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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 27, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 48.

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Bible Readings

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

S. N. HASKELL
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE teaching of the word of God is not a modern invention. It is as old as the creation of man. Adam and Eve were visited by angels and instructed in the things of God. The devil seized upon this plan at once, and visited Eve when she was alone, and the result of that visit was the ruin of the human race. The devil has been doing house-to-house visiting ever since. 2 Tim. 3: 6; Titus 1: 11.
Christ and two angels visited Abraham when “he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day,” and were entertained by Abraham and Sarah, after which “Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.” The result of this private interview that Abraham had with the Lord was the salvation of Lot and his two daughters.
While on special occasions the Lord meets and pours out his blessing on large assemblies, as on the day of Pentecost, it should not be forgotten that these very individuals who compose the large assemblies, previously had some personal seasons of private interviews with their Lord. It was in the home of Mary and Martha that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to his words. Luke 10: 38-42. It was at the home of Aquila and Priscilla that Apollos, the eloquentJew, was instructed. Acts 18: 24-28. It is evident that Aquila and Priscilla were what we call house-to-house workers.
No minister can be truly successful unless he is a house-to-house worker, visiting families and thus coming in personal contact with the people. It was the Saviour’s plan; it is God’s method. We do not read that Ezra was a preacher, but he was a scribe, a Levite, a Bible teacher.
The study of the Bible has been the life of the church of God in every age. The Waldensian Christians went on foot from town to town, two and two, visiting families, when if it had been known they were Christians, they would have lost their lives. They went as pedlers, and while one was showing his goods, the other would now and then drop a word to the purchaser, cautiously introducing the promises of the Bible. If it was found safe to do so, they would leave him portions of the Scriptures, and then pass on. Frequently the family would think they had been visited by angels, so comforting were the visit and the words of God given them by the missionaries, who had called in the guise of pedlers. As Satan works with “all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness,” the same course will be followed again by the people of God. No better preparation for the future can be given than an education in house-to-house work.
The tribe of Levi was especially chosen to teach Israel the law of God. Deut. 33: 8-11. They, therefore, were scattered throughout Israel. We do not understand that they were preachers in the common acceptation of the term at the present day. The apostle Paul speaks of teaching as a special gift. “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers?” 1 Cor. 12: 28, 29. See Eph. 4: 11. Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch both “teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.” Acts 15: 35. In the days of King Asa we read, “Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” Then they had trouble, and “great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.” 2 Chron. 15: 3-6. But when they turned to the Lord and held teaching institutes, in which the people in all the cities of Judah were taught, then “the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.” 2 Chron. 17: 7-10. So we conclude that teaching is not the same as preaching. But teaching as well as preaching is as essential for the prosperity of the people of God at the present time as in former days, and a proper revival of this will bring prosperity in the church of God.
The rank and file of the people should be instructed to enter homes and teach the people the truth of God. To the Pharisees Jesus said, “I sat daily with you teaching in the temple.” Matt. 26: 55. Both preaching and teaching must be personal. Said the apostle, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Col. 1: 28, 29. We therefore conclude that teaching or holding Bible institutes, as well as preaching, is recognized as a divine agency for the building up of the work of God among his people.
South Lancaster, Mass.