House-to-house work is effectual when conducted in a Christlike
manner. Hold meetings, and be sure to make them interesting.
Remember that this requires something more than preaching.
Many who have lived so long in one place are spending their
time criticizing those who are working in Christ’s lines to convict
and convert sinners. They criticize the motives and intentions of
others, as if it were not possible for anyone else to do the unselfish
work they themselves refuse to do. They are stumbling blocks. If
they would go to places where there are no believers, and work to
win souls to Christ, they would soon be so busy proclaiming the truth
and helping the suffering that they would have no time to dissect [83]
character, no time to surmise evil and then report the results of their
supposed keenness in seeing beneath the surface.
Let those who have lived so long in places where there are large
churches of believers go out into the harvest field to sow and reap
for the Master. They will forget self in the desire to save souls. They
will see so much work to do, so many fellow beings to help, that
they will have no time to look for faults in others. They will have no
time to work on the negative side.
Bringing so many believers together in one place tends to encourage
evil surmising and evilspeaking. Many become absorbed
in looking and listening for evil. They forget what a great sin they
are committing. They forget that the words they speak can never be
84 Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
unsaid and that by their suspicions they are sowing seeds that will
spring up to bear a harvest of evil. How great this harvest is no one
will know until the last great day, when every thought, word, and
action will be brought into judgment.
The thoughtless, unkind words that are spoken grow with every
repetition. One and another adds a word, until the false report
assumes large proportions. Great injustice is done. By their unrighteous
suspicions and unrighteous judgments the talebearers hurt
their own experience and sow the seeds of discord in the church.
If they could see things as God sees them they would change their
attitude. They would realize how they have neglected the work He
has given them to do as they have found fault with their brethren and
sisters.
The time spent in criticizing the motives and works of Christ’s
servants might better be spent in prayer. Often if those who find
fault knew the truth in regard to those with whom they find fault,
[84] they would have an altogether different opinion of them. How much
better it would be if, instead of criticizing and condemning others,
everyone would say: “I must work out my own salvation. If I cooperate
with Him who desires to save my soul, I must watch myself
diligently. I must cut away every evil from my life. I must become a
new creature in Christ. I must overcome every fault. Then, instead
of weakening those who are striving against evil, I can strengthen
them by encouraging words.”
Let those who have used the talent of speech to discourage and
dishearten God’s servants, who are striving to advance God’s cause,
planning and working to master hindrance, ask God to forgive them
for the injury they have done to His work by their wicked prejudices
and unkind words. Let them think of the harm they have done by
spreading false reports, by judging those they have no right to judge.
In the word of God we are given plain directions as to the course
we are to follow when we think a brother is in the wrong. Christ
says: “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast
gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee
one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every
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word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it