"Too Many Ministers"

Dear Dr. Baggett:

To paraphrase Ecclesiastes, it seems that "of making of many ministers there is no end," as we seem bent on extending that title to everyone gainfully employed in some church-related function. The terms educational director, youth director, music director have given way to minister of education, minister of youth, and minister of music

This troubles me a little, for whenever you multiply the usage of any term you dilute to some extent its original connotation, and I cache up (perhaps too many years ago) when "minister" was term applied to the pastor or to the person whose time was devoted to serving the church in that capacity.

The transition from "director" to "minister" may be a matter of semantics; but there is, I think, a significant difference in connotation. "Minister" is a derivation of "servant" and implies tending to a need. "Director" implies getting others into action and guiding their activities. I am afraid that with the title "minister" we tend to feel that the individual has been employed to do the job that we, under his or her counseling and direction, should be doing.

I am too realistic to suppose we will turn the clock back, so perhaps we should carry the trend to its logical conclusion. I learned recently that one of our really great churches had a minister of media. I like the title. It and minister of music have a fine alliterative sound; but I said to our pastor "Of course we can’t afford to employ such a person, but before we become guilty of covetousness maybe we can do a little catching up. Let’s make our church hostess "minister of meats", our janitor "minister of mops", and our nursery superintendent "minister of moppets." I might even qualify for the "minister of mutterings."

T. T. Martin

128 South Street

Mobile, Alabama 36606

reprinted from the Birmingham.

newspaper

THE DIFFICULTY OF SALVATION

Text: "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" -(I Peter 4:18)

Salvation is a work of such difficulty that it requires the Grace of God to effect it. Man, having been ruined by the Fall, is now "dead in trespasses and sins." The difficulty of salvation lies in man’s inability to raise himself from the depths of moral and spiritual degradation to a state of moral and spiritual rectitude --to a place of

right-standing with God. He is not merely helpless his condition is hopeless. Therefore, if he is to be saved at all, God must save him. (Ephesians 2:1,12)

The work of salvation is a work of such great difficulty that it requires the omnipotence of God to raise them who are spiritually dead and to quicken them and cause them to bud and bear almonds like Aaron’s rod. Thomas Watson declared it to be a great work when God created man out of nothing, but that it was the work of His fingers, or his

handiwork. But to save man who is less than nothing requires the arm of God, for "His arm," says the prophet, "brought salvation." (Psalm 8:3; 19:1; Isaiah 59:16)

The difficulty of salvation is enhanced because man is blind to the fact he is "vile and full of sin," that he is "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." He is ignorant of the great wickedness even in the thought of sin. (Revelation 3:17; Acts 8:22)

The way of salvation is a difficult way, and but for God, Satan will come immediately and steal out of our heart the Word planted there. It is a way crowded with the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things will threaten to choke the Word and render us unfruitful.

Salvation is a work of such great difficulty that while it may be had, it may be had "scarcely," or "hardly", or "barely" because our sins are so great. But while it may become a reality, yet it will be "taken" only by the violent who seize it by force. (Matthew 11:12)

"And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

I WAS A WANDERING SHEEP

Tune: "Terra Patris" --"This Is my Father’s World

EVANGELISM

What is the most effective way to reach the greatest number of people with the truth of God at the least possible expense? Is there a way to reach them who live behind "No Trespassing," or them who live "in the sticks?" These cannot be reached by door-to-door preaching. Television is agonizingly expensive, and yet both it and Radio reach only those people who are spiritually inclined.

Most people do not want to hear the Word of God. Most do not attend any church, and let us admit that most who do more often than not choose a "church" where they will hear everything but the Word of God. Most people will even turn their television channel or their radio dial in order not to hear a scheduled Gospel program. Is there a way to reach these people?

Yes! and it is cheaper than radio, and even cheaper than Gospel tracts that must be carried one by one! It is the newspaper. While there is no way of reaching everyone, every where, except by a combination of methods, it is our conviction the newspaper is the most effective route to go. For instance, a sermon equivalent in size to two columns by six inches (or about an 8 1/2 by 11-inch page typed) could appear in the Chicago Sun-Times and reach a weekday circulation of

650,000 people for $1200. If you multiply the circulation by 4 you would have the potential readership.

For this reason I have written the Atlanta Constitution,

The Atlanta Journal, The New York Times, The San Francisco Examiner, The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times. By the Grace of God we are going to carry the Gospel full-strength across our land. And may God never allow us to dilute or adulterate His Word.

THE PILGRIM’S BIBLE CHURCH

During the past five years, we have attempted to organize a church in the Augusta area. We were granted the free use of the chapel in the Bon Air Residential Hotel, and the prospect of no rent and free utilities was awfully appealing. The Lord was pleased only to give us an itinerant ministry among these people since most only wintered here.

For eight years prior to our ministering in the Bon Air Hotel we pastored a congregation who were predominantly less educated, and far poorer than many who frequented the Hotel. All people stand in need of the Gospel. People of class are dear to Christ, and He esteems everyone to be important.

This past summer when Bon Air Hotel closed for nine million dollars of renovations, it became necessary for us to relocate. We found a church that had been vacant for three years with the exception of one year when it was used as a children’s puppet theater. It is located in an older section of the city.

On account of the fact most of these people are poor, it is not financially advantageous to minister to them. As a result, there is little done among them even though there are 4 large churches in a two-block radius.

In order to open up this 75-year-old church building, it has been necessary for me to move in my family. We presently occupy the Sunday school rooms in the rear and make use of the kitchen. By March 1st, however, we must have $4000 as a down payment on these facilities.

We are an Independent Baptist church without the support of any denomination, Fellowship or Association. What financial help has trickled in has been swallowed up in monthly expenses and the meagerest of repairs. Some of you have expressed your desire to help. Now is your opportunity; and then, everyone can pray for us.

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ITINERARY

During the month of February we will be at the –-

Mount Olive Baptist Church

It is located on Daniel Street, here in Augusta, where Mr. Albert Dock is pastor.

We have been asked to teach on The Doctrine of Scripture.