I was amazed as I beheld the terrible darkness of many of the members of our churches. The lack of true godliness was such that they were bodies of darkness and death, instead of being the light of the world. Many professed to love God, but in works denied Him. They did not love, serve, nor obey Him. Their own selfish interests were primary. With a large number there seemed to be an alarming lack of principle. They were swayed by unconsecrated influence and seemed to have no root in themselves. I inquired what these things meant. Why was there such a destitution of spirituality, so few who had a living experience in religious things? I was referred to the words of the prophet: “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from Me through their idols.” {2T 444.1}

For at udrette det arbejde som Gud forlanger af dem, behøver prædikanter at udrustes til deres stilling. (502) Apostlen Paulus taler, i sit brev til Kolossenserne, således om hans tjenergerning: »Thi dens tjener er jeg blevet ifølge den husholdergerning fra Gud, som blev mig givet, at jeg overalt skal forkynde jer Guds ord, den hemmelighed, der har været skjult igennem alle tider og slægter, men nu er blevet åbenbaret for hans hellige; for dem ville Gud kundgøre, hvilken rigdom på herlighed denne hemmelighed rummer blandt hedningerne, nemlig Kristus i jer, herlighedens håb. Ham forkynder vi, idet vi påminder ethvert menneske og lærer ethvert menneske med al visdom, for at vi kan fremstille ethvert menneske som fuldkomment i Kristus. Det er også det, jeg arbejder og kæmper for med hans kraft, som virker mægtigt i mig."