BRO. FORNEY: God's word says, They that preach the gospel should live of the gospel. It seems to me that it is as much the duty of professors of religion to support the gospel as it is for them to pray, or perform any other duty commanded in the word of God.

      We hear many complain in various ways about having to pay so much for this or for that. I mean many that pretend to be members of the Church of God. Some of them can make a loud profession of religion; cry, amen, aloud when you are preaching on the name of the Church, or feet-washing, baptism, Lord's Supper, etc., but say something about support, and perhaps you will hear a groan that will send a thrill through you. And perhaps the next thing you will hear will be, It is always money, money, nothing but money. Let the preachers work like I do. They are just as able to work as we are. Thus it is with some, it is true, the Church of God has some of the most liberal-hearted men and women that ever lived. While on the other hand it is just the other way. Some even boast over it. They say it don't cost me much. Here let me illustrate. I heard of a man, and I have seen the man, and heard him pray, who owned forty acres of land and a team, who boasted that he had been a member of the Church of God twenty years, had taken THE CHURCH ADVOCATE a year, and it never cost him a dollar. I have no doubt that there are some who leave other churches and come to the Church of God merely to get rid of supporting the gospel. I assure you if a person would do the like on a field of labor of mine, I would refuse to fellowship him. His motive would not be good, consequently I believe anyone would be justifiable in making objections to fellowshiping him.

      How the church can be more prosperous.

      1st. Let the minister preach the truth boldly and fearlessly. Some preaching is too smooth, too tame, too spiritless. Most people would rather bear the plain truth than to have it smoothed over. At least sensible, honest people would. It is said of Governor Morris, one of the early governors of Pennsylvania, that after having heard a sermon from a minister who was an applicant for chaplaincy *   *   *   *   *   *  , and being asked for his opinion of its merits, very promptly replied that it did not suit him at all; though a fine discourse it was, said he, too smooth, too tame and spiritless, and then added that he like that kind of preaching best that would drive him up into the corner of his pew and make him feel as though the devil was after him. Let the preacher be in earnest all over when he preaches. Look at politicians; they get in earnest. The actors on the stage, in the theater. can move whole assemblies even to tears merely by presenting a fiction as a reality. We have the unadulterated truth to present to the people--should we not be in earnest when we preach it?

      2d. The church should be honest with its preachers. Always pay him what you agree to and as much more as you can. No danger of him getting too much. Keep him from want at least.

      3d. Be prompt with him. Do not wait until his time is out and then promise to send it to him when you butcher, or thrash, and never do so.

      4th. Pay him without having to be dunned for it. Nothing is more unpleasant to a sincere minister of the gospel than to be compelled to beg for his salary after he has earned it. Again, a preacher that is continually begging will never accomplish much in building up the cause. I do not like to hear it; neither do many persons anywhere. Again, there is not much danger of a minister of the gospel coming to want when he does his whole duty.

      5th. Pray for your minister. The Apostles asked their brethren to pray for them. If those inspired men needed the prayers of the brethren, do not the ministers of the gospel at the present day need the prayers of the church? You will say, Yes. Then pray for them.

      6th. Every member should search the Scriptures so as to know what God requires of him personally, and that he might be able to "contend earnestly for the faith, which was once delivered to the saints."

      7th. They should stand firm for the doctrine of the Bible. There is too much chameleon about some people.

      8th. Keep all the ordinances and commandments of God. For, blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

[The Church Advocate 40 (November 3, 1875): 3.]

      Jacob Van Updike's "Plain Thoughts About Different Things" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 27 (November 3, 1875), p. 3. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 24 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.