Said art as we stood in line for Sabbath dinner: "Say, that was one of the best sermons I have ever heard." It was not long before a group gathered around us, and a full discussion of the morning sermon began. Those who were taking speech analyzed the minister's entire delivery, tone, and action—every little detail—as only college speech students can.
"Yes," said Edwin, "I know he did a few things that we may think were wrong in the line of proper speech, but he wasn't afraid to tell the truth—he was really on fire!"
Those last five little words summed up everyone's thoughts as to the whole sermon. Not only did the minister have fire, but also he had started a mighty flame right there among us. Fire always spreads. Soon, one of the most instructive discussions emerged. The general topic was, "Why Our Church Is Lukewarm." It was truly a healthy discussion, for there were preministerial, premedic, and liberal arts students taking part. There was no one-sidedness here.
We met the facts with open minds, willing to find the truth and do something about it. I have preserved the most important thoughts of that "free-for-all," and I wish to bring them to you, my fellow ministerial students. We are the ones to fill the places of the leaders of tomorrow. Whether the church continues lukewarm depends upon us.
How can we expect the church to be anything but lukewarm when many of the pastors and conference workers are even more lukewarm than the church members? How can we expect the church to have fire when so many ministers who should be leading the church are standing still like stagnant water? Is this wretched condition the fault of the congregation, of the minister, of the conference, or of the theological program and its teachers?
We must face the solid facts today, for tomorrow may be too late. The devil would have us live from day to day as we lived yesterday, but the way of the Christian is onward. Onward, is Christ's command. Onward we go, or back into the worldly abyss.
Let us examine the blinding facts before us at present, and may it be our every desire to do as Paul commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." Yes, the facts are before us.
One of the weakest points in this denomination, this church, is you—yes, you who are prepare to be ministers. Not only you, but also those who are backing the theological course—the teachers and the conference leaders. This is no time to make excuses, to shift responsibility, to put things off. Now is the time to be real men, analyze the facts, and do something about them.
Many of you who are preparing for a place in God's work are failing to see the great importance of your divine call. Many are insincere, following after the world, yet passing as true ambassadors of Christ. Can God tolerate such blaspheming examples? You are not only bringing upon yourself the reproach of others, but also by your false actions, the whole field of ministry is being frowned upon. Those who mar His truth will have only their just reward. Those who are driven from the truth by your coarse, willful actions may be lost. You are responsible for them and God will hold you accountable!
Only those consecrated to a true service of ministry should be allowed to go forth from the theological course. In the medical course, in the dental course, and other secular training programs, those who are not qualified are sifted out. They are dismissed, and asked to seek some other type of profession for which they are better suited. Is the ministry of God below these in importance? Then why do we tolerate those who profane God's holy cause? Is it because they are "cash" students, because their fathers hold important offices in the church? God forbid ! Those who go forth from the ministerial training should be, and must be, the most deeply converted of all men; for they ar to lead others, and many know Christ only by th living. Those who enter the ministerial cour with an "I don't care" attitude, and do.not comply with the high standard of the profession, should be politely dismissed unless they become righteously and rightfully equal to the standard for true Christian living.
It is the duty of those in charge of the theological course to keep the program of the ministry pure and Godlike. It cannot be so if those who are taking theology are insincere, looking to a job of leisure. There is no time for idling in God's work! He has given us the greatest responsibility on earth, and if we plan to enter the ministry, it is our duty to fulfill that task. God has called us to a higher work, and only by faithful service, constant study, and fervent prayer, will we be able to meet our Lord in the judgment day.
The leaders in charge of the ministerial program often realize their failure in making one hundred per cent ministers. Those who do come out of the course with a real Christlike character have had cause to grieve because of those who deny the high ,calling of Christ in their improper spirit and action. To you leaders who will be or are in charge of the theological program, we would say, You must feel the enormous responsibility of a pure ministry. Those who are not converted to Christ-like living, gracious faith, and prayerful thought, should never be given the responsibility of leading is, for many will be driven from heaven by a k and staggering Christian experience. Is that too much for God? Oh, no. God would have us perfect even as He is perfect. The gospel must be preached to all the world, but with insincere, lukewarm ministers, our great commission can never be fully realized. It is up to you, future teachers, workers, and leaders, to set the example and see that the theological standard is too high for worldly characters.
It takes a minister with real fire to set any congregation on fire. Where does the minister get fire? One of the greatest sources outside of God's Spirit is from a teacher who is aflame. A teacher can start a fire in the minister's soul, and God will do the rest, but He does not expect to do it all. We need teachers who can arouse ministerial students to action, and bring them to a truer Christian experience while in school. If a student has the spirit in school, he will carry it wherever he goes. A young minister will not be prepared to awaken a church, to change it from lukewarm to hot, if he has fallen asleep in his study of theology.
Future teachers, if your students of theology sleep in your classes, if they have no spirit, no life, do not blame the students altogether. Look into the mirror—there you may find the trouble. We must be always advancing. Perfection should be our goal.
Why is the church in a lukewarm condition? You, friend, are the answer. In your hand is the balance. What the church will be is what you will make it. Measure not yourself by others, but measure yourself by what you were yesterday and could have been today. God calls for a higher, more perfect ministry. That call is for you to work unitedly with God in saving lost souls for the kingdom.