A Weakness | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 10.

A Weakness.

PROFESSIONALISM is a prolific source of weakness in the ministry. Dr. Payson, on his dying bed, said he was convinced that “the point where ministers most generally fail is in doing their duty professionally, and not from the heart.” To regard the ministry as a mere profession, even though the most exalted, is to dishonor and degrade it. With scholarly tastes and literary ambitions, there is great temptation to look upon the ministry as a profession of high and elegant leisure, and not as a downright earnest service of soul-saving. No doubt the greatest cause of unfruitfulness in our work is in the lack of spiritual power.”

Robert McCheyne has well put the question, “Must we not fear that we are not right ourselves, or that our preaching is not a faithful transcript of the divine message, if we fail to see souls saved in our ministry?” And, we ask, must we not look at our own coldness and spiritual leanness for the explanation of our ill success? We fail to stir others, because we have not been stirred ourselves. Only life can give life. Were ministers mourning over their leanness and lack of power, there might be hope that the hunger of souls might be satisfied, but the saddest feature of barren ministers is that so many are content to plod on without power and without fruit. For this unfruitfulness they are verily guilty, and have cause for humiliation and deep contrition. The ministry must devote itself to the work and let side matters go; to them comes the Master’s word, ‘Let the dead bury the dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.’ Most hearers do not care a snap of their fingers as to what agnostics think or infidels believe. They don’t want doubts, or our poor speculations. They want the gospel. They hunger for the bread of life.—Sel.