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Smooth Things

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 5, 1882

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 38.

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"Smooth Things."

To SPEAK "smooth things," is not necessarily to preach error. A man may preach truth all his days, and dress it up in such a way as to destroy its power. He may hand out the truth in homeopathic quantities, when larger portions should be given; or he may attempt to do with the penknife what can only be accomplished with the scalpel, or the "old Jerusalem blade" which cuts right and left. The man who keeps everything that is disagreeable from his hearers is guilty of speaking "smooth things." Under his ministrations the covetous is not reproved, the formalist is not excited to action, the pleasure seeker not arrested in his course. The want of reproof causes them to feel and believe that all is well, whereas the truth should thunder in their ears continually.
We may be guilty of preaching smooth things by generalizing the truth, addressing ourselves to persons outside of the congregation, instead of to our auditors. Hence, though you handle a sword that is bright, it is without an edge—a hammer that falls so lightly or gradually that no effect is produced. If by a faithful discharge of duty we fail to convince, then the responsibility is not ours. We may be misrepresented, but all will come out right in the end. There is nothing that will justify unfaithfulness in us as declaring the truth. The charge to one of the prophets is as applicable at this time as when spoken, and for this reason, human nature has not changed. It is as follows: "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee, and though thou dost dwell among scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious."
An approving conscience is something that none can rob us of. The approving smile of Heaven is, and will continue to be, a source of comfort and satisfaction to all who declare the truth faithfully and refuse to speak smooth things.—Sel.