The Neglected Ministry
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5: 18)
The two tables of the law reflect the twofold aspects of the character of Christ as it relates to the duty of man. The first four commandments of the law define the way in which man expresses his love to God. The last six commandments provide a channel of expression of man's love for his fellow men. The purpose of the gospel ministry is to reconcile man with his Maker and man with his fellow men. It is the second ministry that we call the "neglected ministry." Twentieth-century society has had an erosive effect on human sensitivity. This is essentially an age of speed, and whenever human beings get in a hurry there is always the danger that they will trample underfoot some vital human value. Man is busily enthralled with the madness of making machines into men while the machines in turn make men into machines. This accounts for much of the unfeeling manifestations of hardened human attitudes. How else could a young woman die under the bludgeoning blows of an assailant within full view of hundreds of people who would not even call the police, let alone come personally to her help? Or picture twentieth-century man reading his newspaper and glancing at the statistic that cites 169 Marines wounded in last week's fighting, 39 dead, with almost a "ho-hum" attitude. Behind these cold statistics is the deep emotion of personal loss in someone's home, for every man who dies is some mother's son or some sister's brother or some wife's husband or some child's father. But who really cares if it is not his own blood relative? The fact is, our minds have been conditioned en masse to disaster, and there is an almost universal immunity to shock. This is a natural consequence of living with the atom. In times like these there is absolute necessity for a ministry of reconciliation. Somewhere in God's world there must be a voice that will call attention to those necessary sensitivities that govern person-to-person relationships. It is not by accident now that on an elevator, in the presence of women, a man no longer removes his hat. Our carelessness in these matters has reached extreme proportions and reflects itself in increased divorces, international wrangling, and unchristian racial attitudes.
Where are the men to be found who will speak out in times like these for brotherly love? For a restoration of the Biblical sense of the sanctity of marriage, and for the necessity of man loving his fellow man without regard to race, color, or national origin? It is because such men are so few that the problem telescopes the solution. In this age of opportunity, silence is sin. It may not be safe to say what the Bible says these days, but it is certainly sensible. Love for God and for our fellow man is fundamental Christianity. Upon these two hang all the law and the prophets. If you cannot preach this, you cannot preach.
E. E. C.
WHEW!
HORACE GREELEY once received a letter from a woman saying that her church was in a distressing financial state. They had tried every device they could think of—fairs, strawberry festivals, oyster suppers, donkey parties, banquets, womanless weddings, poverty sociables, grab bags, box sociables, and necktie sociables. The writer of the letter wanted to know if Mr. Greeley had some suggestion that could keep the struggling church from disbanding. Mr. Greeley replied: "Why not try religion?"
Various methods of church financing have produced large numbers of apostates. Not everyone earns the same and therefore not everyone can contribute equal amounts. There are also the aged and the little children, not to mention the unemployed. We can therefore thank God for the Biblical system of church support, namely tithing and the free-will offerings system.
In recent years a new aspect of this old Biblical financial principle has made its appearance. Perhaps to call it a new facet is slightly inaccurate, for its principles are rooted in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy historically—that is, the stewardship program of the church. This leaves intact the tithing principle but centers the inspiration for free-will offerings in the Christian experience of the giver. This is a form of systematic benevolence, a term not new to Adventist ears. Ministers using this additional emphasis have found many of their church financial problems solved. And this relief has contributed to greater spiritual enjoyment on the part of the practitioner. Advocates of this emphasis are not wrong in suggesting it as a partial key to the revival of the church. When approached from the point of view of one's love for Christ and the church, giving does become a joyful experience, and what if one is giving far above his financial ability, the stewardship principle imbibed in the heart reduces the pain. I ought to know, for one day the stewardship brethren knocked on my door. Since then I have climbed a steep hill but I am not out of breath. I'll make it somehow. WHEW!
E. E. C.
