On page 7 we have reproduced an article from a non-Adventist source, the object of which is to exalt the position of the men in every religion whose duty it is to lead the people Godward. Its intent is to magnify the qualities that mark the man of God as being in a class apart. It will not be amiss for us to take this opportunity to review the qualifications of the ministry set forth so clearly in the New Testament, and as understood and subscribed to by Seventh-day Adventists.
The Power of the Priesthood and the Joy of the People
I. When the ark was in transit, which always denoted some concern in ancient Israel, David voiced this prayer: "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy" (Ps. 132:9). The context places three essentials in juxtaposition: (a) a fit resting place for the ark, the abode of God; (b) a righteous priesthood; (c) a joyful people. From this we conclude that God's house should be our unceasing concern ("I will not give sleep to mine eyes, . . . until I find out . . . an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob," verses 4, 5), and that God's ministers should be pure and holy; and then, and only then, the Lord's congregation will be happy.
2. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?. . . He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully" (Ps. 24:3-5).
Clean hands, a pure heart, a soul not turned "to what is false" (R.S.V.), a spirit that is not deceitful—such men, and only such, can really come close to God. We may well cry out, as we contemplate the ineffable glory and pristine purity of God's presence: "Who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17).
The learned scholar Bishop Lightfoot asked a question of his fellow ministers: "Is righteousness the polestar of our lives?"
Righteous lives are always translated into godly deeds. Not "what the pulpit teaches" will convince the world, but "what the church lives."—Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 16.
"The efficiency of the church is precisely what the zeal, purity, self-denial, and intelligent labor of the ministers make it."—Ibid., vol. 5, p.582.
The Honor of the Ministry
1. "We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5:20, R.S.V.).
"For Christ," or on behalf of Christ, in His stead. Such men are themselves under the compulsion of a divine urge—"the love of Christ controls us" (verse 14); not our love for Him, but His love for us.
"A man can have no greater honor than to be accepted by God as an able minister of the gospel. But those whom the Lord blesses with power and success in His work do not boast. They acknowledge their entire dependence on Him, realizing that of themselves they have no power. With Paul they say, 'Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament.' "—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 328.
2. "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:18).
Paul here clearly teaches that the sanctification of his own life on the basis of faith in Christ, was God's way of turning unbelievers from darkness to light and to forgiveness of sins. Ministers who bring saving faith to others must first themselves be constrained or controlled by divine love and saving faith. (See The Acts of the Apostles, p. 500.)
Giving God to men and bringing men to God, is the minister's lifework. As Dr. Gillie the Scottish preacher suggested, the minister is to make God the most vital fact, the most immediate presence, the most impressive force, and the final reality to men.
The Qualities of the Minister
1. "O man of God, flee these things" (1 Tim. 6:11).
The list of things from which Paul said a minister should flee is not easy to discuss in some circles. In this chapter warnings are given against (a) strife and dispute, into which some men fall so easily; (b) discontent and selfishness, both of which can so easily afflict otherwise good men; (c) love of money, a weakness that takes hold of many Christians, often with fatal ease. A poor man can love money to his own spiritual hurt. Any minister whose great concern is to be always making money, falls victim to "the root of all evil." People should not look upon us primarily as money lovers or money-makers. They should rather say with the woman who observed Elisha: "I perceive that this is an holy man of God" (2 Kings 4:9).
2. "Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:11, 12).
There are things from which a true minister will flee. There are others that he should sedulously follow—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, the rugged fight for faith. Paul greatly expanded this list of ministerial essentials in 2 Timothy 4:1-5, a passage constituting perhaps the best-known and most solemn charge to ministerial ordinands in the New Testament. Before God, ministers are charged (a) to preach the Word; (b) to "be instant in season," or urgent, adaptable, incisive, earnest, in every situation; (c) to reprove and rebuke when necessary; (d) to exhort with patience and sound doctrine; (e) to watch, or "be steady," as the R.S.V. renders it; (f) to endure afflictions; (g) to evangelize as the full proof of a call to the ministry. "The seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord" (1 Cor. 9:2).
In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 the man of God is set forth as a model of happy domestic relations, modest, well-behaved, hospitable, able to teach, a total abstainer, not a money lover, patient, not quarrelsome, a good head of the household, controlling his children as an evidence that he can control God's family, not too recent a convert, of good report both inside and outside the church.
Are we all preaching the Word? Are we adaptable in meeting situations not involving a sacrifice of principle? Are we incisive and urgently earnest when facing vital issues, or are we rather expert in avoiding issues, which consequently grow into crises that others have to handle? Do we delve into sound doctrine as the basis of truth-filled preaching, doing our own regular reading, studying, praying, thinking? Are we steady when the boat rocks a bit, or do. we easily lean to one side or the other? John Wesley's father, toward the end of his life, said to his son: "Be steady!" The final conflicts in human events call for steady, loyal, careful-thinking, devoted men. Do we readily endure afflictions, or do we run away from them? Above all else, do we love men and win souls for Christ? Do we train our own children well? Are we kindly, and keenly alert in our service for God?
Other Characteristics of the Man of God
1. "Teach what befits sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1, R.S.V.).Not private theories and extreme views but sound doctrine is to be the staple diet served from pulpit to people. The preacher who steers clear of the doctrines and precepts of Christ is dealing in what has been called "sentimental rhapsody." Jesus and doctrine stand together. "Every true doctrine makes Christ the center, every precept receives force from His words."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 54.
Jesus Christ never dealt with abstract or fanciful theories; nor should we today (see Education, p. 81). Theories can arise so easily, even Out of the eternal verities. For example, the doctrine of God and His attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, eternal existence, holiness, graciousness, et cetera, are fundamental to our true conception of the Deity, but any one of them can be made the basis of speculation, for "no human mind can comprehend God."—Testimonies, vol. 8, P. 279.
2. "Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and .. . show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured" (Titus 2:7, 8, R.S.V.).Good deeds flow from a good heart—good toward both saints and sinners. Angels record both our thoughts and deeds (see Testimonies, vol. 1, pp. 124, 125, 544; Christ's Object Lessons, p. 177).
Integrity is based upon the moral principles of God's Word. It demands that in both private and public we ring true to our Christian ideals.
There are standards of morality to which the man of God must be unswervingly true. Innuendoes, spoken or unspoken, are no part of Christian integrity; nor are shady deals of any kind, whether with believers or unbelievers. Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true," but the Christian, and especially the Christian minister, must be true to the Lord Jesus Christ and to every moral principle of His Word.
Gravity and sound speech do not exclude good humor and a joyful countenance; but a man who is known by the people chiefly as a purveyor of the latest jokes, cannot expect to be regarded as a man of God to whom burdened, bereaved, sin-sick souls turn instinctively for spiritual solace.
3. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2: 15).
To study is more difficult for most men than to bustle about doing a hundred other things. But the study of Christian conduct, of the Word, of good literature, and of human nature, is incumbent upon every minister. He must develop mental and spiritual power and store his mind with things that are high and holy. His conduct and his preaching mark him off as a man of faith and prayer and as a teacher who knows how to rightly handle the word of truth (see R.S.V. on this verse).
4. "I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel" (Eze. 33:7).
"Christ's ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. . . . These words of the prophet [Eze. 33:7-9] declare the solemn responsibility resting upon those who are appointed as guardians of the church, stewards of the mysteries of God."—Gospel Workers, pp. 14, 15.
The work of watching over God's church requires "the exercise of every faculty of the being."—Ibid., p. 15.
5. "Feed my lambs. . . . Feed my sheep" (John 21:15, 16).
It was with perhaps a hint of not only the weakness of the lambs but that of Peter's that Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." We could well paraphrase Jesus thus: "If you love the flock, you will feed them!" And we find that loving and feeding the sheep demands the expenditure of time, effort, patience, prayer, study—in fact the whole of self.
Conclusion
1. "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. 2:16).
When we look at the high calling of the man of God, with the inherent duties and responsibilities, we may well wonder who can reach such high standards and bear such burdens. Luther knew that "the ministry is no place for idlers" (see Gospel Workers, p. 81), and therefore said: "Unless thou art called, avoid preaching as thou wouldst hell." Paul supplies the answer, however, to this question of sufficiency: "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor. 3:5).
2. "The church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you" (Col. 1:24, 25, R.S.V.).
How this mighty preacher of the cross could sweep forward undaunted by such great odds, can be explained only on the basis of divine empowerment. God put him there, God enabled him. And that is exactly God's plan today. We should all be able to cry: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, . . putting me into the ministry" (1 Tim. 1: 12). Only God-appointed men can march and fight successfully under the banner of the bloodstained cross of Christ.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us;
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.
—E. W. SHURTLEFF
