The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts

The Colored Work in America

This question of races and languages found in all the earth also arises right at home in the large number of Negroes in this country. Mrs. White wrote quite at length concerning the work among the colored people. Over and over again she urged that the gospel should be preached to all these people. She defended them against oppression, and urged that they have the same chance as others to hear the blessed gospel of the advent message. FSG 181.4

But while, as stated above, she warned against building up a “wall of partition,” she did not teach the ideas so common today in what is sometimes called race equality. She taught that there should be an equality of opportunity for all to advance, but she did not teach that there should be a mingling of the races. She stated very clearly that the colored people in the United States should have their own church organization and church buildings. Some at first were opposed to this idea, but experience has proved that the light given us by the Spirit of prophecy was from the Lord. She condemned the idea that there should be mixed marriages between the colored and the white. FSG 182.1

Speaking of the colored people in America she says: FSG 182.2

“Every effort should be made to wipe out the terrible wrong which has been done them. At the same time we must not carry things to extremes and run into fanaticism on this question. Some would think it right to throw down every partition wall and intermarry with the colored people, but this is not the right thing to teach or to practice.”—The Southern Work, 13. FSG 182.3

No one can read the ample writings of Mrs. White on these questions and not be convinced of her deep love and sincere concern for the colored people. The reader is referred to her books, for instance, Testimonies for the Church 9:199 to 231. Only a few sentences from this chapter can be quoted: FSG 182.4

“Schools and sanitariums for colored people should be established, and in these the colored youth should be taught and trained for service by the very best teachers that can be employed.”—Testimonies for the Church 9:207. FSG 182.5

“The best thing will be to provide the colored people who accept the truth, with places of worship of their own, in which they can carry on their services by themselves.”—Testimonies for the Church 9:206. FSG 182.6

“Let white and colored people be labored for in separate, distinct lines.... Let colored workers labor for their own people, assisted by white workers as occasion demands. They will often need counsel and advice. Let the colored believers have their place of worship, and the white believers their place of worship. Let each company be zealous to do genuine missionary work for its own people, and for the colored people wherever and whenever they can.... FSG 182.7

“Great care must be exercised that nothing be said or done to inflame the feelings of the colored people against the whites.... We are to avoid entering into contention over the problems of the color-line.”—Testimonies for the Church 9:210-213. FSG 183.1

The divine law of nationalities means that the gospel and the advent hope belong alike to all nations, because, as Jesus said, “All ye are brethren.” The advent message goes to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” to gather out a people prepared for the Lord, without any reference to race or nation or language. FSG 183.2

Mrs. White’s view of the mission field was as broad as the brotherhood of man, and she taught love and forbearance among the nations. The result today is seen in the world-wide advent work, with its almost unnumbered activities in nearly every land. In her own personal work there is no distinction of nationalities. One of her secretaries for many years was a Dane, another one was a Swede, and others came from other places and languages. National conceits and vain feelings of race supremacy are entirely foreign to the gospel of Christ as set forth in the Spirit of prophecy. They have ruined the world and if permitted would bring deadly harm to the advent movement. FSG 183.3

The ideal for the remnant church of Christ as taught by the messenger of the Lord is one united brotherhood of all true believers without any reference to race, color, or nationality. There is perhaps no one thing for which her messages plead more earnestly than for unity of heart and faith. There is tender compassion for sinners, but a burning hatred of sin. These Spirit-sent messages protest with all the ardor of the Bible prophets against every injustice and oppression, whether of wealth or race or class. They are a divine film of human hatreds and racial pride and national cruelties in this generation, and to them under God we owe more than we can understand for the blending and unity of members from all peoples on earth in one advent fellowship. FSG 183.4