Spirit of Prophecy Counsels on Self-Supporting Work

An Interesting and Helpful Illustration

Among lines of institutional endeavor, the operation of restaurants is perhaps most marginal in its contribution. Certain basic principles come clearly to the front as we look closely at this line of work. It becomes a useful illustration, one that we can use without being misunderstood. Sister White set before us the following objectives for the conduct of hygienic restaurants: SPCSSW 7.1

1. To save souls: “I have been instructed that one of the principal reasons why hygienic restaurants and treatment rooms should be established in the centers of large cities is that by this means the attention of leading men will be called to the third angel’s message.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:122,123. SPCSSW 7.2

“Our restaurants can be so conducted that they will be the means of saving souls.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:120. SPCSSW 7.3

“God has declared that sanitariums and hygienic restaurants should be established for the purpose of making known to the world His law.”—Medical Ministry, 306. (Ms. 115, 1903) SPCSSW 7.4

2. To proclaim the temperance message: “Hygienic restaurants are to be established in the cities, and by them the message of temperance is to be proclaimed.... Let a room be provided where the patrons can be invited to lectures on the science of health and Christian temperance, where they can receive instruction on the preparation of wholesome food and on other important subjects.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:115. SPCSSW 7.5

3. To recommend Health Reform: “The smaller restaurants will recommend the principles of health reform just as well as the larger establishment and will be more easily managed. We are not commissioned to feed the world, but we are instructed to educate the people.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:119. SPCSSW 7.6

“Let hygienic restaurants be started; that people may learn what health reform really is.”—Letter 124, 1902 (Series B. #6, page 40.) SPCSSW 7.7

4. To teach the preparation of Healthful foods: “Wherever medical missionary work is carried on in our large cities, cooking schools should be held; and wherever a strong educational missionary work is in progress, a hygienic restaurant of some sort should be established, which shall give a practical illustration of the proper selection and healthful preparation of foods. Every hygienic restaurant should be a school.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:112. SPCSSW 7.8

Thus we have clearly set before us the objectives which made clear the purposes of, and the justification for, the establishment of restaurants. But Ellen White also points out the danger of missing the mark. The danger of running machinery, of operating an institution, but failing in the accomplishment of the true objective which would justify the utilization of skill and financial investment. From Ellen G. White material which has been released, Manuscript 84, 1903, as published in Medical Ministry, I read concerning our restaurant work: SPCSSW 8.1

“There is danger, in the establishment of restaurants, of losing sight of the work that most needs to be done. There is danger of the workers losing sight of the work of soul saving as they carry forward the business part of the enterprise. There is danger that the business part of the work will be allowed to crowd out the spiritual part.”

“Some good is being done by the restaurant work. Men and women are being educated to dispense with meat and other injurious articles of diet. But who are being fed with the bread of life? Is the purpose of God being fulfilled if in this work there are no conversions? It is time that we called a halt, lest we spend our energies in the establishment of a work that does little to make ready a people for the coming of the Lord.”

“The only object in the establishment of restaurants was to remove prejudice from the minds of men and women, and win them to the truth. The same effort put forth in circulating our publications, in doing evangelistic work, would tell far more for the saving of souls.”

“Our restaurant workers are not doing the personal work that they should do to bring the truth before those who come for meals. And in some respects impressions are being made on the minds of the workers that are not favorable to a growth in grace.”

“Our young men and young women are to be put to work where their capabilities will be used to the best account. They are to stand where they can carry on Christ’s work of soul-saving. They should not be kept in a work in which they are continually on losing ground, a work in which no souls are brought to a knowledge of the truth.”

“It is not the large number of meals served that brings glory to God. What does this avail if not one soul has been converted, to gladden the hearts of the workers?”

“The question was asked, What does all the work that has been done amount to? Has it had a sanctifying, hallowing influence upon the minds of the workers, or has it been the means of bringing them into temptations that have destroyed their peace and hope?”

“Let our ministers and physicians reason from cause to effect. Unless our restaurant work brings favorable spiritual results, let the world do their own serving of tables and let the Lord’s people take up a work in which their talents will be put out to the exchangers.”

“The time has come for the Lord’s people to be sure that they are engaged in a work that produces as well as consumes.”—Medical Ministry, 306, 7.

As consideration was being given in 1902 to the enlargement of the restaurant operated in the city of Los Angeles in which they were serving over 800 meals a day, Sister White raised a question as to what advantage would be gained unless the work was conducted so as to be a means of communicating light, and if those who came to the restaurant day after day were not becoming interested in the truth, what returns were being found for the effort put forth. And in volume 7, page 120, she wrote: SPCSSW 9.1

“If we fulfill the purpose of God in this work, the righteousness of Christ will go before us, and the glory of the Lord will be our reward. But if there is no ingathering of souls, if the helpers themselves are not spiritually benefited, if they are not glorifying God in word and deed, why should we open and maintain such establishments? If we cannot conduct our restaurants to God’s glory, if we cannot exert through them a strong religious influence, it would be better for us to close them up and use the talents of our youth in other lines of work.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:120.

I have used this as an illustration to keep before us today the importance of every line of institutional work making its contribution. Seventh-day Adventists can lose sight of the great objective of winning souls and glory in the operation of institutions, of furnishing services to the community. We are often called upon to do that. It is possible for us to become so involved in the operational processes of the enterprises that we forget that only if we keep uppermost in mind the great objective of the establishment of institutions are we justified in their operation. This is not for the successful operation of institutions themselves, but to lead men and women to the kingdom of God. And this particular case—that of restaurants—is an illustration that can be used without creating high blood pressure. It is made very clear that unless several lines of institutional work yield a harvest which is commensurate with the investment of time and labor and skills and administrative talent, we’d better turn from them to more fruitful lines of endeavor. SPCSSW 9.2

Regarding the potentialities of these lines of work, Ellen White wrote: SPCSSW 9.3

“God has qualified His people to enlighten the world. He has entrusted them with facilities by which they are to extend His work until it shall encircle the globe. In all parts of the earth they are to establish sanitariums, schools, publishing houses, and kindred facilities for the accomplishment of His work.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:51.

And of what might have been we were told in 1896: SPCSSW 9.4

“If those who claimed to have a living experience in the things of God had done their appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would have been warned ere this, and the Lord Jesus would have come in power and great glory.”—The Review and Herald, October 6, 1896.

But in 1909, Ellen White wrote: SPCSSW 10.1

“But the work is years behind. While men have slept, Satan had stolen a march upon us.”—Testimonies for the Church 9:29.