46 - As Each Is Called

DR. M cC- WAS A Presbyterian minister, one of the com­paratively few Faith Home visitors who was not Pente­costal. Hungry for God, lie was being led by the Spirit into some of the deeper truths of the gospel such as divine healing. In the pursuit of a greater knowledge of God, he had come to the Homes. The leaders there had themselves come out of various denominations into Pentecost, and some, by virtue of their own experience, thought that as a matter of course it was God’s will to lead all seekers after truth into Pentecost. Not so Mrs. Robinson, for the Lord had taught her that He deals with each individual according to his personal con­dition, light, and ability to be of geatest service in the Kingdom, whether in or out of Pentecost. In a letter regarding Dr. McC- Mrs. R. clearly set forth the great, wide viewpoints which the Holy Spirit had given her regarding such issues as were involved in cases such as his. By it one also sees that she made no attempt to draw people to herself or into fellowship with the Homes, no mat­ter how educated or influential they might be. Hers was in­deed an unselfish, disinterested love for souls, a desire to help people just where and with ways God wanted them helped. And, therefore, seeing that Dr. McC- might be influenced by the suggestions or advice of well-meaning but over-zealous people, the Lord had Mrs. R. give some wisdom whereby those ministers in the Homes who were directly dealing with him might be guided: “First, Jesus does not try to pull men out of their churches by advice of men. It is not a good plan. He had better carry his light into his church, if anything. And, moreover, it is not sure, when a man is a good Presbyterian minister, getting Divine Healing [light] and then managing to stay in his church, that he doesn’t do more good there than one would think. “Will you consider this a little? He is fifty years old, and not Pentecostal. He is deeper than the church he is in. He would lead them up. For them he would be broad and liberal toward deeper life teachings. In his own church he takes his place. “Now in Pentecost he is a beginner, and a little one. None of the great power is in him. Can he get his own place in the ministry in Pentecost, etc.? Is he not in a hard place if he should fall down in it? Now that is the question. Why try to get a man like that out of his church? And why dare to judge? Is it right? Who can answer this question? “In case, however, we see a man himself so led—seeing it in his vision—longing to get out,—we meet him. Why not? We got out. —Well, but if the Lord could give wisdom—I am sure that it would really give him help. —But could he act on it? Is he to come out of the church? And if not, why not? And do you know? Where will he go? What is his field? Is he convinced of Pentecost? No—and I would teach it to him before he came out. And I would teach him Divine Healing. If then he wanted to take it back to his church, all right. “R. has long had such teaching as this. Men precipitately leave their ministries. O that they would let their light shine! “Now, that is all for the ministry. And some must come out and some must stay in. Who knows who? “We really need light on one point—is God Himself ready for all people to go out of the work they were led into when they get some new [line] of truth? Or would God, as He does in other matters, just lead you—myself—or others, as each is called? Is it your experience that always if one gets a new truth that God really takes a man away from the field he is in to tell and live that truth? “Yes, I know, our experience is that God does finally lead one into a new line of work, and if he is able, places him where he will use his new light. Is it our job to convince men to move soon, and, well—what is God doing?—that is— not what we or others have done? “Do you know if some miss their call by too hasty moves? “Let us, knowing He knows, be wise by these hints as to our knowing too much ourselves and let Jesus show people these things. “Dr. McC- is a strong minister in his own way, and truly spiritual in his own call, and yet would he by persuasion go through on a move to a new line of work and be held up through obstacles, disappointments, and trials if they meet him? Is his wife strong enough? What do we know as to God’s will about the couple? “If not in Pentecost, but on Divine Healing lines, he stepped out—where could he go? If for Pentecost, which we see, is he at all ready in Pentecost, and so on? “Now let Jesus show us wisdom. Keep ourselves out of the idea we can advise or draw that man to Pentecost unless God calls him first. We are, of course, to witness about Pentecost and teach it correctly, etc. But the matter of coming out of a church is an individual matter. Ere he draws out for Pentecost from a church still in God’s pleasure in some measure, as Presbyterians are often spiritually led, let him be himself clear and himself called. “Does the Lord say, ‘Tell him all this?’ Not at all. Be careful to let him, if he is to get it, to get it by Jesus. So, if Jesus takes him from his church, Jesus can. If he takes him back to his church, Jesus can. But he is apt to take some of your advice if he can get it or be influenced by you. If you have talked to him about getting out of his church, just let it get balanced evenly—not by your seeing perfectly—but act—in conversation—just as if God leads people themselves and not as if you had found out now that he was not to leave his church…. “Mr. McC- leans at this time, so that he will be easily influenced. Don’t influence him. No, either way. If you have already influenced or encouraged him either way, get it modified some way. If it is to leave his church—better to let it get balanced the other way, that is, God Himself needs to show one—no rule to always get right out of one’s church, etc. “Get it to him in time unless there has been no talk about it. Under the situation he is likely to break loose from his church and get sorry afterward. Men cannot easily go back to their churches after leaving too hastily. Men run, when if they followed Jesus He would lead them softly—out, if He willed , or in.”