The Church and the Ministry
It is high time that the members of our churches made decided
efforts to sustain the men who are giving the last message of mercy
to the world. Let church members, by a manifestation of practical
religion, give weight to the message of warning which is being borne
to the world by God’s messengers. Intelligent people are alarmed at
the outlook in the world. If those who have a knowledge of the truth
will practice Bible principles, showing that they have been sanctified
by the truth, that they are true followers of the meek and lowly Saviour,
they will exert an influence that will win souls to Christ.
Anything less than active, earnest service for the Master gives the
lie to our profession of faith. Only the Christianity that is revealed
by earnest, practical work will make an impression upon those who
are dead in trespasses and sins. Praying, humble, believing Christians,
those who show by their actions that their greatest desire is to make
known the saving truth which is to test all people, will gather a rich
harvest of souls for the Master.
We need to break up the monotony of our religious labor. We are
doing a work in the world, but we are not showing sufficient activity
and zeal. If we were more in earnest, men would be convinced of
the truth of our message. The tameness and monotony of our service
for God repels many souls of a higher class, who need to see a deep,
earnest, sanctified zeal. Legal religion will not answer for this age.
We may perform all the outward acts of service and yet be as destitute
of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit as the hills of Gilboa
were destitute of dew and rain. We all need spiritual moisture, and we
need also the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to soften and
[418]
subdue our hearts. We are always to be as firm as a rock to principle.
Bible principles are to be taught and then backed up by holy practice.
Those in the service of God must show animation and determina-
tion in the work of winning souls. Remember that there are those who
will perish unless we as God’s instrumentalities work with a determi-
359