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Testimonies for the Church Volume 9
been built up by wise, careful labor. License must not be given to
disorderly elements that desire to control the work at this time.
Some have advanced the thought that, as we near the close of
time, every child of God will act independently of any religious
organization. But I have been instructed by the Lord that in this
work there is no such thing as every man’s being independent. The
stars of heaven are all under law, each influencing the other to do
the will of God, yielding their common obedience to the law that
controls their action. And, in order that the Lord’s work may advance
healthfully and solidly, His people must draw together.
The spasmodic, fitful movements of some who claim to be Chris-
tians are well represented by the work of strong but untrained horses.
When one pulls forward, another pulls back, and at the voice of their
master one plunges ahead and the other stands immovable. If men
will not move in concert in the great and grand work for this time,
there will be confusion. It is not a good sign when men refuse to
unite with their brethren and prefer to act alone. Let laborers take
into their confidence the brethren who are free to point out every
departure from right principles. If men wear the yoke of Christ, they
can not pull apart; they will draw with Christ.
Some workers pull with all the power that God has given them,
but they have not yet learned that they should not pull alone. Instead
of isolating themselves, let them draw in harmony with their fellow
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laborers. Unless they do this, their activity will work at the wrong
time and in the wrong way. They will often work counter to that
which God would have done, and thus their work is worse than
wasted.
Unity in Diversity
On the other hand, 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