My brother or sister, there are many things in the Bible that will not touch you pleasantly, that call for the surrender of self-will and prejudice. It may be such a question, for example, as that of a Christian's right to belong to secret fraternities; or about colored Christians worshiping in white congregations; or, say, of woman's head covering, or of woman's position and sphere in general. These and many like subjects may irritate you extremely. [183] Now let me tell you, if you have a man with you, a preacher of the word who, as time and circumstances may demand, comes out boldly and fearlessly on these topics, whatever you do, do not close his mouth. Such a man is a treasure, and his like is not found everywhere and every day. And what do you want, anyway? A man that will talk to please you? You can get him for the money. But what do you want with him after you get him? The man against whom you turned may be blunt, he may even be mistaken (let us assume), but he is straightforward and true, and can be depended on a hundred times more as a safe teacher than the other kind. And where he is wrong he is honest enough to be convinced of his error; but if he is right, you will do better to hear and obey and yield to God's will than to oppose the poor instrument through which God's word comes to you. The principle of closing the true preacher's mouth and selecting preachers according to taste and personal preference will bring about the apostasy of the last days. (2 Tim. 4:3.) God's people once stopped the mouths of the prophets, and said, "Prophesy unto us smooth things;" and by God's judgment there followed a famine, not of bread, nor of water, but of the words of God. (Isa. 30:10; Amos 2:12; 5:10; 8:11, 12.) So will it be again. So is it now already in many communities and in many individual hearts. The Lord save us!

[TAG 183-184]