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Pastoral Ministry
Family
The Word should be considered a family counselor—Parents
need to reform; ministers need to reform; they need God in their
households. If they would see a different state of things, they must
bring His Word into their families and must make it their counselor.
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They must teach their children that it is the voice of God addressed to
them, and is to be implicitly obeyed. They should patiently instruct
their children, kindly and untiringly teach them how to live in order to
please God. The children of such a household are prepared to meet
the sophistries of infidelity. They have accepted the Bible as the basis
of their faith, and they have a foundation that cannot be swept away
by the incoming tide of skepticism.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 143
.
Do not listen to the private troubles and family disappoint-
ments of women attracted to you—Women have been attracted to
you, and have been ready to pour into your ears their private troubles
and family disappointments. You ought not to lend an ear to them, but
tell them that you are yourself only an erring mortal; that God is their
helper.—
Mind, Character, and Personality 2:767
.
If a woman manifests undue attention and mourns that her
husband does not love her, do not try to supply this lack—Those
who stand as ministers in the sacred desk should be men of blameless
reputation; their lives should be spotless, above everything that savors
of impurity. Do not place your reputation in jeopardy by going in the
way of temptation. If a woman lingeringly holds your hand, quickly
withdraw it and save her from sin. If she manifests undue affection and
mourns that her husband does not love her and sympathize with her,
do not try to supply this lack. Your only safe and wise course in such
a case is to keep your sympathy to yourself. Such cases are numerous.
Point such souls to the Burden Bearer, the true and safe Counselor. If
she has chosen Christ as a companion, He will give her grace to bear
neglect without repining; meanwhile she should diligently do all in
her power to bind her husband to herself by strictest fidelity to him
and faithfulness in making his home cheerful and attractive. If all her
efforts are unavailing and unappreciated, she will have the sympathy
and aid of her blessed Redeemer. He will help her to bear all her
burdens and comfort her in her disappointments. She shows distrust
of Jesus when she reaches for human objects to supply the place that