Human Machines

In our modern age, technology is increasing at a rapid rate. In the last century more inventions have been made than had been made for hundreds of years prior. Just one-hundred years ago, man had barely invented the automobile and today there are millions of vehicles of all sorts, all over the world, in every country – as well as airplanes criss-crossing our skies at an amazing rate. The technology continues to advance as man searches for more ways to make his work easier. Many inventions have been created to simplify routine chores, such as washing machines, dishwashers, lawn mowers, and a whole host of others. Now man is also creating robots to do an ever-increasing amount of household chores. Why is man doing this? He is looking to have more time for leisure and less time for employment as many have come to the idea that work is a curse.

What is this increase of leisure doing to man? When God first created man in Eden, He did not give him tennis courts, swimming pools, and ball fields in order to occupy his time. Rather God gave man useful employment. Since the fall into sin, man has been trying to reverse this. We see clearly what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah. They were among the most corrupt cities at that time due to the fact that they were so wealthy; they had plenty of leisure time in order to think up more evil.

Those cities were finally destroyed by fire. Our earth is in a similar state today. With this modern technology, man has more leisure time to think up more evil. Crime is increasing and is becoming more sophisticated. Now crimes can go undetected for some time and criminals hard to detect, for example, crime done over the Internet.

Man himself is becoming less human as time goes on, and becoming more like a machine. No longer do we see pleasant conversation around the dinner tables in many Western Countries. The TV set takes the place of the conversation and any interaction amongst family members in the evening. People have become automatons and are being programmed by the programs they are allowing their brains to assimilate.

Machinery does no thinking for itself and many people prefer to have others do all their thinking for them. Mankind then slips into the routine of- work, home, TV, sleep. With the weekends used in some other leisure activities. He has become an organic computer that needs programming. There is a real danger that we could become living machines also in our spiritual lives.

When religion becomes a formality, we do things, because we have been taught that this is correct behaviour, or we wish to avoid some unpleasant circumstance. Our heart is not really in any of our good actions. Our human machines are programmed by Satan for selfserving and we are slaves to it. Even in friendships, often friends are retained, because we need friends. We love others in order to be loved. We need to be created new in Christ – free from this slavery of sin to do righteousness. We can love and do well because it is given to us in Christ. We are not doing it self-servingly.

For example: We call friends, why? Is it to maintain them to help us, or because we truly care for how they are doing? We do a favour to someone, because we want to help them, or do we do it because we hope to be recognized some day, or be repaid the favour.

We love our husbands, or wives, so they will love us back. Or do we do it from true freedom away from selfishness and sin? With a new heart given us from Christ, we can love and care for others, and never care if they can repay us. It’s like our hearts have been set free from the bondage of self-serving to love, to care, to be generous, to be peaceful, as we were designed to be. Our love and care is spontaneous, not mechanical. Whatever you ask a machine to do it performs that specific task. We retain our machinery in order to serve our needs. Hopefully we do not maintain friends for that purpose.

There are several key areas in our religious life where we are in danger of slipping into the “machinery” mode, that I want to mention.

HOSPITALITY

The first one I want to mention is regarding hospitality. In the time of the Apostles in the first century, there was much persecution in Jerusalem. Many Christians fled Jerusalem. While many remained, they lost all their material possessions due to the hatred of their opposers, sometimes from even their own family. This is why the system of having “all things in common” was set up by the apostles, “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Acts 4:32, 34, 35. There was perfect harmony among the believers as they gave cheerfully. Often those that lost all they had and were made refugees were dependent on the hospitality of their brethren and Peter encouraged them to, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Pet. 4:9,10.

All that God has given you is not your own. It is for the purpose of being a blessing to your fellow man as well. An offer of hospitality is blighted if the host shows any indications of annoyance or inconvenience. Yes, you will be inconvenienced, and this is a test from the Lord. Will you love your brethren more than you love your material possessions? True hospitality includes also a hospitable spirit. The “gift without the giver is bare.” A Christian who is in a position to help an unfortunate brother is duty bound before God to do it cheerfully.

“The Bible lays much stress upon the practice of hospitality. Not only does it enjoin hospitality as a duty, but also it presents many beautiful pictures of the exercise of this grace and the blessing, which it brings. Foremost among these is the experience of Abraham…

“These acts of courtesy God thought of sufficient importance to record in His word; and more than a thousand years later they were referred to by an inspired apostle: ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’

“The privilege granted Abraham and Lot is not denied to us. By showing hospitality to God’s children we, too, may receive His angels into our dwellings. Even in our day angels in human form enter the homes of men and are entertained by them. And Christians who live in the light of God’s countenance are always accompanied by unseen angels, and these holy beings leave behind them a blessing in our homes.” T6, p. 341, 342.

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:30-35.

Yet there are some who will always have excuses and although these excuses may sound plausible, there is really no excuse as far as God is concerned. “I have heard many excuse themselves from inviting to their homes and hearts the saints of God: “Why, I have nothing prepared; I have nothing cooked; they must go to some other place.” And at that place there may be some other excuse invented for not receiving those who need hospitality, and the feelings of the visitors are deeply grieved, and they leave with unpleasant impressions in regard to the hospitality of these professed brethren and sisters…

“We have not an example of this lack of bread ever being made an excuse to refuse entrance to an applicant. When Elijah came to the widow of Sarepta, she shared her morsel with the prophet of God, and he wrought a miracle and caused that in that act of making a home for his servant and sharing her morsel with him, she herself was sustained, and her life and that of her son preserved. Thus will it prove in the case of many, if they do this cheerfully, for the glory of God.

“Some plead their poor health – they would love to do if they had strength. Such have so long shut themselves up to themselves and thought so much of their own poor feelings and talked so much of their sufferings, trials, and afflictions that it is their present truth. They can think of no one but self, however much others may be in need of sympathy and assistance.

You who are suffering with poor health, there is a remedy for you. If you clothe the naked and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house and deal thy bread to the hungry, “then shall thy light break for as the morning and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” Doing good is an excellent remedy for disease. Those who engage in the work are invited to call upon God, and He has pledged Himself to answer them. Their soul shall be satisfied in drought, and they shall be like a watered garden, whose waters fail not.” T2, p. 28,29.

“God is displeased with the selfish interest so often manifested for “me and my family.” Every family that cherishes this spirit needs to be converted by the pure principles exemplified in the life of Christ. Those who shut themselves up within themselves, who are unwilling to be drawn upon to entertain visitors, lose many blessings.” T6, p. 344.

“Poverty need not shut us out from showing hospitality. We are to impart what we have.” T6, p. 347.
Hospitality can also be shown in a mechanical way, as a duty – simply providing for the basic necessities of our houseguests. This however is not the will of God. He desires us to not only share our material goods in a cheerful manner, but to share Christ with those that are led to cross our path. The Lord brings the needy to us, in order for us to fulfil their material as well as their spiritual needs. It is important not to neglect the spiritual side of the issue.

STRENGTH OF CHARACTER

There is a great danger for individual members to sit back and let the leaders of the church make all the decisions about the running of the church and the standards. They may be kind and pleasant, but are not able to press on through difficulties. They shrink back and leave the more difficult duties to the leaders. “Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist wholly in gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness.

These graces are essential; but there is need also of courage, force, energy, and perseverance. The path that Christ marks out is a narrow, self-denying path. To enter that path and press on through difficulties and discouragements requires men who are more than weaklings.” MH, p. 497. For us to stand against the powers of darkness in the near future that is looming on the horizon of this earth’s history we need to be strong and make important decisions in our lives for ourselves. We need to know what we believe and press onward.

“Men of stamina are wanted, men who will not wait to have their way smoothed and every obstacle removed, men who will inspire with fresh zeal the flagging efforts of dispirited workers, men whose hearts are warm with Christian love and whose hands are strong to do their Master’s work….

“Some have no firmness of character. Their plans and purposes have no definite form and consistency. They are of but little practical use in the world… “Many who are qualified to do excellent work accomplish little because they attempt little. Thousands pass through life as if they had no great object for which to live, no high standard to reach…

“Be not satisfied with reaching a low standard…

“None should consent to be mere machines, run by another man’s mind. God has given us ability, to think and to act, and it is by acting with carefulness, looking to Him for wisdom, that you will become capable of bearing burdens. Stand in your God-given personality. Be no other person’s shadow. Expect that the Lord will work in and by and through you.” MH, p. 497-499.

“In the creation of man the Lord designed that he should be active and useful. Yet many live in this world as useless machines, as though they hardly existed. They brighten the path of none; they are a blessing to none. They live only to burden others. So far as their influence on the side of right is concerned, they are mere ciphers; but they tell with weight upon the wrong side. Search the lives of such closely, and scarcely an act of disinterested benevolence can be found. When they die, their memory dies with them. Their names soon perish; for they cannot live, even in the affections of their friends, by means of true goodness and virtuous acts. With such persons life has been a mistake. They have not been faithful stewards. They have forgotten that their Creator has claims upon them and that He designs them to be active in doing good and in blessing others with their influence. Selfish interests attract the mind and lead to forgetfulness of God and of the purpose of their Creator.” T 2, p. 522.

Every church member has his duty to do in church and it is very important that these duties never become of a mechanical nature, even if it be cleaning the church, cutting the lawn, teaching the children or even preaching the sermon. All these duties need to be done with joy and cheerfulness as they are being done for the Lord.

IN MISSIONARY WORK

In many churches, in order to be a leader or worker, you must enter years of training. In God’s work this is not always necessary. In the days of Elijah, the schools of the prophets existed and were a blessing for those who attended, but there are times when the Lord calls someone who has not been to these schools. In our church today, we have missionary training seminars, and mission schools, which have produced many useful workers for the Lord, armed with knowledge to efficiently work for the Lord.

However it is not always possible for a person to attend one of these seminars. This will not exclude him from working for the Lord if the Lord calls him. The Lord will train him in this case.

There is always the danger of following one man’s ideas or methods from those who have attended schools, but it is the duty of every student to think and act for themselves in various circumstances. We need new ideas, new plans for pushing the truth forward. “But let none become shadows of some other man. Let them not become mere machines to grind out certain subjects by human dictation. No sermon is to be planned out for them to preach where they go. Let them seek to be taught by God through the Holy Spirit. Let them seek help through prayer and the diligent study of God’s word. If they do this, He who calls them to labour in the gospel will make it evident that they are chosen vessels. He will give them words to speak to the people.” T6,
p. 415.

God wants men of strong characters. “Independent men of earnest endeavour are needed, not men as impressible as putty…Men whom God will connect with His work are not limp and feverless, without muscle or moral force of character. It is only by continued and persevering labour that men can be disciplined to bear a part of the work of God.” T3, p. 496.

“Machines may be made to respond to the will of man, working with perfect exactitude, but they are destitute of souls.” CSW, p. 152

ORGANIZATION

“Evil does not result because of organization, but because of making organization everything, and vital godliness of little moment. When form and machinery take the pre-eminence, and a laborious task is made of carrying on the work that should be done with simplicity, evil will result, and little will be accomplished in proportion to the effort put forth.” CSW, p. 153.

I am reminded of one young person who made use of the organization to make his decisions.
This person loved eating cheese and I was trying to share with him the dangers today of consuming cheese and that we will have to give it up soon, if not now. He simply stated that he would continue eating cheese until the General Conference would make the declaration that we should no longer be consuming dairy products and it was made a test of fellowship. Up until that time it would not be sin for him to consume it, so he would. God has given each person wisdom and a mind to think and read for themselves. The organization need not make every small decision in a person’s life otherwise we will become like the religious leaders in the time of Christ, with rules for every detail of life. We need to trust the Lord to lead us in the finer details of life, as the organization’s role is to lay down the main principles.

Some are afraid of making any decision unless sanctioned by the organization. When Paul received a vision to go do Macedonia, he could have hesitated and sent word to the organization back in Jerusalem about the vision and his desire to go to Macedonia, and then waited around for them to have a General Conference session to make this decision and allow him to go. That was too lengthy a process, the Lord told him to go and he did not delay. Yet, Paul did not do this in defiance of the organization. He still supported it 100% but felt this was a decision that he had to make on his own with the Lord. There are times when we need to have the courage to step out and follow the leading of the Lord when He opens up the way.

“Men who ought to be as true in every emergency as the needle to the pole, have become inefficient by their efforts to shield themselves from censure and by evading responsibilities for fear of failure…. Men who are content to let others plan and do their thinking for them are not fully developed….

They are content to remain as incompetent and inefficient as though others must do the planning and much of the thinking for them. Some men appear to be utterly unable to hew out a path for themselves. Must they ever rely upon others to do their planning and their studying, and to be mind and judgment for them? God is ashamed of such soldiers. He is not honoured by their having any part to act in His work while they are mere machines.” T3, p. 495,496.’

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, nor of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7.

An offering given grudgingly, thinking of it as a material loss as it is put in the offering plate, may as well not be given. God does not want your money – He wants your heart.

“Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Sam. 15:22, 23. No, He really doesn’t want your offering if it is not given cheerfully. He only asks for tithes and offerings because He knows the tendency in man to be greedy and in this manner we can trust in God to provide. Even with the little we may have, we should always have something to give to the Lord. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

We should not look at it simply as a duty – we receive our pay cheque and automatically 10% goes in the tithe envelope and a few coins into the offerings and think we have done our duty. That is the mechanical way of looking at it. Are we buying God off as the Pharisees thought they were doing?

Rather we should look at it as a privilege instead of a duty. We have been asked to co-operate with the highest power in the Universe, will we not give what we can with much gratitude for this privilege. He has such great confidence in us so we should not disappoint Him. “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart he shall take my offering.” Ex. 25:2.

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2 Cor 8:12. God does not expect you to give what you do not have, so you should never compare yourself with others who may give more than you. You will be judged on what you have not on what your brother has. Just be a faithful steward of your own goods. It is time to take a serious look at our lives and see whether we are truly living for the Lord, or has our experience degenerated to spiritual machinery. Only God can revive our spiritual stupor if we have, and He has promised to do so for anyone who desires to come to Him. Don’t delay, come to Him today.
Amen.

Wendy Eaton