42
Christian Leadership
him. Those placed in positions of trust should modestly regard the
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opinions of others as worthy of respect and likely to be as correct as
their own. They should remember that God has made other men just as
valuable as they are, and that God is willing to teach and guide these
men.—
Manuscript 55, 1897
(June 3, 1897, Development of Workers).
Credit Others With Some Sense—I have been shown that there
is one practice which those in responsible places should avoid; for it is
detrimental to the work of God. Men in position should not lord it over
God’s heritage and command everything around them. Too many have
marked out a prescribed one which they wish others to follow in the
work. Workers have tried to do this with blind faith, without exercising
their own judgment upon the matter which they had in hand. If those
who were placed as directors were not present, they have followed
their implicit directions just the same. But in the name of Christ, I
would entreat you to stop this work. Give men a chance to exercise
their individual judgment.
Men who follow the leading of another, and are willing that another
should think for them, are unfit to be entrusted with responsibility. Our
leading men are remiss in this matter. God has not given to special
ones all the brain power there is in the world. Men in responsible
positions should credit others with some sense, with some ability of
judgment and foresight and look upon them as capable of doing the
work committed to their hands.
Our leading brethren have made a great mistake in marking out all
the directions that the workers should follow, and this has resulted in
deficiency, in a lack of the care-taking spirit in the workers because
they have relied upon others to do all their planning, and have them-
selves taken no responsibility. Should the men who have taken this
responsibility upon themselves step out of our ranks, or die, what a
state of things would be found in our institutions.
Leading men should place responsibilities upon others, and allow
time to plan and devise and execute, so that they may obtain an expe-
rience. Give them a word of counsel when necessary, but do not take
away the work because you think the brethren are making mistakes.
May God pity the cause when one man’s mind and one man’s plan are
followed without question. God would not be honored should such a
state of things exist.
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