The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-18
Why Preach the Gospel

Why Preach the Gospel?
We sometimes hear inconsiderate persons
sneeringly charge minister with preaching
the gospel for money, and 1t is equally true
that some ministers Of the gospel would, i
possible, hide from view the mainsprins
which moves the world. and governs all man
kind. We have good authority for saying
that he who provides not for his family IL
worse than an infdel. Then why should 6
preacher, any more than Others claim to de-
splse good salary, whereby his family car
be better supported, and which will enable
him not only to pay his grocery bills, bu
which would furnish him the means to con.
tribute to those worthy objects that may ep
peal to his generosity. If for no other reason
the preacher should strive for good salary
which would enable him to do good will
both word and deed.
This sneering talk Of preaching for money
Is especially heard when preacher In q small
congregation has been invited to take charge
Of a church which pays larger salary.
This newspaper has not yet reached tha
sublimated state, where 1t can differentiate 6
matter OF business between one profession
and another. IN nearly all lines of pursuit
stance must be TO earn money whel eby the
individual may support himself and his fam
lily.
Long ago certain African tribes believed In
fetichism, whereby certain persons were &C
connected with the supernatural Being, thai
they had powers TO control that being in bis
conduct with men. We leave 1t for others tc
say II there is or is not modified fetichism
in this country.
II there is not. how are we to expect 9
preacher to support himself and his family
without salary? And why should he refuse
good salary to take poor one?
II he is not to be allowed TO give up a small
er congregation for larger congregation
where the pay is better and the field of use
fulness is larger, where is.the incentive fol-
him TO better equip himself for preaching the
gospel, and why should he better prepare
himself for bringing men to higher sense o.
obligation to the Saviour, and better reali.
zation OF their duty to God and man,
Akin to the fetichism Of the dark ages, is
the idea that the Almighty in his wisdom
takes charge Of the affairs OF men, In "call-
ing" certain of bis children to preach the gos.
pei.
In sense, all men may be said to be "call.
ed' to their respective lines of business.
In another sense, and In the more reasona.
bic one, the Idea Is too preposterous TO be en-.
tertained by intelligent people in this day OF
light
If tbe Almighty In his wisdom assigned
men TO the pulpit or directed them to exer,
their energies elsewhere, he would certainly
make fewer palpable mistakes than are now
evident to the most casual observer.
That there are different degrees OF responsi.
bility in the different pursuits, we presume
none will deny.
By courtesy. or by Difference. or by univer
BAL consent. the preaching of the gospel is
placed at the head Of the list. But what Of
the business OF editing newspaper or wri
ting book? Will any man deny that the
calling is high one, even II 1t be contended
that many editors and book writers fall far
short OF the ideal?
What about the teacher? VIII anybody
deny that his office is as high as that of an y
other?
Whatiabout the physician? By virtue OF
his profession, he may do much good or great
harm, to both the body and the soul.
But why name them all7 At last, 1t is not
the profession that We follow. which will give
us the crown Of glory. Purity and holiness OF
living, together with q conscientious dis.
charge Of duty to God and man is what will
win the we'll done OF the Great Judge. A
man high in the church, or great among the
professions, may not present at the throne OF
grace purer heart or q better life than that OF
the village blacksmith.
This newspaper has no sympathy with any
reproach that may be attached TO the remark
that preacher is preaching for money" Oh
course he Is preaching for money, and we are
not able to understand how any one can
think otherwise. Neither are we able to un-
derstand how the honest preacher could
square bis action by denial that the better
salary is an inducement to him to change his
field Of labor.
Instead OF q reproach, the offer of higher
salary is the best tribute that could be paid to
his worth. and the world would conclude that
the refusal to accept better place would be,
from temporal standpoint, very foolish
act, while from spiritual standpoint, II
could be nothing more nor less than refusal
y to discharge his full duty to the Master into
whose service he had consecrated himself
and to the upbuilding Of whose Kingdom he
had set apart his life-work.
Instead. therefore, Of being ashamed of the
fact that the preacher had been called to a
higher and better field Of labor he should be
proud Of the fact, which he might proclaim
from the housetop. His real friends will re-
joice at his success, and all right-thinking
men will bid him Godspeed.
In all important undertakings every man
on earth should seek direction and court that
wisdom which comes down from heaven, but
any idea that the Almighty is partial in Civ.
ing to one man counsel, while Withholding q
like favor from another, is fetichism pure and
simple.
When preacher OF the gospel is offered q
promotion, the same practical rule should
govern him that governs those Of his neigh
bors who may be In the secular pursuits
And when the matter Is referred to him the
Lord always advises the increased labor and
the taking Of the better salary. 1t would be
Inconsistent in the Lord II he advised the
throwing away Of opportunities for good.
We always know what the Lord will advise
under such circumstances.
Interesting Copy.
The Issue Of the Associate Reformed Presby.