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Chosen no: R-5474 , from: 1914 Year. |
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WELL-MEANING, BUT HINDERERS
WE FEEL sure that all of the Lord's people
have only the best of motives. How could
they have other than good motives and yet
be recognized by the Lord? Selfishness may
creep in and assert itself to some extent
without being detected by the New Creature;
but being detected, it is to be restrained, demeaned,
put to death. The entire course of
the Lord's followers is one of experience in
respect to personal imperfections of mind
and body, and in respect to properly understanding the
words and conduct of others.
We have two items which we desire to bring to the
attention of such brethren as have to do with public
speaking, introductions, funeral services, etc. Our suggestions
and criticisms should be understood as intended
to be helpful to the brethren themselves and to the Cause
we all love to serve.
(1) We are informed that, when serving at funerals,
some of the brethren, anxious to tell the Good Tidings
respecting death and the wages of sin upon our race, and
the redemption and the resurrection as the release from
the penalty, are in danger of going to extremes. Sometimes
they preach too long--attempting to tell more than
is proper on such an occasion. At other times they are
so intent upon presenting the Gospel Message and Bible
explanation respecting death, that they forget to speak a
word of comfort to the bereaved members of the family
of the deceased, or to make some reference to the deceased,
his character, his zeal for God, his devotion to the
Bible--or some other truthful eulogy comforting to the
bereaved family.
We are not wishing to intimate in any sense that
ordinary funeral sermons, which are wholly eulogistic
and give no attention to the Bible teaching respecting
death, are right. We merely wish to suggest that a
[R5475 : page 169] course of moderation is a wise one, bringing in an explanation
of some of the Divine Plan, and making some
reference to the deceased and his family, etc.
(2) Great care should be exercised in the selection
of a brother to do the introducing of a public speaker.
Far better is it that there be no introduction at all, than
that a wrong one be made. The person who thinks the
occasion a suitable one for showing off himself, his eloquence,
his knowledge of the Bible, etc., should not be
entrusted with any work of introduction. The person
who thinks it an opportunity to tell all he knows of the
Divine Plan and to inform the audience in advance what
the speaker intends to tell them, is just as much out of
place as is the person who, being invited to offer an opening
prayer, stretches it out into a discourse, wastes valuable
time and disgusts everybody with his lack of propriety.
More harm can be done in two minutes by the
person who introduces the speaker than the latter could
undo in two hours.
Humility, modesty and brevity are grand qualities
everywhere, but are especially appropriate in those who
would introduce a speaker, whether at a Class Extension
Meeting, Pilgrim Meeting or any other.
On such an occasion the one leading in prayer should
make it merely an invocation. The audience has not come
together to hear him pray, but to hear the address. His
invocation should thank God for the privileges of the
hour, for the liberty granted in our day, for the desire
of heart to know the Truth and for an open Bible. Requests
should be made of the Lord for a Divine blessing
upon the meeting--upon the audience and upon the
speaker, that the Lord's name may be glorified, that the
Truth be advanced and all who love righteousness be
blessed.
The introduction should be brief also. It should not
say, "The speaker will tell you what we believe," as
though making a distinction between the audience and
the small group in the audience who profess to be teachers.
With greater humility, it should be something like
this: "It is my privilege and honor to introduce the
speaker of the afternoon. He comes to us under the
auspices of the International Bible Students Association,
bringing, we believe, a Message from God's Word. We
trust that it will be convincing, encouraging, helpful. Let
us hear candidly, remembering the Master's words that
we are to be sanctified through the Truth, and that His
Word is the Truth. Let us therefore rejoice in proportion
as the Word of the Lord is heard with the ears of
our hearts. I now introduce to you __________, whose topic
for the occasion is __________."
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