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Evangelism
God are watching you, and they understand how to impress those
whose opposition you refuse to meet with arguments. Dwell not on
the negative points of questions that arise, but gather to your minds
affirmative truths, and fasten them there by much study, earnest prayer,
and heart consecration. Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, and
let bright rays shine forth, that men, beholding your good works, may
be led to glorify your Father who is in heaven.
If Christ had not held to the affirmative in the wilderness of tempta-
tion, He would have lost all that He desired to gain. Christ’s way is the
best way to meet our opponents. We strengthen their arguments when
we repeat what they say. Keep always to the affirmative. It may be that
the very man who is opposing you will carry your words home, and
be converted to the sensible truth that has reached his understanding.
I have often said to our brethren: Your opponents will make state-
ments about your work that are false. Do not repeat their statements,
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but hold to your assertions of the living truth; and angels of God will
open the way before you. We have a great work to carry forward, and
we must carry it in a sensible way. Let us never get excited, or allow
evil feelings to arise. Christ did not do this, and He is our example in
all things. For the work given us to do we need much more of heavenly,
sanctified, humble wisdom, and much less of self. We need to lay
hold firmly on divine power.—
Testimonies For The Church 9:147,
148
(1909).
When Opposed—Guard the Tongue—When opposed, you will
be in danger of retaliating in a sharp debating manner, if you are
not constantly softened and subdued by the contemplation of Christ,
and have a heart to pray, “Be Thou my pattern.” Looking unto Jesus
constantly, catching His spirit, you will be able to present the truth as
it is in Jesus....
Love must be the prevailing element in all our work. In the repre-
sentation of others who do not believe as we do, every speaker must
guard against making statements that will appear severe and like judg-
ing. Present the truth, and let the truth, the Holy Spirit of God, act as
a reprover, as a judge; but let not your words bruise and wound the
soul....
Let not one rasping word be spoken. Let all sharp speeches that
you are disposed to make, be kept to your individual self. Be as true
as steel to principle, wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove. If