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Pastoral Ministry
in, should be that of a living preacher. He can accomplish far more
by his godly example than by merely preaching in the desk, while his
influence out of the desk is not worthy of imitation. Those who labor
[62]
in this cause are bearing to the world the most elevated truth that was
ever committed to mortals.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:446
.
Your clothes preach to your people—Carefulness in dress is an
important item. There has been a lack here with ministers who believe
present truth. The dress of some has been even untidy. Not only
has there been a lack of taste and order in arranging the dress in a
becoming manner upon the person, and in having the color suitable
and becoming for a minister of Christ, but the apparel of some has been
even slovenly. Some ministers wear a vest of a light color, while their
pants are dark, or a dark vest and light pants, with no taste or orderly
arrangement of the dress upon the person when they come before
the people. These things are preaching to the people. The minister
gives them an example of order, and sets before them the propriety
of neatness and taste in their apparel, or he gives them lessons in
slackness and lack of taste which they will be in danger of following.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:610
.
Ministers negligent of their apparel wound those of refined
sensibilities—A minister who is negligent in his apparel often wounds
those of good taste and refined sensibilities. Those who are faulty
in this respect should correct their errors and be more circumspect.
The loss of some souls at last will be traced to the untidiness of the
minister. The first appearance affected the people unfavorably because
they could not in any way link his appearance with the truths he
presented. His dress was against him; and the impression given was
that the people whom he represented were a careless set who cared
nothing about their dress, and his hearers did not want anything to do
with such a class of people.—
Selected Messages 3:251
.
Inappropriate dress can destroy your influence—Some who
minister in sacred things so arrange their dress upon their persons
that, to some extent at least, it destroys the influence of their labor.
There is an apparent lack of taste in color and neatness of fit. What is
the impression given by such a manner of dress? It is that the work
in which they are engaged is considered no more sacred or elevated
than common labor, as plowing in the field. The minister by his
example brings down sacred things upon a level with common things.