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The Desire of Ages
Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise
authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you.”
In the kingdoms of the world, position meant self-aggrandizement.
The people were supposed to exist for the benefit of the ruling classes.
Influence, wealth, education, were so many means of gaining control of
the masses for the use of the leaders. The higher classes were to think,
decide, enjoy, and rule; the lower were to obey and serve. Religion,
like all things else, was a matter of authority. The people were expected
to believe and practice as their superiors directed. The right of man as
man, to think and act for himself, was wholly unrecognized.
Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He
called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the
infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their
possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows. To even the
lowliest of Christ’s disciples it is said, “All things are for your sakes.”
2 Corinthians 4:15
.
“The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give His life a ransom for many.” Among His disciples Christ
was in every sense a caretaker, a burden bearer. He shared their poverty,
He practiced self-denial on their account, He went before them to
smooth the more difficult places, and soon He would consummate
His work on earth by laying down His life. The principle on which
Christ acted is to actuate the members of the church which is His body.
The plan and ground of salvation is love. In the kingdom of Christ
those are greatest who follow the example He has given, and act as
shepherds of His flock.
The words of Paul reveal the true dignity and honor of the Christian
life: “Though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant
unto all,” “not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that
they may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 9:19
;
10:33
.
In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled. No one
is to control another’s mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his
duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own
convictions. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another.
In all matters where principle is involved, “let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind.”
Romans 14:12, 5
. In Christ’s kingdom
there is no lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. The angels of
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