156
The Voice in Speech and Song
unsanctified hearts have prepared many sharp, close things to use as a
snap to their whip to irritate and provoke their opponent. The Spirit of
Christ has no part in this. While furnished with conclusive arguments,
the debater soon thinks that he is strong enough to triumph over his
opponent, and God is left out of the matter. Some of our ministers
have made discussion their principal business. When in the midst of
the excitement raised by discussion, they seem nerved up, and feel
strong and talk strong; and in the excitement many things pass with
the people as all right, which in themselves are decidedly wrong and
a shame to him who was guilty of uttering words so unbecoming a
Christian minister.
[245]
These things have a bad influence on ministers who are handling
sacred, elevated truths, truths which are to prove as a savor of life
unto life, or of death unto death, to those who hear them. Generally
the influence of discussions upon our ministers is to make them self-
sufficient and exalted in their own estimation. This is not all. Those
who love to debate are unfitted for being pastors to the flock. They
have trained their minds to meet opponents and to say sarcastic things,
and they cannot come down to meet hearts that are sorrowing and need
to be comforted.
They have also dwelt so much upon the argumentative that they
have neglected the practical subjects that the flock of God need. They
have but little knowledge of the sermons of Christ, which enter into
the everyday life of the Christian, and they have but little disposition
to study them. They have risen above the simplicity of the work.
When they were little in their own eyes, God helped them; angels of
God ministered unto them and made their labors highly successful in
convincing men and women of the truth. But in the training of their
minds for discussion they frequently become coarse and rough. They
lose the interest and tender sympathy which should ever attend the
efforts of a shepherd of Christ.
Debating ministers are generally disqualified to help the flock
where they most need help. Having neglected practical religion in
their own hearts and lives, they cannot teach it to the flock. Unless
there is an excitement, they do not know how to labor; they seem shorn
[246]
of their strength. If they try to speak, they do not seem to know how
to present a subject that is proper for the occasion. When they should
present a subject which will feed the flock of God, and which will