The Evangelist in Publicity

Boasting Out of Place—All boasting of merit in ourselves is out of place.... Not in our learning, not in our position, not in our numbers or entrusted talents, not in the will of man, is to be found the secret of success.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 401, 404 (1900).

Not After the World’s Manner—We are not to make the world’s manner of dealing ours. We are to give to the world a nobler example, showing that our faith is of a high and elevated character.... Therefore, all odd notions and individual peculiarities and narrow plans that would give false impressions of the greatness of the work, should be avoided.—Letter 14, 1887.

No Misrepresentation to Gain Favor—We are not to misrepresent what we profess to believe in order to gain favor. God despises misrepresentation and prevarication. He will not tolerate the man who says and does not. The best and noblest work is done by fair, honest dealing.—Letter 232, 1899.

Christ Not Called Professor—It is not the seeking to climb to eminence that will make you great in God’s sight, but it is the humble life of goodness, meekness, fidelity, and purity that will make you the object of the heavenly angels’ special guardianship. The pattern Man, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, took upon Himself our nature and lived nearly thirty years in an obscure Galilean town, hidden among the hills. All the angel host was at His command; yet He did not claim to be anything great or exalted. He did not attach “Professor” to His name to please Himself. He was a carpenter, working for wages, a servant to those for whom He labored.—Letter 1, 1880.

Christ Reproved Their Vanity—He ... reproved the vanity shown in coveting the title of rabbi, or master. Such a title, He declared, belonged not to men, but to Christ. Priests, scribes, and rulers, expounders and administrators of the law, were all brethren, children of one Father. Jesus impressed upon the people that they were to give no man a title of honor indicating his control of their conscience or their faith.

If Christ were on earth today, surrounded by those who bear the title of “Reverend” or “Right Reverend,” would He not repeat His saying, “Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ?” Matthew 23:10^L. The Scripture declares of God, “Holy and reverend is His name.” Psalm 111:9^L. To what human being is such a title befitting?—The Desire of Ages, 613 (1898).

No Right to the Title “Reverend”—There must be no lowering of the standard as to what constitutes true education. It must be raised far above where it now stands. It is not men whom we are to exalt and worship; it is God, the only true and living God, to whom our worship and reverence are due.

According to the teaching of the Scriptures, it dishonors God to address ministers as “Reverend.” No mortal has any right to attach this to his own name or to the name of any other human being. It belongs only to God, to distinguish Him from every other being. Those who lay claim to this title take to themselves God’s holy honor. They have no right to the stolen word, whatever their position may be. “Holy and reverend is His name.” Psalm 111:9^L. We dishonor God when we use this word where it does not belong.—The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898.

Little Men Handling Great Subjects—The ministers of the gospel are to present truth in its simplicity, through the blessing of God making the Scriptures profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. “Rightly dividing the word of truth”(2 Timothy 2:15^L)—this is the word that should be spoken of all our ministers.

But far, far from this, many of the ministers have departed from Christ’s plans. The praise of men is coveted, and they strain every faculty in an effort to hunt out and present wonderful things. The Lord bids me counsel them to walk humbly and prayerfully with Him.... Be willing to be little men handling great subjects.—Manuscript 62, 1905.

None Remarkable Men—We have no great men among us, and none need try to make themselves what they are not, remarkable men. It is not wisdom for a single individual to strike out as though he had some great talent, as though he were a Moody or a Sankey.—The Review and Herald, December 8, 1885.

The Message, Not the Man—The minister who has learned of Christ will ever be conscious that he is a messenger of God, commissioned by Him to do a work both for time and eternity. It should not be any part of his object to call attention to himself, his learning, or his ability. But his whole aim should be to bring sinners to repentance, pointing them, both by precept and example, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Self should be hidden in Jesus. Such men will speak as those conscious of possessing power and authority from God, being a mouthpiece for Him. Their discourses will have an earnestness and fervor of persuasion that will lead sinners to see their lost condition, and take refuge in Christ.—The Review and Herald, August 8, 1878.

John Only a Voice—Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, “a cry in the wilderness.”(John 1:23^L)—Gospel Workers, 56 (1915).

Men Like John Chosen Today—To fill a high place before men, Heaven chooses the worker who, like John the Baptist, takes a lowly place before God. The most childlike disciple is the most efficient in labor for God. The heavenly intelligences can co-operate with him who is seeking, not to exalt self, but to save souls.—The Desire of Ages, 436 (1898).

Work Marred by Self-glorification—There is no religion in the enthronement of self. He who makes self-glorification his aim, will find himself destitute of that grace which alone can make him efficient in Christ’s service. Whenever pride and self-complacency are indulged, the work is marred.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 402 (1900).

The True Measure of a Man—Christian worth does not depend on brilliant talents, lofty birth, wonderful powers, but on a clean heart—a heart purified and refined, that does not exalt self, but, by beholding Christ, reflects the long lost image of divinity.—Letter 16, 1902.

Jesus Only—Resolutely refusing to display human wisdom or to exalt self, they [God’s ministers] will accomplish a work that will withstand the assaults of Satan. Many souls will be turned from darkness to light, and many churches will be established. Men will be converted, not to the human instrumentality, but to Christ. Self will be kept in the background; Jesus only, the Man of Calvary, will appear.—The Acts of the Apostles, 278 (1911).