LeRoy E. Froom

Will you explain how so many extreme positions can apparently be sustained by quotations from the spirit of prophecy?

By their misuse. One can " prove almost anything with selected statemnents from the spirit of prophecy,…

The most irresistible thing in the world is a movement and a message whose time has come. Think of the message of Noah, and the desolating flood; the Mosaic proclamation, and the deliverance from Egypt; the voice of John the Baptist, and…

With deep satisfaction we greet the workers of the advent movement,  the world around, through the medium of The Ministry. It has long been the journalistic custom for a new periodical, in its initial issue, to present to its readers an "apology"…

The Tragedy of Stagnation

When a man ceases to grow, he be­gins to stagnate, his vision shrinks, his mental outlook shrivels, his ideas become sluggish, his initiative dwin­dles, and he eases down. Lack of re­sults…

It is not the number of sermons, but the number of souls, that counts.

It is possible to know a thousand things about Jesus, and never to know Him.

Let us look after the primaries of Christianity, and the secondaries will…

Essentials! — After all, the great essentials of salvation are those that can be grasped by toe limited capacity of a child, an untutored heathen, or a dying soul to whom the intricacies of our elaborate system of doctrinal and prophetic…

Righteousness by Faith

What is righteousness by faith? Is it synonymous with justification by faith? Also, does not the spirit of prophecy teach that righteousness is " right-doing " (" C. O. L.," p. 312)?

A…

Let us preach for a verdict.

Service is not the condition, but the consequence of salvation.

Motion is not necessarily progress. One can move in a circle, and not make progress.

Ignorance Is the mother of intoler­ance.…

Leadership!—Work, more work, then still more work is the price of strong leadership. A real leader must abandon himself to a life of unremitting toil. He must work harder than his fellows,— studying, assembling, fortifying, verifying, preparing…

A true revival cannot be worked up; it must be prayed down.

The difference between a spiritual ministry and a formal, intellectual one is not of degree, but of kind.

There is a sharp distinction between the pull of the Spirit…

The hour approaches when we are to go forth to " proclaim the Sabbath more fully." Unquestionably this in­cludes more extensively, but the pri­mary thought is morel completely, comprehensively, compellingly. Its full significance will be…

Perversion! The curious theory that this is a Christian age with other denominations proclaiming the gospel news of Christ as Saviour, so that the herald of the threefold message is but the proclaimer of corrective doctrinal truths, is a…

Is it proper to cite the requirements of the Mosaic law as the legal, manda­tory basis for the payment of tithe to-day, and for the rejection of unclean meats as well?

While the legal precepts comprising the law of Moses…

A Sermon is not an end, but simply a means to an end.

Beware of the substitution of reli­gious education for spiritual regenera­tion.

A passionless ministry will never re­vive a cold church nor win an indiffer­ent world.

The…

An ounce of experimental salvation is worth a ton of theory.

Sound doctrine will not compensate for unsound practice.

Complete subordination to Christ will bring perfect coordination within the church.

The reason why…

Salvation can never be earned. It is not the reward of any human merit. The reward which Christ will bring with Him for every man's works is to be sharply contrasted with salva­tion, which is a free gift, wholly of grace.

The appalling…

Elder A.G. Daniells is sailing April 21 for Australia via Honolulu. He will stop at this latter port for two weeks for special spiritual work with the churches, and then go directly to Fiji, New Zealand, and Aus­tralia for a year of intensive…

Christianity is not an experiment, but an experience.

Jesus never sought to gain a single follower by compromise.

To work for God is one thing; to have God work through us is quite another.

Philosophy presents man's…

Our business is not merely to warn men; it is to win men.

Let us preach an affirmative message in this age of destructionism.

Some folks have a religious experi­ence; others have a religious vocabu­lary.

Domination…

Is the command, " Thou shalt not kill," a proper and valid reason to ad­vance for our advocacy of a nonflesh diet? Is it wrong to take any animal life?                                                

A…

Pious talk will never take the place of a godly walk.

Private sin will nullify all public witnessing.

A true sermon does not represent a mental achievement, but a spiritual experience.

Beware of substituting the energy…

Cooperate! — The strength of unity is universally recognized. When once a plan of operation is adopted, we should all loyally labor for its success. If unwise, a fair trial will disclose that fact and adjustments can be made. Better a poor…

Grow or stagnate! There is no alter­native.

Have faith in our youth. They are as responsive today as any like group in the past. We were all young once.

If we exalt the points wherein we stand on common ground, the points…

Separate! — The church of which we are part and parcel is not one of the denominations. It is a unique movement, a divinely appointed message that knows no territorial, racial, nor creedal lines. It is here in response to the call of God…

The Right to Investigation

Is it proper for a worker in ordi­nary responsibility to search critically but reverently into the historic evi­dences for our prophetic positions to satisfy his own mind as to their…

"Things as they are " is the greatest enemy of " things as they ought to be."

Remember, one may keep the feet on the path, and never reach the goal.

Reformation without renewal is but a substitutionary expedient, a pseudo-movement.

Do…

Primaries! — Our mission is not simply to correct certain erroneous doctrinal views which in centuries past have been sincerely held by many thousands who will undoubtedly be saved out of the multitudes; nor is it to reform certain outward…

Will you explain how certain mark­edly spiritual leaders and writers, such as Moody and Murray, who never accepted this message though they knew of its existence, have done such wonderful service for God…

Exalt the Gift of Teaching

As a denomination we have been remiss in our encouragement of Bible teachers. Yet no form of service is more important to the welfare of this movement. To stand daily before eager, receptive minds, leading…

Vanishing! — The line of demarcation between the ministry and the laity is being rapidly and successfully obliterated by some. Dress, speech, and deportment are commonized. Not that we are to be stiff, reserved, or aloof, but that conversatism…

Welcome Home

After an extended absence from  headquarters of over eighteen months, Elder A. G. Daniells, general secretary of the Ministerial Associa­tion, has just been greeted by his coworkers…

Christian workers must learn how to differ amicably.

It is a basic truth that we will never go farther in spiritual experience until we first go deeper.

Our testimony rather than our argu­ment is needed. We are called to be…

Persecution! —When entreaty, warning, and appeals fail, and God's people are still unmoved, unyielded, unresponsive, then He permits persecution, which sifts, purifies, and arouses from lethargy. Let us not pray for persecution, but pray…

Have I a profound conviction that God has called me to this specific gospel  work in which I am now engaged?

Am I honest with my conscience, in all issues that arise recognizing my…

Beware of substituting quantity for quality, or motion for motive.

Many ministers are fast becoming business managers instead of soul win­ners.

A jocular minister is a contradiction of terms. Genial, pleasant, of course; but…

Adjuncts! — We must be broad enough to see that God uses corollary agencies to prepare the way for and to collaborate with this movement in the last gospel work. Bible societies spread the word, while other missionary organizations pioneer…

A provision of far-reaching import was launched at the recent spring meeting of the General Conference Committee, destined to have a profound bearing upon the future recruiting, training, and utilization of young men for the gospel ministry…

Forward! — Forward-looking men are wanted and needed,— men who see beyond the immediate circumstances to the larger issues and the final outcome; men of vision, of purpose, of integrity, of spiritual power. Wanted! a host of such.

Position!…

Truth does not need to be protected; it needs to be presented.

Nothing is more out of place, more disgusting and damaging, than levity in the pulpit.

When in doubt, better tarry for a Spirit-born conviction. Our God has promised…

1. Why were portions of the early "Spiritual Gifts" and "Spirit of Prophecy" volumes left out of the later "Patriarchs and Prophets" that corresponded to them?

2. …

Discerners!—The hour is electric with inter­national tension. Momentous messages flash to and fro among the nations. Movements of greatest magnitude in the international field are taking place before our eyes. Let us not in our public presentations…

Confession!—It is good for the soul, when we have been mistaken, to confess that our infor­mation was inaccurate or inadequate, and our conclusions too hastily reached and faulty. Such a course begets confidence in our funda­mental integrity.…

We constantly admonish our lay members to resist the spirit and practices of the world. We entreat them to turn steadfastly from those neutralizing and destructive influences that, if entertained, inevitably lead away from God. But there…

No; though closely related in operation, they should never be confused. Conscience is that moral faculty implanted by the Creator in every man,—that moral mentor witnessing to the im­mutable principle that right is right and wrong is wrong,…

Fairness!—Let us extend to all other reli­gious groups the same fairness in statement of their beliefs that we rightly desire for our­selves. Citations used should be representative and authoritative, and should be so quoted as to represent…

Wit!—Who can picture the Man of sorrows as a wit in the desk, resorting in His discourses to the tricks of the secular orator, punctuating His remarks with puns, and swaying His audi­ence alternately to laughter and to tears?

Brevity!—When…

Are the several divisions of the great image of Daniel 2 primarily anatomical or metallic? In other words, should we stress the "ten toes," or merely the divided, non-adhering aspect of the "feet" (including the unnumbered toes), in the…

A—An Introductory Survey.

Into the golden age of Roman litera­ture, with such lustrous names as Horace, Virgil, Ovid, Livy, and other brilliant Latin writers, the New Tes­tament Scriptures were born. But while the books of Rome…

The "Swan" of Leviticus I I

Is the "swan" of Leviticus 11:18 (and Deu­teronomy 14:16), identical with the swan of today? Is our present swan of the same "kind" or family as the duck? And is the flesh of this family of…

Simplicity!—The gospel worker should be an indefatigable student. He should think deeper, farther, and more fully than his audi­tors are prepared or asked to follow. He should always be on the alert to add to his store of knowledge. His background…

Expediency!—That expediency that will twist a fact or shade a truth into a misleading dis­tortion to win a point or gain a questionable advantage, is not one whit behind, nor different from, the notorious principle that the end justifies…

Truth! —Fools, we are told, rush blithely in where wise men fear to tread. And 'tis all too true. The man with a smattering of knowledge will often make broad, sweeping statements that masters in the field would never deign to make, because…

The 1935 Autumn Council is now history.  It will unquestionably go down in denomi­national annals as an epochal meeting, a turn­ing point in certain lines. It will constitute a date line to which many will later refer. It was memorable for…

Accountability!—The minister's accountabil­ity for his words, acts, and counsel, his exam­ple and his influence, is inescapable and should never be forgotten. To us much has been given; of us much is expected. We dare not…

Humble!—Few can stand success. The praise of men, the laudation of the crowds, so often turns the head and lifts up the heart. It is misunderstanding, criticism, difficulty, abuse, persecution, failure, that usually draws—or drives—us to…

Unity's Secret

Real and abiding unity springs ever and only from intelligent consent and honest conviction. It never comes through pressure, or repression of conviction. Unity is the col­lective result of minds convinced by conclusive…

Principle!—Principle is foun­dational to all real character and achievement. Principle cannot "trim," and will not capitu­late. It will suffer misunderstanding, ostra­cism, persecution, and even death, rather than yield in base compromise.…

Unethical!—It is humiliating when a public representative of this message employs cheap, sensational evangelistic meth­ods unworthy the exalted character and com­manding simplicity of God's truth for this remnant hour. To capitalize on some…

Jealously!—Professional jeal­ousy is a ruinous, selfish, unchristian thing. It thwarts that divinely ordained unity which mutual confidence and support alone makes possible. And it hampers that rightfully ex­pected progress that is conditioned…

Beginning with this issue, The Ministry, entering its eleventh year of service to our workers, makes its bow as a forty-eight-page magazine with a new and more attractive format—larger and destined to be increasingly…

The Ministry's Solemn Pledge

The constant stream of tributes to the helpfulness of the Ministry coming from every division of the world field, together  with expressions of approval for the editorial  policy…

Collective!—The theory that the church could make no mistake, and is obligated to defend or explain every state­ment made by a past or present leader, is unsound. We are not called to defend every position advocated by individual…

The Power of Unity

Steady!—We must keep our heads and guard our words in times of hys­teria, with a carefulness proportionate to the seriousness of the situation. We must never forget our divinely appointed place and respon­sibility in the midst of…

In the high task of editing for the advent movement, it is essential for us, as literary craftsmen, to get back of specific rules and applications to the underlying principles that govern in the formulation of all effective…

Reflection!—That "like at­tracts like" is a profound truth compactly ex­pressed. Light, frothy, superficial preaching or writing attracts light, frothy, superficial people. On the other hand, serious, sound, substantial preaching and writing…

True friends are rare finds—friends that see our faults, yet despite them all, continue to love, trust, and aid us; friends tried and true, sound and sane, that stick through thick and thin, closer than a brother. There are so many fair-weather…

Imperative!—In these days of conspicuous ad ance not only in wholesome human knowledge but in subtle deception, with a thousand sophistries and refinements of er­ror pressing in on every hand, with multiplied schools of thought and religious…

This journal desires to go on editorial record against the use of quotations merely because they are happily phrased, or happen to fit into the need of the speaker's theme. It should never be forgotten that there are all kinds of quotations…

Unity!—True heart unity among all groups of workers and all phases of work is devoutly to be desired and dili­gently to be fostered. We are, in the plan, purpose, and provision of God, one body, with one objective and but one reason for our…

The Place of Scholarship

Failure on the part of some to distinguish between sound, reverent, loyal, Christian scholarship and subversive religious liberalism is responsible for charges of Mod­ernism which are sometimes hurled against…

Prepare!—As Seventh-day Ad­ventists move into the spotlight of world scru­tiny, their fundamental positions will become the object of increasingly pitiless investigation. Our positions—not simply Biblical, but par­ticularly those involving…

5. Establishes, Unifies, and Enlarges Concepts

Rightful emphasis upon the world char­acter, or international aspect, of the nine­teenth-century advent awakening—the first angel's message sweeping simultaneously throughout Britain,…

4. Reveals Christendom's Apostasies as Direct Result of Tampered Advent Hope

The advent source findings reveal the fundamentally significant fact that the major apostasies of the Christian…

Leadership!—We are a small people numerically, and we stand for unpopu­lar truth. We are despised by the world and rejected with scorn by the mighty. But that does not mean that we should be inferior to the world in talent or achievement.…

Preaching!—All truly great preaching—on the human side—springs from truly great concepts, and these in turn are based upon broad foundations of study, obser­vations, thinking, and discussion. Gripping sermons are not prepared in a few hours,…

Boon!—Inexpressible gr at i­tude should fill our souls for the sure guid­ance vouchsafed us through the Spirit of prophecy writings. We are not left to grope in bewilderment and confusion as do others, struggling to choose between what is…

Enlargement!—What plans are we really laying to arrest the attention of the world's multitudes, to grip their interest, to "compel" the honest in heart to "come

to God's last-day feast and fold? Are we actually attempting…

Hunger!—One very real reason why some of our members seek the association and proffered instruction of persons holding extreme positions is because such pro­fess to offer what meets the longing needs of the soul, frequently clothing their…

Questions!—Do we as a min­istry live and labor as though we were actually on the verge of the close of our work for the world, and the finale of all human history? With intensity from beneath taking hold of the world about, has an equivalent…

Solicitude!—The worth of the individual human soul should be constantly before us in terms of the lifeblood of the Son of God. He would have died for one single soul. Such is God's evaluation of man, and such should be the concept of every…

Fulfillments!—God's word is inerrant, and cannot be broken. Divine prophecy is, therefore, immutable and will be fulfilled. The major portions of each outline prophecy having already been fulfilled, only the remnant events of each of the…

Power!—Our source of preaching power lies in the Word, not in human eloquence, cleverness, logic, wit, or persuasion. The effectiveness of a sermon lies not in its arrangement, progression, and climax, but in its dependence upon and ex­altation…

Considerate!—Be kind to the veterans who bore the heat of the day, who toiled long without conveniences for a meager pittance. They pioneered the way for you and me that we might have comfortable cars and other conveniences and allowances.…

Most of us as workers are,  by the very nature and circumstance of our work­aday tasks, so situated that it is difficult to view world developments as a whole. Not often are we placed where we can catch the full panorama in perspective. We…

Emergency!—Amid the breakdown of the forces of law and order, with the resultant confusion and pressing emergency, we must finish our appointed work. The things we have long predicted from the Word are now surrounding us on every hand; yet…

Rescue!—The world is aflame. Tongues of fire spurt forth from every part of the old earth's structure. Souls are perish­ing in the conflagration. The supreme need of the hour is rescue. Formalities are out of place under such conditions.…

Aflame!—How can we be so calm and dispassionate in proclaiming the mighty life-and-death message committed to our hands? Has its vast, overtowering im­port really gripped us? How can we be so stolid in the face of a bewildered, discouraged…

Invincible!—Nothing in all the wide world is so powerful, yes, so ir­resistible, as a divine truth whose time has come. This has ever been so, as prophetic history attests. Thus it was with the apostolic faith at the dawn of the Christian…

The task confronting the heralds of the third angel's message is fundamentally different from that which faced our spir­itual forefathers in the proclamation of the first angel's message—or even in the beginning decades…

"If Ellen White was inspired, why have you suppressed many of her teachings? In "A Word to the Little Flock," 1847, page 16, she wrote that she saw Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Daniel, and many like them…

Restraint!—"Think things through," and, "Sleep over it," are two ex­cellent bits of advice that, if followed, would forestall much difficulty and grief. Many of us are too quick-tempered, too hasty with our oral and written responses. If…

Our new church hymnal was a real achieve­ment, admirably supplying our church service needs. The next great crying musical need in our ranks is for an inexpensive evan­gelistic songbook, with a Bristol-board cover, for use in the expanding…

Sophistication!—If we be­come wise in our own wisdom and self-de­pendent upon our own attainments, if we drift from the simplicities of the faith and the fer­vor of our divinely given distinctive message into the reservations, sophistications,…

Souls!—All souls are alike precious to God. The one who has missed the way and fallen into serious sin is just as much the object of His solicitude as is he who has never strayed. And such should likewise be the subject of our prayers, our…

Howsoever desirable and advantageous they may ap­pear at first thought, doctrinal councils have, nevertheless, often but widened existing dif­ferences and intensified already established feelings. To have a doctrinal council of any practical…

Challenge!—The advent movement awaits the call of men of vision, faith, and daring to arise and finish their task. Will we give that leadership? Will we re­spond to the challenge ? We cannot fail if we keep in step with the inspired counsels…

Conviction!—Lack of a burning, irrepressible conviction lies back of the mediocre results that are too often seen in the service of some. How can an evangelist cause others to believe and accept his message if he himself does not profoundly…

Sucessors to the the personnel of Standard-Bearers the worker body of this movement has profoundly changed since our early days. None who passed through the crisis of 1844, and the formative decade of the third angel's message that followed,…

Conviction!—No man can preach convincingly without deep, strong, abiding conviction. He must have certainty in his own soul; else he cannot produce it in others. He must himself believe, before he can lead others to believe. When a preacher…

In presenting a report on the progress of the Advent Source Research Project to this important group of Adventist educators, I shall concentrate upon six major points by way of statement, clarification, and explanation.…

Homeland!—Descending from some lofty mountain range, one occasionally gets a never-to-be-forgotten view of the sur­rounding plains, stretching out beauteously clear to the horizon line, as far as the eye can see in every direction. Fields…

Atitudes!—Just a confiden­tial word to preachers: When a fellow min­ister is speaking, are you seeking a personal blessing from the sermon, or are you dissecting, analyzing, and passing judgment on its content, organization,…

Neglect!—Caution can easily become weakness, carefulness degenerate into timidity, and conservatism drift into recreancy toward duty—if we allow delicate situations to keep us from declaring the divine portent of the times. The long forecast…

His advent movement is infinitely more than a new sect or denomination up-springing in the nineteenth century. It is a new Reformation, as verily as was that of the sixteenth century. It is a recovery and restoration…

Faithfulness!---We as ministers are under bond before God to declare His present truth to mankind. In these last days, this includes a faithful declaration of the times and their meaning. The world is asking insistently for an understanding…

There are two distinct viewpoints that obtain among us as regards methods and procedures in public evangelism. One is that of the active evangelist himself. The other is that of the theorist, whether he be in college classroom, pastoral study,…

Steady!—When the pressure of work is incessant, when men become weary and worn, but must still drive on with their tasks, tempers often become strained, and nerves sometimes snap. Feelings rise, and words that are inconsiderate sometimes…

Global!—The global char­acter of this world war, affecting every conti­nent and involving every portion of Oceania, is of universal concern. It has caused something to happen to mankind. It has created a new interest in, and understanding…

Zest!—Zest for work is the secret of all true joy and service—that, and love for souls. When one possesses this, life becomes a vast opportunity, menial tasks be­come interesting, and dull routine becomes a stimulating challenge to achievement.…

Touchstone!—Ours is the full, everlasting gospel, with particular em­phasis upon the stipulations of God's great last-day reform message. He who so con­ducts his services and preaches his sermons that they are indistinguishable from those…

Tardy!—It has taken a war to wake up Seventh-day Adventists concern­ing basic food principles vouchsafed to us decades ago, but which we have only partially acknowledged and followed as a people. Less refined sugar, demineralized grains,…

Duty!—A bounden responsi­bility rests upon every American conference and every worker in the home base, as concerns the spiritual welfare of our youth selected by the draft. That responsibility reaches first back to the home church, where…

Press!—Despite the marvelous potentialities of the radio, the newspaper still affords an unparalleled avenue for publicity that all our evangelists and pastors should capi­talize to the full. Besides sermon write-ups, think…

The present wholesome emphasis on evangelism and the greater availability of funds for its prosecution have frequently resulted in a tug of war between conferences. It has taken the form of attempting to secure, on the…

Central!—Is the word of God made central in our preaching? Does it stand out as God's imperative message to man? Is it unceasingly set forth as His supreme counsel for all our thinking and planning and as the in­dispensable light for guidance…

Inspiration!—A sound con­cept of the nature, scope, and operation of in­spiration is imperative to a true understanding of the Spirit of prophecy. The trouble with nearly all who have repudiated this gift, as mani­fested in the remnant church,…

In the earlier days of this cause, when the framework of a world movement was being wrought out with comparatively meager tools and limited man power, there was a re­freshing vigor about those spiritual forefathers of…

In the pioneer days of this movement m e n were refreshingly can­did and courageous. They were forthright, and dealt with each other frankly and fear­lessly. They did not fear to discuss differ­ences and reach definite conclusions. They were…