Help to Stem the Tide

"The people will seldom rise higher than their minister. A world-loving spirit in him has a tremendous influence upon others. The people make his deficiencies an excuse to cover their world-loving spirit. They quiet their own consciences, thinking that they may be free to love the things of this life and be indifferent to spiritual things because their ministers are so. They deceive their own souls and remain in friendship with the world, which the apostle declares to be enmity with God." ~Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pg. 645.

The people will seldom rise higher than their minister. Wow. What a startling thought! At the same time, what a true statement this is. Until I read this quote in Gospel Workers, I had never given the idea much thought. As I mentally reviewed the pastors I've had over the years, and the congregations they were in charge of, however, I couldn't help but make the connection. I also couldn't help but wonder how this related to the rising apostasy in the church.

I'm not saying that the congregation's spiritual standing is due to the pastor's one hundred percent, nor do I mean to imply that it is impossible for the congregation to be different from the minister. No. We each have a responsibility to GOD, and "seldom" means rarely, not never.

Yet we have seen that "by beholding, we become changed". Influence is a subtle, yet powerful tool. Used in the right direction, it can do much good; used in the opposite direction...well, you get the picture. That is why we need to be extremely careful not to simply be spoon-fed by the pastor each week, but to evaluate everything he says by the Word, despite his position of leadership. Not everyone is strong enough to do this at first, however. Along with being good examples to our fellow members, we need to pray for our pastors. We need to pray that they will catch brighter beams of truth, that they will understand it more clearly, for their own sakes and the sake of their flocks--especially those that are easily swayed. Even the apostle Paul, who could be considered a pastor, wrote to the Thessalonians and said, "Brethren, pray for us" (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

I believe that if we all make an effort to assist our pastors through our prayers that we will see a definite difference in the church. No, it won't change everyone, but it might change a few that would have never changed otherwise, and this is one more way in which we will be able to stem the tide of wickedness among GOD's people. Will you help?

Blessings,
Jean