Editorial Postscripts

From the Ministry back page.

L.E.F. is editor of the Ministry.

Efficiency!—Each passing yeal- confronts the gospel worker of this move­ment with increasing difficulties. The well-nigh universal religious apostasy ; the secular­ized, godless education that is dominant; the rising tide of national, racial, and class ten­sion that is sweeping over the world: the steadily mounting encroachments upon human life and liberty, together with the ever-lifting level of general education, all conspire to make extraordinary demands upon the preacher of today. The training, equipment, and atti­tude of yesteryear will not suffice for this new hour when feverish intensity has taken posses­sion of mankind. We must study, pray, and work with an earnestness and an effectiveness commensurate with the intensity of the times.

City Evangelism!—The day of large city evangelism has not passed. Those err who suggest that lay efforts in the homes of the people are about to supersede public preaching to great assemblies. The two are not antagonistic. There is need, imperative need, for both. The attention of the great masses in the metropolitan areas will be ar­rested by men of God's choosing. The multi­tudes must be quickly reached. Evangelism is a distinct gift of the Spirit placed by God in the church. It cannot be set aside except at greatest loss and peril. The hour has come to set our faces to finishing our task of warn­ing the world. This calls for a new stress on sound, aggressive, Spirit-indited city evan­gelism. And this means that men of God's choosing, employing methods He approves, are needed as never before.

Common Fire!—Crave is the responsibility of the evangelist who, in pro­claiming the third angel's message, persists in using "common fire" instead of sacred—espe­cially when admonished by his brethren to desist from such a wrong course. Recourse to secular attractions to gather a crowd, turn­ing jokester instead of remainino-'' proclaimer of the most sobering truth on earth. and mak­ing a vaudeville stage or a circus out of the sacred desk, are each and all offensive to God, repugnant to the great majority of our min­isters, and distressing to hosts of our spiritual-minded people. He who employs sensational methods allures those who are attracted by the cheap. No individual worker has the moral, or ethical, right to flout the accepted and declared principles of a truly representa­tive presentation of this message, and to make a caricature out of the third angel's message. It is tragic when the laity has a higher stand­ard than some evangelists, and when pastors demur against having certain evangelists come to their districts. This is not a personal mat­ter, but a denominational problem.

Youth!!—Have faith in youth —in their ultimate conversion and success in the Christian life, and in their future service, power, and steadfastness. And express that faith in them. How can they know you be­lieve in them, if you do not tell them so? If you have any doubts as to God's ability to transform and to use careless youth, think back to your own youth—unless you be one of those pious exceptions, who only prove the general rule. Think of the heartaches you caused your parents, the anxiety you brought to your older friends and well-wishers, and the concern you gave your teachers and your pastor. Then think of what God has done for you and for your old schoolmates, and proclaim anew your faith in the youth of today.

Divisive!—Mark the man who charges our tried and true leaders with depar­ture from the faith, while in contrast he pro­claims or implies his own sound orthodoxy in the message, his superior loyalty to the Spirit of prophecy, and his own contrasting fidelity to the teachings of the pioneers. Such ego, built upon the derogation of one's breth­ren, is simply modern Pharisaism—"I thank God that I am not as some other Adventists are; I believe all the truth; I follow all the Testimony counsels," etc. Let none be de­ceived thereby. Such a spirit is fundamentally wrong and unsafe. Mark likewise the man who resorts to abusing his brethren when they differ from him upon pet positions or evi­dences that he champions, Instead of quietly but effectively meeting evidence with evidence, and reason with reason, he resorts to condemna­tion, charges, and ridicule. The fundamental weakness of his own position is thus disclosed, while the spirit manifest is revealed as from beneath and not from above. Let none be in­timidated by such tactics. Such attitudes are alien to this message, and are not to be con­doned. If persisted in, they will ultimately lead the one who harbors them out of the message. We are to press together, not apart. We are to minimize, not magnify, minor dif­ferences. We are too small a groUp to inflate upon inconsequentials that the Spirit of prophecy depreciates.

L. E. F.


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L.E.F. is editor of the Ministry.

January 1941

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More Articles In This Issue

God's Twofold Call to His Church

A revival of true godliness and a summons to larger evangelism. An opening address, Autumn Council, St. Paul, Minnesota, October, 1940.

Cooperating With the Evangelist

A bible worker can give her best service to an evangelistic effort when it is well organized.

Bible Teachers as Leaders and Molders

Paper presented at Bible Teachers' Council, Washington, D.C., August, 1940.

Accepting the Evolution Challenge

The theory of evolution presents a chal­lenge to every Seventh-day Adventist. How do we respond?

Jesus to Become Man's High Priest

Biblical Exposition and Homiletic Helps.

Editorial Keynotes

Advent Source Research Project--No. 1. Presented at a joint session of the Bible teachers and history teachers in council last summer in Washington. Here published by request, because of the widespread interest and concern regarding progress toward the printed product and availability of the documents.

The Minister's Place in the Sick Room

The Monthly medical missionary column.

Our Medical Work from 1866-1896—No. 13

The opening of the First Seventh-day Adventist School of Nursing.

"Let us Walk Together"

Making good on our words.

Autumn Council Hightlights

Highlights from the recent autumn council.

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