hating covetousness, to take the management of the affairs of the church. Ex. 18:21; Deut. 16: 18,

Second, these men were "rulers," "captains," "heads," and "officers" among the people. Ex. 18:21; Deut. 1:15.

Third, to these men, placed in official positions, were assigned responsibilities of varying degrees — officers over thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, and tens. Ex. 18:21; Deut. 1: 15.

Fourth, as rulers or officers of these large and small companies they were located in all parts of the land among the people, to associate with them, study their conditions, needs, and interests, and to counsel and guide them in all that pertained to their spiritual welfare. Ex. 18:22; Deut. 1:16; 16:18, 19.

Fifth, among the many men appointed rulers and officers to lead and guide the church, "seventy men of the elders of Israel," " elders of the people, and officers over them," were chosen by the Lord's direction to stand with Moses and help him to bear the heavy burden that rested upon him. Num. 11:16, 17.

Sixth, each one of these various officers among the people was to look after matters pertaining to the company over which he presided. He was to see to those interests nearest to him; "within thy gates" is the exact expression. Deut. 17:2, 8.

Seventh, when an officer, in the administration of his affairs, found a problem or difficulty too great for him to adjust, he was to refer it to a higher body for final settlement. Deut. 17:8-13. Certain matters too difficult for any of the rulers were carried to Moses and his advisers, the seventy elders. Deut. 1:17.

Eighth, by this system of organization, the people of all the tribes scattered throughout Palestine were bound together in one body. The tribes, the families, and the people gathered in various cities were not separate, disconnected fragments. They were one people, living under one general system of organization, which applied in its working to every individual.

The general plan of the organization adopted by Seventh-day Adventists is very similar to that outlined above. It contributes to the welfare of every member of the body throughout the whole world.

First, the little company of believers who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus select a leader — an officer of ten.

Second, in due time this company organizes into a church, and elects its officers — an elder, a deacon, a treasurer, and a clerk. It maintains departments of service, such as the Sabbath-school, the missionary society, the Young People's Society, etc., and appoints leaders of these departments.

Third, the single, separate church does not stand alone and isolated from its sister churches. A number of churches in a given territory, great or small, as the conditions may suggest, unite together in an association of churches, called a conference. They see the same good reason for associating churches together for mutual co-operation and concert of action that leads individuals to unite in church relationship.

Fourth, these churches select men and women from their number to meet together for counsel regarding their mutual interests, the needs of the cause of God, and to choose the men and women from their number who shall be made officers and ministers of the conference. These officers may be called rulers of fifties.

Fifth, the plan of organization does not end here. A number of these local conferences associate together in the formation of a larger conference — a union conference. The union is organized, its officers elected, and its general plans decided upon by men chosen from the various local conferences composing the union. The officers of union conferences may be said to be rulers of hundreds.

Sixth, and finally, all the union conferences and mission fields throughout the world are united and associated together in one General Conference. When in session, this General Conference is composed of men and women appointed by union and local conferences. Everything pertaining to the general welfare of the cause is laid before these representatives. They form the general plans of administration, elect the general committee, the officers, etc. The members of this committee may be said to be rulers of thousands.

By this arrangement all the people of this cause are associated together as one people, very much as Israel was. The leaders of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands have their specific responsibilities within their gates. The problems that are too hard for one are referred to a higher body. Those that are too difficult for the General Committee are laid before the Lord's prophet.

This comparison might be carried still further, but what has been pointed out will prove sufficient to make it plain that there is a very close resemblance between that simple, complete, and efficient system of organization provided for the church established by Moses, and the organization worked out for the remnant church called out by the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-14.

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