Principles for Christian Leaders

When course corrections are needed

No dictatorial power—An example has been set in our institutions which has done great harm. A spirit has been cherished which needs to be entirely put away. This lording it over God’s heritage must no longer be tolerated. The directors of God’s work must be men who have learned to seek Him in prayer, to be guided by His Spirit, men who realize the importance of being filled with wisdom from above. Those in our institutions, from the highest to the lowest, need to humble themselves before God. There must be a revival of the Holy Spirit in human hearts. The kingly authority exercised by man over his fellow man is no longer to find recognition in our institutions. No man is to feel that he can be conscience for another. PCL 235.3

Mutual dependence is the law of the universe. The principles of truth are worked out through different instrumentalities, but there is one head over all, working through all and in all, to reveal the character of God to the world. PCL 236.1

In the carrying forward of the cause of God, there is to be no injustice, no impartiality. In the heavenly courts the choicest treasures of God are prepared for His people, that they may work for Him in the fragrance of His love.—Letter 61, 1901 (June 28) PCL 236.2

If those whom God in His providence has placed in responsible positions in His institutions are sharp, exacting, dictatorial, overbearing, the institutions with which they are connected will suffer great loss. The effect of their course will react on them, robbing them of peace and rest. PCL 236.3

A strong will is a blessing if sanctified to God. Put your [Bro. Rice] will on the side of God’s will. Let your life be controlled by the wide, generous principles of the Bible, the principles of good will, kindness, and courtesy. Place less confidence in self. Remember that in a multitude of counselors there is safety. PCL 236.4

No one in an institution, not even the superintendent, should take the position that he is free to follow his own judgment in all things. Let no one think that he knows so much that he no longer needs to learn. Unless we are constantly learning of Christ, and unless we are willing to take counsel and advice from our brethren, we shall fail in our work, for we shall become self-sufficient; and with those who are self-sufficient God cannot work.—Letter 30, 1887 (June 11) PCL 236.5

Now I want to say, God has not put any kingly power in our ranks to control this or that branch of the work. The work has been greatly restricted by the efforts to control it in every line. —GCB, April 3, 1901; LDE 53 PCL 236.6

Remove climate of criticism—The Holy Spirit stands ready to work man if he will submit to the working. But you [managers of institutions] feel fully capable of working yourselves. You are too apt to criticize others. You may criticize yourself as much as you please, but refrain from criticizing your fellow workers, for if you do this, you will be left to your own ways.—Letter 101, 1899 (July 3) PCL 237.1

Reformation is called for by the Watcher. When the work is accomplished that should be accomplished in the minds and hearts of those brought together in our institutions as Christian workers; when every phase of the work is done with an eye single to the glory of God; when murmuring and strife are put far away; when the upward lines of advance that Christ and conscience point out are not disputed, then the Holy Spirit will have a chance to work on the hearts that need converting. As matters now stand, those who should be educators are sometimes fickle and impatient, given to murmuring and faultfinding. Day by day they deal out these objectionable attributes to those connected with them. They are far from being harmless, blameless, and without rebuke.—Letter 148, 1899 (September 24) PCL 237.2

Eliminate harmful speech—Sometimes those who are officiating as overseers need themselves to be under an overseer. A decided reformation is needed in the work of some who fill positions as managers. How much the helpers in the various lines of God’s work might be helped if the managers were themselves managed by the Spirit of God. PCL 237.3

You [Bro. Boeker] are in danger. It is necessary for me to say that by the sharp words that you speak you dishonor Christ. . . . But no one should be dealt with in a harsh, domineering manner. You may think that this way of acting and speaking will reform wrongs, but you will find that it will increase wrongs.—Letter 196, 1901 (September 18) PCL 237.4

Avoid seeking undue advantage—The righteousness of Christ by faith has been ignored by some; for it is contrary to their spirit and their whole life experience. Rule, rule, has been their course of action. Satan has had an opportunity of representing himself. When one who professes to be a representative of Christ engages in sharp dealing and pressing men into hard places, those who are thus oppressed will either break every fetter of restraint, or they will be led to regard God as a hard master. They cherish hard feelings against God, and the soul is alienated from Him, just as Satan planned it should be. PCL 238.1

This hard-heartedness on the part of men who claim to believe the truth Satan charges to the influence of truth itself, and thus men become disgusted and turn from the truth. For this reason no man should have a responsible connection with our institutions who thinks it no important matter whether he has a heart of flesh or a heart of steel. PCL 238.2

Men think they are representing the justice of God, but they do not represent His tenderness and the great love wherewith He has loved us. Their human invention originating with the specious devices of Satan, appears fair enough to the blinded eyes of men, because it is inherent in their nature. A lie, believed, practiced, becomes as truth to them. Thus the purpose of the satanic agencies is accomplished, that men should reach these conclusions through the working of their own inventive minds. PCL 238.3

But how do men fall into such error? By starting with false premises, and then bringing everything to bear to prove the error true. In some cases the first principles have a measure of truth interwoven with the error, but it does not lead to any just action, and this is why men are misled. In order to reign and become a power, they employ Satan’s methods to justify their own principles. They exalt themselves as men of superior judgment, and they have stood as representatives of God. These are false gods. —Letter 55, 1895 (September 24); TM 363, 364 PCL 238.4

Turn from self-serving—Some who have been long in Battle Creek, and who ought to be responsible men, are occupying positions of trust in name only. They have been made guardians of our institutions; but their course of action shows that they have no special interest in them nor burden for them. Their thoughts center upon themselves. If we were to judge them by their works we should decide that they consider their own energies too precious to be exercised for these instrumentalities of God, unless they can secure temporal advantages to themselves. These are neglecting to keep the fort, not because they cannot do it, but because they are self-caring, and are content to rock themselves to sleep in the cradle of carnal security.—4T 512 (1880) PCL 239.1

Here in this world, even in connection with sacred responsibilities, there is manifested an eagerness to obtain high positions, to rule, to guide, to control. But of Christ we read that, though in the form of God, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Those who are in connection with heaven are not to snatch at power as did Satan in the heavenly courts.—Letter 39, 1898 (March 27) PCL 239.2

The Pharisees and the scribes and elders in Christ’s day manifested an avaricious spirit. This brought them under the control of Satan, and was the main cause of their hatred to Christ, because His teachings and His example rebuked everything of this character. If this spirit should be cherished in our institutions under any policy, God cannot abide there. There should not a grasping spirit toward their brethren, for this is not heaven-born but from beneath. Any injustice done to one of God’s children is registered in the books as done unto Christ, as done unto His saints. That success which is gained in taking advantage of another in sharp-dealing will prove to be loss in the end. And that which appears to be failure through the practice of principles that represent the life of Christ is divine success.—Letter 34, 1886 (March 1) PCL 239.3

The word of the Lord to those connected with His institutions is, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” Isaiah 52:11. In all our institutions let self-seeking give place to unselfish love and labor for souls nigh and afar off. Then the holy oil will be emptied from the two olive branches into the golden pipes, which will empty themselves into the vessels prepared to receive it. Then the lives of Christ’s workers will indeed be an exposition of the truths of His word. PCL 240.1

The love and fear of God, the sense of His goodness, His holiness, will circulate through every institution. An atmosphere of love and peace will pervade every department.—7T 148, 149 (1902) PCL 240.2