Pointer's to Progress

Pointer's to Progress

The Elijah Message and the Home

R.A.A. is an associate editor of the Ministry.

The Elijah Message and the Home

To preach the Elijah message we must do more than denounce apostasy and unmask the man of sin. We must elevate the standard of the home. This is not always easy. It takes less grace to cor­rect one's understanding of history than it does to correct the habits of the home. But the Adventist evangelist is charged with the responsibility of building up the home.

Thrust right into the heart of Malachi's proph­ecy is the promise that homes will be restored. The hearts of the fathers will be turned to the children and the hearts of children to the fathers. Home relationships are woven right into the Elijah message.

Nothing is so vital to the church as the homes of her members. And no greater opportunity is presented to the minister than to proclaim the sanctity of the home. The war has played havoc with homes. Tragedy is everywhere. Broken homes must be rebuilt. Only as homes are rebuilt can nations be rebuilt, for the nation is made up of its homes.

Homes are the cement of national and moral life, "the nonstop assembly line of character." But home building is an art. Dare we say a lost art? Edgar Guest surely stated a truth when he wrote those familiar words, "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home." To millions, home is only a filling station by day and a parking lot at night. People are so busy making a living that they do not have time to make a life. No wonder divorce records are rising so rapidly.

War has put a terrible strain on the home. It always does. But many who have been prepared to die for home and loved ones may soon be dis­covering that it is easier to die for them than to live with them. It is to such as these that we as ministers are sent. And our presentation of the message must be in a way that will turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of chil­dren to their parents.

The home, and especially the Adventist home, ought to be a place where love and respect, prayer and mutual understanding, combine to make it a little sanctuary in which friends, neighbors, and even enemies can find the peace of God. Would that this were always the case. No preacher's home, no church elder's home, should be a dictatorship. Peace fled when the dictators arose, determined to dominate. Love and mutualism are the founda­tions of peace. And our homes must be examples to the community.

When someone remarked that the nations shall get along like one big family, a humorist said, "The trouble is they do," and then added, "There is no place like home." That wall plaque which reads, "Home—the place where we grumble the most and are treated the best," contains too much truth. If our homes are' like that, then we need the Elijah message ourselves.

To proclaim doctrines and unfold prophecies, while by-passing the very principles of Christian living, is not fully proclaiming the mess

"When preaching on prophecies, crowd in lesson practical godliness," is the counsel of the Spirit of prophecy. We must not fail to bring a chal­lenge to parents and children alike to rebuild homes that will rightly reflect the glory of the ad­vent message. If we want stronger churches we must have more Christlike homes.

In the crisis on Carmel the prophet had to re­build the altar of the Lord before he could bring the nation back to God. We need the spirit and power of Elijah in our ministry, to lead our con­verts to rebuild family altars and daily lead their households in prayer and praise.

No evangelist's work is done, howsoever many meetings he may have conducted, until those he leads through the waters of baptism have brought their homes into the harmony of heaven. As evan­gelists and pastors we must go to the homes of our new converts, and even older members, and by love and kindness teach them how to conduct fam­ily worship, showing parents how to encourage the children to take part. There is no greater work than leading families into fellowship with God and with one another.      

R. A. A.


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

R.A.A. is an associate editor of the Ministry.

February 1946

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

Radio Evangelism During Japanese Occupation

I wish to tell you and our workers in America how much THE MINISTRY has meant to me, especially during the four years of Japanese oc­cupation in these parts of the world when we were not able to get any help from our headquarters.

Spirit of Prophecy Literature

The counsels of the Spirit of prophecy have been inseparably linked with the inception and development of the work of the Seventh-day Adventists in America.

Actions of Vital Concern

Autumn council highlights.

Launching an Evangelistic Campaign

Organizing the church for an upcoming campaign.

The Use of the Law-Mirror

Just as the purpose of a mirror is to reveal the true physical condition of a man, so the purpose of the moral law is to reveal the true spiritual condi­tion of a man.

The Cure of Diseased Minds

What minister who has the responsibility of shepherding the flock of God has not been con­fronted with perplexing and distressing problems in counseling with members of his congregation?

Introducing the Prophet Among Us

Can we not borrow this boy's psychologi­cal approach when the time comes to present the Spirit of prophecy to our readers?

Study on the Sanctuary

When giving a study, let us try to adopt the method best suited to the student. As the ma­jority of people know very little about the Bible, the simple story method is the most appropriate to start with.

Guard Well the Soul's Avenues

Taking inventory of your spiritual life.

Editorial Keynotes

Swivel-chair critics of evangelism.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up

Recent issues

See All
Advertisement - SermonView - WideSkyscraper (160x600)