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THE KING’S BUSINESS
But going out into neglected places and Speaking plainly of the demands of the tnoral law and of the saving help of Jesus Christ is a much simpler thing, and there isino necessity at all of reserving it for men who have been specially prepared. The history of the original church of apostolic times is altogether against tying Up the duty of preaching—the straight-out proclaiming of the simple rudiments of the gospel—with the ministerial functions of dispensing sacraments and pastoring Chris tians. And what may perhaps be expected tp impress the up-to-date American even ihore, common sense is also against such a Confusion. There has been a great dispute going on for centuries between denominations which Stand for an educated ministry and de nominations which hold that no qualifica tion is needed except a true experience of the meaning of religion. It is about time to realize that both have been right because While they thought they were disputing, they were really talking about different things—one part about the edification of Christians, for which education is neces sary, and the other part about the proclama tio n of Christ, for which it isn’t. While it must still be insisted ithat the churches require {rained pastors, ordained to the ministry as a lifework, it ought to be recognized also that there is a potential preacher in every layman who has real re ligion in his heart and enough brains in his head to make his tongue talk plain, under standable sense.
There remains, however, the question whether, even if the church did begin to en courage him with all its might, the typical American layman could be persuaded to try this work. It has to be admitted that the deep-seated reluctance of Americans to talk religion anywhere, is apt to make the typical lay man scout the idea of his appearing as a preacher when he first hears the suggestion. But for all that he is not a hopeless case; he is worth being patient with until he gets used to the idea. For one thing the church will make a great deal of headway with him if from the first it will promise him faithfully that all red tape will be cut away from around him. He mustn’t be asked to come in to presby tery and get an ecclesiastical permit to do this work. He won’t consent to be called a “local evangelist.” He doesn’t want to have titles and labels stuck on his back. The duty of the church anyhow is not to limit and guard the office of preaching; it is to enlarge and open up the task free to everybody. Just to keep it up -steadily be fore the layman that there is a need in these neglected places and that he is capa ble of meeting the need, will in time bring him around to try it. You know of some place, Mr. Layman, where there ought to be preachingf Quit saying, "Too bad there’s no minister.” You go yourself! You’ll do!. This article is taken from the Pacific Presbyterian.
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