A SOLEMN APPEAL | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1900

A SOLEMN APPEAL.

The following appeal to Seventh-day Adventist churches should bring a feeling of solemn responsibility to every heart. It had a wide circulation in the form in which it was sent out, yet it is evident that many persons have passed it by unheeded, and certainly there was never any message more in place than is this at this time. How long must the Spirit of God plead with us before we respond to the call? The extract is from “An Appeal for Home Missionary Work,” by Mrs. E. G. White, published a little over four years ago:—

WHY ARE THE CHURCHES SO INDOLENT?

As agents for Jesus Christ, men are to be laborers together with God. Why, then, are so many acting as did Meroz, doing nothing, while those sitting in darkness receive no light, no help, from those who claim to be the children of God? How much do such idlers resemble the angel who is represented as flying in the midst of heaven proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Christ is saying to these idlers in the market place, “Go work to-day in my vineyard.” Angels who minister to those who will be heirs of salvation, are saying to every true saint, There is work for you to do. “Go, stand and speak . . . to the people all the words of this life.”

Why are the churches so indolent? Why have they no burden for the souls for whom Christ died? and how does heaven regard their inefficiency? The angels are constantly earnest and active, seeking to bring every child of God to work in the vineyard of the Lord; . . . and they sorrow when they see that those for whom so much has been done have no interest to win souls for Christ.

Christ’s church on earth is to be an agent for him. Its members are to be devoted to the work to which God has appointed them, taking their places according to God’s order, and doing the work he has assigned them. The tidings of every successful effort on their part to dispel the darkness, and to diffuse the light and knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, are borne upward. The act is presented before all the heavenly intelligences, and thrills through all the principalities and powers, enlisting the sympathy of all heavenly beings.

The Lord Jesus expects more of you than you give; yes, a great deal more. He has called and chosen you. Every man, according to his several ability, has been given his work. You are to occupy a place as a laborer together with God; and as his agent, you are to gather other agencies, and unite them with those already in the work, that the instrumentalities for winning souls to look to Christ may be as many as possible.

Angels of God are soliciting you to work in fellowship with them, doing the will of God on earth as verily and unitedly and devotedly as they do the work appointed them in heaven and earth. These angels are surveying the ground occupied by the individual members of the church. They see the advantage gained by Satan when men and women neglect their God-appointed work. They see this work neglected or done in a bungling manner by those who claim to be Christians, and they sorrow over souls that are lost in consequence of this neglect. They can not take your place nor discharge your duty. Could they do this, they would do it gladly; for they know that your eternal welfare depends upon the use you make of your intrusted talents, your intellect, your reason. They can not do your work, but they stand ready to co-operate with human agencies as they work to draw souls to Jesus Christ, striving to recover them through the infinite gift made for their redemption.

It is the duty of every one who claims to believe on Jesus Christ to become a worker for God. Entire consecration and unity are demanded in the work which must be done to bring the grand results. I inquire, How can any one be silent when he knows what the Lord Jesus expects from every human being? I implore you that name the name of Christ to no longer be selfishly and wickedly indifferent to your duty. Live unto Christ, who died for you, and rose again.