THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE CHURCH and the world are experiencing a drastic moral decline. It is that moral decline that prompted me to write this article, entitled 'The Work of the Pastor', to confront one of the causes of moral decline in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Here is a statement of fact from one of the co-founders of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church: The ministers who are hovering over the churches, preaching to those who know the truth, would better go into places still in darkness. Unless they do this, they themselves and their congregations will become dwarfed.
Our religion has become weak and sickly because the members of the church have left their first love. They might be strong men and women in Christ if they would obey the Lord's direction.
Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, February 9, 1905, Paragraph 12, It is clear that God does not want pastors to sit and rule over the churches, despite the long-standing traditional practices.
It is also clear that the apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors were itinerant preachers, going from place to place training and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ.
May the leadership of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church eventually accept the leadership methods of the New Testament Church.
I am, etc.,
ERIC A. SPENCE
easp02@hotmail.com
Montreal, Quebec
