Christian Deportment and Influence
Influence of Our Words
And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17. {TMK 137.1}
Men
are greatly under the influence of their own words. You are not conscious how
much you are affected by your words. You accustom yourself to speak in a certain
way, and your thoughts and actions follow your words. One accustoms himself to
assert certain things in regard to himself, and at
last he comes to believe them. Our thoughts produce our words and our words
react upon our thoughts. If a man forms the habit of using sacred words
reverently, he will form the custom of carefulness of speech, knowing that
there is a Witness to every word uttered. When the feelings become excited and
the speech is exaggerated, the mode of speaking is always extreme. It acts and
reacts upon ourselves. {TMK 137.2}
The
Word declares, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou
shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). If our words act upon
ourselves they act more powerfully upon others. There is great mischief done by
words spoken. God alone knows and measures the result of a careless,
exaggerated mode of speaking. There is much swearing done in spirit.... {TMK 137.3}
You
are reproducing your own character in others. You may express many things that
will create in other minds a course of thought which will lead them into false
paths. God may spare you to outlive your exasperated feelings and come to have
sensible thoughts. You may outlive your doubts, and through repentance toward
God and faith in Jesus Christ escape from the snare of the fowler. You may pass
into the sunshine of faith, but oh, you may never be conscious ... that these
words are doing their mischievous work in the soil of the hearts of others, and
poisoning it. Here is a harvest some must reap.... {TMK
137.4}
Raise
the standard for Christ Jesus and have all your words select, seasoned with
salt. Cultivate true dignity.... Let your words feel the influence of the
converting power of God. Let wholesome words be spoken.13 {TMK 137.5}
Christian Deportment and Influence
[Remarks addressed to
the ministers assembled in General Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., in their
morning meeting held November 17, 1883.]
This morning many good
testimonies were borne, expressing faith and confidence in God. But there were some not of this character. Some who come to
God by repentance and confession do not accept the forgiveness he has promised.
They do not see that Jesus is an ever-present Saviour; and they are not
prepared to commit the keeping of their souls to him, relying upon him to
perfect the work of grace begun in their hearts. They lose sight of the fact
that Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. {RH June
17, 1884, par. 1}
While some think they
are committing themselves to God, there is a great deal of self-dependence.
There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God, and partly to
themselves. They do not look to God to be kept by his power, but depend upon
watchfulness and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with him.
There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to no purpose;
their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens
are laid at the feet of Jesus. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 2}
There is need of
constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving devotion; but these will come
naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do
nothing, absolutely nothing, to recommend ourselves to divine favor. We must
not trust at all in ourselves nor in our good works;
but when as erring sinful beings we come to Jesus, we may find rest in his
love. God will accept every one that comes to him trusting wholly in the merits
of a crucified Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There is no ecstasy of
feeling, but an abiding, peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke
that Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure.
The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from
the Sun of Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ is in the
light. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 3}
One brother said this
morning that he had repented of his lightness and trifling again and again, and
had asked God to help him to overcome this disposition; but for some reason he
did not receive the help he asked for. Has the word of our God been tested, and
proved false.? No, no; the fault is with man, not with
his Creator. This brother’s efforts to reform have been made by fits and starts
in his own weak strength. He must put forth steady, persevering effort; he must
follow his prayers by placing a strict guard over himself. {RH June 17, 1884,
par. 4}
There is a great and
solemn work devolving upon ministers, and many have not felt its weight
sufficiently to balance them, and lead them to walk circumspectly. Out of the
desk, their ministerial labors cease almost entirely, and their example is not
worthy of imitation. Their light, jesting conversation may entertain, and
provoke mirth; but believers and unbelievers lose confidence in them as
Christ’s ambassadors. Such ministers may present a theory of truth to the
people; but they have not felt its sanctifying power on their own souls, and
the word spoken has but little effect. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 5}
Those who are
convicted of sin by the Spirit of God, need the
assistance of loving, kindly labor that the work of grace may be carried
forward to completion. This labor for souls is a part of the ministry that God
requires of his servants; but it is a part that is sadly neglected by some.
They do not realize their responsibility, nor know how to deal with souls.
Having laid off the armor of righteousness, they are
exposed to the darts of Satan, and often fall under the power of his
temptations. They do not remember that a single thoughtless act, a light and
trifling word, may balance a soul in the wrong direction, and effect decisions
that are made for eternity. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 6}
Ministers should live
close to Jesus, that they may rightly represent him to others. He has set them
an example in his ministry. They should labor for souls with the same unselfish
love that characterized his labors. They have something more to do than merely
to preach in the desk. This is only the beginning of their work. They are
“overseers of the flock;” and it is their duty “to feed the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his own blood.” They are required to “watch for
souls,” as “they that must give account;” and they need clear discernment, that
no wrong influence may pervert their work. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 7}
Some ministers choose
for their sermons subjects that will please the people, and offend none. This
is shunning the cross of Christ. You see one man selfish; another controlled by
pride or passion; another robbing God in tithes and offerings; and another
doubting and unbelieving. Do not leave these deceived ones to remain blinded by
the enemy in regard to their own spiritual standing. For each of these there is
a special message in the word of God. Pray for wisdom, that you may be able so
to present the instructions of that sacred word that they may see wherein their
characters are defective, and what is required of them in order to conform to
the true standard. Win their confidence and affection. Bring the truth as it is
in Jesus to bear upon their hearts; for there is no other power that can keep
the soul steadfast. The truth, planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and
nourished by divine grace, is our only safeguard against Satan’s devices. Thus
you are to labor until you can present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. {RH
June 17, 1884, par. 8}
This personal labor is
not the most agreeable work; it involves a cross. Nevertheless, ministers have
no right to shun the responsibilities laid upon them. To deal wisely and truly
with souls is a work that calls for special help from God. A faithful
performance of the duties assigned to his servants would drive every worker in
the vineyard of the Lord to his closet in earnest intercession for divine aid.
The love of God in the heart will lead them to make earnest appeals,—to warn,
entreat, and reprove. If this work is neglected, souls will continue in sin,
confirmed in a wrong course by those who have spoken to them only smooth
things. In view of these considerations, how carefully should we walk; how
closely should we cling to Jesus. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 9}
The Apostle Paul felt
the importance of faithfulness. He says of his own ministry in Christ, “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.” And he exhorts Timothy:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all long-suffering and doctrine.” This is in accordance with the word
which through the prophet Isaiah the Lord has spoken to the watchmen on the
walls of Zion: “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show
my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob
their sins.” {RH June 17, 1884, par. 10}
We shall none of us be
saved for our own merits. The rewards of eternity are purchased by Christ, and
in no case merited by man; yet ministers should remember that every man will
receive according as his works have been. The trials of the great assize will
proceed most accurately on the basis of works; and our listlessness and want of
zeal will tell on its decisions. The parable of the talents illustrates this subject.
One man becomes ruler over ten cities, another over five, another over two.
Each receives in exact proportion to his work,—to the improvement he has made
on the talents lent him of God; and it is the
privilege of each to strive for the highest recompense. {RH June 17, 1884, par.
11}
The thought should be
ever present with us that we must meet the record of our lives, that we are
building characters for eternity. The lines traced by our pens will be read
when the hand that wrote them is lying idle in the grave. The influence of our
words and acts will live, and will decide the destiny of souls. Angels of God
are writing the history of our lives; let us be careful that the record is such
as we shall not be ashamed to meet when the Judgment shall sit, and we shall
receive according to the deeds done in the body. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 12}
Well would it be for
us if we could always remember Calvary, where Jesus bore the terrible burden of
the sins of the world. In his expiring agony hear him exclaim, “My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?” and remember that he endured the hiding of his
Father’s face that it might not be forever hidden from fallen man. He endured
shame, cruel scourging, insult, and mockery, that we might be reconciled to God
and rescued from endless death. If our minds dwell upon these themes, our
conversation will be in Heaven, from whence we look for our Saviour,
and even vain thoughts will seem out of place. {RH June 17, 1884, par. 13}
He who died for us
loves us with a love that is infinite. He wants us to be happy; but he would
not have us find our happiness in foolish jesting and joking, which disgrace
the holy cause we profess to love. If we are living branches of the true Vine,
we shall bear fruit to the glory of God. “By their fruits ye shall know them.”
{RH June 17, 1884, par. 14}
*******
One of the most foolish and ignorant things a
person can do is to excuse his/her faults because he/she thinks his/her
opponent has the same fault(s)! Such types never make progress in overcoming
their faults because they let the similar faults of others (or what they
interpret as similar faults) be an excuse for continuing in their fault(s).
Jesus is the example. We should measure ourselves by Him and not anyone else.
"We are not to let the faults of others to be
an excuse for our own neglect of duty the spotless Son of God has been given us
for our example." (Steps to Christ p. 8)
“Never let your
tongue and voice be employed in discovering and dilating upon the defects of
your brethren, for the record of heaven identifies
Christ's interests with those He has purchased with His own blood. 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren,' He says, 'ye have done it unto me' (Matt. 25: 40). We are
to learn to be loyal to one another, to be true as steel in the defense of our
brethren. Look to your own defects. You had better
discover one of your own faults than ten of your brother's. Remember that Christ has prayed for these, His brethren, that they all
might be one as He is one with the Father. Seek to the uttermost of your
capabilities to be in harmony with your brethren to the extent of Christ's
measurement, as He is one with the Father. . . .” {HP 178.4}
'Love as brethren,
be pitiful, be courteous' (1 Peter 3:8). True moral worth
does not seek to have a place for itself by evil thinking and evil speaking, by
demeriting others. All envy, all
jealousy, all evil speaking, with all unbelief, must be put away from God's
children. {HP 178.5}
Charity “doth not
behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” Christ-like love
places the most favorable construction on the motives and acts of others. It does not needlessly expose their faults; it does not listen eagerly
to unfavorable reports, but seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of
others. {AA 319.2}
These are important
counsel from the Holy Spirit regarding personal faults of others and our own.
Such statements are often misapplied by the church to deflect what it calls
criticism. But gross apostasy, for which we are to sigh and cry in order to be
sealed by the Man in Linen, is far worse than faults and defects such as we all
might have.
—rwb