p. 109 | Paul's Mode of Raising up Churches

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1866

Paul's Mode of Raising up Churches.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

The apostle Paul was chosen of God to go out among unbelievers and raise up churches to Christ. He was very successful in doing this as he especially had the Spirit of God to direct him. Now it seems to me that we who in these days have a similar work to perform, i. e., to go out into new fields and raise up churches might learn how to do it successfully from his example.

Believing that time was very short, and that we had an important message for the world which all must hear, and knowing that there were but few to do the work, we have been too much in a haste to stop to do our work well. We would pitch the tent in a new place, give ten and twenty lectures on the most important subjects, then leave and repeat the same in another place. In this way we held a great many meetings but accomplished little or nothing. The next year visit those places again, and often you find only a few half-hearted believers who were a reproach and a curse to the cause.

Thus, much valuable time, means, and labor has been thrown away. “Haste makes waste” in the cause of God, as well as in business. The man who would have permanent success in anything must do his work well; otherwise it soon comes to nothing. This is emphatically true in bringing men into the present truth. It is not so much how many come in, as it is how they come. One sound ear of corn is worth a peck of frost-bitten nubbins.

I wish to call attention to the length of time which Paul generally spent in raising up a church in a new place. After he was converted, the first meeting which he held was in Damascus. Of his labors there we read thus: “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” “But Paul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.” Acts ix, 20, 22, 23. He preached here many days till he was compelled to leave. Paul and Barnabas held a meeting in Antioch of which we have this record: “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. Acts xi, 25, 26. Did they throw away this time, or stay longer than was necessary? Doubtless not.

It is said of them that at Iconium “long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” Acts xiv, 1–3. “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.” After preaching there some time and receiving much opposition, he evidently became discouraged and was about to leave the place when the Lord spoke thus to him: “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while.” Acts xviii, 1, 9–11, 18.

What would some of our Advent ministers now think of giving such a long course of lectures as this? Either Paul made a sad mistake in his manner of raising up churches, or else we have. It seems, at least, that he was satisfied with this way of preaching, for in the next chapter we read that he stayed two years at Ephesus preaching the word of God. Acts xix, 8–12. A great work was done and a large church established. It looks to me that we also would accomplish much more if we would make less beginnings in new places and hold on a little longer when we do begin.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Norridgewock, Me.