276
Pastoral Ministry
When united with Christ, members will solve church prob-
lems with sympathy, tenderness, and love—The Bible sets before
us a model church. They are to be in unity with each other, and with
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God. When believers are united in Christ the living vine, the result
is that they are one with Christ, full of sympathy and tenderness and
love.—
Selected Messages 3:18
.
Problems are solved when we approach others in a spirit of
meekness, kindness, and mercy—Never question the motives of your
brethren; for as you judge them, God has declared you will be judged.
Open your hearts to kindliness, to the cheering rays of the Sun of Righ-
teousness. Encourage kindly thoughts and holy affections. Cultivate
the habit of speaking well of your brethren. Let not pride or selfish
righteousness prevent you from making a frank and full confession
of your wrong-doings. If you do not love those for whom Christ has
died, you have no genuine love for Christ, and your worship will be
as a tainted offering before God. If you cherish unworthy thoughts,
misjudging your brethren and surmising evil of them, God will not
hear your self-sufficient, self-exalted prayers. When you go to those
who you think are doing wrong, you must have the spirit of meek-
ness, of kindness, and be full of mercy and good fruits. Do not show
partiality to one or more, and neglect other of your brethren because
they are not congenial to you. Beware lest you deal harshly with
those who you think have made mistakes, while others, more guilty
and more deserving of reproof, who should be severely rebuked for
their unChristlike conduct, are sustained and treated as friends.—
The
Review and Herald, March 12, 1895
.
Solve problems by counseling together—The Spirit of Christ is
grieved when any of His followers give evidence of possessing a harsh,
unfair, or exacting spirit. As laborers together with God, each should
regard the other as part of God’s great firm. He desires that they shall
counsel together. There is to be no drawing apart, for the spirit of
independence dishonors the truth we profess. One special evidence that
the Spirit of Christ is abiding in His church is the unity and harmony
which exist among its members. This is the brightest witness to the
possession of true religion; for it will convert and transform the natural
man, and fashion him after the divine similitude.—
The Review and
Herald, February 18, 1909
.