In every age the gospel minister has been in danger of lowering his message to meet the lowered standard of the people. "Like people, like priest." This is the danger facing the ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I thank God for the large number of earnest, consecrated men and women making up our church membership.
I deplore the spirit of worldliness and indifference which is taking possession of the lives of far too many. We are in danger of lowering the divine standard to meet the standard of this careless, worldly class.
No selfish consideration must tempt us to hold back the straight testimony. I must not refrain from declaring the whole counsel of God because I sense the sinfulness of my own natural heart. I need to cry mightily to God to sanctify me through His truth and make my life tally with my preaching. I must not refrain from declaring the whole counsel of God because that counsel will condemn practices in my own family or will strike against the doings of my dearest personal friends.
My wife may fail to represent in her life the principles of the gospel as relates to plainness of attire; my children may be ensnared by the pleasures of the world. Sad, indeed, when the message of the gospel minister is nullified in any measure by influences existing in his own home. He should cry mightily to God for the conversion of his own loved ones, but having done all that he can do to bring them to Christ, he must give his message faithfully and uncompromisingly.
The gospel minister may number among his close personal friends men and women in the church whose lives are worldly, some perhaps wealthy and influential. No fear of man, no ties of personal friendship, must lead him to abate one iota from the solemn message God has given him to bear to the church. He must rebuke sin without partiality, fear, or favor.
Washington, D. C.
