Dear Brethren: Some of our ministers have
written to me, asking if the work among the Germans and Scandinavians
should not be carried forward under separate organizations. This
matter has been presented to me several times. When I was in
College View, the Lord gave me a straight testimony to bear,
and since that time the matter has been presented to me again.
At one time I seemed to be in a council
meeting where these matters were being considered. One of authority
stood in the midst of those assembled and opened before them
principles that should be followed in the work of God. The instruction
given was that should such separation take place, it would not
tend to advance the interests of the work among the various nationalities.
It would not lead to the highest spiritual development. Walls
would be built up that would have to be removed in the near future.
According to the light given me of God,
separate organizations, instead of bringing about unity, will
create discord. If our brethren will seek the Lord together in
humility of mind, those who now think it necessary to organize
separate German and Scandinavian conferences will see that the
Lord desires them to work together as brethren.
Were those who seek to disintegrate the
work of God, to carry out their purpose, some would magnify themselves
to do a work that should not be done. Such an arrangement would
greatly retard the cause of God. If we are to carry on the work
most successfully, the talents to
be found among the English and Americans should be united with
the talents of those of every other nationality. And each nationality
should labor earnestly for every other nationality. There is
but one Lord, one faith. Our effort should be to answer Christ's
prayer for His disciples, that they should be one.
"Sanctify them through Thy truth:
Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even
so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes
I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through
the truth.
"Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that
they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee,
that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that
Thou hast sent Me." John 17:17-21.
It should be understood that perfect unity
among the laborers is necessary to the successful accomplishment
of the work of God. In order to preserve peace, all must seek
wisdom from the Great Teacher. Let all be careful how they introduce
ambitious propositions that will create dissension.
We are to be subject one to another. No
man, in himself, is a complete whole. Through submission of the
mind and will to the Holy Spirit we are ever to be learners of
the Great Teacher.
Study the second chapter of Acts. In the
early church the Spirit of God wrought mightily through those
who were harmoniously united. On the Day of Pentecost they were
all with one accord in one place.
We are to demonstrate to the world that
men of every nationality are one in Christ Jesus. Then let us
remove every barrier and come into unity in the service of the
Master.
In the erection of national barriers you present to the world a plan of human invention that God can never endorse. To those who would do this, the apostle Paul says: "Ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal? . . . Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." I Corinthians 3:3-9.