Last sabbath Elder George Messer presented a sermon which I termed the straight testimony, a religious term meaning the preaching of Biblical truth as opposed to baby food that will not disturb the complacency of worshipers.
Elder Messer is the minister of the Frankfort, Michigan church that we have attended for nearly a year. When I heard his sermon, I rejoiced for seldom have I heard plain Biblical truth presented from the pulpit. If ministers fed their families with temporal food the way they feed their churches with spiritual food, many more people, in American, would die of starvation or suffer from malnutrition.
It takes courage to preach the straight testimony for most Christians, despite their profession of faith, do not desire to be disturbed in the carnality, preferring, instead, that their religious leaders comfort their sinful heart by assurances of God’s love and forgiveness, regardless of our sinful natures and conduct. However, God’s love apart from his admonitions serves only to pave the way to hell.
I deeply appreciated his sermon and desired to commend him for having the courage to preach such a soul stirring appeal to holy living. I had planned to call him Monday, but the press of other matters intervened. This morning, while preparing the Sabbath Lesson for tomorrow, the Lord impressed me to call.
When he answered, he sounded lower then a snake’s belly. In compassion, I inquired if he was tired or ill. After some coaxing, he revealed that he was disheartened over the response he received from the sermon just eluded too. It seems that others, in the same congregation, were outraged that he disturbed their somnolent complacency with the truth of God and were making live difficult for him.
He confided in me that many from the congregation had written the conference president in the past complaining of his job performance to such an extent that the President expressed his intention to remove Eld. Messer from the ministry.
I was profoundly saddened as I listened to his concerns for Sevilla and I have discerned in this godly man, the Spirit of the Lord and attribute the spiritual growth, such as it is in the Frankfort church, to his ministry. Rather then thanking, him, however, for their growth, many of the members are criticizing him most bitterly for the care and nurture he has bestowed upon them over the last several years.
As I listened to him, my natural response was one of encouragement. I reminded him that all who live godly lives in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and that he was not exempted. Our response to these events ought to be rejoicing that we are accounted worthy to suffer with our Lord. I also reminded him of God’s love and command that he preach the word, leaving the consequences to the Lord. Further, I reminded him of God’s admonition to Ezekiel when this prophet of God desired to soften the straight testimony least the sinner be offended.
We conversed for almost an hour. As I encouraged him to place his trust in the Lord, he seemed to gain strength. How difficult it is to be a man of God in the place of those who would destroy his ministry, condemn and criticize the under shepherd, and attempt to shunt him aside that they may receive smooth things instead of the plane word of God.
The Lord knew Elder Messer needed a word of encouragement today, rather then last Monday, thus he prevented me from calling until today. He has often used the spiritual gift of encouragement he bestowed upon me to strengthen others who are weak or about to fall.
Praise the Lord!