',ill,: it 6g; EL:iisiGELLSAI
VOLUME XXX SEPTEMBER, 1957 R 9
H. M. S. RICHARDS The Voice of Prophecy radio preacher in his study. Seven Secrets of Success
1. Union of Divine Power With Human Effort side, and in small gatherings in private "The secret of success is the union of divine houses, is often more successful in winning power with human effort. Those who achieve souls to Jesus than are sermons delivered in the greatest results are those who rely most the open air, to the moving throng, or even implicitly upon the Almighty Arm."—Patri- in halls or churches."—Gospel Workers, p. archs and Prophets, p. 509. 193. "Our success does not depend on our talents 5. A Heart Communion With the Word of God or learning, but on our living connection "It is a minister's familiarity with God's with God."—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 158. word and his submission to the divine will, 2. Work Accomplished With Much Prayer that give success to his efforts."—Ibid., p. 252. "Only the work accomplished with much "The minister who makes the word of God prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, his constant companion will continually will in the end prove to have been efficient bring forth truth of new beauty. The Spirit for good."—The Desire of Ages, p. 362. of Christ will come upon him, and God "Workers can never attain the highest suc- will work through him to help others. The cess until they learn the secret a strength. Holy Spirit will fill his mind and heart with They must give themselves time to think, hope and courage and Bible imagery, and to pray, to wait upon God for a renewal of all this will be communicated to those under physical, mental, and spiritual power."—Edu- his instruction."—Ibid., p. 253. cation, pp. 260, 261. 6. Mastering Difficulties by Faith "God's messengers must tarry long with Him, "Some God trains by bringing to them dis- if they would have success in their work." appointment and apparent failure. It is His —Gospel Workers, p. 255. purpose that they shall learn to master dif- 3. Use of Christ's Methods ficulties. He inspires them with a determina- "Christ's method alone will give true success tion to prove every apparent failure a suc- in reaching the people."—The Ministry of cess. Often men pray and weep because of Healing, p. 143. the perplexities and obstacles that confront "There is no other way of reaching them but them. But if they will hold the beginning of in Christ's way."—Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 73. their confidence steadfast unto the end, God "Not in the art of display, but in lifting up will make their way clear. Success will come Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer, will you as they struggle against apparently insur- find success in winning souls."—Ibid., vol. 9, mountable difficulties and with success will p. 142. come the greatest joy."—Ibid., p. 269. 4. Ability to Find Your Way Into Human 7. Living the Christ Life Hearts "Let it be written upon the conscience as "To all who are working with Christ I would with a pen of iron upon the rock, that real say, Wherever you can gain access to the success, whether for this life or for the life people by the fireside, improve your oppor- to come, can be secured only by faithful tunity. Take your Bible, and open before adherence to the eternal principles of right." them its great truths. Your success will not —Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 164. depend so much upon your knowledge and "The impartation of the Spirit is the impar- accomplishments, as upon your ability to tation of the life of Christ. Those only who find your way to the heart. By being social are thus taught of God, those only who and coming close to the people, you may possess the inward working of the Spirit, and turn the current of their thoughts more read- in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, ily than by the most able discourse. The pres- can stand as true representatives of the entation of Christ in the family, by the fire- Saviour."—Gospel Workers, p. 285.
2 THE MINISTRY Th 11.
Official Journal of the Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventists
VOLUME XXX SEPTEMBER, 1957 No. 9 Editor IN THIS ISSUE ROY ALLAN ANDERSON (Special Theme: Preaching)
Managing Editor ARTICLES J. ARTHUR BUCKWALTER What Is Preaching? H. M. S. Richards 5 The Context in Which We Preach Daniel T. Niles 8 New Reformation Preaching Henry L. Rudy 12 Associate Editor Evangelism in This Atomic Age ______Walter Schubert 17 LOUISE C. KLEUSER Motivation for Service G. M. Mathews 23 Fellowship With Ministers of Other Faiths Dieter P. Hain 27 Assistant Editors E. EARL CLEVELAND EDITORIALS WALTER SCHUBERT The H. M. S. Richards Lectureship 4 "That Hearts May Find God" 21 "Very Cheap Fodder" 39 Consulting Editors Adventism's World Vision 48 REUBEN R. FIGUHR, WALTER R. BEACH A. V. OLSON, W. B. OcHs, E. D. DICK PICTORIAL FEATURE Pictures From Old German Bible 24 Art Editor T. K. MARTIN HEALTH Nutrition Today Alice Garrett Marsh 31 Circulation Manager A Plan for Teaching Patients R. Maureen Maxwell 32 WALTER SCHUBERT Recent Information on Trichinosis Joyce Wilson 33 E. E. CLEVELAND, assistant REGULAR FEATURES Health Evangelism 31 Overseas Contributors Bible Instructor ______ 35 Counsels on Preaching 37 GEORGE BURNSIDE Australasia Shepherdess 41 A. BUERGER Central Europe News 43 J. R. SPANGLER Far East H. J. WESTPHAL Inter-America POETRY G. J. APPEL Middle East G. D. KING Northern Europe The Chapel S. Donald Cox 9 God, Thou Art Love Robert Browning 30 W. E. MURRAY South America The Way of God A. J. William Myers 36 S. G. MAXWELL Southern Africa The Preacher's Wife Gospel Herald 41 J. F. ASHLOCK Southern Asia Rainbow Goldie Capers Smith 41 A. MEYER Gardens of Kindness Adlai A. Esteb 41 Southern Europe G. CUPERTINO
Our Cover Printed and published monthly for the Min- isterial Association of Seventh-day Adventists We are happy to present to the readers of THE MINISTRY by the Review and Herald Publishing Associa- this beautiful cover photo of our beloved radio pastor, H. M. S. tion, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., $3.50 a year; 35 cents a copy. Add 25 cents for yearly Richards, in his study. We are sure that all Christian peoples subscriptions to countries requiring extra post- everywhere will continue to pray for this worldwide Voice age. Entered as second-class matter December of Prophecy radio program which has already accomplished 19, 1927, at the post office at Washington, D.C., under the Act of Congress of March so much good for the honor of God and the advancement of 3, 1879. His kingdom. SEPTEMBER, 1957 3 The H. M. S. Richards Lectureship on Preaching
REACHING under the impact of the the consequence is that the gospel becomes PHoly Spirit is the greatest power known an apology instead of an apostolate. To among men. Nothing is so important to deal with the vital questions of life one the church as kindled, consecrated per- must know not only the answers but the sonalities; men with spiritual perception, Answerer Himself. who not only understand the times but Eloquence, charm, homiletic artistry, understand people, and who can enter into while all good in themselves, can never their problems, share their joys, their griefs, atone for the lack or loss of that vital in- their victories; but most of all, men who ward experience we call spiritual reality. know God and, having caught a new di- All great preachers have been possessed by mension of His love, can interpret Him that reality. Bushnell one night leaped out to their own generation. To enable tearful of bed, caught up in a great joy, crying, eyes to read majestic meanings in disap- "I have found it. I have found the gospel!" pointments, and at the same time to arrest He had passed beyond partial glimpses and the long thoughts of youth and turn them doubts and had come into the clear sense from the glittering camouflage of life to of a divine nearness. He had changed from the reality of truth, beauty, and character mere belief to active faith, from the ac- —this is the task of a preacher. ceptance of just a proposition to a fellow- Preaching was never easy, and woe to the ship with the Father and the Friend of man who tries to make it so. Of our Lord sinners. it was said, "His word was with power." An understanding of the importance of The authoritative note in our Lord's preach- the preacher and his preaching led the ing did not come from books of sermons Columbia Union executive committee and written by other men but from years of the Washington Missionary College De- thoughtful meditation, and hours, even partment of Religion to inaugurate some- whole nights, of prayer before He uttered thing new in Adventism—a lectureship on His messages. Authority comes from con- preaching. This was held from May 12 to viction. The preacher himself must be fully 16. It was to be a study of expository persuaded if he would persuade men. rather than evangelistic preaching. H. M. S. Only one who knows can make other men Richards, an alumnus of the college class know. of 1919, was chosen to deliver this first "What shall I preach?" asked John Wes- of an annual series of lectures to be known ley. Bohler's reply is arresting. "Preach as the H. M. S. Richards Lectureship or faith until you have faith and then be- Preaching. This gathering of ministers cause you have it, you will preach faith." from the field and students from the Wash- At first glance this answer appears as an ington Missionary College and the Semi- exhortation to hypocrisy. It is not. On the nary promises to be one of the most effec- contrary it reveals a deep insight into the tual means of lifting the standards of Ad- human heart, something which Wesley him- ventist preaching in this area. What was self discovered just one month later. When presented during those nine seventy-five- his heart caught on fire, his word was with minute lectures will appear in published power. And what miracles of grace accom- form and will be available to our preachers panied his message! the world around. No man is better known Before that night in Aldersgate, London, to our Adventist workers than our beloved "Wesley had no intellectual difficulty in Brother Richards. A man of great convic- respect to the faith he was preaching; none tions and deep spiritual insight, he has at all apparently." But he could not preach given more than forty years to the preach- with power until his theology became an ing of the gospel of Christ in the setting inward personal experience. of the Advent message. Some declare that no single voice in our generation has been Fellowship With the Father heard by as many people during the past Present-day preaching faces this di- three decades as the well-known voice of lemma, that the pulpit is too often vexed the Voice of Prophecy program. And yet by misgivings and lack of certainty, and with all the demands of radio and evange-
4 THE MINISTRY listic sermons this preacher takes time to "I regret that I cannot turn the clock live with great books, needy people, and back twenty years," said Brother Richards best of all, with God. as he came to the close of his lectures. TVe are happy to feature his lectureship "But that being impossible, I pray that in this issue of THE MINISTRY. We wish what I have endeavored to say will inspire every preacher in the denomination could you young men to do exploits for God." have shared in the excellent material given Others of us can express the same re- during those intensive days. But it will be gret. We live in the greatest hour of history. made available to you within the next few And the greatest preachers in the Advent months. Watch for further announcements. cause have yet to be heard. No generation The probable title of the book will be ever faced such high responsibility or so Feed My Sheep. wonderful an opportunity.
What Is Preaching?
H. M. S. RICHARDS Voice of Prophecy Radio Preacher
We can see from Jesus' example that HATEVER the true defi- true preaching is an impartation from Wnition of preaching, it is man to men. As Phillips Brooks put it, "It certainly important business. is the communication of truth from man Do we not read in the first to men." Therefore, the two essential ele- chapter of the shortest Gospel ments of preaching are truth and person- that immediately after His ality. God might have written His mes- baptism and His victory over sage in letters of fire in the sky, but that the temptation in the wilder- would not have been preaching. A man ness "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the must come and speak the words of God gospel of the kingdom of God" (Mark 1: to other men. 14)? Our Saviour's first public appearance was as a preacher. He "came . . . preaching." God's Truth and Human Personality If Jesus began His public work in this world as a preacher, then preaching must There may be speakers who interest peo- be supremely important. ple, who dazzle them with oratorical fire- The word for "preaching" in this passage works, who philosophize and propound in- means "to proclaim," or "to herald," "to tricate speculations; but this is not preach- cry aloud." And the very heart of Christ's ing, because it is not truth. True preach- message was: "The time is fulfilled, and ing must have a true man behind it. True the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, preaching always involved both a person- and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). ality and truth; and there is a third ele- This preaching of Jesus was definite, ment—it must be scriptural truth. So Jesus scriptural, prophetic. It was not based upon preached. He was a true man, the Son of some finespun theory or philosophical argu- man; He preached truth, God's truth; and ment. It was based upon fact—the fact of it was from Scripture. He began His His presence, the fact that the prophecy preaching by quoting Old Testament scrip- made long before was now being fulfilled, tures. the fact that it was time for great things If there is a lessening of interest in our to take place. His preaching was an ap- preaching today, it would be well for us peal for action. "Repent," He demanded first of all to look at our personality. Who —"repent, for the kingdom of God is at are we? Do we live and believe the truth hand." His preaching, therefore, was defi- we preach? Is it in our hearts? Are we nite and personal. the embodiment of the message we carry? Second, we should ask ourselves what is *First in the series of nine lectures by the Voice of Proph- our attitude toward the truth itself? Have ecy speaker, delivered in the H. M. S. Richards Lectureship on Preaching, Washington Missionary College, May 12, 1957. we watered it down or covered it with SEPTEMBER, 1957 5 verbiage, or made it hard to understand, be God's man. He may have recognition or perhaps even adulterated it with our by the highest schools of earth, ordination own ideas and human philosophies? Re- at the hands of the church; but unless he member this—true preaching will never has been born again with the witness of die. It will never be superseded as long as the Spirit in his heart, he can never be a true men, guided by the Holy Spirit, preach true preacher or bring a message that will a true message. Such preachers will al- reach men's hearts with the power of God. ways have someone to listen to them. When God's man comes with God's mes- Our Preaching Commission sage in God's time, there will always be Christ's preaching commission to us is hearts ready to burn within them when he "unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:19, opens to them the Scriptures (see Luke 20). And it is to "every creature" (Mark 24:32). 16:15). Jesus not only commissioned His Truth and personality cannot be sepa- disciples to preach but He outlined their rated. God's messages are always proclaimed work to the end of the world and gave by a person, are actually incarnate in a them their message as well. "The disciples person. We as Adventists speak often of were to teach what Christ had taught. "the message." Do we believe the mes- That which He had spoken, not only in sage? Have we heard the message? If so, person, but through all the prophets and we must go out and preach the message. teachers of the Old Testament, is here in- In New Testament times it was always a cluded. Human teaching is shut out. There message and a man. "This . . . is the mes- is no place for tradition, for man's theo- sage which we have heard of him, and de- ries and conclusions, or for church legis- clare unto you," says the apostle John (1 lation. No laws ordained by ecclesiastical John 1:5). authority are included in the commission. The Preacher, Christ's Witness None of these are Christ's servants to teach. . . . The gospel is to be presented, Every true preacher is a witness, a wit- not as a lifeless theory, but as a living ness to Christ. Jesus said: "Ye shall receive force to change the life."—The Desire of power, after that the Holy Ghost is come Ages, p. 826. upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Preaching is a solemn, high, holy, and me" (Acts 1:8). He did not say, "Ye shall important mission. A preacher's business is be My lawyers," but "My witnesses." A not merely to present truth, but, by the witness tells what he knows, describes what presentation of that truth, to change life. he has seen. As a young man I was once If you as a preacher were to speak to called as a witness before a court. Before two hundred people for half an hour once I knew it, I was telling the court what I a week, you would utilize in each sermon thought. The judge instantly reminded me a total of one hundred hours of their time. that I was called there to tell what I had This is equivalent to twelve eight-hour seen, not what I thought. days for one person. Is there enough valu- Preaching is not primarily arguing or able material in your sermon? Is it of commenting or philosophizing about sufficient importance to warrant your going truth. Nor is it an artistic weaving of to any one man or woman in the congrega- speech into a beautiful tapestry of sound. tion and saying, "I would like to have two Preaching is bearing witness, telling some- whole weeks of your time to bring to you thing that we know to other people who certain truths and blessings that I have either want to know or who ought to here in my heart"? Think of the quantity know, or both. That is why preaching is of human life expended on just one ser- bound up with personality. There never mon, for life is time. As Benjamin Frank- can be preaching without a person, without lin said: "Dost thou love life? Then do a preacher. There can be no witness with- not squander time, for that is the stuff out the witnesses. life is made of." Just think of the amount To be true preachers we must be the of life—the number of heartbeats, the op- sons of God and must speak the family portunities for grace, the moments of de- language. Remember, we are not primarily cision, the building blocks of destiny—you lecturers, but preachers. We must first of have taken from this man, from this woman, all be Christians, sons of God in the midst from all of them! It is a humbling and of a wicked generation. The preacher must alarming, but inspiring, thought.
THE MINISTRY Yet in spite of all this, some men are from too much theology the church suffers, guilty of filling up the time with a lot of but from far too little."—JonN R. Morr, pious twaddle, with unimportant pleasan- Claims and Opportunities of the Christian tries, with a mass of thin, tasteless, power- Ministry, pp. 70, 71. less, hopeless, human inventions! Certainly Real Seventh-day Adventist preaching, when a man has given me a part of his life the preaching that made this movement, I should use it to bring to him the great the preaching that built the church, the things of God's law, the mighty revelations preaching that started us on our way, is of His Word, the eternal promises of the the sort of preaching that will bring the holy gospel. message to victory in the end. It is not my place to usurp the au- Some men have been known to deliver thority of the able teachers in this institu- sermons composed largely of moving sto- tion who open to you the science and art ries, or even funny anecdotes. Others de- of preaching. You have men here who can light in discussions of world events of give you the very finest instruction in homi- which the people know as much as the letics. Your library contains books, or you minister, and of other matters of which no may purchase them for private use, that one knows anything for certain. There are give the best of the wheat on the subject of sermons about flying saucers and horren- preaching from the early ages until now. dous descriptions of atomic fission. Texts Central Theme of Christian Preaching are sometimes used as pretexts. We need to remember that sermonets sometimes It is my appeal to you today to look at make Christianets. It is impossible to make some of the more significant influences and Sequoia gigantea character with mere tab- the larger meanings of true preaching. Ser- loid reviews. There will be no greater con- mons have often been systematically viction in the heart of the sinner unless grouped as expository, topical, factual, there is great conviction of the truth in the practical, et cetera; but I agree with Phil- heart of the preacher. lips Brooks that such classification means No true preacher can follow the ex- little. The great necessity of Christian ample of the man-pleasing vicar who, when preaching is that Christ be preached. He he saw the lord of the manor in his audi- said: "And I, if I be lifted up from the ence, softened up his final appeal in words earth, will draw all men unto me" (John like these: "Except ye repent as it were, 12:32). True Christian preaching draws and be converted after a fashion, ye shall men to Christ. It is the magnetism of the all be damned to a certain extent." cross alone that can make preaching ir- When we preach we need to preach for resistible. action, for a decision at that moment and The very center of all our ministry in that place. We need preaching like must be "the great, grand monument of that of the apostles on the day of Pente- mercy and regeneration, salvation and re- cost, when the hearers were so stirred in demption,—the Son of God uplifted on the their hearts that they said, "Men and breth- cross."—Gospel Workers, p. 315. "Great ren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). preaching only breaks out of the deep, So living and so speaking that the church rich soil of a great theology. It must come is built up and sinners are converted to from great convictions of truth. It is not God—that is preaching!
WINNING CONFIDENCE Q THOSE who labor for Christ should be men and women of great discretion, so that those who do not understand their doctrines may be led to respect them, and regard them as persons void of fanaticism, void of rashness and impetuosity. Their discourses and conduct and conversation should be of a nature that will lead men to the con- clusion that these ministers are men of thought, of solidity of character, men who fear and love their heavenly Father. They should win the confidence of the people, so that those who listen to the preaching may know that the ministers have not come with some cunningly devised fable, but that their words are words of worth, a testi- mony that demands thought and attention. Let the people see you exalting Jesus, and hiding self. .—Evangelism, pp. 170, 171. SEPTEMBER, 1957 7 The Context in Which We Preach
DANIEL THAMBYRAJAH NILES Secretary, Department of Evangelism, World Council of Churches
A John Knox House Lecture you are mine." . . . Saint Paul declared him- self to be a man, the boundaries of whose E ARE preachers. That is our function life were determined by the gospel of God. Was Christians. Our words, our deeds— When, in his letter to the Corinthians, indeed, our whole lives—are intended to Saint Paul says, "The word of the cross is proclaim that God has wrought redemption the power of God to us who are being for man. . . . The ministry of Jesus opened saved," he is declaring a double truth. The with the words: "The kingdom of God has preached word is active in saving the arrived. Repent, and believe in the gospel." preacher, and the preacher knows it: the Those words express also for all time the preacher also knows that it can save the situation which is created by the preacher. hearer. Therefore says Saint Paul, "We He who is confronted by a preacher is con- preach." True preaching demands that the fronted with the necessity of decision. His preacher should always be part of the con- hour has come. God's sovereignty over him gregation (he must always also be directing has, as it were, arrived. He must repent, the word to himself); and he must also be change the basis of all his thinking and liv- part of the evidence that his word is true. ing, and trust himself to the gospel. God "We are being saved," and from the sparks has loved him in Jesus Christ and, hence- that fly from that process the message pro- forth, he must live in glad acceptance of the claimed draws its fire. truth that he has been so loved. All of us who are Christians are involved This task of proclaiming, of being by God in this process of salvation, and preachers, is the task about which the psalm- irrespective of where we have arrived in our ist speaks. It is a satisfying task—satisfying experience, we are committed to the task to give thanks to the Lord for His name of being witnesses. by which He has revealed Himself to men, In speaking, then, about "the context of satisfying to declare to men His steadfast our preaching" we do not mean a descrip- love for them in the morning and His faith- tion of the situation within which the activ- fulness to them by night, and, above all, ity of preaching takes place: we are speak- satisfying to be able to sing for joy because ing rather of that because of which preach- of gladness at the works of the Lord. ing becomes possible, even bearable. I can Thou, 0 Lord, halt made me glad by thy work; preach Christ crucified, because that word at the works of thy hands I sing for joy. is the power of God to me, the one who is being saved. The hearer and the preacher The Preacher Who Is Being Saved stand side by side, otherwise preaching First of all, we are preachers because would be a presumption. God has made us such. His work with us and upon us and inside us is the context The Hearer Who Is Being Saved within which our preaching is set. We This alongsideness of preacher and preach because something is happening hearer because of the nature of the activity and has happened to us. of God has also another significance. Even The context of Christian witnessing is as we cannot preach unless God were work- that something has happened to the witness ing in us, so also we cannot preach with himself. He has been apprehended. He has effect unless God were working in our heard God say, "I have called you by name, hearers too. Previous to the preached word [A portion of Dr. Niles's John Knox House Lecture (July, is the activity of the Word Himself. He 1956) is here made available to THE MINISTRY readers by said, "I will bring," "I will gather," "I courtesy of the John Knox House Association, of Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Niles is principal of Jaffna Central College, will draw": and we work with Him and and secretary of the Department of Evangelism of the World Council of Churches. He is also chairman of the World's not just for Him. Student Christian Federation. He is recognized as a leading During the days that I was preparing this authority on evangelism and as a winsome evangelist in his own right.—Enrroas.] address, an old man whom I had never 8 THE MINISTRY known came to me one day with his elder Many years ago a friend of mind came to daughter and requested me to arrange to see me with a friend of his, a Hindu, who have his younger daughter instructed for was a doctor, and whom he had helped to baptism. "Who spoke to her about Christ?" find Jesus. He came to talk with me about I asked them, and they gave me the name of arranging for the baptism of this doctor a young man who, some years before that, friend. They lived in a remote place in had lived in and had been converted in Ceylon where there was no settled Christian the Ashram. Why did that old man come to community or church. The Baptist Church me? Because he had known my father and had some work there, and a Baptist minis- had learned to respect him and, therefore, ter went there periodically. Could the bap- thought that he could trust me with looking tism be postponed for a few months so that after the many problems that would arise it could take place at the time when the for his daughter after she got baptized. Baptist minister would come there to con- That is the way evangelism is done. Every duct some special services? I advised that evangelist, when he reaps, finds that, prac- that was all right. Today that doctor is still tically always, he reaps where he has not a Hindu. The baptism never took place. sown. Somebody else sowed the seed. And During the months that had to elapse be- where he has sown, somebody else will reap. fore the date of baptism his family found Did not Jesus say to His disciples, "I sent ways of bringing pressure upon him and of you to reap that for which you did not la- persuading him not to get baptized. The bor; others have labored, and you have en- harvest was lost. Can the harvest be lost? tered into their labor"? The moment and What a sobering question that is! manner of the reaping is always in God's Jesus is the evangelist; He brings the soul hands who makes the seed to grow, "first to its harvest, and we must care sufficiently the blade, then the ear, then the full grain about people as to be able to discern the in the ear." hour at which they have arrived in God's This ripening of the harvest which is God's work with them, His search for them. Jesus work is the context of the preacher's work, said, "I am the door": thereby bidding us and he who has not learned to work with whom He has called to be His shepherds to God can spoil that harvest by laying anx- go to His sheep through Him. He must ious and impatient hands upon it. The allow us to enter in. We do no good when story of the Jaffna Ashram written at the we climb over the wall and get among the close of its first decade ends with the fol- sheep even though we climb over the wall lowing words: "The Ashram is still a begin- ning—a beginning that challenges our watchfulness, our devotion and our prayers. The Chapel But above all it challenges our patience, for we who grow old so quickly are anxious to Here is a quiet room! see the full flower before its time. We need Pause for a little space; to cultivate the art of waiting for God's And in the deepening gloom hour." With hands before thy face, No, it is not for you to open the buds into blossoms. Pray for God's grace. Your touch soils them, you tear their petals to pieces Let no unholy thought And strew them in the dust; Enter thy musing mind; He who can open the bud does it so simply. Things that the world has The central problem of evangelism is wrought— the problem of knowing how and when to Unclean—untrue—unkind— harvest. The land we can prepare in season Leave them behind. and out of season, the seed we can sow al- ways and everywhere, but the harvest must Pray for the strength of God, be given. Strength to obey His plan; Jesus said to His disciples: "The har- Rise from thy knees less clod vest is plentiful . . . ; pray therefore the Than when thy prayer began, Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into More of a man. his harvest." The laborer who would har- —S. Donald Cox vest must pray that he may discern the Enriching Worship, pp. 21, 22 hour when he is sent to reap. (Used by permission) SEPTEMBER, 1957 9 in His name. We do no good either by Thy undistinguishing regard postponing entrance when the door is wide Was cast on Adam's fallen race; open. The sheep cannot wait our conven- For all Thou hast in Christ prepared ience. Sufficient, sovereign, saving grace. He is the "apostle and high priest of our The world He suffered to redeem; confession"; and we preach because He— For all He hath the atonement made; the Ascended Lord—is making supplication For those that will not come to Him for all our hearers; we preach because He The ransom of His life was paid. —the Risen Lord—is in search of every soul until it is found; we preach because He— We do not take the gospel to someone to the Crucified Lord—has accomplished whom Jesus does not already belong. man's deliverance from sin and a wasted It is very important to remember this life. truth in all our evangelistic work because His work is the context of our witness. it will save us from treating those who have not yet confessed Jesus to be their personal The Witness of the Church Saviour as people who are outside Jesus. In So far, we have spoken about preaching our evangelistic work we are not seeking to in terms of preacher and hearer; let us now make people become what they are not al- look at this activity in the context of the ready. We are seeking simply to tell them life of the church to which it essentially be- what and who they are. The prodigal in the longs. The church lives by its mission to far country is a son away from home. He is the world, and both preacher and hearer no one else, he is nothing less. belong to the church's life. The church is Evangelism is prolepsis as well as proc- not simply a company of witnesses, it is lamation. It holds within it even now a itself the witnessing community; so that the taste of the triumph of the future. Jesus witness of the individual preacher must said, "The gospel . . . will be preached . . . find its locus in the witness of the church as a testimony to all nations; and then the as a whole. Indeed, it is to the faith of the end will come"—not that we can determine church in Jesus as God and Saviour that our when the end will be, but that our preaching witness is borne before the world. is set toward the end. Indeed, it is here that But this truth about the relation of the the preacher draws sustenance for his faith preacher to the church which we see so that his preaching is not in vain. He be- clearly, we often tend to forget when we lieves that God will win. think of the hearer. We call people non- Christians and forget the full implication of The Church's Warfare the fact that for them, too, Jesus Christ has We see, then, that preaching considered already died. The foundation of our preach- as an activity within the life of the church is ing is the universality of the gospel. A hymn set in the context of the accomplished by Charles Wesley gives significant expres- work of Christ and His continuing ministry; sion to this truth: but little is gained in emphasizing this if it Father, whose everlasting love is not also realized that it is precisely this Thy only Son for sinners gave, truth which also determines the church's Whose grace to all did freely move, responsibility to maintain the distinctive- And sent Him down the world to save: ness of its own life in the world. Help us Thy mercy to extol, It is irresponsible to think that Christians Immense, unfathomed, unconfined; can find time and money and strength for To praise the Lamb who died for all, everything that everybody else does, and The general Saviour of mankind. that with spare money in spare time with
REAL OR IMAGINARY PREACHING? tr, ON A certain occasion, when Betterton, the celebrated actor, was dining with Dr. Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop said to him, "Pray, Mr. Better- ton, tell me why it is that you actors affect your audiences so powerfully by speaking of things imaginary." "My lord," replied Betterton, "with due submission to Your Grace, permit me to say that the reason is plain; it all lies in the power of enthusiasm. We on the stage speak of things imaginary as if they were real; and you in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary."—Evangelism, p. 179. 10 THE MINISTRY spare strength they can serve the ends of warfare is concerned with ultimate issues. God's kingdom. The great pearl is bought And now, lastly, Preaching is set in the only by selling small pearls. Where no context of the continuing ministry of Christ pearl has been sold, there obedience to the in the world as its cross-bearer. demands of the kingdom has not begun. When Jesus went to Gethsemane, He There is also for our thinking and obe- turned to His disciples and asked them to dience, a deeper consequence of the truth watch with Him. They could not carry His that the church must maintain its distinc- cross—that, He must do—but they could tion from the world. It is the consequence minister to the cross-bearer. How easily of believing that it matters, and matters we tend, when faced with a situation where greatly whether a person is within the Jesus must suffer, to wash our hands with a church as a believer or is outside the church pious resolution and say that we are not in his unbelief. responsible for that suffering. Someone else The Jerusalem Conference of the Inter- is to blame, and by our fixing the blame national Missionary Council declared that where it belongs we seek to escape our re- while missions of an earlier time were sponsibility to minister to those who suffer. moved by the thought that people were dy- "As you did it to one of the least of these ing without Christ, modern missions were my brethren," says Jesus, "you did it to me." moved by the thought that people were The preacher must find a way of holding living without Him. Yes, and yet we have the hands of those whom the world has got used to the idea of people living with- treated wrongfully, if he is to preach at all out consciously accepting Christ as their with any sincerity. Saviour, so that our evangelism has tended When we read the Beatitudes they come to become an expression of our sense of to us as a challenge, because we are not duty as Christians rather than an expression poor, because we are not hungry, because of our concern that people must be evan- we do not mourn, because we are not per- gelized. The early church, believing that secuted. But suppose we had to announce the end was not far off, was willing to the Beatitudes to the poor, to the hungry, turn the world upside down; we are con- to the sad, to the persecuted. Then would cerned, are we not, with arriving at an arise our difficulty. We should find it im- arrangement of coexistence with the world. possible to say "Blessed" until we had also We do evangelize, but our evangelism tends found some way of getting close to those to become the evangelism of a settled com- whose blessedness we had to proclaim. munity and not of a pilgrim people. Do Since our preaching has to be done in we not see that the evangelist, in proclaim- companionship with Him whose is the cross ing Jesus, is raising for his hearers the of life, we have to go with Him on His Via tremendous issue of their own destiny? He Dolorosa. To a few of us it may be given, is challenging them not to coexistence but as it was given to Simon of Cyrene, to carry to pilgrimage. His cross for Him, but to all of us it is To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but given to keep company with Him along for those who do not believe, "The very stone the way. That is our cross. Christian obedi- which the builders rejected has become the head of ence always demands that we take up our the corner," and "a stone that will make men cross and follow Him, and the obedience of stumble, a rock that will make them fall." preaching is no exception. Preaching cannot escape this context. Christ's Continuing Ministry DELIGHTFUL DEFINITIONS Let us recapitulate our thinking so far: Preaching is set in the context of the Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet preacher who is being saved. sheds on the heel that has crushed it.— Preaching is set in the context of the Mark Twain. hearer, who, too, is being saved. Fanaticism consists in redoubling your ef- Preaching is set in the context of the life fort when you have forgotten your aim.— and being of the church which lives by and George Santayana. witnesses to the accomplished work of Courage is al inor a blind man wears; Christ for all men. The calloused scar of outlived despairs; Preaching is also set in the context of Courage is Fear that has said its prayers. the church's warfare with the world, which —Karle Wilson Baker. SEPTEMBER, 1957 11 New Reformation Preaching
HENRY L. RUDY Vice-President of the General Conference
together as one family or perish from the earth HE glorious privilege of be- altogether. Something similar is happening in Ting a preacher of the gospel the church. Under the mighty leading of the of salvation is aptly pointed up Spirit of God a great acceleration of God's by the apostle Paul. He termed eternal purpose is in unmistakable evidence, himself "a servant of Jesus propelling the church into the last and final Christ, called to be an apostle, movements of divine grace. For the first time separated unto the gospel of in history, with the whole inhabited world awak- God" (Rom. 1:1). ening and opening up before our eyes, we can To be set apart for the preaching of the see the fulfillment of God's plan for the world gospel of God is a sovereign appointment: a in both its vastness and acceleration. Lord-and-servant relationship. This is not the We are living in the time of the end. The fast- general relation of servant, in which all Chris- fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming tians stand to Christ their Lord, but the special of Christ is near at hand. . . The agencies of evil relation of office, of service in the kingdom of arc combining their forces and consolidating. They Christ. The servants of a king are officers in are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great high rank. In this relationship the connotation changes are soon to take place in our world, and the of "servant" is expressive of dignity and honor. final movements will be rapid ones.1 It is thus applied to the prophets (Deut. 34:5; The church, in its existence amid the rev- Jer. 25:4), and to Messiah (Isa. 42:1; 43:10), olutionary movements of the day, is struggling the Prince of preachers. By applying this title, for the original purity and strength of her Paul acknowledges the authority and dignity of transcendent message. She is determined not the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose service he to lose the message of God's grace offered to stood. sinners. In this struggle people are taking sides Today Christianity has entered into a great either for or against the will of God. On the new era. It has become known as the New one hand, truths by which men have lived Reformation, perhaps "the most profound and through the centuries are rejected in the in- far-reaching reformation which the church has terest of compromise. On the other, great prin- yet undergone."—Robert S. Bilheinzer. ciples of the Protestant Reformation are being The manner in which this New Reformation revived with a faith and zeal that promise great is coming about gives unprecedented promi- developments in the immediate future. nence to the doctrine of the second coming of As other great religious revival movements Christ. It is therefore of supreme importance of the past, the New Reformation is identified that Seventh-day Adventist ministers, and other by certain peculiar characteristics. These have workers, discover their preaching relationship appeared over a period of many years, and can • to the doctrinal and spiritual issues involved now be definitely stated. They are of supreme in the growth and development of this religious importance to the preacher and teacher of Bible movement. truth at this time. Something unusual is happening in the life of the church today. The pressure of events is 1. Authority of the Word of God teaching the world that men must learn to live The first, and perhaps the most significant event characterizing the New Reformation, is Commencement address, SDA Theological Seminary, May 23, 1957. the rediscovery of the Bible as a "Book of 12 THE MINISTRY Proclamation, the bearer of a message, the com- Word is constrained to proclaim the good news municator of something to be told." 2 "The of God's saving grace with great zeal and un- Bible in its wholeness has been given back to wavering fidelity. the preacher." 2. Christ as Lord and Saviour The return of the Book of God to the preacher has, after a long period of "evangelical aridity," Someone has rightly observed that "the most become characteristic of the new religious awak- important fact about contemporary American ening. Like the Reformation of the sixteenth theology is the disintegration of Liberalism." century, the New Reformation is marked by an That observation was made more than twenty "eager, expectant, and profoundly serious turn- years ago. Today theologians categorically af- ing to the Bible."' firm: "Liberalism as a system of theology has The labors of scholars and theologians have collapsed." A new and profound estimation of opened up frontiers of Biblical understanding, the Jesus Christ—His person and work—has come exploration of which is an exciting adventure along into being. strange paths. Moreover, contemporary preoccupa- No longer is He mainly to us the Master Teacher tion with the meaning of history has led many into whose words must somehow be read the sum alert people to a deeper grasp of the urgency and of all wisdom. Nor is He mainly the Great Example, relevance of the Biblical message.4 who "went about doing good" in a manner that we Nothing has happened in the life of the should endeavor to imitate. He still commands our respect as the greatest of all religious teachers, and church since the beginning of the great Second our love as an incomparable friend to man; but He Advent Movement that is destined to put cour- commands our awe and adoration as the One age into the preaching of the third angel's mes- through whom God worked the greatest and most sage as much as the recovery of the Bible in its decisive of all His mighty acts, which turned the wholeness as the one Book of the preacher. course of history, and founded a new race of men. This fact in itself should result in a return to For us, as for St. Paul, the appropriate name for Biblical preaching by Seventh-day Adventists Him is not Rabbi, or Good Master, but Saviour. 6 in a manner such as has never been known in Thus speaks one who is making the spiritual our history. This is our golden opportunity to and intellectual pilgrimage from liberalism to proclaim the whole counsel of God to a gener- apostolic faith in Christ, the Saviour of the ation that is eager to listen and accept the world. The testimony of another gives pertinent Bible as the final authority in matters of faith. expression to a newborn faith in Christ as Lord To proclaim the message of the Bible, in the and Saviour. Says he: setting of the Advent hope, should become the The message of the New Testament is reducible first and all-pervading motivation of every to these two claims: (1) Jesus was a real, historical preacher and teacher in the Advent Movement. individual whose appearance and career came at This return of the Bible to the preacher is the climax of a series of historical events of which the Old Testament is the witness; and (2) Jesus both liberating and constraining. It is liberating confronted men with the eternal power and truth because the truthfulness and authority of God's of God, not just in His message, but in His life, Word have been vindicated by the findings of His actions, and His person. Man was in Christ— the best scholarship in both Biblical and scien- man as God intended him to be at the creation; tific fields. It is constraining in that the Bible is and God was in Christ, reconciling His lost creation discovered as containing the only saving mes- to Himself. Both of these things must be said sage for a perplexed and bewildered world. equally confidently if we are to do justice to the God has disclosed Himself through His Word. faith of those who were apprehended by God's The scope of His revelation has expanded until revelation in Jesus? it has reached to the ends of the earth. Con- In his monumental survey of the record of fronting God under these circumstances, the mankind the historian Arnold J. Toynbee preacher becomes the herald of His revelation. pauses to recognize the figure of Jesus Christ as Having caught a vision of the vast, unfolding He appears above the affairs of the world. "And purpose of God, the true messenger of the now," he muses, "as we stand and gaze with
STATISTICS None of us, I presume, are too much impressed by statistics. We know that the question of the relation of American Protestantism to the present state of the world must be answered at a deeper level than statistics—even if the statistics were reliable (which church statistics notoriously are not).—PAut, HUTCHINSON, The New Ordeal of Christianity (Association Press, New York). SEPTEMBER, 1957 13 our eyes fixed upon the farther shore, a single Does He free you from the slavery of your 'figure rises from the flood and straightway fills passions? the whole horizon. There is the Saviour; 'and Call Him Redeemer! the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Does He teach you as no one else has taught you? hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, Call Him Teacher! and shall be satisfied.' " Does He shine upon the pathway that is dark This new recognition of the figure of Jesus to you? as Lord and Christ also marks the Reformation Call Him Guide! of our day. As the two devastating wars swept Does He reveal God to you? over the earth, liberal theological structures Call Him the Son of God! crumbled to the ground and were consumed in Does He reveal man? Call Him the Son of man! the flames. Man-made theories and philosophies Or, in following Him, are your lips silent in were shaken to pieces "that those things which your capacity to define Him and His cannot be shaken may remain" (Heb. 12:27). influence upon you? Over and above the ruins and rubble of an Call Him by no name, but follow Him! age that has passed, the transcendent figure of 3. Reaffirmation of the Basic Principles of the Jesus Christ has emerged. During the hectic Reformation days of World War II, Adolph Keller saw the majesty of Christ, resplendent with glory and Members of "old-line Protestant churches" honor, reappearing in the thinking of European are observing the apostolic virility and evange- Christians. He then wrote to fellow Christians listic zeal of other Christians whom they have outside of Europe: superciliously assigned to the category of "fringe In the preaching of today the Cross stands in the sects." They are discovering with dismay that center. . . . The majesty and inexpressible sov- the "sects" have been most successful in creating ereignty of God over the whole world is a favorite and building up churches precisely where old- subject. . . . Preaching today has no use for those line Protestant churches have failed; and that shallow moralistic recipes and that Utopian per- much of the strength of the modern sects has fectionism which were the natural accompaniment come out of the weakness of the older forms of of an optimistic Christian idealism. It has redis- Protestantism. covered the old transcendent truths about God— In the New Reformation there is emerging what He does, what Christ means, what His cross signified for sinful men, how His resurrection and what is termed "ecumenical Protestantism" on His kingdom are revealing their redemptive power one side and "non-ecumenical Protestantism" in this world which is coming to an end so that on the other. The deep implications of the three God's reign may begin. s main pillars of Protestant faith—the Bible as authority, justification by faith, and the priest- Thus, another "great door and effectual is hood of all believers—are being both challenged opened" (1 Cor. 16:9) to the messenger of the and experienced ,by the different forces of the gospel. "Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour, New Reformation. The result is that a new Christ as the Sin Bearer, Christ as the bright Protestantism is being created, with ecumenical and morning Star," is to be a principal and and non-ecumenical Protestantism both helping favorite theme with every minister and teacher. to contribute to the movement. Martin Luther's concept of the Saviour is to be Sincere Christians in Reformation churches expanded and proclaimed. are remembering that Christianity calls for sac- "In His life," Luther said, "Christ is an ex- rifice, that the way to the kingdom of heaven is ample, showing us how to live; in His death He strait and narrow. They are coming to realize is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins; in His that the walk of the Christian must be dis- resurrection, a conqueror; in His ascension, a tinguishable from that of the non-Christian. King; in His intercession, a High Priest." They are also discovering the shocking, treach- Does Jesus save you from your sins? erous nature of sin; that final victory over sin, Call Him Saviour! evil, and death belongs to Jesus Christ, and the
CALM, EARNEST REASONING
Q IT ts not excitement we wish to create, but deep, earnest consideration, that those who hear shall do solid work, real, sound, genuine work that will be enduring as eternity. We hunger not for excitement, for the sensational; the less we have of this, the better. The calm, earnest reasoning from the Scriptures is precious and fruitful. —Evangelism, p. 170. 14 THE MINISTRY realization of man's ultimate hope beyond his- the times, including the utter bankruptcy of tory, in the everlasting kingdom of God. human wisdom to find a solution for the prob- In "the great body of Christ's true followers" lems of the human race, the unmistakable evi- who "are still to be found" in the various dence that the "coming of the Lord draweth Christian churches are many "who have never nigh." seen the special truths for this time. Not a few The growing conviction that Jesus is soon are dissatisfied with their present condition and coming again, the mighty working of the Spirit are longing for clearer light. They look in vain of God upon the hearts of those who are seeking for the image of Christ in the churches with the light of salvation, and the knowledge that which they are connected. As these bodies de- God's people today are "holding in their hands part further and further from the truth, and the bread of life for a famishing world," greatly ally themselves more closely with the world, intensifies the urgency of presenting God's final the differences between the two classes will message of mercy. Years ago the messenger of widen, and it will finally result in separation. the Lord urged this people to delay no longer in The time will come when those who love God proclaiming present truth. supremely can no longer remain in connection More and more, as the days go by, it is becoming with such as are 'lovers of pleasures more than apparent that God's judgments are in the world. lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but . . . There are many who have not yet heard the denying the power thereof.' " " testing truth for this time. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of Everywhere the people are taking sides; all are God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy ranging themselves either under the banner of for those who have had no opportunity to learn truth and righteousness or under the banner of what is truth. . . . The mercy of God is shown in the apostate powers that are contending for the His long forbearance. He is holding back His supremacy. At this time God's message to the judgments, waiting for the message of warning to world is to be given with such prominence and be sounded to all.12 power that the people will be brought face to face, We have no time for dwelling on matters that mind to mind, heart to heart, with truth. They are of no importance. . . . Soon an awful surprise must be brought to see its superiority over the is coming upon the inhabitants of the world. Sud- multitudinous errors that are pushing their way denly, with power and great glory, Christ will come. into notice, to supplant, if possible, the word of Then there will be no time to prepare to meet God for this solemn time." Him. Now is the time for us to give the warning 4. Revival of the Advent Hope message.'' Eschatology, or the doctrine concerning "the 5. Search for the True Church last things"—the end of the world, Christ's .sec- Among the multiple doctrines with which the ond coming, the resurrection—has moved from New Reformation is concerned is that of the secondary place in Christian thinking to a po- church. What constitutes the true church? Does sition where it has become a central, deter- it already exist, or is its coming still awaited? mining factor in the understanding of the faith. Is there salvation outside the church? These Part of the new thinking at work in the church and other related questions are clamoring for is concerned with the end of the world and the decisive answers. setting up of the kingdom of Christ at the end Voices in the ecumenical movement are an- of history. nouncing the coming of a great united church. Churchmen of various communions are free But they make it very clear that the coming in expressing their faith in the second coming great church will not be realized so long as a of Christ as the blessed hope of the Christian. large number of Christians continue to insist They generally concede that conditions as they that the necessary forms of organization have are in the earth today cannot last. Some cata- already been found and already exist in what- clysm or disaster, some event that will shake ever may be their own denomination. John this old earth to its foundations, is expected to Knox, who has done much research on the ques- happen. They seek in the multiplied signs of tion concerning the church, reminds us that—
GOD STRENGTHENS MENTAL FACULTIES
Q HE WILL strengthen our mental faculties as verily as He did the mind of Daniel. As we teach those in darkness to understand the truths that have enlightened us, God will teach us to understand these truths still better ourselves. He will give us apt words to speak, communicating to us through the angel standing by our side. —Evangelism, p. 172. SEPTEMBER, 1957 15 the united church belongs to the future, not to the understand. One young woman, typical of past; and if anything is clear it is that the forms of countless others, recently complained that her its life have not yet been finally determined. . . . minister insists on talking about social matters, It would be as certainly false to identify the coming but that the young people want to study basic great church with Roman Catholicism, with Eastern religion, the problem of sin, the surety of sal- Orthodoxy, or with Anglicanism, as with Luther- anism, Congregationalism, Presbyterianism, Meth- vation, and the really important subjects. Peo- odism, or any other denominational cult. The ple recognize the needs of their souls and know United Church will be a new creation, and we that those needs can be met only by what they should be rash indeed to try artificially to limit call a "vertebrate Christianity." the possible forms it may take.14 A man, conversant with the affairs of everyday life, remarked to a minister friend: "The diffi- As for the Roman Caltholic views of the culty I have when you start talking about man, church, there is no question on one point. Ca- is that none of the things you say about him tholicism claims to be the church of Christ. Ac- seem to apply to the men I actually meet." cording to Rome— What Paul Blanshard recently said about re- there is no true church outside of the Roman ligious literature also applies to much of con- communion, no matter on what particular issue any Christian body is divided from the church of the temporary preaching. "Religious literature," he pope. For that respect, the most ritualistic High said, "suffers from too much tenderness; it lacks Church Anglicans are not better off than Chris- vitality and vigor. It is wrapped in the sterilized tian Scientists or Seventh-day Adventists. All of them cotton wool of hypocritical respect." are outside of the fold, and must eventually be The tendency today is toward ceremonies, brought back into the fold.15 forms, and outward performances. As always As the discussion of the coming new church in the past, the prophet again tends to degener- progresses, the issues that have divided the his- ate into the priest. The man who speaks for toric churches are becoming less and less im- God is prone to slip down into the man who portant to many. In his book, The Strangeness performs ceremonies for Him. Ministers are of the Church, Daniel Jenkins writes: prone to be pious for the people, carrying church responsibility professionally instead of It appears that it can be confidently predicted as the spokesmen and servants of the Lord that the future will not sustain the claims made by some religious bodies to be alone and exclusively whom they represent. the one true Church of Jesus Christ.16 In certain quarters the suggestion has even Those Protestant sects who are so conscious of come to call a "moratorium on preaching." In- their own distinctive purity as to refuse to hold stead of preaching, the minister would give a communion with other Christian bodies, do not series of "messages" on "How to Find Resources behave as though they seriously believe that their for Life's Mastery." One church bulletin in- claim will be universally accepted among Christians, vited the people to come and listen to addresses and the discernible trend of history certainly gives on "Help Yourself to Serenity," "Leave Your them no ground for encouragement'? Worries at Church," "Religion Can Conquer It is abundantly clear that there exists today Nervous Tension," et cetera. A minister who an eager searching for the true church of Christ. had emptied his psychological gomer and run Everywhere people are forced to take sides. out of gospel, began by "enriching the liturgy." Will their decisions be influenced by truth or "We pushed around the church furniture," he policy? Unless the truth of God for this time is later confessed, "moving the pulpit from the clearly and fearlessly proclaimed, many sincere center to the right side, then to the left, and people will be unable to decide where to unite then to a spot midway between the floor and with God's people. This universal search for the rafters, and were surprised to discover that the true church presents a new challenge to there was no positive correlation between the those who have been entrusted with the proc- location of the pulpit and the effectiveness of lamation of the last and final message of mercy the message proclaimed therefrom." to a bewildered world. The graduates from our colleges and semi- naries are in all too many cases good for pro- 6. New Reformation Preaching fessors' chairs and for the work of research, but From the foregoing it is clear that present- not effective in the pulpit as preachers of the day preaching must be geared to the great doc- Word of God. Their kind of preaching is well trinal and spiritual issues of what is termed the described by what a British officer said of his New Reformation Movement. Much of the chaplain: "As I sit among the troops," he said, preaching these days seems to be far removed "and listen to our real godly chaplain, I feel from anything people are actually longing to (Turn to page 29) 16 THE MINISTRY EVANGELISM -- Winning Men for God
Evangelism in This Atomic Age
WALTER SCHUBERT Associate Secretary, General Conference Ministerial Association
HIS atomic era is called by some writers on herd the flock. But what does shepherding the Tworld conditions, the Apocalyptic Era. For flock include? Primarily it includes leading the the Bible student, in prophecy it is the immi- church in missionary and soul-winning endeav- nent "time of the end," which will be termi- ors, feeding them with the Word of God, and nated by the intervention of Christ's second com- seeing to it that their pasture is always "beside ing. For the last church of prophetic origin this the still waters" of security in Christ. solemn time calls for a decided renaissance of Creating Soul-winning Churches evangelism. This will come to pass when the saving, sanctifying truth takes possession of ev- In Gospel Workers, page 31, we read: "To ery true disciple. The human heart in which win souls to the kingdom of God must be their the Holy Spirit lives cannot keep the saving [ministers] first consideration." On page 197 truth to itself. It will spread the good news, the assertion is made that the minister should be winning souls to Christ. a foreman in soul-winning activities. And on page 198: "A working church is a growing The unerring prophetic mission for the church. The members find a stimulus and a church is in Revelation 14:6, 7: "And I saw tonic in helping others." That attitude toward another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the minister's work would solve many problems the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that that undermine the church's stability. The pas- dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tor or district leader may not have the ability to kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a draw a great audience for an evangelistic cam- loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; paign, but he surely should and must be an for the hour of his judgment is come: and wor- expert in hunting for souls, one by one, in the ship him that made heaven, and earth, and the neighborhood of his church. If he cannot do sea, and the fountains of waters." this, he is betraying his office, and setting a bad The church is God's appointed agency for the example for his church members. A soul-win- salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.— ning pastor seldom has difficulty in converting The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9. his flock into soul winners. The work of the pastor requires first, the tender loving care of a The great latent forces of manpower in our shepherd; second, the energetic leadership of a churches, under the able leadership of our pas- working foreman; and third, the ability of the tors and district leaders, may harness, unify, and quick-eyed hunter who searches for prey in the coordinate all activities into a unified whole. vastness of the wilderness. This must be done with patience and perse- In The Acts of the Apostles, page 371, there verance. Then all the different lines of mission- is a wonderful statement of a sincere pastor's ary activities will be prepared for a powerful yearning. "The heart of the true minister is frontal attack against the forces of evil. There filled with an intense longing to save souls. . . . will be an earnest determination to rescue the He watches for souls as one that must give an captives of Satan for the kingdom of God. account." Only a very few ministers now believe that There are churches today that have extin- their position excludes them from the responsi- guished their light. They do not let it shine for bility of winning souls. However, some still con- the Master. As a result the members stumble sider that their only responsibility is to shep- on in darkness, hurting themselves and becom-
SEPTEMBER, 1957 17 ing sick with worry. Furthermore, they make drift of the conversation was this: "He just the pathway dark for those who are looking for could not make it in pastoral or administrative the light. Thus membership decreases, and as a work, so he is still in evangelism. We feel sorry result those who are left in darkness begin to for him." Isn't this a tragic situation? die. An unknown German author has spoken of In the minds of some the word "evangelist" a dying church in this way: seems to have the connotation of an excitable, temperamental, effervescent personality. Oth- The Dying Church ers immediately think of a man who is an im- A church that does nothing for the public is on the pressionist—one who by the force of his domi- way to the cemetery. nant personality creates an emotional atmos- All who are so occupied with their own affairs phere to convince men of his merchandise. Still that they find no time for God's work are others classify an evangelist as lacking poise making a mourning wreath. and intellectual balance. Such thinking con- All members who do nothing are acting as pall- ceives of an evangelist as merely a person who bearers; The brother who never says anything drives the accidentally has the gift of speech and keeps hearse; up a steady flow of chatter. Furthermore, there Those that always hold back, when steps are taken is a strong feeling that many people, under the to advance, are scattering flowers on the grave. teaching of such an evangelist, come into the The brother who always speaks of difficulties in church on a high wave of emotion, and that the church is giving the funeral oration! when the strong personality of the evangelist Thus the church lies buried, relieved of all cares— is withdrawn, these members will soon drop What role do YOU play? out of the church in discouragement. Vigorous pastoral evangelism in all our Mechanical Soul Winning churches, with the cooperation of the members in accordance with their ability, should be in- There is a tendency to mechanize our var- augurated immediately. It will bring a renais- ious soul-saving activities in a manner some- sance of evangelism as well as spiritual revival. what comparable to the mechanization we find "It is in working to spread the good news of in industry. We are led to wonder whether we salvation that we are brought near to the Say- are catching the spirit of the times in automa- iour."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 103. tion. There is an inclination to do the work of Local pastoral evangelistic meetings should soulsaving from a swivel chair and desk, in a be augmented with greater campaigns in the heated den in the winter or an air-conditioned larger cities. God has given some men the spe- room in the summer But let us be factual and cial gift of holding large audiences. Each tal- see how many of the results reported by our ented evangelist should be supported by a team evangelistic efforts materialize either through of no less than seven colaborers. This is in har- the mail or by telephone. Is there such a thing mony with the Spirit of prophecy instruction. as an armchair soul winner? Soulsaving always There is also needed a good public relations has needed and always will need the personal man, one who knows the ins and outs of sound, touch of men and women whose hearts over- compelling advertising. Again we stress that flow with the love of God. Emphatically, there is evangelism should be the paramount task of the no substitute for personal work!, church professing Christ's soon coming. Our At times we are led to wonder whether our main objective is to preach the saving truth to reluctance to launch out into public evange- every country, city, town, and village in ful- lism is because of fear that we might lose face fillment of the prophecy in Revelation 18:1. in the eyes of the ministerial associations of other denominations. Will non-Adventist min- Current SDA Trends in Evangelism isters think that we are proselytizing? But what Is evangelism only a side line? In many fields about the thousands who belong to no church evangelistic activity, with a few exceptions, is at all? These ministers will not charge us falsely carried on sporadically and in only a few lo- if our evangelistic approach is right. It is tactics calities. Perhaps unconsciously, it seems to be such as those used by the Shepherd's Rod that considered only a side line of church activity. they object to. The solemn import of our mes- Is evangelism considered imperative? We sage must ever impel us forward in evangelism wonder whether today evangelists have as high —"Arise, ye men of God!" a standing and recognition in our ranks as in H. W. Klaser, of our Statistical Department, some other denominations. For example, some assisted me in gathering some statistics of the time ago I heard several ministers discussing a North American Division. These factually re- certain worker who happened to pass by. The veal the trend of our soul-saving activities. 18 THE MINISTRY On January 1, 1956, the North American should tax his resources to the utmost."—Page Division began with a membership of 293,448. 370. Although we have what might be thought During the year 17,742 were added by baptism insurmountable problems, if we would tax our and profession of faith. However, after all the resources to the utmost, with much prayer and figures were compiled, including deaths and meditation, we would find the divine solution. apostasies, the membership stood at 299,984—a Other problems, undreamed of at present, will net gain of only 6,536 members. This gain was arise, but these also shall be solved by deter- the result of the combined efforts of approxi- mined, consecrated, fearless men of God. mately 15,000 employed workers, representing all phases of our work in the North American Teamwork and Various Methods to Be Used Division, including the Voice of Prophecy, Faith This is a day of specialization. Television for Today, public evangelism, home missionary presents a great challenge, if not some handi- activities, medical work, educational, et cetera. caps to our evangelism. Various features for de- One union conference—and there may be a veloping the interest in a campaign require justified reason for it—showed a decrease of 21 more than one full-time worker. To have a suc- members after this twelve-month period. Our cessful campaign means that the evangelist problem, as is evident by these figures, shows must organize his work around a team of work- twice as many members lost from the church ers who are well qualified to lead out in their as the net gain. No doubt the bigger percent- particular fields of activity. age of this loss was through apostasy. Are we To hold and gain the confidence of his au- really shepherding our flock? [See chart below.] dience the evangelist must present his message Our world field looks to the North American in a way that will convince his hearers that he Division for guidance and inspiration. In the is interested in their personal welfare, peace, light of these trends and statistics, should we and security. The great Baptist evangelist, not make an intelligent reappraisal of the whole Buckner Fanning, recently said: "I try to sell trend of our church activities? We would do this truth as if I were an insurance salesman." well to humbly turn back to the sound counsel His public relations man, Earl Peed, said: of the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy—preach- "My only job is to offer Buckner to the people ing the gospel to all the world by the living in the most up-to-date method there is—the voice of the ministry, and adding to it even same method I would use to sell coffee or greater impact through the missionary activi- beans."—Newsweek, Jan. 28, 1957. ties of our consecrated laity. Our message must be presented in such an Have we been delaying the coming of Christ appealing way that the people will be drawn to by these halting attitudes that were formerly it as though by a magnet. To achieve this ob- unknown in Adventism? Is it not high time to jective requires a great deal of hard work by check and reverse the trends that indicate cur- the speaker. tailment of our evangelistic work? This task In order to reach people in our public meet- does not center in any particular department ings the evangelist must study and experiment of the General Conference, for all ministers are with the up-to-the-minute methods for present- ordained of God to give priority to soul win- ing new truth. These appropriate suggestions ning. are given in the book Evangelism: Method of Evangelism You must vary your labor, and not have one It may be asked, "How can we reach the peo- way which you think must be followed at all times ple in this scientific era that has brought about and in all places.—Page 126. such changes in the philosophical and religious Let us not forget that different methods are to outlooks of the great masses? A solution must be employed to save different ones.—Page 106. The classes of people you meet with decide for be found, because the Lord has commanded us: you the way in which the work should be handled. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, bap- —Page 106. tizing them . . . : and, lo, I am with you alway, God would have new and untried methods.—Page even unto the end of the world." 125. In The Acts of the Apostles we read: "For Some of the methods used in this work will be the conversion of one sinner, the minister different from the methods used in the work in
Net Membership Net Increase Time to Time to North American Increase per Each 1,000 Obtain Each Lose Each Division 10.000 Tithe Members Member Member 1954 3.5 36 52.3 min. 74 min. 1955 2.4 27 68.5 min. 75 min. 1956 1.9 22 80.6 min. 64 min, SEPTEMBER, 1957 19 the past; but let no one, because of this, block the minds by obeying it, had they felt the importance way by criticism—Page 105. (Italics supplied.) of knowledge and refinement of manners in Christ's work, where one soul has been saved there might Paul's Example have been twenty.—Evangelism, p. 110. (Italics sup- If we would adopt the principles of the apos- plied.) tle Paul, we would today witness a great revival Time is short. Workers for Christ are needed everywhere. There should be one hundred earnest, in public evangelism. faithful laborers in home and foreign mission fields For though I be free from all men, yet have I where now there is one.—Ibid., p. 22. (Italics sup- made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the plied.) more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I At the present time there is not a thousandth might gain the Jews; to them that are under the part being done in working the cities, that should law, as under the law, that I might gain them that be done, and that would be done if men and are under the law; to them that are without law, women would do their whole duty.—Ibid., p. 29. as without law, (being not without law to God, but (Italics supplied.) under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as This instruction may suffice to show us as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all workers how the Lord considers our present things to all men, that I might by all means save soul-winning activities. Surely it is time to ap- some (1 Cor. 9:19-22). ply these Heaven-revealed principles in our Being crafty, I caught you with guile (2 Cor. 12: evangelism. 16). You need not feel that all the truth is to be A Program of Evangelistic Advance spoken to unbelievers on any and every occasion. The divine assignment is found on page 707 You should plan carefully what to say and what to leave unsaid. This is not practicing deception; of Evangelism: "Advance; enter new territory. it is to work as Paul worked. He says, "Being . . . There must be no delay in this work." This crafty, I caught you with guile." You must vary annexing of new territory must not stop some- your labor, and not have one way which you think where along the line because, "The circle is to must be followed at all times and in all places. extend until it belts the world."—Ibid., p. 19. Your ways may seem to you a success, but if you Despite our labors we seem to see so few ad- used more tact, more of the wisdom of the serpent, ditions to our church. May this not be because you would have seen much more real results of we expect so little? Jesus once said to the father your work.—Evangelism, pp. 125, 126. of a son with a dumb spirit: "All things are We need to find workable methods of gaining possible to him that believeth." We must also the attention of atheists, agnostics, Catholics, cry out like that father: "Lord, I believe; help and Jews. We should endeavor to find methods thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:23, 24). for holding large audiences. If the church would believe that each of us is Occasionally I have met conservative workers saved to serve, to win the lost, and by faith who were in a rut, afraid to tackle anything would obey this injunction, we would soon wit- new or different. A rut has been described as a ness the following prophetic picture: "God's grave with the ends knocked out. Remember, a word was obeyed, and as a result there were dying church is on its way to the cemetery. Do memorials [churches] for Him in every city you know what a conservative is? Here is a and village."—Ibid., p. 699. Thanks to the Al- definition: "A conservative is one who does not mighty, the church will be triumphant. think that anything should be done for the Some may argue that evangelism is difficult, first time." But what does the Lord say? "God and that it does not warrant the money, time, would have new and untried methods fol- and energy required to gather a larger harvest. lowed."—Ibid., p. 125. The mind must be ac- They say the people will not come out to hear tive to invent the best ways and means of reach- the message. They claim that we are living in a ing the people next to us. To understand hu- TV age. But the Lord has commanded that the man nature and to fitly enter-into another's work must be done, notwithstanding the ap- religious views requires that the minister's mind parently insurmountable obstacles. So let all must remain alert. He will have to take into ministers and evangelists say as did Caleb, "We account the likes and dislikes of those to be can do it." Under the guidance of the Holy reached, and to deal sympathetically with men- Spirit the preaching of the message will tri- tal barriers until the truth is seen in its full umph, and God's children will then possess beauty, and then accepted. the eternal Canaan. Evangelists and fellow Here is an inspired picture of how God sees workers, this is the golden hour of evangelism. our evangelism: Let us improve every opportunity to bring the Had the believers in the truth purified their message to a glorious triumph. 20 THE MINISTRY "THAT HEARTS MAY FIND GOD"
R. RALPH S. CUSHMAN has given all In this busy life of multiplied cares and D ministers a beautiful gem of poetry increasing tensions the majority of men which sets forth the supreme objective of seldom maintain an attitude of quiet medi- preaching. These lines I have long cher- tation and prayer long enough to allow the ished, and for some years they have been Spirit of the Divine to fill and revitalize taped in the flyleaf of my Bible. their lives. It was in his own quiet medita- I do not ask tion in a vesper hour that the college stu- That men may sound my praises, dent found God. Could it be that we as Or headlines spread my name abroad; ministers and gospel workers need more of I only ask that as I voice the message that personal quiet vesper hour experience Hearts may find God. in our own lives, to let God find us anew, This is the most worthy of all human that we in turn might help Him get objectives in every truly Christian service through to other hearts? and in every ministerial utterance—that How deeply distressed and keenly disap- hearts may find God. Only that preaching pointed we have felt at times, when at the and personal ministry that brings human close of our very best efforts at preaching, hearts into fellowship with the Eternal, there did not seem to be any evidence that shares with the Master Preacher in the di- hearts had truly found their Lord, or had vine redemptive power that transforms and been really warmed anew by His gracious ennobles human lives. love and power. True, only God knows Some years ago during my College View what His Spirit is accomplishing in the church pastorate at Lincoln, Nebraska, the lives of our hearers, but every truly spir- mailman handed me a letter penned by a itually motivated worker for God has college student, which in substance read: known a humbling, disturbing sense of his "All my life I have been trying in religious own inefficiency. With penetrating persist- worship to find God, but I never seemed ence the question burns into the soul: to be able to reach Him. But last evening "Why are not more hearts finding God as in the quietness and the beauty of the a result of my ministry?" close-of-the-Sabbath vesper hour I found Well might we despair as we contrast God." In such experiences one reverently our unworthiness with the perfection of and humbly senses a touch of the Divine, Christ, the Master Preacher and Teacher, and in deepest gratitude partakes of the were it not for the assurance that as we holiest thrill known to any gospel worker, constantly obey the divine will we may, in when by the grace of the Eternal, men and the potency of God's enabling presence, be- women find God as a result of our feeble come "daily better fitted to speak words ministry. One might even say, "in spite that will guide wandering souls to the fold of" our ministry, for there is, alas, all too of Christ."—Gospel Workers, p. 23. We much truth in the observation that "one of are not "sufficient of ourselves," but as St. the proofs of the divinity of the gospel is Paul says: "Our sufficiency is of God; who the kind of preaching it survives." hath made us able ministers" (2 Cor. 3:5, 6).
SEPTEMBER, 1957 21 Exalting and Emulating Christ "In all things He brought His wishes Since Jesus is the living center of every- into strict abeyance to His mission." thing pertaining to life and godliness, the "He drew . . . hearts to Him by the tie dedicated servant of Christ seeks to put of human sympathy." Christ into every sermon and into every act "He glorified His life by making every- of life and human relationship. "The world thing in it subordinate to the will of His will not be converted by the gift of tongues, Father." or by the working of miracles, but by He was "the unwearied servant of man's preaching Christ crucified."—Testimonies necessity." to Ministers, p. 424. It is as we keep self "Wherever He went, the tidings of His in the background and exalt the Christ mercy preceded Him." before a needy world that our words be- "The youth caught His Spirit of min- come a "savour of life unto life." istry, and sought to pattern after His gra- The glory of love is brightest cious ways by assisting those who needed Where the glory of self is dim, help." And they have the most compelled me "His life is an illustration of true cour- Who most have pointed to Him. tesy." —Anonymous "His life was as leaven working amid the The greatest achievement of a worker of elements of society." God is by God's grace to walk in the foot- "He is our example, not only in His steps of Jesus. All who have a true pas- spotless purity, but in His patience, gentle- sion for souls are motivated by an over- ness, and winsomeness of disposition." whelming desire to exalt and emulate the In reverence and adoration we bow in Christ. the presence of Him who brought to us One can only be filled with awe and the perfect revelation of God's heart of humility and a sense of great personal need love, and through whom and in whom we when he contemplates the master qualities have found God. No greater test of our of the Master Preacher. Most of the read- ministry can be made than to individually ers of THE MINISTRY doubtless have read check on how our lives measure up when and reread the chapters of Gospel Workers compared with the master qualities of the setting forth the example of Christ's char- Master of men. Today as never before acter and ministry, but I wish to relist "God calls for men . . . who bring fifteen of the outstanding dynamic sen- the attributes of Christ's character into tences of inspiration setting forth His great their labors."—Gospel Workers, p. 95. saving qualities. (See Gospel Workers, pp. How wonderful it is to know that "God 41-43, 47, 115, 121.) I dare not comment can make humble men mighty in His serv- on these statements lest I detract from their ice."—Ibid., p. 79. By His eternal grace, precious beauty. Pregnant with meaning "what Christ was on earth, the Christian and calling for the deepest thought, they worker [minister and member alike] challenge every Adventist follower of the should strive to be."—Ibid., p. 121. May Christ to a holier consecration, to a higher God make of us all true representatives of life of love and service for the glory of His the gentleness, patience, goodness, and love name. of Christ, and in His great mercy enable us to bring into our ministry the attri- Master Qualities of the Master Preacher butes of Christ's character. Of the master qualities of the Master And may this always be our prayer: Preacher, it is written: I do not ask "His compassion knew no limit." That men may sound my praises, "It was heaven to be in His presence." Or headlines spread my name abroad; "He was like a vital current, diffusing I only ask that as I voice the message life and joy." Hearts may find God. J. A. B. "Men longed to become worthy of His confidence." "His life was one of constant self-sacri- We all leave footprints on the sands of fice." time. Some leave the impression of a great "From Him flowed a stream of healing soul—others the marks of a first-class heel. power." —Anonymous. 22 THE MINISTRY Motivation for Service G. M. MATHEWS Associate Secretary, General Conference Department of Education
HE affluent young man's re- istics of acceptable service. How may we en- Tfusal to abandon his wealth gage in service for Christ so that it will give us and follow Jesus apparently "strength and nobility of character"? made quite an impression upon Peter. In Matthew 19:27, he said Motive Determines Worth of Service to Jesus, "Behold, we have for- It is "not the amount of labor performed or saken all, and followed thee; its visible results but the spirit in which the what shall we have therefore?" work is done [that] makes it of value with Jesus did not ignore Peter's question because it God."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 397. It is not savored of the spirit of an hireling, but seized the amount of work we do, nor how it appears upon the occasion to set forth some basic prin- to others, but rather the motive with which it is ciples of divine remuneration for service ren- done, that determines whether or not our serv- dered the kingdom of God. ice is acceptable to God. Why did we do it? The He used the parable of the householder to motive is an important characteristic of reward- point out that those working for the kingdom able service. The alms given with selfish motives do not earn their reward. As some of the workers by the men mentioned by our Saviour in the were given a full day's wages for an hour's sixth chapter of Matthew did not help them work, so God will give all who reach heaven a in getting ready for the kingdom. They but reward far beyond their fondest dreams or ex- strengthened their selfishness and proved a pectations. The reward will be so overwhelm- curse to them! Mark tells how Jesus observed ingly generous, so far beyond anything they the worshipers in the Temple as they passed by could have earned that they will not remember the offering receptacle. The record states that their most painful sacrifices and trials while He watched, not how much they gave, but how they labored for Him on earth! they gave (Mark 12:41). It was not the worth If then we cannot earn Heaven's rewards, of the coin, but the motive of the heart that what is the purpose of service? It is to help pre- made the widow's gift so valuable in God's sight. pare us for heaven. This thought is emphasized Her deed was prompted by her love for God in the book Education: and her interest in His work. (See The Desire Those who reject the privilege of fellowship with of Ages, p. 615.) Christ in service, reject the only training that im- The question "Why did we do it?" seems to parts a fitness for participation with Him in His rank above every other consideration with God glory. They reject the training that in this life in judging the worth of our service. "Every act gives strength and nobility of character.—Page 264. (Italics supplied.) of our lives, whether excellent and praiseworthy, or deserving of censure, is judged by the Service then is God's provision to assist us in Searcher of hearts according to the motives developing characters that will make us eligible which prompted it."—Gospel Workers, p. 275. for the kingdom. But not all service performed (Italics supplied.) This is true, not only as far accomplishes this. Jesus points out in those as the amount of service is concerned, but also frightening words found in Matthew 7:21-23 as to the importance of the service. that "many" who have done wonderful deeds in Stanley Baldwin once said, "All my life I the very name of Jesus will not be recognized have believed from my heart the words of by the Lord at all. What then are the character- (Turn to page 26) SEPTEMBER, 1957 23 Pictures From a 470-
(MU Vii24:iniA 4ektkebasent,c*. *ANNA t. kidnono to Vos'rahecUrfaDoc **it* ;Frit iaparl stafteulat.gitoshebtnuf tea 4.44,40.K.S unatrii topeitoevasno.4 abg rocs. ro tro, woad. alm.10) abet gob ow.pu. .trl'gg 0.0.4*4Ratvgdstmlu tem tri tonsolazttrx vomtaoli MAO* ufaIn ben sweassIrsi Rag wt.* WNW ri srrata Ron.Rew,goa taw tr swot. Pictorial layout naf mann acji obtaninamovrai-rst eadtd* r Mahatma .ot h." zu&mon* IN First scene in the 1487 Bible. God Cover creating woman from man. Highly colored, with gold-leaf initial and COMM. This 1487 German Bible was found in a search for the church. In a remarkable state of preservation, and con tailed pictorial illustrations, it features art sketches : events recorded in the Scriptures. This display of the p :715311E1.° istry will give some idea of the religious concepts and and among the scholars concerned,
Revelation 12, 13 Reading from left to right: Dragon being cast down, the composite beast of Revelation 13 with the human head, worshiped by the world, the worship of the two-horned beast, and persecution.
Ram and he-goat of Daniel 8. The four horsemen of Revelation 6, followed by dragon monster representing hell. ear-Old German Bible
Four Beasts of Daniel 7
Portion of introductory picture to the Apocalypse showing the apostle John in boiling oil, miraculously delivered. He received the heavenly oldest Bible conducted by the Sydney, Australia, SDA Revelation while banished to the taming more than one hundred elaborate and de- Isle of Patmos. Ind diagrams on the prophecies, and some principal rophecies of special significance to the Adventist min- prophetic interpretations that prevailed at the time, where this version was printed.
Revelation 17-21 Reading from right to left: Composite picture story of Rev- elation 17. Woman Babylon on scarlet-colored beast receiv- ing worship of all nations. Revelation 18, Babylon cast like a millstone into the sea. Revelation 20, binding of Satan and harvest of the earth. Revelation 21, New Jerusalem.
Seven trumpets and worship before the throne. Revelation 11, 12. Measuring the temple and the altar. The two witnesses and the beast about to kill them. The great red dragon pursuing the woman clothed with the sun. Motivation for Service heavenly love builds the principles of the king- dom of God in human character. (Continued from page 23) The true concern of acceptable service is Browning, 'All service ranks the same with God.' motivated by loving compassion. "When he saw It makes little difference whether a man is the multitudes, he was moved with compas- driving a tramcar, or sweeping streets, or being sion on them" (Matt. 9:36).. This great motivat- prime minister, if he only brings to that service ing force reached its zenith in the bleeding everything that is in him, and performs it for heart of_ Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. the sake of mankind." How He longed for some way to escape the A second characteristic of acceptable service terrible ordeal! How strong was the temptation is entire unselfishness. We are told that: to return to heaven! In all our service a full surrender of self is de- But now the history of the human race comes manded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and up before the world's Redeemer. He sees that the self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must greatest work when marred with self-seeking. . . . perish. . . . He sees the power of sin. . . . He will Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for su- save man at any cost to Himself.—The Desire of premacy is banished, when gratitude fills the heart, Ages, pp. 690, 693. and love makes fragrant the life—it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recog- The Compassionate Attitude nized as laborers together with God.—Christ's Ob- ject Lessons, p. 402. I shall be eternally grateful that my Saviour Judging by the last sentence in this quotation, cared that much for me then, and that He I'm very sure that for many of the days of my cares for me now! His concern cost Him His ministry I have not been recognized as a worker life. He even risked His eternal life to save me, for God. Think of it, brethren. Our service for so great was His compassion. This same com- God, no matter how much we accomplish or passionate attitude must characterize my serv- how important it may seem, may be just as ice if it is to be acceptable. The criticism voiced worthless as that of the Hindu fakir on his by some of our people with regard to both those bed of nails! It is sad to recall that the vast laymen and workers who they feel often show majority of Gideon's army were rejected by little or no concern for the spiritual welfare of God because they were filled with self. Even their fellow men is doubtless justified. This though there were many thousands of them be- curse of selfish indifference has long been a trial cause of their preoccupation with themselves to God and man. David cried, "No man cared they "would add no strength to the armies of for my soul" (Ps. 142:4). Could it be that some Israel."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 548. for whom we labor feel that way about us? God forbid! Love-impelled Service Perhaps the psalmist has accurately sum- If Christian service is to be acceptable to marized the characteristics of acceptable service God and is to assist in giving "strength and- in the sixth verse of the 126th psalm: "He that nobility of character" to the performer, the con- goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, dition of his heart is of major importance. Not shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring- only must it be entirely unselfish; it must be ing his sheaves with him." Going forth means full of heaven-sent love. "He regards more the spending much of our time and energy trying love and faithfulness with which we work than to help those in need. It means foregoing com- the amount we do."—Christ's Object Lessons, fort, protection, and security to labor in a p. 402. This points up sharply the difference world of woe, of strife, of greed, of selfishness, between "duty-driven" and "love-impelled" of impurity and godlessness. It may mean sacri- service. The former is not recognized by God fice, being misunderstood, being mistreated, and and actually serves to fasten us more securely even death. in our selfishness. How often I must be re- The weeping sower sows the precious seed in minded that not all service done in the name of the highways and in the byways prayerfully, Jesus counts—either for Him or for me! "Only compassionately, faithfully, longingly. Why? the work accomplished with much prayer, and Not for the praise of men; not for personal sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the honor or position; not to surpass what others end prove to have been efficient for good."— have done. He labors long and hard and cheer- The Desire of Ages, p. 362. Our labors will be fully because of his inner overflowing heart of effective only if prompted by love, surcharged love. He is impelled by no other reason. When with prayer, and done faithfully as unto God. these qualities characterize our service we shall Service that overflows from a heart full of not be spending much time wondering about 26 THE MINISTRY "What shall we have?" Such service God will Lessons, p. 361). How grateful we should be for bless with the twofold reward of winning other this plan of God's marvelous grace whereby souls for His kingdom and of saving by His man is not only redeemed himself but is infinite grace all who serve. How wonderful granted the high honor of rendering service to God is! He gives us the opportunity to serve; God and his fellow men, which further fits him He provides the power and wisdom which make for the citizenship of heaven. our service fruitful—and then He rewards us "Who then is willing to consecrate his serv- as if the merit were our own (Christ's Object ice this day unto the Lord?" (1 Chron. 29:5).
Fellowship With Ministers of Other Faiths
DIETER P. HAIN Minister, Alberta Conference, Canada
He went with her to church the following Sun- ACK in 1899 we were told that "the wisest, day. His hostess introduced him to her minister, B firmest labor should be given to those min- who in turn introduced him to his congregation, isters who are not of our faith. . . . Let faithful, stating he was a student from the British West God-fearing, earnest workers . . . pray and work Indies, now at Canadian Union College. Ru- for honest ministers. . . . If this is done, there dolph was asked to give the Scripture reading are many ministers now preaching error, who that morning, and invited to stay at the minis- will preach the truth for this time."—Evan- ter's home as long as he worked in that terri- gelism, p. 562. tory. But not only that! He was asked by his Being especially attracted to this type of work, new host to preach two sermons, one in each I spent the past six summers as a student col- of his churches. Rudolph spoke on the second porteur, traveling in Europe and Canada, al- coming of Christ on the first Sunday, and on the ways endeavoring to get to know the clergymen Ten Commandments the following weekend. of different denominations in the areas I worked. The minister was present both times. Not satisfied with my own experience, however, After spending nearly two weeks as a guest I interviewed some of our evangelists, teachers, at the man's house, this colporteur evangelist and colporteurs, and found that others were left Patriarchs and Prophets with the minister. finding the same joy as had come to my own He already had purchased a copy of Our Day heart. I hereby submit a few suggestions, hop- in the Light of Prophecy. ing they may be of help to others. This may have happened to a colporteur, 1. Get Acquainted With Them but can a minister ever hope to be as successful as that? Occasionally funeral services have to This principle is well expressed by E. M. be conducted in other churches, and our minis- Chalmers, conference evangelist in Alberta. ters are asked to speak. That is always a privi- "Wherever I conduct my campaigns I contact lege. However, "In improving these opportuni- the other ministers in order to get acquainted. ties, remember the words of the Saviour, 'Be On the whole, they are easier to approach than ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as laymen, for a minister is always spiritually in- doves.' "—Evangelism, pp. 563, 564. clined. Over and over again I find the shepherds of other flocks as human as we are." Not only is 3. Pray With and for These Men this a helpful suggestion for evangelists, but it E. M. Chalmers tells this thrilling story. "Be- may also be considered by pastors, teachers, and fore beginning my campaigns I always send out Bible workers as well. letters of invitation to the ministers living in the district. I wish to be honored with their pres- 2. Visit Their Churches ence during my meetings." The outcome of a friendly visit to another He told me of one place where a local minis- church may far exceed our immediate expecta- ter was severely criticizing him. So he called at tions. While doing colporteur work in central his home, and they had a visit together. He soon Alberta, a student from one of our churches learned the reason for this opposition, for the made his temporary home in the house of an minister told how some years ago he was study- elderly woman, a member of the United Church. ing our Bible correspondence course and was SEPTEMBER, 1957 27 enjoying it until he found out what church was and Canadian Union College shows what the responsible for it. This was evident, of course, spirit of helpfulness can do. When the choir of when the lessons opened up the question of the the Bethel church was left without a leader Sabbath. Since then he felt he should oppose us several years ago, Elder and Mrs. J. I. Crawford whenever a chance came his way, for he felt volunteered to fill in. Mrs. Crawford directed we were deceivers. Elder Chalmers apologized the choir while her husband played the organ. for the apparent oversight on the matter of Several public performances had been given identification and then endeavored to give him during the Christmas season, the last one being a true picture of the work of Seventh-day Ad- given in the college chapel on December 28, ventists. They had prayer together and parted 1955. The Crawfords reported that all women as friends. A friendly visit and a prayer by our members of the choir completely refrained from ministers will not only break the ice of indiffer- using make-up, although nothing had ever been ence, but will win the friendship of many a said to them about it. Elder Crawford, who was clergyman not of our faith. And should there at that time head of the Department of Theol- not be a bond of interest and fellowship be- ogy at Canadian Union College, arranged for tween shepherds of souls? Some may misunder- the college temperance chapter to conduct a stand our efforts to be friendly, but many will young people's program in the Bethel church. welcome the gesture of Christian love. In this connection we may bring up the ques- tion, Is there any harm in joining the ministe- 4. Invite Them to Visit Our Schools rial associations? Doubtless many of our min- Shortly after arriving at our German Marien- isters have wondered about that. We do not hoehe Missionary Seminary to begin my minis- have any direct testimony from the Spirit of terial training, I was greatly surprised by being prophecy, but can there be any harm in attend- introduced to two young men who were sons of ing their meetings when we show a spirit of co- Lutheran ministers. We became friends, and I operation and willingness to help, without giv- discovered that in both cases their parents had ing up our principles? visited our school, and after finding it com- pletely free from what they had termed the 7. Accept Their Help "leaven of modernism," had sent their boys to R. R. Aussner, a successful colporteur and Marienhoehe to take their senior matriculation. later a licensed minister in the Manitoba-Sas- katchewan Conference, tells of an instance 5. Study With Them where a Catholic priest not only offered him Again, Elder Chalmers can best illustrate this free room and board while he was working in point with one of his recent experiences. "Dur- northern Saskatchewan, but when his car broke ing one of my campaigns a young Methodist down this kind priest made his own Austin avail- man became interested in the message and able. "I delivered quite a few copies of The began taking Bible studies from me. His minis- Great Controversy in that priest's car," he said. ter did not approve of that, so we decided to In fact his sales went up in that district. pay him a visit. Together with the young man Doubtless such an opportunity will seldom I called and presented a short study on the Sab- come to a minister, especially one of our minis- bath, at the close of which the minister said, ters. But we must be alert, showing open-mind- deeply impressed, 'This is what we ministers edness. If we do, we will break down prejudice should be doing more often, getting together to and find the way to many a heart. study the Bible, instead of talking about cars 8. Encourage Them and houses.' Turning to the young man he added, 'Since you have studied more about this Encouragement is always appreciated and Sabbath question, it must be clear to you.' sometimes needed. One of our evangelists not Thereupon the young man asked his minister, long ago got into a conversation with a young `What shall I do, then, shall I keep the Sabbath?' seminary graduate of a different denomination To our amazement, the minister replied, 'That's who complained about losing his faith in the the only thing you can do and still be honest.' " Bible as God's Inspired Word. Our brother gave Here was a true leader, a man of integrity. It is the brief study on Daniel 2 and 7, after which always heartening to meet men of honest pur- this young "theolog" said, "In our seminary pose. we never bothered investigating prophecy and 6. Offer Your Help some of these other truths. We were too busy with other things." When they parted the young The relationship that exists between the man had not only regained his faith in the Bible, Bethel Christian Reformed church, of Lacombe, but knew something also of the Sabbath truth.
28 THE MINISTRY 9. Enroll Them in the Bible Course New Reformation Preaching
One of our teachers at the Marienhoehe Mis- (Continued from page 16) sionary Seminary had attended the Heidelberg University to train for the ministry. He was that it is because he hasn't the dimmest, foggi- invited by one of our church members to enroll est idea of what an ordinary soldier thinks in the Bible course. These lessons gripped his about, and is, that he fails to strike a single soul, and he was baptized a year later. Today he responsive note." is finishing his work at the University of Frank- God forbid that such things shall ever be furt and, as opportunity permits, also teaches at truthfully said about us and our ministry. Of our seminary. As soon as he completes his doc- all times in Christian history, now is the time torate, he plans to devote his full time to the for the most virile preaching ever listened to training of our ministers. by sinful men. Now when the Bible in its whole- ness has been given back to the preacher, there 10. Meet With Them on Common Ground should be a revival of true Biblical preaching. Then there would be no lack of interest on the During the summer of 1954 I went to visit a part of the people, and the preacher would certain minister who had instructed his congre- never be without a message. "Give me the Bi- gation not to buy any of our books. The first ble and the Holy Ghost," said Spurgeon, "and few minutes of our interview reminded me of I can go on preaching forever." those icebergs we read about that are actually much larger below than above the surface. But Today the setting in the world—both secular the Lord seemed to give me the right words to and religious—is ideal for the proclamation of speak, and in a few minutes the ice was com- the third angel's message. The great truths that pletely melted. We discussed the subject of justi- characterize the Second Advent Movement, the fication, and I illustrated the subject from my mediatorial ministry of Christ and the perpetu- own experience. At the close of our visit he ity of the law of God, are the answer to man's escorted me to the door, shaking hands warmly, special needs in this time of judgment. The and calling me his "brother in the Lord." There messages of Revelation 14 "constitute a three- was no more trouble from him or his congrega- fold warning which is to prepare the inhabit- tion after that. ants of the earth for the Lord's second coming. Surely we have much common ground with The announcement, 'The hour of His judg- the Christian churches. Why not make use of ment is come,' points to the closing work of it? A Roman Catholic priest will readily agree Christ's ministration for the salvation of men. with us on the importance of keeping God's It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed Ten Commandments. A Lutheran minister will until the Saviour's intercession shall cease and open his heart once we make plain to him our He shall return to the earth to take His people view of justification and sanctification; a Bap- to Himself."' tist pastor, believing as he does in immersion A great work is to be accomplished in setting be- just like we do, will rejoice to discuss the great- fore men the saving truths of the gospel. This is ness of the grace of God. We may not see im- the means ordained of God to stem the tide of mediate results, but do not let us be discouraged. moral corruption. This is His means of restoring His moral image in man. It is His remedy for Jesus saw no encouraging signs immediately universal disorganization. It is the power that draws after His interview with Nicodemus; yet we men together in unity. To present these truths is find this self-sufficient scholar later defending the work of the third angel's message. The Lord Christ before a court of zealous Pharisees (John designs that the presentation of this message shall 7:50, 51). And after the death of our Lord, be the highest, greatest work carried on in the Nicodemus was among the first to visit His world at this time.1° tomb, donating a hundred pounds of myrrh Finally, the contemporary search for the true and aloes (John 19:39). After the resurrection church must be remembered in the New Refor- he came boldly to the front. And we are told mation preaching. There is a great host of that this ruler in Israel "employed his wealth Christ's true followers scattered among the var- in sustaining the infant church that the Jews ious religious communions. They are waiting had expected to be blotted out at the death for the gracious invitation of the third angel's of Christ. In the time of peril he who had been message, and under the mighty preaching of this so cautious and questioning was firm as a rock, message will heed the call and unite with God's encouraging the faith of the disciples, and remnant people. "Many, both ministers and furnishing means to carry forward the work of people, will gladly accept those great truths the gospel."—The Desire of Ages, p. 177. which God has caused to be proclaimed at SEPTEMBER, 1957 29 this time to prepare a people for the Lord's God, Thou Art Love second coming." To us, then, as ministers and preachers, en- If I forget, trusted with God's final message, our work has Yet God remembers! If these hands of been cut out for us. The Lord has given us a mine special truth for this time of emergency. Cease from their clinging, yet the hands divine Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy Hold me so firmly that I cannot fall; to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at And if sometimes I am too tired to call the peril of their souls. Christ's ambassadors have For Him to help me, then He reads the nothing to do with consequences. They must per- prayer form their duty and leave results with God. Unspoken in my heart, and lifts my care. REFERENCES I dare not fear, since certainly I know Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 11. That I am in God's keeping, shielded so 2 Truman B. Douglass, Preaching and the New Reforma- tion, p. 19. From all that else would harm, and in Ibid., p. 17. the hour 4 Bernard W. Anderson, Rediscovering the Bible, p. 8. 5 John Bennett, Christian Century, Nov. 8, 1933. Of stern temptation strengthened by His W. M. Horton, Theology in Transition, vol. 2, pp. 133, 134. power; 7 B. W. Anderson, op. cit., p. 205. s Adolph Keller, Christian Europe Today, p. 142. I tread no path in life to Him unknown; 9 Ellen G. Whit, Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 20, 21. SO Ellen G. White, The Great Controver,y, p. I lift no burden, bear no pain, alone; 11 Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 7, pp. 150, 151. 42 Ibid., vol. 9, p. 97. My soul a calm, sure hiding-place has 12 Ibid., vol. 8, pp. 36, 37. found: 14 John Knox, The Early Church and the Coming Great Church, pp. 136,.137. The everlasting arms my life surround. 15 G. A. Barrois, in Theology Today, April, 1949, p. 76. 16 Daniel Jenkins, The Strangeness of the Church, p. 170. 17 Ibid., pp. 172, 173. Is Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 435, 436. God, Thou art love! I build my faith on 10 Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 11. that. 20 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 464. 21 Ibid., pp. 609, 610. I know Thee who has kept my path, and made Light for me in the darkness, tempering LITTLE JUGS AFTER a minister had preached sorrow for three hours, a young man came up to him and said, "You tired me out—you So that it reached me like a solemn joy; preached too long." The preacher gave the young It were too strange that I should doubt man a withering look and said, "Young man, you're Thy love. a little jug and you are very easily filled."—Louts H. —Robert Browning EVANS. Enriching Worship, pp. 57, 58
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