In Paul's statement to Timothy (2 Tim. 2:1, 2) a principle is enunciated which I has been purposed of God to be a ruling factor in the ministry of His church: "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
According to this, the strength of a man's ministry is measured, not so much by the quality of his preaching, or even by the number of his converts, as by his ability to inspire his converts with the soul-winning purpose, and his success in training them for and leading them in soul winning,
This principle is entirely opposed to the idea now so prevalent in Christian churches, that the ministry of the word is the business of the select, educationally qualified few who are ordained to preach. In reality the commission of our Lord, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," is for the whole church.
"The church of Christ is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. Its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. And the obligation rests upon all Christians. Every one, to the extent of his talent and opportunity, is to fulfill the Saviour's commission."—"Steps to Christ," p. 85.
To lead the church in this soul-winning service is the responsibility of the minister. Our work was begun and developed in this way. Each worker as he raised up companies of believers, worked untiringly to train his converts in all branches of service. He was the recognized leader of the church in its Sabbath school, in its educational work, in its foreign mission interests, in its home missions, and in its efforts for the young people. All these features of service were in the church at that time, and the minister understood it to be his definite responsibility to train the full church membership to co-operate in carrying forward the work of the church in all its phases.
As the work grew, these definite kinds of work were organized into departments, the intention being that these departments should assist the ministry in its leadership of the work. It was never intended that by the organization of departments the important work of training and leading the church members in the various activities should be taken from the minister and turned over to specialized department leaders. Yet we have gone a long way in this direction. And as we have proceeded in this way, we have observed the burden of church work resting upon a smaller and yet smaller percentage of the church members.
As the burden of responsibility for training and leading the forces of the church has become more and yet more distributed to different departmental factors of the church's organization, the burden of service which God has purposed shall be borne by the full church membership has been passing to but a comparative few of its members, and to its ministers.
The result is a definite and growing tendency for both ministers and laity, and even conference organizations, to leave departmental work entirely to departments. The minister as he now lives his life in this cause is heavily burdened by work that he should share with others. It is unreasonable to expect the vast majority of our ministers to crowd their busy lives with more than they are now doing, but it is wholly reasonable to suggest that we all apply the principle enunciated by Paul, and train our fellow believers to be workers together with God in reconciling men unto Himself. It is this that our Lord has purposed that we shall do.
"Christ intends that His ministers shall be educators of the church in gospel work. They are to teach the people how to seek and save the lost." —"The Desire of Ages," p. 825.
"Let ministers teach church members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them,—the burden of leading souls into the truth."—"Gospel Workers," p. 200.
Paul, the great evangelist, worked in this way. He did not confine his effort to public preaching alone. His plan was, "Publicly, and from house to house." Acts 20:20. He was also a pastor, gentle in his spiritual household, "even as a nurse cherisheth her children." 1 Thess. 2:7. He was a teacher who felt himself called to teach. 2 Tim. 1:11. He was a leader of the church and an instructor of its members in missionary activities. 1 Thess. 1:6-8. And when he was admonishing Timothy, a minister of the gospel, he said, "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." 2 Tim. 2:2.
My brethren, this is the responsibility with which we were charged at our ordination. This, too, is the definite obligation under which we labor.
Hear the word of counsel as spoken to us on this matter through Sister White:
"Just as soon as a church is organized, let the minister set the members at work. They will need to be taught how to labor successfully. Let the minister devote more of his time to educating than to preaching. Let him teach the people how to give others the knowledge they have received."—"Testimonies," Vol. VII, p. 20.
Bible evangelism is nothing less than the work of God wrought by the whole force of the church, trained for the task and led in all its efforts by an alert, prayerful, patient, believing, devoted, and purposeful ministry. It is this kind of evangelism that will finish the work.
