"MUMMY" HUNTER
There is a form of archeology that the world can do without. It is that which deals with problems long dormant, largely forgotten, now exhumed by the succeeding pastor for solution, immediate and final.
Nor is this brother content with lay ills. Lacking congregational material, he probes, with obvious zest, the record of the former minister. With a zeal that would do credit to Sherlock Holmes he turns over every rock and examines every rumor. Is his a labor of love? Like the misguided apostle Paul of his preconversion days, he would wreak havoc on the church. This man breathes an atmosphere of suspicion and discord of his own breeding.
There is a positive ministry above and beyond the "witch hunt." There are sermons to preach, the sick to visit, goals to raise, souls to seek, churches to repair and build, a community to serve, youth to encourage, besides board meetings, business meetings, weddings and funerals to conduct, and a family to shepherd. If the above is well done, there will be little time for "mummy" hunting and "skeleton rattling." This is no plea for the "whitewash" or "cover-up." Conversely, what merit attends the excavation of ruins long buried by time and circumstance? Interested in archeology, sir? Then why not seek a more legitimate area of exercise?
E. E. C.
HOW SPENDEST THOU?
A minister in one of our large cities invited ten of his prominent church leaders to his study one Sunday afternoon. Here they were—a contractor, a real estate man, an insurance agent, a lawyer, two doctors, a hospital administrator, a chef, a salesman, and a railroad man. These men had been accustomed to give certain amounts of money each week for the support of church running expenses. The pastor reviewed the financial status of the church and asked them to set an example by doubling their regular church expense contributions. The men looked at one another somewhat blankly for a moment, smiled, and then quietly but affectionately told the minister they thought they were doing the best they could, and could do no more. "Very well," said the pastor, "then I ask you to do one thing for me. For one week will each of you please make a list of the things you yourselves consider to be luxuries, extra items of one kind or another that you could very easily do without, and how much you spent for them? Will you then meet with me again next Sunday afternoon at this same time, bringing your list. It may surprise all of us."
They all returned one week later. Here is one man's list! Extra gadget for car (unnecessary) $4.85; soft drinks and ice cream for self and family (would have been better without them) $3.50; two special meals at de luxe restaurants (heavy and unhealthy food. Paid $4.00 more than I should have paid for the same food in a more reasonable place); shoe-shines (could have done them myself) $1.00; entertainments $4.60; candy and extra desserts $2.15. And so it went. The total amount was $28.80. At the bottom of the list he wrote: "I'm surprised at this. I had not stopped to think how wasteful many of my expenditures are. Pastor, I will double my pledge—come to think of it, I'll triple it. I will be better off in every way."
He was not alone in that resolve. I wonder what the outcome would be if we ministers would follow a similar experiment!
A. C. F.
CATCH FIRE
To bring souls to Christ, to lead them into a preparation for the kingdom of God—this should be the lifework of every believer. Nothing can mean so much to the Church than for the individual members to become personal evangelists. Strange that so many, even church officers, seem to feel no urge to carry the gospel to others, content with the status quo.
It is a sobering fact that the church is largely a reflection of the pastor. Where you find a church on fire with evangelism there you will discover an evangelist pastor. He has infused this spirit into his members. Evangelism is caught rather than taught. To merely teach methods of soul winning is not sufficient. Members must be led into the field of service. We should take them with us when we go to visit. Show them how to lead souls to Christ. Then the fire of evangelism burning in our own hearts will set them ablaze. A church on fire warms the whole countryside.
John the Baptist told the people He who was coming would baptize them "with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." That was fulfilled at Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit fell upon 120 praying men and women. We read, "Cloven tongues like as of fire, ... sat upon each of them." This was an experience not for just a few of the outstanding preachers of the group but for all gathered in that upper room. They were all baptized with power. As they moved out into other areas, that same spirit of power went with them.
Succeeding centuries witnessed a tragic loss of that power. The evangelistic zeal died down and the Dark Ages came on. On occasions when it has blazed up, and wherever it has, the church has moved forward with new life. There is to be a resurgence of that power in these last days, but for this we must pray and plan and prepare. God help us as ministers to inspire our congregations to become mighty congregational forces to spread the good news.
R. A. A.
