Go Forth Into Many Places
145
Instead of building after building being added to the sanitarium, there
should be at this time many institutions fully equipped and in working
order in other places.
There are men who have been long connected with the sanitarium
who will always be shadows of someone else, if they are retained
there, when, if they were permitted to rely upon their own judgment,
they would become deep, self-reliant thinkers, capable of giving wise
counsel. Let these men have a chance to learn to bear responsibilities
in the strength of God. Thus they will gain an experience that will
enable them to impart the truth to others.
[149]
But instead of men being sent from Battle Creek, as God has
directed in the pointed testimonies that have been given, thousands of
dollars have been devoted to enlarging the institutions and increasing
the facilities in Battle Creek. And the call comes from Battle Creek
for more conveniences and more workers. But there must be a change.
We are encouraged as we see the work that is being done in Chicago
and a few other places. Years ago the large responsibilities centering
in Battle Creek should have been distributed. You may look with
satisfaction at the widespreading growth of the sanitarium at Battle
Creek, but God does not look upon it with the same approval that
you do. If institutions had been built up in other places, if men had
been given responsibilities to bear, there would have been far more
strength, far more efficiency in our work, and we should have moved
more nearly in accordance with the mind and will of God than we
have. As it is, a few men are carrying heavy responsibilities. A few
wield an influence that has a controlling power in the management of
the work far and near, while there are many who carry no burdens.
Many of those carrying heavy responsibilities need to be converted.
Christ says to them as He said to Nicodemus: “Ye must be born again.”
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John
3:7, 3
. Many are controlled by an unchristian spirit. They have not
yet learned in the school of Christ His meekness and lowliness, and
unless they change, they will yield to Satan’s temptations. Year after
year they carry sacred responsibilities, yet prove themselves incapable
of distinguishing between the sacred and the common. How long shall
such men continue to wield a controlling influence? How long shall
their word be permitted to exalt or to cast down, to condemn or to lift