Farmer -- Mill-man -- Merchant -- Doctor -- School-man -- Churchman -- Soul-winner
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was (I trust) not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:10.
As I stand on my sixtieth milestone (December 16, 1929), and look back, I can see what I might have been. First, I might have been a FARMER. Some of my schoolmates married early, settled down and became farmers. It is an honorable avocation, but I am glad God planned something different for me. That radical conversion at the age of sixteen came just in time to keep me from being sidetracked.
Second, a MILL-MAN! It looked big to a poor country boy to go to town and, after a few years of application, make from $5.00 to $20.00 a day in the iron mill; but God in mercy did not let me do this.
Third, a MERCHANT! A few of my friends started, in a small way, to keep store, or a post office.
This, of course, was looked upon as being a little better than farming or sweltering in an iron mill.
They made a good living, but the world has never heard of them.
Fourth, a DOCTOR! This was my highest ambition to ride around or have people come to me and let me feel their pulses, look at their tongues and charge them from $2.50 to $5.00. I think perhaps I might have succeeded fairly well, especially in sawing off limbs, cutting out cancers and killing:
my full share.
Fifth, a SCHOOL-MAN! Had I applied myself as some of my colleagues did, I might have been a professor in an institution. What an elevation! In fact, when I left dear old Wheaton College it was intimated that I remain and teach. Thank God I escaped!
Sixth, a CHURCH-MAN! Several of the younger preachers back there committed to memory much of "Roberts' Rules of Order," and took special delight in debating on the Conference floor about "Amendments," and "Substitutes to the Amendments." I was not good at it, and was never recognized as a "Floor Leader," or a "Parliamentarian."
Later, after serving as District Elder a number of years, I voluntarily resigned, feeling that there was something bigger and better-that of SOUL-WINNING. Many District Elders are wonderful revivalists, thank God, but the tendency is to become mechanical and be content to go the rounds of
holding little quarterly meetings. I wrote one of my special friends after his election and instead of saying "D. E." I wrote "D. M. G." He wanted to know what the new title meant, whereupon I informed him that he was now exalted to the honorable position of "District-Machinery-Greaser."
It was his business now to go about and keep the machinery of the church from squeaking. True, we must have a certain amount of machinery, and God bless the faithful officials, but somehow I never did take to it. I got tired of being on "Committees" and "Boards," until I felt I was well-nigh "bored"
through.
We find in Paul's order of men (1 Cor. 12:28) that he places them thus: "First apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, adversities of tongues." So, you see, one who is a church dignitary and is able to quote page and paragraph of the discipline, Paul, under inspiration, places in class number SEVEN. And should he insist on speaking in tongues he takes lowest place and is labeled number EIGHT. A possibility of not using the strong arm of faith enough. Hence, limiting God's willingness and ability to finish what He takes in hand. While we are anxious to see a soul get the victory on the spot, yet if he is nowhere near the end of himself, is it not better to hold him to the point of submission rather than have a spiritual abortion? Like a young chick, the seeker who does not peck his own way out, at the best will be only a weakling. He who has to have others help him pray through will have to be prayed through again, or, to say the least, will always need help, instead of being able to help others.
SIXTY YEARS OF
THORNS AND ROSES By
E. E. Shelhamer CHAPTER 36
SAVED FROM SECTARIANISM
Wesley on Bigotry -- Why I Hold for other -- Warning to Young Preachers.
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not.
Mark 9:38, 39.
There are different degrees of salvation. First, we are saved from all outward sin. Then in entire sanctification we are saved from all inward pollution -- all unholy tempers. Many good people stop here, thinking they have reached the highest peak on the "Delectable Mountains." But, beloved, there are heights and lengths ahead that no one dreamed of when he first knelt at the foot of the Cross. As for instance: There are not very many who are wholly saved from sectarianism. They imagine that to be loyal to their church they must be more or less prejudiced against others, especially against those who are likely to be rivals and preach practically the same things. Yea, holiness people may need help in this respect!
Yes, the preacher was casting out devils and doing it in the name of Jesus, but because our label was not on him or his converts, because he did not line up with "us" in every particular, "we forbade him."
John Wesley, in his sermon on "Bigotry," says: "Suppose, then, a man have no intercourse with us, suppose he be not of our party, suppose he separate from our church, yea, and widely differ from us in judgment, practice, and affection; yet if we see even this man 'casting out devils, Jesus saith, Forbid him not.'
"Everyone is either on God's side, or on Satan's. Are you on God's side? Then you will not only not forbid any man that casts out devils, but will labor to the uttermost of our power to forward him in the work. You will readily acknowledge the work of God, and confess the greatness of it.
You will remove all difficulties and objections, as far as may be, out of his way. You will strengthen his hands by speaking honorably of him before all men, and avowing the things which you have seen and heard. You will encourage others to attend upon his word, to hear him whom God hath sent. And you will omit no actual proof of tender love, which God gives you an opportunity of showing him.
"If we willingly fail in any of these points, if we either directly or indirectly forbid him, 'because he followeth not us,' then we are bigots. It is too strong an attachment to, or fondness for, our own party, opinion, church and religion.
"Take care, that you do not convict yourself of bigotry by your unreadiness to believe that any man does cast out devils, who differs from you, or does not worship God according to that scheme of religion which you have received from your fathers.
"Examine yourself: Am I not sorry that God should thus own and bless a man that holds such erroneous opinions? Do I not discourage him, because he is not of my church, by disputing with him concerning it, by raising objections, and by perplexing his mind with distant consequences? Do I show anger, contempt, or unkindness of any sort, either in my words or actions? Do I not mention behind his back his (real or supposed) faults, his defects, or infirmities? Do not I hinder sinners from hearing his word? If you do any of these things, you are a bigot to this day.
"If you will avoid all bigotry, go on. In every instance of this kind, whatever the instrument be, acknowledge the finger of God. And not only acknowledge, but rejoice in his work, and praise his name with thanksgiving. Encourage whomsoever God is pleased to employ, to give himself wholly up thereto. Speak well of him wheresoever you are; defend his character and his mission. Enlarge, as far as you can, his sphere of action; show him all kindness in word and deed; and cease not to cry to God in his behalf, that he may save both himself and them that hear him."
There are two extremes, and he is well balanced who has found the happy medium. There is the narrow, churchy spirit; then, on the other hand, there is the insubordinate, independent air. To swing to either extreme is to put a limitation on one's usefulness in soul-winning. Thank God, it is possible to be loyal to your "fold" and yet recognize and fellowship "other sheep" which are not of your brand. It requires a big soul to do this.
The great bate between sin and righteousness, under King Emmanuel, is composed of regiments known as churches, each fighting the common foe under its own peculiar regulations. What a pity when they begin to spend their ammunition on each other, rather than upon the common foe!
Few are properly balanced. It seems almost impossible to find one who is considered loyal to his movement, who is not more or less biased against others. Some cannot worship freely with anyone except their own little crowd. Others go to the other extreme, put on the soft pedal and tone down to suit every crowd they chance to meet.
Personally, I rejoice that God has saved me from a Sectarian spirit. And the wonder is that I did not do as some of the "Church of God" factions demand, viz., come out of one sect and join theirs.
To have done so might have made me more sectarian than before.