26
Pastoral Ministry
sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone.—
The Upward Look,
152
.
Do not preach just that part of the truth that pleases the peo-
ple—Paul exhorted Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.” We are to give the message of warning to the world, and
how are we doing our work? Are you, brethren, preaching that part of
the truth that pleases the people, while other parts of the work are left
incomplete? Will it be necessary for some one to follow after you, and
urge upon the people the duty of faithfully bringing all the tithes and
offerings into the Lord’s treasury? This is the work of the minister,
but it has been sadly neglected. The people have robbed God, and the
wrong has been suffered because the minister did not want to displease
his brethren. God calls these men unfaithful stewards. The charge to
his servants is, “Be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” If the under shepherds do
their duty with fidelity, when the chief Shepherd shall appear he will
give them “a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” Daniel saw their
reward, and he says, “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness
of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars
forever and ever.”—
The Review and Herald, July 8, 1884
.
[30]
Shun the burning desire to get up something new and bring it
in as new light—If we only knew what is before us, we should not
be so dilatory in doing the work of the Lord. There are ministers and
workers who will present a tissue of nonsensical falsehoods as testing
truths, even as the Jewish rabbis presented the maxims of men as the
bread of heaven. These are given to the flock of God, as their portion of
meat in due season, while the poor sheep are starving for the bread of
life. Even now there seems to be a burning desire to get up something
startling, and bring it in as new light. Thus men are weaving into the
web as important truths a tissue of lies. This imaginary food that is
being prepared for the flock will cause spiritual consumption, decline,
and death.—
The Review and Herald, January 22, 1901
.
Respect the rights of others by studying to see if their pre-
sumed new light is scriptural—We must learn that others have rights
as well as we ourselves. When a brother receives new light upon the
Scriptures, he should frankly explain his position, and every minister
should search the Scriptures with the spirit of candor, to see if the