Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Unconsecrated Ministers 415Young preachers, and men who have once been ministers, whohave been coarse and rough in their manners, making expressions intheir conversation which were not perfectly modest and chaste, arenot fit to engage in this work until they give evidence of an entirereform. One word spoken unadvisedly may do more harm than aseries of meetings held by them will do good. They leave the standardof truth, which should be ever exalted, lowered to the dust beforethe community. Their converts generally come up no higher thanthe standard raised for them by the ministers. Men who are standingbetween the living and the dead should be just right. The ministershould not be off his guard for a single moment. He is laboring toelevate others by bringing them up upon the platform of truth. Let himshow to others that the truth has done something for him. He shouldsee the evil of these careless, rough, vulgar expressions, and shouldput away and despise everything of this character. Unless he does this, [446]his converts will pattern after him. And when faithful ministers shallfollow after and labor with these converts to correct their wrongs, theywill excuse themselves by referring to the minister. If you condemnhis course, they will turn to you and ask: Why do you uphold and giveinfluence to men by sending them out to preach to sinners while theyare sinners themselves?The work in which we are engaged is a responsible and exaltedwork. Those who minister in word and doctrine should themselvesbe patterns of good works. They should be examples in holiness,cleanliness, and order. The appearance of the servant of God, out ofthe pulpit and in, should be that of a living preacher. He can accomplishfar more by his godly example than by merely preaching in the desk,while his influence out of the desk is not worthy of imitation. Thosewho labor in this cause are bearing to the world the most elevated truththat was ever committed to mortals.Men who are chosen of God to labor in this cause will give proofof their high calling and will consider it their highest duty to grow andimprove until they shall become able workmen. Then, as they manifestan earnestness to improve upon the talent which God has entrusted tothem, they should be helped judiciously. But the encouragement giventhem should not savor of flattery, for Satan himself will do enoughof that kind of work. Men who think that they have a duty to preachshould not be sustained in throwing themselves and their families