OWER — Man's Greatest Weakness
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SOUTHWESTERN UNION JANUARY 22, 1972 ye you done EVERYTHING possible to preserve igious liberty? January is religious liberty month BEGINNING ON PAGE 2 READ OWER — Man's Greatest Weakness for counsel on an issue involving religious freedom The struggle for power betweer management and labor is one of today's most notabl controversies. "There was war in heaven." for a forthright man. Whenever he was asked what union Strife originated when Lucifer became jealous of God labor wanted, he replied in one word — 'More!' " Wash- ington Star, and coveted His power. Conflict had its origin with the June 19, 1971. devil. Today, true to his nature, Satan is behind all strife — between nations, between capital and labor, and be- A SET OF CHRISTIAN VALUES tween people in general. A different set of values is placed before the Christian. Man's grasp for power, his insatiable urge for more con- To the church members at Ephesus, Paul wrote, "I . trol, transcends the urge for wealth — men will spend beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith their fortunes for power. It even consumes the instinct for ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long- self-preservation — men will die in their attempt for power. suffering. forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to The struggle for power between management and labor keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephe- is one of today's most notable controversies. The Seventh- sians 4:1-4. "For this ye know, that no . covetous man, day Adventist Church teaches its members to avoid all who is an idolater, hash any inheritance in the kingdom such conflicts by not becoming unequally yoked in business of Christ and of God." Ephesians 5:5. confederations or in the labor movement. This counsel Power, dominating power which subjugates those under appAes both to management and worker. A Christian busi- control, exerting political and economic coersion, using nessman is to have the welfare of his employees at heart at violent measures if it cannot achieve its goals, is not the all times. Christ called the man a fool who schemed day kind of power which Christ promised His followers. and night how he could make more and more money by In labor's arsenal are the ultimate weapons of strike and tearing down liis barns and building bigger ones (Luke boycott, instruments designed to force acceptance of what- 12:20) . To the rich young ruler He advised, sell what you ever demands are made. Strikes in themselves generate bit- have and give to the poor (Luke 18:22) . A woe is pro- terness and hatred. Violence has become an accomplice of nounced on those who use their neighbor's service without strikes and boycotts. Property rights of others are disre- wages and give him nothing for his work (Jeremiah 22:13) . garded as tempers flare and reason retreats. Suffering and The rich are warned of the trouble they will bring on misery are imposed on innocent bystanders. But many themse,ves when they do not give honest wages to their strikes are nonviolent — no tires are slashed, no cars over- employees (James 5:4) . turned. no shots fired. Although the overt acts of violence But four paragraphs later, James urges the brethren — may not be present in some strikes, deep antagonistic feel- employer and employee — to be patient. "Grudge not one ings are fomented. Hatred and anger rise as the controversy against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, escalates. Jesus said that the commandment "Thou shalt the judge standeth before the door." James 5:9. not kill" can be broken even by harboring hatred and anger. (Matthew 5:21, 22) . John the Baptist gave this counsel to the soldiers: "Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be His admonition was, "Love your enemies, bless them content with your wages." Luke 3:14. that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray According to a labor union leader interviewed recently for them which despitefully use you." Matthew 5:44. on television, the goal of organized labor is to want more, To the Christian clergyman, businessman, and work- and more, and more. "Samuel Gompers, who laid the foun- ing man, the counsel is, "Do not feel that you are to be dations for modern union power before his death in 1924, bound in any way or necessarily to confederate with un- by GORDON ENGEN, Religious Liberty Secretary, Lake Union Conference. POWER • • Man's Greatest Weakness believers." E. G. White letter 107b, 1900. The counsel from those with sincere religious convictions will not be penal- the servant of the Lord is not to become involved in trusts, ized. monopolies, worldly confederations, and trade unions. But the gap between promise and performance is often The principle is clear. It involves more than just avoid- hard to bridge. In 1965, the AFL-CIO made this statement: ing labor unions. But, labor union membership was pointed . this Executive Council declares it to be the policy out as a very significant part of the three-fold agency which of the AFL-CIO that unions should accommodate them- Satan would use in the last days to prevent God's children selves to genuine individual religious scruples. We strongly from getting ready for His coming. urge all national and international unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO, that have not already done so, to: "Cast out of heaven, Satan set up his kingdom in this world, and ever since, he has been untiringly striving to se- "1. Immediately adopt procedures for respecting personal duce human beings from their allegiance to God. He uses religious convictions as to union membership or activities; the same power that he used in heaven — the influence of and mind on mind. Men become tempters of their fellow men. "2. Undertake to insure that this policy is fully and sym- The strong, corrupting sentiments of Satan are cherished, pathetically implemented by all local unions." and they exert a masterly, compelling power. Under the in- fluence of these sentiments, men bind up with one another As of now there are only a few locals which have made in confederacies, in trade unions, and in secret societies. suds accommodations. Adventist religious leaders are con- There are at work in the world agencies that God will not stantly on the go, visiting with union officials and employers, much longer tolerate." E. G. White letter 114, 1903. trying to find solutions based on this statement. Most of the time success eludes them as they run into dead ends. ADVENTISTS AND LABOR UNIONS The expenditure of money for political candidates and for political views has become a major function of organized Seventh-day Adventists do not light labor unions any labor. When it comes to Sunday laws, an Adventist would more than they are out to fight business monopolies, trust, find his money being used to lobby for, to promote, and to and confederacies. Rather, from Biblical principles and campaign for a law which is in direct opposition to his re- from counsel in the Spirit of Prophecy, the church urges ligious beliefs. His forced payment of dues, then, would be its members to stay out of all of them. It is a teaching of used directly against him. Already labor union sponsored the church, a position acted on several times at Autumn boycotts have demonstrated how they can effectively control Councils. Refusing union membership is a principle, but situations so that "no man might buy or sell." Revelation not a test of fellowship. As members study the counsel and 13:17. become convicted by the Holy Spirit, these principles be- With only a small degree of success, Adventist religious come deep personal religious convictions. liberty leaders have sought for "conscience clauses" to be Adventist laymen Richard Gray of Illinois and Newell written into laws and labor agreements whereby one would Hammond of Michigan stood firmly for their convictions, not be compelled to join or support the union in order to losing their jobs rather than compromising their consciences. work. Instead, the equivalent amount of dues would be Every few days calls come to the religious liberty office from donated to a charity mutually agreed upon. members facing ultimatums from labor unions to join the Some union officials have tried to rationalize away the union or lose their jobs. Some union international head- objections to the payment of union dues by asking the Ad- quarters have been interested in finding a solution so that ventist worker to perform a few feats of mental gymnastics Strife between capital and labor "will to an organization that advocates (and also forces) members to break the law by going on strike. Some church members bring upon this earth a time who have not yet come under conviction or who have "kicked against the pricks" of their consciences, have be- of trouble such as has not been since the littled those who have stood firm to the principles of the diurch by telling them, "By not joining, you are making it world began." hard on the rest of us who have joined." E. G. White letter 200, 1903 Labor unions are attempting to make inroads into Ad- ventist institutions, using any means at their disposal to gain a foothold. Here church members who work in such institutions can help preserve the independence of the in- stitutions by voting whenever elections are held. At an A.S.I. institution which employs a number of non- Adventists, a recent election approved a labor union to represent the employees.