Preach the Word by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 12, 1909

Preach the Word

By F. M. W.

In this day of much-vaunted Bible knowledge, the Bible, after all, is but little preached. Sensational subjects are advertised to draw the people. Partizan views and theological dogmas having foundation only in the minds of the advocates, are proclaimed. Apparently greater effort is made by many to display scholarship, eloquence, and wit, and thus draw plaudits from the admiring multitude, than to hold up the gospel truth of the Saviour of the world. Discussion and debate between contending denominations and church factions engender strife, bitterness, and hatred; and as the result of it all, the plain, simple story of the cross is but little told, and still less emphasized.

In the midst of all this, how great a rule the need for every child of God to manifest in all of his relations to men the spirit of his divine Master. Christ’s meekness and tenderness should characterize all of his words and ways. Says the apostle Peter: “Be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

Again and again is the idea emphasized in the Scriptures, that the ambassador of Christ should preach the gospel, preach the word, not turning aside to debate with error, or to expose false science, only as the straightforward preaching of the truth will accomplish that result. The great apostle of the Gentiles exhorts: “Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” “Strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” “Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

And after all, is not the best way to meet and expose error to be found in the preaching of the gospel of Christ? The study of the life of Jesus will show that this was his plan. We find him taking part in no joint debate, in no noisy rabble. True, he was asked searching questions, but these were answered not by a thrust at the questioner, nor yet by an attack upon his views, only as the straightforward truth revealing the inconsistency of error could be said to constitute such an attack.

In “Desire of Ages,” pages 352, 299, and 455, we read: “Christ himself did not suppress one word of truth, but he spoke it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention in his intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in his voice as he uttered his scathing rebukes.”

“He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people. . . . He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known. Without combatting their ideas of the kingdom of God, he told them the conditions of entrance therein, leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature.” “The question of these cavilers Jesus met, not by answering the cavil, but by opening up truth vital to the salvation of the soul.”

By the example of the Great Teacher, his followers to-day should be guided. Preach the gospel; this is the commission. The temptation may often be presented to hold up the ideas of others to ridicule, to meet the advocates of error in debate and controversy; but as a rule, such negative methods of proclaiming the truth of the gospel fall far short in accomplishing the results obtained by the presentation of the simple story of the cross. Of course, there may be instances where the enemies of Christ should be met directly, and to keep silence would be to deny the truth as it is in Jesus. But such cases are rare. Generally where error should be exposed, its weakness may be most effectually shown, not by dealing with its absurdities, but in preaching the word. By the penetrating rays of the gospel of Christ, darkness will be dispelled, and the hearts and minds of men illuminated.

As the advocates of unpopular truths, how greatly do our workers need to imitate closely in all of their labors the spirit and practise of the Saviour of men. Not alone by the theory which they present, but even more by the lives they live, will men be brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. Many admit that the doctrines we hold are perfect in theory, and most harmonious in all their relations to one another. But for the great evidence of their genuineness they look to see the practical workings of the theory in the lives of its advocates. This is reasonable. The wise buyer makes purchases upon the intrinsic value of the article secured, not upon some glowing representation of the same. Hence the word must be preached, and Christ must be exalted, not alone in theory, but above all in the lives of his followers. Living Christ is the most effectual way of preaching Christ to others. F. M. W.