Seite 259 - Testimonies for the Church Volume 6 (1901)

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Neglect by the Church and the Ministry
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Someone must fulfill the commission of Christ; someone must
carry on the work which He began to do on earth; and the church has
been given this privilege. For this purpose it has been organized. Why,
then, have not church members accepted the responsibility? There are
those who have seen this great neglect; they have seen the needs of
many who are in suffering and want; they have recognized in these
poor souls those for whom Christ gave His life, and their hearts have
been stirred with pity, every energy has been roused to action. They
have entered upon a work of organizing those who will co-operate
with them in bringing the truth of the gospel before many who are
now in vice and iniquity, that they may be redeemed from a life of
dissipation and sin. Those who have been engaged in this Christian
help work have been doing what the Lord desires to have done, and
He has accepted their labors. That which has been done in this line is
a work which every Seventh-day Adventist should heartily sympathize
with and indorse, and take hold of earnestly. In neglecting this work
which is within their own borders, in refusing to bear these burdens,
the church is meeting with great loss. Had the church taken up this
work as they should have done, they would have been the means of
saving many souls.
Because of their neglect the Lord has looked with disfavor upon
the church. A love of ease and selfish indulgence has been shown by
many. Some who have had the privilege of knowing Bible truth have
not brought it into the inner sanctuary of the soul. God holds all these
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accountable for the talents which they have not returned to Him in
honest, faithful service in making every effort possible to seek and
to save those who were lost. These slothful servants are represented
as coming to the wedding supper without the wedding garment, the
robe of the righteousness of Christ. They have nominally accepted the
truth, but they do not practice it. Professedly circumcised, they are in
reality among the uncircumcised.
Why do we not become enthused with the Spirit of Christ? Why
are we so little moved by the pitiful cries of a suffering world? Do we
consider our exalted privilege of adding a star to Christ’s crown—a
soul cut loose from the chains with which Satan has bound him, a soul
saved in the kingdom of God? The church must realize its obligation
to carry the gospel of present truth to every creature. I entreat of you
to read the third and fourth chapters of Zechariah. If these chapters are