O what a work there is before us. What ripened fields of harvest. Hear the Master say, "Go work to-day in my vineyard."

      I cannot see how any member of the Church of God can feel at ease and clear in the sight of God when doing nothing to spread the glorious truth and save souls. Members of the Church of God, whom he purchased with his own blood, and yet Jesus would ask, "What do ye more than others." As the zeal and energy of religious bodies should be commensurate with the amount of distinguishing truth they hold, what a shameful anomaly is a lazy, indifferent member of the only church authorized in God's word, and which occupies the only practical basis of Christian union, which is one of the conditions of the conversion of the world.

      More especially should lazy preachers blush to represent the Church of God. And yet such I fear there are. Year after year they are assigned to fields of labor out of sympathy, because they seem to be dependent upon the ministry for a livelihood, and it is hoped that the circuit can endure the burthen at least for one year. Such will be found much of the time about home when they should be out at work for Jesus. Their policy seems to be to do as little labor as possible, just so as to keep up the appearance of serving the work so as to demand their "salary," which occupies a prominent part of their preaching.

      A protracted meeting, of course, must be held, but this is more to meet the expectations of people than out of love for Jesus and precious souls for whom he died. Do you ask why I thus "judge?" I answer, "by the fruits we know the tree." How many souls do such preachers report as having been converted to God under their labors? But it is said they have sown what their successors will reap. Well, it does sometimes occur when preachers have good revivals that souls are awakened to be converted under the labors of their successors. But unsuccessful preachers usually leave the cause in a lower state than they find it, and the converts of their successors are generally such as seldom were attracted to their congregations.

      Many console themselves with the idea that they are not particularly adapted to promote revivals. This is the case, but where lies the inability? With some it may be somewhat constitutional, but even those should not think themselves clear in the sight of God without cultivating all possible ability to save souls, the great work to which God has called them. But an actual want of zeal and burning love for the great cause is what generally accounts for the barrenness of some preachers' labors. If we were to collect from the Elderships these ministers who have the best reputation as revivalists, they would not be found to possess superior genius, but most industry. They do more preaching, hold more and longer revival efforts, are more earnest in the pulpit, and exhort and pray with the people most from house to house. They simply obey the commission, "go preach," while others are lounging at ease. They are "workmen" while others are idlers. They are seeking opportunities to save souls, while others are seeking excuses to lie around where patience will best tolerate and benevolence feed them. I have heard of ministers holding a protracted meeting of weeks, and not eating but two or three meals away from their lounging place, though well and hearty. These dumb "sleeping" and "greedy dogs" (Isa. lvi. 10, 11) slumber while precious souls are going to hell for the want of their efforts to save them. I actually fear that some preachers have backslidden, yet rest securely, simply because they are preachers.

      God says of his watchmen, "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, that shall never hold their peace day or night." "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet," etc. "Sow thy seed in the morning, and in the evening withhold not thy hand." "Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season." "We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts vi. 4). "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears." "Have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house." "Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts xx.) Now, contrast the above with a Shepherd who claims to be sent of God to hunt up the lost sheep of the house of Israel. See him slothfully reclining half the day upon an easy lounge or chair, and perhaps the rest of the day smoking or chewing tobacco and telling stories for the diversion of the family who should be calling upon God to save their children and neighbors.

      Does this look like "giving themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word?" Do such resemble messengers of God who are sent to "compel" sinners to come into the great feast? Even though such should use pathos in their preaching, will no sinners attribute it to hypocrisy, because of their indifference out of the pulpit? Such should not seek to justify their want of success by the plea that they are not revivalists, when they are only not because of laziness. The more aged and infirm, of course, are excused.

      While it is true that many churches do not their duty in supporting their minister, yet we usually find the most bitter complaints come from those no-workers, who forget that God has ordered "that if any would not work neither should he eat" (2 Thes. iii. 10). Such drones should be thankful if they can keep soul and body together, because with the same indolence they would starve to death in any other vocation but the ministry.

      Now, my dear brethren, the glorious winter campaign is here. Let us all go to work for Jesus; eat less, fast often, pray much. Remember what our pioneer, Father T. Hickernell, told us at the Eldership, the "more praying he did the more success he saw." This is true. Try it brethren. O pray, pray, pray in secret, and from house to house, and God will bless your soul and your labors.

D. S. WARNER.      

[The Church Advocate 41 (December 20, 1876): 2.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "To the Work! To the Work!" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 34 (December 20, 1876), p. 2. For a response to the essay, see Philophron's "'To the Work,'" published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 46 (May 16, 1877), p. 3. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article provided by Jean Leathers, Archivist of the Churches of God Historical Society.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
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 p. 3:      deversion [ diversion
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 7 February 1998.
Updated 15 July 2003.