Principles for Christian Leaders

Perils to be avoided

Making light of evil—For the Lord’s work is holy, and unclean hands and defiled hearts would exert an influence that would destroy its sanctity in the minds of unbelievers; many would be confirmed in their prejudice and misconception of the truth. These unwise workers, these unholy men and women, profess to believe the truth, but by their conduct they are lying against it. They are corrupted in heart. Their thoughts and works are evil. They demoralize those who are connected with them, especially the young. PCL 142.4

The rebuke of God is upon presidents of conferences, and ministers in sacred office, who make light of these gross evils and pass them by as matters undeserving attention. In the future there will be more, instead of fewer, missions established to do God’s work, to hold the standard high; and those who are placed at the head of these missions should be persons of pure, elevated, noble character, persons who will study the Scriptures to some purpose, that they may know the way of the Lord and keep it; who will take that holy word as the director of their course of action, the light of the soul. If they do thus accept the Bible as their counselor and guide, they will walk under the direction of the Father of Lights, “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).—Letter 24, 1890 (August 13) PCL 143.1

Spirit of authority—God has instructed me to say to conference presidents and to ministers, Teach every church in the conference to look to God for an understanding of present truth and duty. The Lord has not placed upon presidents or ministers the responsibilities of the position that He alone, as head of His church, can occupy. Church and conference organization do not give to man any such responsibility. . . . PCL 143.2

The exercise of authority has been carried to such extremes that it is now time to call a halt; for church members are receiving a false education. A mistake has been made that should be corrected before it is too late. Those who dare to accept responsibilities that are contrary to the gospel plan are in a dangerous place. They need to see its course of action in its true light. Their permissions and their forbiddings have fostered wrong ideas regarding the responsibility that individuals should carry and have led believers to look to man instead of looking to God. PCL 143.3

Brethren, the Lord will bless you in an effort to break up this wrong influence. Ministers will become weak and un- Christlike if they continue to encourage this kind of work. God is to be the strength and wisdom of His people. Man power is not to rule the church of Christ.—MS 75, 1907 (July 29) PCL 144.1

The presidents of conferences have hurt and bruised the souls of God’s workers because they felt inclined to do it. What power was prompting to action? the power from beneath. After Christ has made the infinite sacrifice to redeem us from the oppressive power of Satan, shall we fail to pity and help those who are fallen and sinful like ourselves? Shall one man usurp an authority over his brethren and hurt their souls because he imagines that he has authority and can do this work?—MS 45, 1894 (November) PCL 144.2

The man who, because he is president of a conference, dares to take the responsibility of telling his fellow workers what their duty is is working out a wrong experience. The influence will be to destroy the God-given personality of men and place them under human jurisdiction. Such management is laying a foundation for unbelief. The men who instruct their fellow men to look to men for guidance are really teaching them that when they go to the Lord for counsel and the direction of His Spirit, regarding their duty, they must not follow that counsel without first going to certain men to know if this is what they must do. Thus a species of slavery is developed that will bring weakness and inefficiency to the church of God. PCL 144.3

Those who bring in this unhappy chapter into the experiences of our work, and willingly accept the idea that the rulership of other men’s conscience has been given to them, need to understand that they have made a grave mistake. Their office was never intended to give to them the responsibility which they have been led to think it bestowed. The danger signal is now lifted against this evil. Never, never let men consent to stand in a position which God alone should occupy.—Letter 344, 1907 (October 1) PCL 145.1

Infallible judgment—Every worker needs to guard himself against thinking that he is a complete whole. My brother, you [C. P. Bollman] should learn that wherever you are in God’s service, other minds besides yours should be brought into connection with the work. You will desire to do things that in your judgment should be done. But your will is not always to be followed. On some lines other minds may be more capable of giving wise counsel than is yours; therefore you need to counsel with your brethren. In your board meetings let the other members fully express their minds. Do not regard your own judgment as fully sufficient to decide matters without any other voice.—Letter 179, 1902 (November 19) PCL 145.2

When a worker is selected for the presidency of a conference, that office of itself does not bring to him power of capability that he did not have before. A high position does not give to the character Christian virtues. The man who supposes that his individual mind is capable of planning and devising for all branches of the work reveals a great lack of wisdom. No one human mind is capable of carrying the many and varied responsibilities of a conference embracing thousands of people and many branches of work. But a greater danger than this has been revealed to me in the feeling that has been growing among our workers that ministers and other laborers in the cause should depend upon the mind of certain leading workers to define their duties. One man’s mind and judgment is not to be considered capable of controlling and molding a conference. The individual and the church have responsibilities of their own. God has given to every man some talent or talents to use and improve. In using these talents he increases his capability to serve. God has given to each individual judgment, and this gift He wants His workers to use and improve. The president of a conference must not consider that his individual judgment is to be the judgment of all. PCL 145.3

In no conference should propositions be rushed through without time being taken by the brethren to carefully weigh all sides of the question. Because the president of a conference suggested certain plans, it has sometimes been considered unnecessary to consult the Lord about them. Thus propositions have been accepted that were not for the spiritual benefit of believers, and which involved far more than was apparent at the first casual consideration. Such movements are not in the order of God. Many, very many matters have been taken up and carried by vote, that have involved far more than was anticipated, and far more than those who voted would have been willing to assent to, had they taken time to consider the question from all sides. —Letter 340, 1907 (October 3) PCL 146.1

I write this to you [G. W. Reaser] lest you should suppose that because there is some hindrance to the arrival of the one who was chosen for the presidency of Southern California, you should retain the position. We need for the place a man who has less confidence in his own human judgment, one who will act as Christ acted, who, though Himself the prince of life, made Himself of no reputation, and coming to a world that was all seared and marred with the curse, placed Himself as one among the most needy and dependent. When He revealed Himself to the world as its Savior, He said, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” PCL 146.2

The presidents of our conferences must be men who are not self-sufficient and dictatorial. They must not give place to the idea that the office of president comprehends a vast amount of rulership. With such ideas they will leave impressions upon minds that will do injury to the work. Precious privileges will be lost to the people when presidents minutely define and direct the work of their colaborers.—Letter 270, 1908 (September 23) PCL 147.1

Unlimited power—It is a mistake for a conference to select as president one who considers that his office places unlimited power in his hands. The Lord has instructed me to tell you [G. W. Reaser] that you do not know when to use authority, and when to refrain from using it unwisely. You have much to learn before you can do the work of a conference president intelligently. You are to bear in mind that in the cause of God there is a Chief Director, whose power and wisdom is above that of human minds. PCL 147.2

God will have nothing to do with the methods of working where finite men are allowed to bear rule over their fellow men. He calls for a decided change to be made. The voice of command must no longer be heard. The Lord has among His workers men of humility and discretion; from these should be chosen men who will conduct the work in the fear of God. PCL 147.3

It would be well if Elder Cottrell and at least one other worker of broad experience should be called upon to consult together and consider your plans that affect the medical work. God designs that His servants shall carry the responsibilities of that conference in a spirit of humility and dependence upon Him. PCL 147.4

It is a dangerous work to invest men with authority to judge and rule their fellow men. Not to you nor to any other man has been given power to control the actions of God’s people, and the effort to do this must be no longer continued. God has been dishonored by the education that has been given to the churches in Southern California in looking to one man as conscience and judgment for them. God has never authorized any man to exercise a ruling power over his fellow workers; and those who have allowed a dictatorial spirit to come into their official work need to experience the converting power of God upon their hearts. They have placed man where God should be.—Letter 290, 1907 (August 29) PCL 148.1

If it is possible, I would free your [G. W. Reaser] mind from the deceptions that have taken hold of you. In your work, you have embraced too much responsibility. I must say to you that you should not fill the office of president of a conference, so long as you feel that you must mold and fashion the experience of others to conform to your own ideas. Your course has revealed that you lack wise perception. The fashioning of your character is such as needs reforming. PCL 148.2

I now charge you before God to make thorough work of repentance and reformation. You have but little time left in which to show the fruits of reformation. You may now so humble yourself before God that you may be trusted to represent the sacred character of His work. But your peculiarity of disposition is such that if you are in office, you will always be in danger of ruling arbitrarily. God forbids that one man shall have arbitrary jurisdiction over the minds of his brethren.—Letter 380, 1907 (November 11) PCL 148.3

Again and again I repeat the warning: Never place as president of a conference that man who supposes that such a position gives him the power to dictate and control the consciences of others. It is natural for man to have a large estimate of self; old habits wrestle for the supremacy; but the man who occupies a position of trust should not glorify himself. The worker who daily subordinates his will to the will of Christ will be educated away from such an idea. He will practice the virtues of Christ’s character in all meekness and lowliness of mind; and this will give to those whom his ministration is supposed to benefit the precious freedom of the liberty of the children of God. They will be free to act out the grace bestowed upon them, that all may understand the precious privileges which the saints possess as members of the body of Christ. PCL 149.1

The one who is in trust of sacred responsibilities should ever show forth the meekness and wisdom of Christ; for it is thus that he becomes a representative of Christ’s character and methods. Never should he usurp authority, or commend or threaten, saying, “Unless you do as I say, you will receive no pay from the conference.” A man who would speak such words is out of his place as president of a conference. He would make men slaves to his judgment.—Letter 416, 1907 (December 30) PCL 149.2

Dependence on human resources—Let me entreat our state conferences and our churches to cease putting their dependence upon man and making flesh their arm. Look not to other men to see how they conduct themselves under the conviction of the truth, or to ask them for aid. Look not to men in high positions of responsibility for strength, for they are the very men who are in danger of considering a position of responsibility as evidence of God’s special power. Our churches are weak because the members are educated to look to and depend upon human resources, and thousands of dollars are needlessly expended in transporting finite men from one place to another in order that they may settle little difficulties, when Jesus is ever near to help those who are needy and distressed. PCL 149.3

The warnings given in the Word of God to the children of Israel were meant, not merely for them, but for all who should live upon the earth. He says to them, “Woe to the rebellious children, . . . that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin: that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!” If the Lord reproved His people anciently because they neglected to seek counsel of Him when in difficulty, will He not be displeased today if His people, instead of depending on the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to lighten their way, turn from Him in their test and trial for the aid of human beings who are as erring and inefficient as themselves? Where is our strength? Is it in men who are as helpless, as dependent, as ourselves; who need guidance from God even as we do?—Letter 77, 1896 (July 5); TM 380, 381 PCL 150.1

Unsanctified ambition—It is those who accept the warnings and cautions given them who will walk in safe paths. Let not men yield to the burning desire to become great leaders or to the desire independently to devise and lay plans for themselves and for the work of God. It is easy for the enemy to work through some who, having themselves need of counsel at every step, undertake the guardianship of souls without having learned the lowliness of Christ.—Letter 8, 1907 (January 17); TM 501 PCL 150.2

Those who are more desirous of securing promotion, a good name in the world, than maintaining right principles, will betray sacred truths; they will cripple their influence; they will darken counsel by their words and make false reasoning to look sound and right. All the success and patronage that can be secured by policy plans will be a snare to every soul who works on this principle.—MS 16, 1890 (December) PCL 150.3

I hope that you [G. W. Reaser] will not again undertake the responsibilities connected with the Southern California Conference. It would be better for you to be in another field and let new talent come into Southern California. PCL 151.1

In some respects there are decided changes to be made in your character. Wherever you labor, you are to understand that while you are to stand as firm as a rock to principle, you are not to be a driver, but a fellow laborer with your brethren. You are not to seek to rule, and dictate, and compel, but to be teachable in spirit, kind in disposition, and to be one with your brethren. It would be a serious mistake to place you again in a position which your past experience has shown that you have not wisdom to fill. The peculiar traits of your character lead you to desire to be a leader, but I have been shown that it would not be wisdom for you to occupy the position of the president of the Southern California Conference another year.—Letter 270, 1908 (September 23) PCL 151.2

Opposition to new leadership—God has different sets of workman for the different branches of His cause. When those whom He has called to do a certain work have carried that work along as far as they can with the ability He has given them, the Lord in His providence will call and qualify other men to come in and work with them, still making advance moves that together they may carry it farther and lift the standard higher. He will never allow His work to diminish in strength or efficiency if those to whom He has given their work will act their part with unswerving fidelity. PCL 151.3

This great and solemn work is not to be carried to its completion by a few men who have been selected as opportunity has offered to bear responsibility. There are some minds which do not grow with the work, but allow the work to grow far beyond them, and they find themselves tired and worn before they comprehend the circumstances. Then when those whom God is qualifying to assist in the work take hold of it in a little different way from that in which these responsible men have tried to do it, they should be very careful not to hinder these helpers or to circumscribe the work. Since they did not see the work in all its bearings and did not have the burden which God has specially laid upon others, why should they say just how that work should be done? Those who do not discern and adapt themselves to the increasing demands of the work should not stand blocking the wheels and thus hindering the advancement of others.—Letter 21a, 1888 (October 15) PCL 152.1

The presidents of our conferences are so fearful that someone else will be preferred before them [that] they bar the way against the introduction of other talents; and God’s displeasure is kindled against this spirit.—Letter 6, 1883 (November) PCL 152.2

Criticism of other workers—The leaders among God’s people are to guard against the danger of condemning the methods of individual workers who are led by the Lord to do a special work that but few are fitted to do. Let brethren in responsibility be slow to criticize movements that are not in perfect harmony with their methods of labor. Let them never suppose that every plan should reflect their own personality. Let them not fear to trust another’s methods; for by withholding their confidence from a brother laborer who, with humility and consecrated zeal, is doing a special work in God’s appointed way, they are retarding the advancement of the Lord’s cause.—MS 38a, 1909 (May 30); 9T 259 PCL 152.3

The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath the most in the future to those who have done the most in the present. The Lord chooses His own agents, and each day under different circumstances gives them a trial in His plan of operations. In each wholehearted, true endeavor to work out His plans, He chooses His agents, not because they are perfect, but that they may gain perfection of character through connection with His work. Those in responsible positions who have the least conscientious scruples in reference to their own course of action are the ones who watch most jealously for the mistakes of others. Position does not make the man. Only by a living connection with God is the Holy Spirit implanted in the heart. Those who have this connection are faithful and true and will not betray holy trust.—Letter 77, 1898 (August 26) PCL 153.1

Tremendous responsibilities are ours; and men are called for who will not misinterpret their responsibilities, but will do their work in a spirit of humility and in the fear of God. We should ever be afraid of a spirit that would lead us to place restrictions on the work of others, lest we hinder the advance of the message of truth. Those who have in the past allowed such a spirit to control them have sadly hurt the work. They need to repent and be converted; for the Holy Spirit cannot work with them while they refuse to acknowledge His counsel and control. He cannot use the men who employ the trust He has imposed upon them as an oppressive power to close the lips that He has opened.—MS 117, 1907 (October 11) PCL 153.2

Lack of kindness—You [R. A. Underwood] have not realized your obligations to God to be patient, kind, and respectful to your ministering brethren and to every member of the church. You need the kindness, courtesy, meekness, and lowliness of Christ. You have many valuable qualifications that should be perfected to do highest service in the cause of God. PCL 153.3

You should feel the necessity of approaching your brethren, not with harshness and severity, but with kindness and courtesy. You cut them off from you by your abrupt ways and words. The ministers in your conference become disheartened and lose their courage to do that which they might do if you did your duty to them in giving them your confidence and love. By your manner of dealing, you have separated the hearts of your brethren from you, so that your counsel has had little influence over them for good. This is not as the Lord would have it. PCL 154.1

The Lord is not pleased with your attitude toward your breth- ren.—Letter 22, 1889 (January 18) PCL 154.2