The minister's greatest asset is a character that expresses a knowledge of God. "The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, ex pressed in character, is an exaltation above everything that is esteemed in earth or in heaven."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 97. Possessing character makes the minister's message intelligible to all who listen. There is no chance for any misunderstanding, for the message is substantiated by something plainer than words— the minister's life.
A minister's character is also reflected in his converts. When his character is right his preaching will be what it should be, and his converts will be truly representative as well. When his preaching and his converts are right then his church will be right. It is a solemn thought, therefore, to know that what manner of men we are, even in our secret soul, will appear in our preaching, in our converts, and in our churches.
Consequently, there is no greater danger, no more serious peril, than for a minister to permit in himself a gulf between word and deed, between message and character, between preaching and practice. It is. this gulf that robs him of power in his preaching, which causes the believers to stumble, and gives offense to the unbeliever. Nothing is so potent in destroying a minister's usefulness as a life that is not in harmony with his preaching. At the same time there is nothing in this world that will so vitalize a man's ministry as the faithful performance of the duties he is enjoining upon others. We are told that "ready speech, eloquence, great talents, will not convert a single soul," but that "godly men, faithful, holy men, who carry out in their every-day life that which they preach, will exert a saving influence."— Ibid., vol. i, p. 380.
The variance between knowledge and practice, so prevalent in the world of today, must not be found in the ranks of the Christian ministry. It is damaging to the entire Christian structure for a minister to enunciate lofty themes while his mind revels in the low and sordid experiences of life. It is useless to pro claim humility while pride and conceit motivate the life. A sure way to dry up the springs of benevolence is to urge liberality while one's life is dominated by covetousness, avarice, indolence, and ease.
The man who exhorts the saints that "godliness with contentment is great gain," but who constantly broods on himself and generates an abnormal estimate of himself, makes himself and his brethren miserable. He is always wait ing for, and expecting, the recognition so long denied him by those in authority, and clearly shows his disappointment when it is not forth coming. He is always aspiring to churches and responsibilities beyond him. He thinks he is going to be called by committees who have never once thought of him, and possibly never will. The whole thing keeps him disgruntled and in a state of constant ferment, and this un- happiness often reacts adversely upon the en tire church membership. Thus the doctrine of Christian contentment is negatively pro pounded by a minister whose practice does not square with his preaching. The parallel could be carried on ad infinitum in other points of doctrine.
The great need of the world and of the church today is for an expression of Christian faith and doctrine in character. It is imperative that we, the ministers of God, lead out in ex pressing a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ through our daily lives. When our people see this they will not hesitate to follow.
"Those who minister in word and doctrine should themselves be patterns of good works. They should be examples in holiness, cleanliness, and order." "Men who are standing between the living and the dead should be just right. The minister should not be off his guard for a single moment. . . . He can accomplish far more by his godly example than by merely preaching in the desk, while his influence out of the desk is not worthy of imitation." — Ibid., vol. i, pp. 445, 446.
Breaking Down Prejudice by Disaster Work
By WARREN T. SKILTON Pastor, Batavia, New York
We all believe that the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah is addressed to the remnant church. Certain prophecies found in this chapter are yet to meet their fulfillment. One is found in verses eight and ten: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: . . . then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day." As we read verses 6-10 the conditions for this public favor are brought forth.
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? . . . And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day."
If we would but do more of this work and thus gain more favor with the public, possibly the work of Sabbath reform would be easier. Recently the Batavia, New York, church received the full blessing promised in these verses of the Bible as it sought to meet the conditions prescribed.
In the construction of our new church a room was incorporated into the building for the storage of clothing for local emergencies and welfare work. We had collected a few clothes and had a meager supply on hand when a fifty- thousand-dollar fire destroyed a coal yard and a two-family dwelling.
On the same day of the fire the Northwestern New York Dorcas Federation had a meeting in the Batavia church. An offering was taken at this meeting to help the two stricken families. We visited the families, gave them a few clothes, and distributed the money collected. We were desirous of doing more, but had neither the money nor the clothing on hand with which to be of service to these families who had lost practically everything. A news item was sent to the local paper mentioning 'the fact that the Batavia Dorcas Society was planning to help in local emergencies, such as the recent fire.
Early the next morning, after the news story of the Dorcas Federation meeting appeared, I received a call from the newspaper asking whether I could offer any information on the needs of the families. The paper started a project to collect clothing and money, and in the course of the day's events the Dorcas Society was asked to undertake the rehabilitation of the families. Having no further supplies on hand we stepped forward in faith saying we would do our best.
We- gave the story to the radio, and for two days the Adventist Dorcas Society was top news on the radio and on page one of the paper as well. Both agencies complimented us continually for the work we were doing, and urged the public to give generously so that we might increase our supplies as well as help the two families who had suffered losses from fire. The public was requested to call one of three phone numbers to make appointments for someone to pick up the clothing, furniture, and money they wished to donate. The hand of the Lord guided mightily in the task. In a few days both families were practically completely equipped. A fourteen-month-old child soon had more clothes and toys than before the fire.
As a result of the favorable publicity, which gained the confidence of the community for us, we have been receiving a constant supply of clothing. We have also received many calls for help, and have been able to aid in every case we have investigated so far. The Red Cross called us for assistance in one case. After the fire campaign the following editorial appeared in one edition of the newspaper: "Warren T. Skilton, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Dorcas Society of that organization have done a masterful job in lining up articles for the victims of Tuesday's Center St. fire. It has required much time and effort, and the re wards, in several phases, are certainly more than can be actually counted."
By experience, and with the proper approach, we have learned that the radio and newspapers are eager to help in this type of work. To them it is news. Apparently they are not concerned as to who makes the news, and the more local, the better.
In our recent collection for flood relief in Manitoba, Canada, the radio and newspaper assisted in obtaining more than 250 items of clothing. An interesting side light proves that the public appreciates and notices the work we are doing. The members of a large church in a nearby community, hearing of our work, felt they should do something for the flood victims in Canada if the small Adventist church in Batavia could do so. As a result they collected some clothing. After gathering it they suddenly realized that they did not know where to send it. They came to the conclusion that if the Adventists were collecting clothing, surely they must know where to send it, so they brought their collection to one of our members. She took them to our church and said we would care for sending the material. The two members of this church were very generous in complimenting us on the work we were doing.
Because we have shown ourselves to be of service to the community, people in this area now have a different opinion of Adventists from what they formerly had. Prejudice is at a minimum, and the public is becoming curious as to what we believe. Some Bible studies have been arranged as a result. Ingathering has become a pleasant task, simply because the donors know we are prepared to work in our local community. Many have expressed their appreciation for our work and said they were glad to help us.
Apparently we should be planning to fulfill to a greater extent the unfulfilled verses of Isaiah 58, especially those verses that will bring us into greater favor with the public. In Prophets and Kings, pages 718, 719, we read:
"In the night of spiritual darkness God's glory is to shine forth through His church in lifting up the bowed down and comforting those that mourn. All around us are heard the wails of a world's sorrow. On every hand are the needy and distressed. It is ours to aid in relieving and softening life's hardships and misery."
In doing this type of work we receive publicity we could never buy and begin an evangelism that will never end. The expense involved is negligible, and the joy and blessings received in giving a helping hand to unfortunate men, women, and children can never be described.
Welcome Service for New Members
By FENTON E. FROOM, Pastor, Beverly Road Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Christ’s commission to His followers, to go and make disciples, is an ever present challenge to the gospel worker. Various methods of giving the good news of salvation are employed by many workers. Public evangelism reaches the masses with its powerful appeal through the radio and from the public plat form. Personal evangelism, carried on by the gospel worker or the layman, is in its final analysis, the work of preparing the individual to become one with, and to walk with, God's people for this hour.
The ultimate objective of the soul winner is to prepare the "new creature," a miracle of God's grace, for baptism. This sacred rite has often been called the door into the church. Much might be said relative to the beauty and importance of this deep experience in Jesus, but the purpose of this discussion is to deal with the next step in the new believer's experience, that of being made to feel one with the people of the remnant church.
The welcome of these spiritual babes into the church by the pastor is a most important function. Too often it is carelessly overlooked, and sometimes with disastrous results to all concerned. After the public welcome is given by the pastor, I have found it a helpful practice, in smaller churches, to present the baptismal certificate to each new believer, and then to give them the right hand of fellowship. 'Then all the church elders and officers and members of the evangelistic group who are present follow the minister in extending the hand of fellowship, and then the church members have opportunity. Instead of making this beautiful service a private one, we ask the entire congregation to come forward to greet and welcome these new members into the full relationship of the church family. The effect is magnetic, not only upon new, but upon older members. They are drawn together. Many whom we have been privileged to lead into this message have told us of the joy of this high-day experience in their lives. They have told us that they have never seen this done in their former churches or in any other church. It has immediately made them acquainted with all the members of the church. They do not feel new and strange, but are made to feel perfectly at home. Should we not deter mine to make the new members feel at home, one with this people? God forbid that anyone who is under our care should feel that he is a stranger because he has not been made acquainted with his new family.
But, someone says, that would take too long. We have too many members. The plan must, of course, be adapted to each church. It would be impossible in the larger churches. But would not the kingdom of God be advanced more in the hearts of men if our people, even in larger churches, really knew each other better?
If your congregation is too large to follow this plan, then try the following: The minister and elders could give the welcome and right hand of fellowship in the service before the sermon. Then at the close of the worship hour the minister might request these new members to stand in a line just beyond him at the main entrance. As he shakes hands with the congregation he then could introduce the older member to the new one standing beside him, who in turn repeats the process. This procedure would surely not take too much time. Neither would it be too much time to give to the new members in order to make them feel fully at home.
If we, as workers in the cause of God, are willing to spend so much money in various phases of advertising, and so many hours in personal labor to prepare and bring souls to a decision for the message, why should we not spend just a little more time in the establishing program of making them feel fully one with us?
We have found that integrating the new members more fully into the church has paid large dividends in personal appreciation by the new believers and in establishing them in the faith. It has also brought inner joy to know that "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
