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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
ever seeking some device to call the minister from his field of labor at
this critical point, that the results of his labors may be lost.
There are in the church unconsecrated, unconverted men and
women who think more of maintaining their own dignity and their
own opinions than they do of the salvation of their fellow creatures;
and Satan works upon these to stir up difficulties that consume the
time and labor of the minister, and many souls are lost as the result.
While the members of the church are in a divided state of feeling,
their hearts are hard and unimpressible. The efforts of the minister
are like blows upon cold iron, and each party becomes more set in
his own way than before. The minister is placed in a most unenviable
position; for, though he should decide ever so wisely, his decision must
displease someone, and thus the party spirit is strengthened.
If the minister makes his home with some one family, others are
sure to be jealous lest he shall receive impressions unfavorable to
themselves. If he gives counsel, some will say, “Such a one has been
talking with him,” and his words have no weight with them. Thus their
souls are armed with distrust and evil surmising, and the minister is
left at the mercy of their prejudices and jealousies. Too often he leaves
the matter worse than he found it. Had he utterly refused to listen to
the colored, one-sided statements of any, had he given words of advice
in accordance with the Bible rule and said, like Nehemiah, “I am doing
a great work, so that I cannot come down,” that church would have
been in a far better condition.
Ministers and lay members of the church displease God when they
allow individuals to tell them the errors and faults of their brethren.
They should not listen to these reports, but should inquire: “Have you
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strictly followed the injunctions of your Saviour? Have you gone to
the offender and told him his faults between you and him alone? And
has he refused to hear you? Have you carefully and prayerfully taken
two or three others, and labored with him in tenderness, humility,
and meekness, your heart throbbing with love for his soul?” If the
Captain’s orders, in the rules given for the erring, have been strictly
followed, then an advance step is to be taken-tell it to the church, and
let action be taken in the case according to the Scriptures. Then it is
that heaven will ratify the decision made by the church in cutting off
the offending member if he does not repent. If these steps have not
been taken, close the ear to complaints, and thus refuse to take up a