The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-08-01
The Ministry Needed for the Twentieth Cen

The Signs OF the times Indicate that we
are approaching an epoch in the history
OF the world, and especially in the history
OF the church. The forces of the good and
the bad are being marshaled so thorough
ly by their respective leaders that a con-
tiict and crisis cannot be long DELAYED.
1t is not mere speculation to say the
twentieth century will witness this crisis
and mark this epoch in history.
The ministry of Christ must be an I'M
portant factor i'll such time. 1t peril
ncnt, therefore, to ask, What is the char
acter OF the ministry needed for the
twentieth century ?"
In answer to this question. it has been
well said, "The ministry needed for the
twentieth century is not different from
that needed for the first century," The
ministry of the first century had come al
most directly from the personal teachings,
influence and example of the Saviour:
their preaching was the telling and re.
peatlng the story of His advent, life,
words, works, death, resurrection, ascen-
sion, and His giving the Holy Spirit. All
preaching was essentially Christ. In the
first century the discussions and dissen-
tions that disturbed the later church had
not arisen. The theme and thought that
occupied the church was not dogma but
Christ. The need of the twentieth cen
fury is ministry that will subordinate
all discussions of the church, from the first
Council i'll Nice to the McGitfert Case, and
preach Christ. We need ministry that
will sidetrack UNCONVENTIONAL difference.
that will not labor to crowd new church
OF their particular denomination where
the Gospel of Christ already reaches the
people. But will rather work to unite
weak churches of their own denomination
with the stronger Christian churches of
the same town or vicinity, and thus be
enabled tn support more churches among
those who have not the gospel. The first
century church represented Christ and
nothing else; the ministry of the twentieth
century should make the church represent
Christ and nothing else.
We need then Christian ministry that
will minister for Christ; be as uncompro-
missing with the world as Christ was,
and, II needs be, be as unpopular as Christ
was. Such ministry must be called of
God, and sent from God. From such pas
sages as, pray We the Lord of the har-
vest, that He would send forth laborers
into His harvest" and Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work where
unto l have called them," we learn that
God doth take special proprietorship in
the matter OF calling men into the minis
try, and that He will call forth laborers
as the church IS ready to receive them.
We learn, too, there is to be close COM
munlon with God i'll the formation of the
ministry, both on the part of candidates
tor the ministry, and the ecclesiastical
bodies to whom the power of ordination
is given, that Gods will may be known,
and that the ministry may be composed
OF God.sent men. The minister should be
educated and cultured, but, above all
else, he should be man with message,
and that message should be Christ
The characteristic of John the Baptist
was, he had message, and the world
turned out to hear him. Luther, Calvin,
Wesley, Whitefield. Spurgcon, Brooks and
Moody were manifestly sent from God.
They each had God-sent message which
though, at first, opposed, was afterwards
received, and incorporated into the life of
the church.
That God has messages for the church
today no once can doubt, neither can they
doubt that God has chosen messengers to
whom He will give His messages. 1t is
the men with messages from God that are
needed for the ministry of the twentieth
century. Such men will proclaim the
Truth because theyca not helpit. They
will be men of zeal and intense earnest
Hess. Sin will be real to them, and saliva
ton will be real. They will paint sin as
black as hell, but the path of the Just will
be correspondingly radiant"
Such preachers may not be popular;
may offend many, but they will be heard,
and the cause of Christ will prosper in
their hands. 1t is mistake to suppose
the twentieth century demands sensation
alism in the pulpit, or philosophers or
science; the demand today is for the simple
gospel applied by the Holy Spirit. Exact
ly the same need there was in the first
century when the disciples tarried in the
upper room until they were enbucd with
the Holy Spirit, and then went out and
told the story of the cross, and three
thousand were converted i'll one dav, and
there were added daily to the church such
as should be saved
1t is gratifying to note that the church
is awakened to the special qualifications
needed Iii the ministry, and more care is
being exercised in the approval of candi-
dates tor the ministry. 1t is also gratifv-
ing to note that the keswick movement
ofEngland, and the Northtield and similar
movements of the United States are the
means, under God, ofgiving new Spiritual
life to thousands in the ministry, and, |
believe, God is preparing ministry for
the twentieth century that will revolu-
tionize the world. and establish the King
dom of Christ even unto the uttermost
parts of the earth.
A. LEWIS HYDE,
Pastor Slate Ridge PRESBYTERIAN Church.