Tenderly by Union in Christ

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 25, 1875

Tenderly.

By Union in Christ

THE gospel is love, and must be preached from the heart. We are sent to the sick, to heal, to help the weak, lead the blind, save the lost, and that can only be done by a tender, sympathizing ministry. The same truth is not the same when uttered in a combative spirit. The love of God, the tears of Jesus, become hard and repulsive when the preacher is in a combative frame; and wrath becomes subduing, drawing, when poured out of a soul inspired by love. We have heard hell portrayed in a style that made men angry with God, caused the feeling that he delighted in torment, gloated over the horrors of the lost, took profound satisfaction in the darkness and miseries of perdition; and we have heard it presented so regretfully, so much as Christ spoke of it, with such deep sorrow and concern as to make the impression that it is an infinite hardship and grief to God to banish a soul to the regions of woe.

We are unfit to preach any truth of the gospel unless deeply moved by love and sympathy, and ought never to touch upon the awful fate of the lost when our hearts are cold, or our combativeness excited. It is a terrible thing to be lost, and a cruel thing to have the danger forced upon one's attention in a flippant style, with the impertinence of a casuist, or the indifference of a stoic. Only under the highest inspiration of love should one venture upon this solemn and awful theme.—Union in Christ.