Text: "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." (Jas.1: 8)

The Gospel ministry in all too often looked upon as a hobby --as something that requires only part-time attention --as something that can be done when, or if, a minister has the time. Such people have no concept of the Gospel ministry.

The Gospel Ministry as A Work

The Gospel ministry is a work --a great work --the greatest work. It is a sort of incomparable importance because it concerns the soul of man and deals with eternity itself. It is the most important work because all other work deals with matters of temporal importance. The reward of such jobs is "money" which may be used to ‘purchase’ possessions, and a false sense of security. The rewards that come to faithful ministers are scarcely realized in this world, They labor with matters of eternal importance.

The Gospel Ministry as A Calling

Most people can change their job at will. They can pack the tools of their trade and offer their services to another employer; or, if they choose, they can embark upon a completely new career. This is why most people have no understanding of the Gospel ministry: contrary to their thinking, the Gospel ministry is neither a profession, nor a career --it in a Calling.

Martin Luther confessed he was drawn by the hair of his head to the office of preaching. And, Charles Spurgeon warned his ministerial students that if they could do anything else, they should not preach.

Paul confessed, "For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.’ (I Cor. 9:16) So Jeremiah, in the throes of discouragement because the people reproached him daily and derided him, admitted, "I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name.’ But there was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay." (Jer. 20:9)

Does the cause of God and Truth deserve only part-time attention? When can the faithful minister say he has prayed enough? Or studied enough? Yet, there are many who contend a pastor should not be "full-time" --that he ought to run a sandal shop or turn hamburgers on the side. Again, should the men to whom the care of souls is committed devote only part-time attention to the gospel of God? And, that shall we understand James to mean when he says, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways"?

The Gospel Minister --A Parasite?

Some people seem to think a "full-time" prophet is a parasite who preys upon society. Is the missionary a parasite because he expects the people of God to keep up his maintenance?

In the Soviet Union, there are no Bible schools because no "full-time" Christian work is allowed. Pastors are turned into street sweepers and latrine cleaners because of a law enacted by Nikita Krushchev, if my memory is correct. The law was called "The Anti-Parasite Law." The Communists designed it for people whose work they considered to be "unfit," and it was applied to all "full-time" Christian workers.

How strange that materially-minded Christians and atheistic

Communists would think so much alike! Nevertheless, this is the attitude of the rich and complacent Church who considers herself as "having need of nothing."

Concerning the Will of God

Every man must be fully persuaded what God would have him to do. It is not for me to condemn another brother when God may lead him differently. God does not lead all men the same way any more than it is His will that every man be slain for His testimony. But, Reader, consider some things.

First, the church that is able but will not support its minister suffers the loss. Yet hearts of stone cannot perceive the judgment of God. To such people, "money" and possessions are more important than spiritual things (Rom. 15:27); however, if s minister is a faithful man who has sown unto them spiritual things, "is it a great thing if (he) reaps (their} carnal things?" (I Cor. 9:11) Which is of the greater importance?

Few people realize that it requires the same amount of preparation to teach or to preach to one soul as it does to 10,000 souls. Therefore, Paul wrote to Timothy (I Tim. 5:17), "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the Word and doctrine."

It is a principle of Scripture as old as the time of Moses that the ox that treads out the corn should not be muzzled. (Deut. 25:4) Such an action would be cruel: and our Lord Himself has testified "The laborer is worthy of his reward." (Luke 10:7)

The Pitfall of Learning a Trade

Second, there are possible pitfalls to learning a "trade." Certainly, the ministers of God ought to be knowledgeable men. They ought to learn all they can. But learning a trade may pose some very great pitfalls.

Consider, when ministers face difficulties like Ezekiel and

Jeremiah, what a temptation it has been to leave the ministry altogether!

God often uses financial crunches to temper His servants. In such cases, how dangerous can self-reliance become--including the temptation to lean upon the arm of flesh! Such abilities may give confidence that one is a "self-made" man.

Consider again, the danger of falling into the same trap of materialism in which the people involved in the work force have fallen, and like them "pierce themselves through with many sorrows" --and all because they have coveted "money." (I Tim. 6:20)

An Earnest Plea

THE ORIGIN OF THE "RACES"

Part V -- The Sons of Ham in the New Testament

The sons of Ham have likewise played a significant role in the New Testament.

It is very significant that the Lord Jesus Christ chose a Hamite as "one of the Twelve." Simon Zelotes (the Zealot) is known in the Gospel of Matthew as Simon the Canaanite. (Matt. 10:1-4; see: Mk. 3:18; Lk 6:12-16; Acts 1:12-14) God is no respecter of persons! (Rom. 2:11) Peter declared, "God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (Acts 10:28) Reader, has God ever taught you this lesson?

Simon the Canaanite was numbered among "The Eleven" on Mount

Olivet when our Lord gave the Great Commission before He ascended into the Heavens. He was in attendance in the Upper Room" in Jerusalem with Peter and James and all the others. He cast his lot in the election of Matthias. He was present with the other disciples on the day of Pentecost when they were all "with one accord in one place," and a cloven tongue as of fire rested upon his head. (Acts 2:1-6) And, he was present to lay on his hands in the "ordination" of the first deacons.

As the other disciples suffered martyrdom at the hands of Christ-rejecting multitudes, it is very probable his soul is among the souls of others under the altar who have been "slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held." It is probable at this very hour he is crying, "How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth," and to whom a white robe has been given. (Rev. 6:9-11)

In Acts 9:26-39, the Holy Spirit who "searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" --who "knows what is in man" deems the Ethiopian eunuch a "worthy man putting him into the ministry." He was of great authority under Candice, Queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship." Traditionally, he has been called "Endich."

How ironic that such a sin as prejudice should be common within the Church of the First-Born! It is a truth to be reckoned with that the Apostle Paul who labored more abundantly than they all according to the grace that was in him, who labored amidst perils, tribulations, and trials, suffering hunger and thirst --I say, how ironic is prejudice within the Church when 2 Africans served in the ’ordination’ of the Apostle Paul!

In Acts 13:1-3, Luke tells us "There was in the Church that Simeon that was called ‘Niger’, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and Saul."

Cyrenaica was a Roman province located in North Africa. The city of Cyrene was the principal seaport. Prejudice is not a sin only white people can commit, neither is it a sin confined to the 20th century. It is not surprising that as Simon of Cyrene "passed by coming out of the country" (Mk. 15:21) that when it was beneath the dignity of the descendants of Shem and Japheth to bear the cross for the faltering Son of God, they compelled him to bear it. What a privilege! Yet it was a privilege experienced by a Hamite.

Simeon, who was in the Church at Antioch, was evidently so dark of complexion that he was called "Niger" which is Latin for "black." It is from this word that the scurrilous term "nigger" is derived.

It is certain that the Church of Antioch had "prophets and teachers" of which two were Africans. Two truths are evident here: first, there was so racial segregation practiced in the primitive Christian Church; and second, men of African descent held eminent positions in the early church.

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, ‘Separate me Barnabas, and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.’ And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

Miscegenation --

The Issue of Inter-Racial Marriage

If, as has been stated, the Patriarch Abraham went in unto his wife’s Egyptian (Hamite) maid and fathered Ishmael, the father of the Arab people: and David, the "man after God’s own heart," married Bathsheba, a Hamite, and fathered Solomon from that union, are we to practice inter-racial marriage?

You will look in vain for a condemnation from God. The only "inter-marriage" God’s Word strictly forbids is the marriage of believers with unbelievers. However, the fact that by the 3 sons of Noah--Shem, Ham and Japheth, the whole earth was overspread (Gen. 9:18,19) is a vehement argument that the sons of men ought to maintain the identities of the three families of mankind.

The Apostle Paul used this argument when addressing the Grecians on Mars Hill when he said,

Each people has a purpose to fill in God’s plan, and this depends upon each keeping his identity distinct from other people. The election of God of a people for Himself is for this reason irrespective of nationality. So men "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev. 5:8) "should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after Him and find Him..."

Paul declared, "Be ye not unequally yoked together," and here he applied this to believers being yoked together with unbelievers, yet marriage ought also to take into consideration the equality of education, of economics, and of culture. "The Godly man" wrote William Law, "does not ask what is allowable or pardonable, but what is commendable and praiseworthy."

Scripture declares, "We are members of one another." (Eph. 4: 25) Although the attitude of modern Christians toward people of African descent is much like the attitude of the Pharisee toward the Publican, or of "clean" people toward the "unclean," brethren, my plea is the same as that of the Apostle John: "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."