The words of our title are found in this thought-provoking challenge to the ministry of this denomination: "The Lord God of heaven cannot approve much that is brought into the pulpit by those who are professedly speaking the word of the Lord. They do not inculcate ideas that will be a blessing to those who hear. There is cheap, very cheap fodder placed before the people."—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 337. (Italics supplied.)
From time to time we hear of glaring illustrations of the tragic lack of preparation on the part of those who minister in the pulpit, and of the failure to sense the great responsibility of one who stands before a congregation as a messenger of the Word of God. Some time ago one of our leading medical doctors sent to the editor of THE MINISTRY a letter containing in part the following:
To THE EDITOR:
Recently my wife and I and a guest visited a small church for the first time. The building was new, well planned, and nicely constructed. The people were friendly and attentive. The pastor, a young man, seemed warm and pleasant; so that there was every prospect of a fine Sabbath school session and a good sermon.
We were particularly anxious for all to proceed in the best tradition of our church for the sake of our guest. She was a friend of many years, the author of numerous scientific articles and books, and a college teacher of wide reputation.... For months she had been reading our literature and discussing it in lengthy correspondence with my wife. Now with an acceptance of our invitation to attend Sabbath services, she was provided with an opportunity to observe Adventists more intimately. How we prayed that the service would be up to standard and the impressions favorable!
Our disappointment was great when the minister arose to give the review in the Sabbath school. He said he had not studied the lesson—would someone please lend him a Quarterly? Then he attempted to muddle through by choosing a question from the Quarterly as he said, "at random," giving whatever thoughts came to his mind—also "at random" and very far afield. This went on for about twenty minutes with almost no relevance to the lesson. However, we felt disposed to be charitable, and hoped for a better performance from the pulpit.
Imagine our dismay and embarrassment when he proved to be equally unprepared with his sermon. His comments covered territory from Dan to Beersheba and from Genesis to Revelation, with very little coherence between. Lack of preparation showed throughout. It was obvious that he was improvising and attempting to cover up his paucity of ideas by a certain folksiness that somehow failed to accomplish its purpose.
Shortly after the beginning of his sermon he announced that he would sing a song that he liked very much, although he could not remember the tune. Would the pianist please play it through to refresh his memory?
When he finally exhausted his resources for impromptu sermonizing he abruptly turned to his elders and said, "Can someone tell me the time?" as though he too were anxious for the ordeal to end. Finding that it was five minutes before noon, he filled in the time with some further folksy anecdotes, then remarked, "Much more could be said, but I guess I'll leave a lot of it out." This last remark in my opinion was the best part of the sermon.
To the well-ordered mind of our erudite friend, the whole performance must have seemed a sorry affair, even if she was too tactful to say so.
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently" (jer. 48:10, margin). What excuse can be offered for such slipshod work? If on occasion he is unable to make adequate preparation, a minister should stay out of the pulpit and get someone else to take the service. The psychology of such weak offerings seems to be an underlying indifference or contempt for one's audience, the feeling that with his congregation "anything goes." In my opinion a preacher who attempts to get by on good looks and personality should never be ordained to the ministry. Whether there be few or many, wise or foolish, educated or ignorant to hear him he should put forth his best efforts "as unto the Lord." A minister should be a diligent student and dig deep in the gospel mine for things new and old. Only thereby can he truly "preach the word."
And we heartily agree, Doctor. Such "very cheap fodder" is a disgrace to the cause of truth and the gospel of God's wisdom. Fortunately the extreme and pitiful failure of the young unnamed preacher in question is an exception to the effort put forth by most pastors to really provide their people with spiritual food.
However, is there not a deep lesson in this experience for us all? Random wanderings, mere folksiness, amusing stories, insipid shallowness, can never be allowed acceptance in the pulpit of any church. Consecrated ministers will spend much time in prayer and study, and will ever seek the enlightenment and the living energy of the Holy Spirit, that they may present to their people the sacred solemn truth for these times.
There is a dignity that goes with the office of a clergyman that no true minister of the gospel will betray.
J. A. B.
