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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
July 1924
fight for Christ’s cause. Unless this be the case, he who enters the pulpit will Invariably fail. Someone may disagree with me here, pointing out that several men have made a success as clergymen without spiritual power being manifested. True, some men have large churches and draw big crowds who are not men of spiritual conviction, who have seemingly made a success in a professional way, and who on their own strength are do ing big things. They can, however, hardly be called suc cessful ministers. Unless they are saving souls from hell they have no ministry. They are holding forth as public attractions, and their holding forth is but for this world. As to the great bulk of clergymen who lack the gift of the Spirit, their ministry is short lived, as evidence proves. Many ministers preach “ Peace on earth, good will to men” and endeavor to spread peace by letting the devil have his way. I am not a blood-thirsty war lord looking ever upon the gleaming edge of the sword, but I say “ not until Christ comes will we have peace.” In the meantime there is naught to do but fight. Satan is ever arrayed against the righteous cause and passes no soul by. Even those who through fear cry “ peace” are not left untrampled by this mighty foe, and are forced because they do not fight to give up their pastorates to seek existence in other fields. Others feel that it is best to be popular, viewing new philosophies and doctrines as marks of progress; and cater- How to Be Reprinted, by permission, “ Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." —Matthew 4:19 HAT is “ the greatest work in the world” ? Is it not the winning of men and women for Christ? Whether we think of the non-Christian multitudes at home or the unevangelized millions of Moham medans and heathen abroad, we cannot fail to see that the work of the Christian Church and every individual member of it is, first and foremost, that of bringing people to the Saviour. Our Service— “ Fishers of men” It is a Definite Service. We are called upon to deal def initely with human beings, and are expected to “ catch” them. Nothing short of this will suffice for the fulfilment of our Master’s word. We can see this, among other things, in the various titles given to the children of God in the New Testament. They are called “ witnesses” (Acts 1 :8). They are described as “ ambassadors” (2 Cor. 5:20). They are designated “ heralds” (1 Tim. 2:7, Greek). These titles clearly imply a distinct and pointed purpose, and we must not rest with anything short of definite results of our work. Not merely are we to put the message before men, but we must use means to lead them to accept the message and to become disciples of Christ. The fishermen is never con tent with simply throwing out the line or the net. If he does not land some fish he is not in any real sense a fisher man. It is recorded of a French doctor that, full o f en thusiasm, he said he had operated upon eight people in connection with some very serious and complicated dis order. When asked how many lives he had saved, he re plied, “Not one; but then, you see, the operations were so brilliant!” This would never satisfy an ordinary medical man, and certainly, in relation to things spiritual, we Chris- M
ing to a floating opinion, drift with the Satan-controlled tide until they, too, are done. Still others want to serve the Lord by upholding sound doctrine, and do so in a sense, yet through dread of antag onizing people dare not admonish them with Scriptural truths. They tread lightly, believing themselves to be dip lomatic, and are blind to the fact that their lack-of definite ness is the cause of their minus congregations. In every instance where some man is a great spiritual light, he is so because he dares to stand for what he be lieves, and attacks Satanic influences with all his strength. He shrinks not from admonishing the wayward, presses the necessity of the blood atonement, and urges all to be watch ful lest the Lord might come. He is a firm man, and knows no compromise.
Bravely he pleads for Jesus, Bravely he warns one and all. Sternly admonishes evil And heeds none save the heavenly call.
And now for any struggling minister who may read what I have written, let me say. “ All things are possible with God,” and “ ALL things are possible to them that believe.” Why not then turn to Him, believing that He can help you overcome your obstacles? If all things are possible to him that believeth, any man with a vision, with determination, with a belief that is a belief can be a stalwart man of God.
Fishers of Men from “ The Sunday School Times” .
tian men must never be satisfied with mere brilliance of testimony. It is for us “ by any means to save some.” This is our definite work. It is a Difficult Service. Men are not easily “ caught.” The power of sin is so great, and the character of sin so varied! The self-will of man is so strong, the heart of man is often so far from God, that the Christian fisherman finds it exceedingly difficult to catch the one for whom he is praying and striving. There is no work in its way so ar duous and trying as that of endeavoring to save men from their sins and snatch them out of the hands of the Wicked One. Satan does not easily let go his prey, and whenever there are earnest endeavors on the part of Christian people to evangelize and win souls, there it is perfectly certain will be found the most intense opposition of the Devil. Soul winning is indeed a difficult work. Yet is a Delightful Service. Is there any joy in this world comparable with the bliss of leading an anxious soul to Christ? To hear the question, “What must I do” ? To ob serve the evident interest and anxiety; to mark the genuine repentance; to see the eager acceptance of the Word of truth, and then to notice the soul surrendering to Christ and commencing to rejoice in his great salvation,— all this is “ joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” It is the supreme felicity of life to be permitted to lead a soul into the pres ence-chamber of the King of kings. Our Training— “Make you fishers of men” This clearly teaches the important lesson that “ fishers of men” are not born, but made. They become fishers of men, and this implies that they were not orginally qualified in this respect. What then, does it mean to “ become” a fisher of men? In what does the training consist? Let us con sider some of the more important qualifications of an or-
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