In my work as a publishing department secretary one of my responsibilities is the training of literature evangelists in the art of gospel salesmanship. Among other things, we point out the importance of a good personality, the need for courtesy, and the necessity of avoiding distracting mannerisms. Ministers are salesmen too. We are selling the greatest product of service in all the world, and our habits and appearance decidedly help or hurt our chances of success.
I have been thinking about some habits that greatly affect a minister's usefulness. Some of them may seem small and insignificant, but if they influence the hearers unfavorably, we ought to avoid them.
Personal Appearance
People begin to judge you at their first glance, and the way you dress speaks to them before you say a word. Certainly the minister ought to give careful thought to make sure that he dresses in keeping with his profession. In Gospel Workers, page 173, is found this counsel regarding the minister's dress: "Carefulness in dress is an important consideration. The minister should be clothed in a manner befitting the dignity of his position." Of course, customs vary in different climates and countries, but we feel that sport clothing and colored shirts and loud ties are not appropriate for pulpit wear in any city church.
Again we are told that "untidiness in dress brings a reproach against the truth we profess to believe. . . . This is not a matter of but little consequence; for it affects your influence over others for time and for eternity."—Colporteur Ministry, p. 65.
Platform 'Manners
When you are seated on the platform keep both feet flat on the floor. Look alert, interested, and not too relaxed. Do not cross the legs. Some who do this expose short socks or worn shoe soles. This informal attitude does not reveal the best platform manners. Don't whisper. There may be occasions for some brief question or a word of explanation, but it should be done quickly and as inconspicuously as possible, because whispering can be very disturbing to the one who is speaking from the desk, as well as distracting to the audience. If you are one of those seated on the platform, avoid distracting mannerisms, such as repeatedly clicking a pencil, which can be extremely annoying to the man in the pulpit addressing the congregation, besides disturbing the people in the first few rows of the church.
Take part in the congregational singing. Follow the text the minister reads. Don't just sit and read your Bible during the service. Look at the speaker. Look at the congregation. Keep alert. Whether you are the one giving the message or one who is seated on the platform, don't obviously look at your watch during the service. It may cause others to do the same thing and thereby take their minds off the message being delivered. It will start them thinking about how much time remains in the service and what they may do following the sermon. The speaker should be aware of the time he is taking and be certain that he can finish at the correct hour; but he should not call attention to the time.
In announcing songs we have been surprised to hear some say, "We will now sing page 163" when they actually mean hymn number 163. There is a difference! Occasionally the most experienced speaker may misuse or mispronounce a word. The list of such words is long. Here is an example we heard recently: "We'll send you a little momento." Of course he meant "memento." Such errors are as distracting to some people as a discordant note is to the ear of a musician.
By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected.
This is a responsibility from which we cannot free ourselves. Our words, our acts, our dress, our deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence. Upon the impression thus made there hang results for good or evil which no man can measure.—Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 339, 340.
If your personality, dress, speech, and habits offend people, you make it difficult for them to like and accept your message. Check up on yourself. Be the best man possible to deliver the greatest message and invitation in all the world.
The minister must remember that favorable or unfavorable impressions are made upon his hearers by his deportment in the pulpit, his attitude, his manner of speaking, his dress. He should cultivate courtesy and refinement of manner, and should carry himself with a quiet dignity becoming to his high calling.—Gospel Workers, p. 172.
What do people think of you on Sabbath when you are seated on the platform or standing behind the desk? Remember, "Great characters are formed by little acts and efforts," and men of the ministry who are constantly before the people are judged by the way they look, act, and talk. How about your platform appearance and manners?
