Chapter 5—Ministerial Training
The times demand an intelligent, educated ministry—The
times demand an intelligent, educated ministry, not novices. False
doctrines are being multiplied. The world is becoming educated to a
high standard of literary attainment; and sin, unbelief, and infidelity are
becoming more bold and defiant, as intellectual knowledge and acute-
ness are acquired. This state of things calls for the use of every power
of the intellect; for it is keen minds, under the control of Satan, that the
minister will have to meet. He should be well balanced by religious
principles, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Too much haphazard work has been done, and minds have
not been exercised to their fullest capacity. Our ministers will have to
defend the truth against base apostates, as well as to measure Scripture
evidence with those who advocate specious errors. Truth must be
placed in contrast with bold assertions. Our ministers must be men
who are wholly consecrated to God, men of no mean culture; but their
minds must be all aglow with religious fervor, gathering divine rays of
light from heaven and flashing them amid the darkness that covers the
earth and the gross darkness that surrounds the people.—
Testimonies
for the Church 5:528
.
Do not expect an important position if you have neglected to
train and discipline yourself—Do men think that they will be able,
under pressure of circumstances, to step into an important position,
when they have neglected to train and discipline themselves for the
work? Do they imagine that they can be polished instruments in the
hands of God for the salvation of souls, if they have not used the
opportunities placed at their command for obtaining a fitness for the
work? The cause of God calls for all-round men, who can devise, plan,
build up, and organize. And those who appreciate the probabilities
and possibilities of the work for this time, will seek by earnest study to
obtain all the knowledge they can from the Word, to use in ministering
to needy, sin-sick souls.—
Gospel Workers, 93
.
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