Some months ago the laymen of a large Protestant denomination were asked to express themselves on a topic which seemed strange to them. Not often are laymen asked to look at their minister and given opportunity to say just what they think of him. As we look at the plan naw, it seems most reasonable, and we wonder why it was not tried before.
To be sure, the people in the pews have had much to say about ministers in general and about some ministers in particular. But it was not always said in a way and at a ;time when it could accomplish the most good for all concerned. We have always recognized that "the minister is one of the most public of personalities. Not only his parishioners but others in the local community know him by sight, watch his behavior in public, discuss his sermons and utterances, conjecture as to his attitudes and intentions, and occasionally enjoy a bit of gossip at his expense."
The minister would do well ever to bear this in mind, and be well aware of what the people in his pews and in his community think of him. As a Christian he must be exemplary, and as a Christian minister he must be all that he would invite his people to become. If he is wise and anxious to do his God-given work in the most pleasing and acceptable manner, he will profit by what he sees and hears. He might even follow the example of one minister who had a committee of three good, stanch, loyal laymen to tell him frankly what the people thought of him and expected of him. Among many other things which such laymen had to say about ministers were these:
1. More than 90 percent of the people "indicate that inadequate study is a crippling handicap."
2. More than 60 percent of the people expect the preacher to put in enough time so that he may develop an inspiring sermon. Then is added this note: "Not a few laymen are obviously dissatisfied with the poor study habits of their ministers. Most ministers are content to 'coast,' doing routine preaching. The message should be characterized by being spiritual and scholarly—the result of real study and meditation. . . . Whatever the cause, poor sermons are more painful to the listeners than offending ministers realize."
That perhaps is putting it rather plainly, somewhat bluntly, but withal mildly. It is time that we ministers were jolted rather severely in this matter. We must be brought to realize that there is a limit to both patience and endurance on the part of laymen. The minister must also realize that he who stops studying stops growing, and that the minister who stops growing mentally very early gives signs of such a condition in various parts of his anatomy and in various phases of his work.
John Wesley had some ideas on this matter, and they were published as early as 1784 in the first Discipline of the Methodist Church. Although primarily intended for his ministerial brethren in his own day, his suggestions are good for all ministers of this our day. We read:
"QUESTION 32.—But why are we not more knowing?
"ANSWER.—Because we are idle. We forget our very first rule, 'Be diligent. Never be unemployed -amoment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time ; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.'
"(1) Read the most useful books, and that regularly and constantly. Steadily spend all the morning in this employ, or, at least, five hours in four and twenty."
That, my ministering brethren, is the advice from a man of God who lived what he preached. That is good advice to each and every one of us as Seventh-day Adventist ministers. All of us see in that advice the very thing we need in order to make us the kind of ministers God would have us be. Seventh-day Adventist ministers should be among the best-read men in any community. We are called upon to take the third angel's message to every group and class —Christians and non-Christians alike. We must, therefore, know what our prospects believe, and understand their ways of thinking and living. We must be all things to all men in order that we might win some.
Reading makes full men. Reading makes thoughtful men: men full of thoughts. Reading is absolutely essenttal for the minister. Books are his tools. Books are his friends. Books are the source of his greatest pleasure, as well as the fountain of his knowledge. The active, the dynamic, the fresh, inspiring preacher is never separated from his books. He lives with them. He loves them. He digests them. They become a part of his very being.
The committee entrusted with the selection of books for the Ministerial Reading Course searches widely and painstakingly for the best and most useful materials for our ministers. Not a few are specifically prepared for this purpose. The committee endeavors to cover as many fields as possible through the required books for all to read, and then through the much wider list of recommended electives. It is not intended to limit anyone's reading to the titles suggested, but rather it is the plan to bring to the attention of all our ministers the outstanding volumes which are available. Books are like friends ; when we find a good friend we like to share him with others and introduce him to as wide a circle as possible.
He is rich who counts not his wealth in dollars but in friends. A million dollars or a million friends? As for me, I would choose the million friends. A thousand friends or a thousand books ? Well, in that case we'll take both books and friends.
Fellow ministers, things are happening these days. Events, stirring events, breath-taking events, are crowding each other with such rapidity that we can barely keep up with them. These are momentous days, and prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes. Surely of all people, Seventh-day Adventists must see and read and understand, for the completion of our task is attached thereto. We, of all people, must keep up to date with the developments of the times and know their backgrounds. Since so many of our sermons have their settings in the signs of the times, it demands of us that we know whereof we speak.
All this leads us to the one and only conclusion—the Ministerial Reading Course is designed for us, and we are determined to avail ourselves of its benefits at the earliest possible moment.