Prepare!—As Seventh-day Adventists move into the spotlight of world scrutiny, their fundamental positions will become the object of increasingly pitiless investigation. Our positions—not simply Biblical, but particularly those involving historical, scientific, and factual aspects—will be challenged and denied with all the intellectual prowess, countering data, and apparent logic at the command of the opposers of truth. Then will the work of sound, sure, and conclusive investigation amongst us come sharply to the forefront. Then will the toils, the prayers, yes, and the tears, of the real establishers and defenders of the faith stand forth in their true light and worth. Then will other things, now often in the forefront, find their relative values. Our supreme concern in the crisis hour will be the supremacy of truth. These are our golden days for preparing—preparing against the coming onslaught. As truly as we exist as God's appointed movement for the hour, we shall face the wrath of the dragon soon.
Whisperers!—There is always some whisperer somewhere talking about our leaders—questioning their orthodoxy, their loyalty to the Spirit of prophecy, their fidelity to this message, and their leadership of it. Those who have known these leaders intimately through the years, who have observed their words, their acts, their plans, their influence, their prayers and tears of intercession, and know their fundamental integrity as high-minded Christians and sound Seventh-day Adventists, do not take kindly to such slurring suggestions. God will assuredly hold such accountable for their hindering, scattering influence. Those who indulge -in such covert slander of our chosen leaders should not go unrebuked. nor shall their charges pass unchallenged.
Brethren!—Rhetorical figures of speech are invitingly expressive—that is why they are instinctively employed. In consequence, experienced city evangelists, holding large efforts with a supporting corps of workers, are sometimes dubbed "ocean liners," while younger, less experienced men, in the smaller places, usually toiling away alone, are by comparison denominated "tugboats." Felicitous comparisons and contrasts spring forth easily from the simile—and all, of course, without malice. But, really, brethren, is this a wise procedure? Is it good for a man to be labeled a mighty -ocean liner"? And is it fair to those relegated to the group of "tugboats"—and there are always many more in proportion—to be so designated,? After all, does not the man working alone, who wins a goodly number of souls, deserve fully as much credit as the evangelist at the head of a company whose prorata accessions, when you count the personnel of the group, are perhaps less than the total number of souls won by the individual who works alone? Flattery is not good for any man. Great "ocean liners" sometimes founder ; and the more such have been lauded, favored, and spotlighted, the more tragic the grounding becomes. Christ said, "All ye are brethren," and we cannot improve upon His classification. Let us refrain from placing men on pedestals of publicity and praise.
Jokers!—If some preachers could only sense how cheap their labored attempts to be continuously humorous appear to their thoughtful brethren, they would surely change their course and emphasis. Their sallies are often exceedingly silly, and their quips but stale, hackneyed jokes that are more appropriate to the vaudeville stage than to the sacred desk. The simple fact is that people do not place much confidence in the joking minister. They do not think he has a very high conception of his exalted calling. No, this does not imply that those spontaneous overflowing-s which sometimes light the face with a smile and relieve the tension are taboo. But the sobering message of God in these sobering times calls for serious men.
Overdone!—If promoters of projects could only see how they frequently prejudice their own case—and sometimes make themselves almost obnoxious—by their incessant pressure upon the particular work for which they are responsible, they would surely shift to a more tactful method of enlisting interest and cooperation. They would not bring their propaganda into every meeting they address, every article they write, every council discussion in which they participate, every committee on which they serve—and at times even into their public prayers. One even wonders how long funerals will be exempt. The part should never overshadow the whole, nor some good thing be projected as the cure for almost every ill. There is that capitalizeth every golden opportunity, and yet causeth revulsion if overdone.
L. E. F.
