Leadership
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is judged, not by the external appearance, but from the motive which
dictated the action.
All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them; for
these are the avenues to the soul. We may be as severe as we like in
disciplining ourselves, but we must be very cautious not to push souls
to desperation. Some feel that Brother White is altogether too severe
in speaking in a decided manner to individuals, in reproving what he
thinks is wrong in them. He may be in danger of not being so careful
in his manner of reproving as to give no occasion for reflection; but
some of those who complain of his manner of reproving use the most
cutting, reproving, condemnatory language, too indiscriminating to be
spoken to a congregation, and they feel that they have relieved their
souls and done a good work. But the angels of God do not always
approve such labor. If Brother White makes one individual feel that
he is not doing right, if he is too severe toward that one and needs
to be taught to modify his manners, to soften his spirit, how much
more necessary for his ministering brethren to feel the inconsistency
of making a large congregation suffer from cutting reproofs and strong
denunciations, when the really innocent must suffer with the guilty.
It is worse, far worse, to give expression to the feelings in a large
gathering, firing at anyone and everyone, than to go to the individ-
uals who may have done wrong and personally reprove them. The
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offensiveness of this severe, overbearing, denunciatory talk in a large
gathering is of as much more grave a character in the sight of God
than giving personal, individual reproof as the numbers are greater and
the censure more general. It is ever easier to give expression to the
feelings before a congregation, because there are many present, than
to go to the erring and, face to face with them, openly, frankly, plainly
state their wrong course. But bringing into the house of God strong
feelings against individuals, and making all the innocent as well as
the guilty suffer, is a manner of labor which God does not sanction
and which does harm rather than good. It has too often been the case
that criticizing and denunciatory discourses have been given before a
congregation. These do not encourage a spirit of love in the brethren.
They do not tend to make them spiritually minded and lead them to
holiness and heaven, but a spirit of bitterness is aroused in hearts.
These very strong sermons that cut a man all to pieces are sometimes
positively necessary to arouse, alarm, and convict. But unless they