Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Ministers, Order, and Organization 597the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselvesout of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”The man of God, the minister of Christ, is required to be thoroughlyfurnished unto all good works. A pompous minister, all dignity, is notneeded for this good work. But decorum is necessary in the desk. Aminister of the gospel should not be regardless of his attitude. If he isthe representative of Christ, his deportment, his attitude, his gestures,should be of such a character as will not strike the beholder withdisgust. Ministers should possess refinement. They should discardall uncouth manners, attitudes, and gestures, and should encourage in [649]themselves humble dignity of bearing. They should be clothed in amanner befitting the dignity of their position. Their speech should bein every respect solemn and well chosen. I was shown that it is wrongto make coarse, irreverent expressions, relate anecdotes to amuse, orpresent comic illustrations to create a laugh. Sarcasm and playing uponthe words of an opponent are all out of God’s order. Ministers shouldnot feel that they can make no improvement in voice or manners; muchcan be done. The voice can be cultivated so that quite lengthy speakingwill not injure the vocal organs.Ministers should love order and should discipline themselves, andthen they can successfully discipline the church of God and teach themto work harmoniously like a well-drilled company of soldiers. If disciplineand order are necessary for successful action on the battlefield,the same are as much more needful in the warfare in which we areengaged as the object to be gained is of greater value and more elevatedin character than those for which opposing forces contend upon thefield of battle. In the conflict in which we are engaged, eternal interestsare at stake.Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all theirmovements. The more closely we imitate the harmony and order of theangelic host, the more successful will be the efforts of these heavenlyagents in our behalf. If we see no necessity for harmonious action,and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course ofaction, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order,cannot work for us successfully. They turn away in grief, for they arenot authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization. Allwho desire the co-operation of the heavenly messengers must work inunison with them. Those who have the unction from on high will in