Editorial – Need for Greater Zeal in Soul Winning

In 1892 Ellen White wrote to Elder S. N. Haskell from Australia about her burden for missionary work. In this letter she points out as she does many times in her writings the difference between the professed Christian who is only a nominal believer and the one who is actually converted, living the new Life in Christ and used by Him for the salvation of others. She points out in this letter that it is sometimes necessary to take the young people away from the churches they have been attending. You will find the whole letter in Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 329–338.

“He who interposes between the professed Christian and his wholehearted service to God, takes the form of an idol, and the most grievous sin of idolatry is idolatry itself. …

“Were the church living by faith, had the oil of faith been in their vessels with their lamps, their guilty repose would end. …

“Many in America who can, might move their families into different towns and cities and there lift the standard of truth. …

“Sins of a grave character are cherished in our borders, and unless there is an awakening such as we have not seen for some time, which will convict and convert professed Sabbathkeepers, they will die in their sins. …

“Now, those who have had years in this same experience, know not God nor Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and should such go forth as representatives of Jesus Christ? These men will never give the right mold to other minds; they have not grown up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. They simply have the name of Christians but are not fitted for the work of God, and never will be until they are born again, and learn the A.B.C. in true religion of Jesus Christ. There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a Christian. …

“I can but feel deeply over the indifference of those who claim to be the repositories of sacred truth. They seem to be blinded in the way they view sin. They cannot see afar off, and have forgotten they were purged from their old sins. Why? Because they did not advance in the knowledge of the truth. They did not practice the truth; they were not sanctified through the truth. …

“Jesus has provided for every emergency. If they will walk where He leads the way, He will make rough places plain.”