GOLD VERSUS LEAD
Much has been said about speech as being silver, and silence as being golden, and men are often admired because they maintain what is known as dignified, oracular, or mysterious silence. However, a wise man once said that there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak." Indeed there are times when silence is golden, and to speak on such occasions would be as lead. But when an issue of truth is in question and God calls upon a man to speak his convictions, then silence is leaden and speech is fine gold.
Hugh Black says: "There may be times when a man could bite his tongue out for the things he said—the bitter, or the malicious, or the impure words. But there are times when he hates himself for the ignoble silence that would not speak the word, it may be of rebuke, or of counsel, perhaps of war or of peace." How often our Lord must be grieved because we as modern-day disciples fail to speak out for Him in a positive testimony. How often we allow His cause of truth to go by default for lack of courage to open our mouths with a "Thus saith the Lord!"
It is possible to deny our Lord today, even as Peter did of old, by a silence born of timidity and fear. May God give us men who love the Master and His cause more than they love themselves— men like Philip, who at the right time "opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." A. C. F.
NEED DEFROSTING?
In many quarters dignity and lifelessness are confused. This outcry is not against formality. Rather it is a call for more spirit in the program form. Nothing kills a congregation like a dead service. A glance at the statistical report on the missing would indicate the great need. A dignified service does not nullify the injunction: "Serve the Lord with gladness." No violence is done the spirit of reverence by the minister's lifting up his "voice like a trumpet." Some emotion is not merely excusable, but desirable, in the worship service. The message should be dynamic with pathos and power. Fervent appeals for decision should be made. An occasional "Amen" should not startle the saints. If it does, the "box" needs defrosting. May heaven deliver the church from the fatal extremes of wide-eyed, arm-flailing emotionalism on one hand, and frigid formalism on the other. E. E. C.
A PERILOUS PATTERN
Most evangelistic efforts are concentrated in large urban areas.
Hence dark counties remain dark. Mrs. White speaks of many in our cities being "gospel hardened" owing to repetitious "nagging." We call this "playing it safe." After all, we have a church building in----------, and it isn't full. Perhaps it is cheaper financially to go on doing the same old things in the same old way. But it is not the divine blueprint. Small congregations spread over wide areas is the New Testament pattern, amply supported by the Spirit of Prophecy. But what can we do now?
1. Organize our church members to care for themselves, leaving only the big decisions for the pastor.
2. Evangelize the big cities by sections. Let some of the members of the large churches form the nucleus of new churches in the various sections.
3. Then attack the villages in the district with childlike faith and fearless zeal. Thus will the message make its way, and the world will hear the gospel. E. E. C.
FOR A PRICE
In every congregation there are those who are able and willing to "buy out" the pulpit. Thus many a voice in this worldly wilderness has been muted. Whether these satanic agents strike through the stomach or the wallet, their objective is the same, namely, to soften the minister, his message, his attitude toward wrongdoing, and thus nullify his influence. To such a minister, the pulpit may be his coffin, the congregation his mourners. No one man can decide in self-righteousness what favor should or should not be accepted by the minister. But nothing must be permitted that would blunt the cutting edge of truth. Each man should search his own soul and determine how much he can stand before receiving the next gratuity. If it would rob him of his integrity, his answer should be a firm No. The church expects its minister to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with unbiased faithfulness. Adventism makes no allowance for feeble knees at the altar. E. E. C.