Relationships Within the Church
101
impulsive, and unconsecrated; to build up, and then to tear down;
to dishearten, distress, and discourage the very souls that have been
converted by the truth he has presented. It is a sad thing to lose the
confidence of the very ones whom he has been laboring to save. But
the result of an unwise course pursued by the minister will never be
fully understood until the minister sees as God seeth.—
Testimonies
for the Church 3:243
.
What excuse could a shepherd have for allowing the flock to
stray?—What is a shepherd for, unless it be to watch for every danger
lest the sheep be harmed and destroyed by wolves? What excuse could
a shepherd plead for suffering the flock to stray from the true pasture,
and be torn and scattered and devoured by wolves? How would an
excuse stand made by the shepherd that the sheep led him astray? They
left the true pasture, and led him out of the way? Such a plea would
tell with force against that shepherd’s ability to watch over the sheep.
No more confidence could be placed in him as a faithful shepherd to
care for the sheep, and bring them back as they might stray from the
right path.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:314, 315
.
Confessing your own mistakes encourages a spirit of confes-
sion in your church—Those who profess to be servants of the living
God must be willing to be servants of all, instead of being exalted
above the brethren, and they must possess a kind, courteous spirit. If
they err, they should be ready to confess thoroughly. Honesty of inten-
tion cannot stand as an excuse for not confessing errors. Confession
would not lessen the confidence of the church in the messenger, and he
would set a good example; a spirit of confession would be encouraged
in the church, and sweet union would be the result. Those who profess
to be teachers should be patterns of piety, meekness, and humility,
possessing a kind spirit, to win souls to Jesus and the truth of the Bible.
A minister of Christ should be pure in conversation and in actions.
He should ever bear in mind that he is handling words of inspiration,
words of a holy God. He must also bear in mind that the flock is
entrusted to his care, and that he is to bear their cases to Jesus, and
plead for them as Jesus pleads for us with the Father.—
Early Writings,
102
.
Help your church understand why it should not expect the
minister to wait on them—My heart has been filled with sadness as
I have looked over the field and seen the barren places. What does this