Baptism and Church Membership
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and hope. Every soul united to Christ will be a living missionary to all
around him.—
Letter 55, 1886
.
A Caution to Evangelists and Pastors—Our ministering
brethren make a decided failure of doing their work in a manner
directed by the Lord. They fail to present every man perfect in Christ
Jesus. They have not gained an experience through personal com-
munion with God, or a true knowledge of what constitutes Christian
character; therefore many are baptized who have no fitness for this
sacred ordinance, but who are knit to self and the world. They have
not seen Christ or received Him by faith.—
The Review and Herald,
February 4, 1890
.
A Weakness in Our Evangelism—The accession of members
who have not been renewed in heart and reformed in life is a source of
weakness to the church. This fact is often ignored. Some ministers and
churches are so desirous of securing an increase of numbers that they
do not bear faithful testimony against unchristian habits and practices.
Those who accept the truth are not taught that they cannot safely be
worldlings in conduct while they are Christians in name. Heretofore
they were Satan’s subjects; henceforth they are to be subjects of Christ.
The life must testify to the change of leaders.
Public opinion favors a profession of Christianity. Little self-denial
or self-sacrifice is required in order to put on a form of godliness, and
to have one’s name enrolled upon the church book. Hence many
join the church without first becoming united to Christ. In this Satan
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triumphs. Such converts are his most efficient agents. They serve
as decoys to other souls. They are false lights, luring the unwary to
perdition. It is in vain that men seek to make the Christian’s path broad
and pleasant for worldlings. God has not smoothed or widened the
rugged, narrow way. If we would enter into life, we must follow the
same path which Jesus and His disciples trod,—the path of humility,
self-denial, and sacrifice.—
Testimonies For The Church 5:172
(1882).
Our Goal—Truly Converted Members—Ministers who labor
in towns and cities to present the truth should not feel content, nor
that their work is ended, until those who have accepted the theory
of the truth realize indeed the effect of its sanctifying power, and
are truly converted to God. God would be better pleased to have six
truly converted to the truth as the result of their labors, than to have
sixty make a nominal profession, and yet not be thoroughly converted.