THE GOSPEL MESSENGER--February 1883 

Possibly the above heading of "Hindering the Gospel" may strike the reader at first sight with surprise, especially if he should remember it is written in Rom. i. 16 that the "gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." One definition of the word hinder is to stop, or check. But we cannot stop or check the power of God, because it is unlimited and eternal. He is the Head and source of all power, whether in heaven or earth, and for this reason it is written "There is no power but of God" (Rom. xiii. 1). Every other grade of power is limited, whether of men or angels, and our Lord Jesus Christ is enthroned as Head over all things to his church, far above all principalities and powers, whether in this w6rld or in that which is to come (Eph. i. 21). No limited or created power can hinder, stop or check that which is unlimited, uncreated, self-existent and eternal.

But as the apostle speaks of "suffering all things lest he should hinder the gospel of Christ," we may well conclude that there is some qualified sense in which it can be hindered. And we may learn also that to hinder the gospel of Christ, even in the sense referred to by the apostle, is a great wrong and sin against Christ, else he would not have placed such emphasis upon it as to have said: "I suffer all things lest I should hinder the gospel of Christ." But we presume that by "hindering the gospel of Christ," as referred to by the apostle, we are to understand throwing impediments in the way of those who preach it. Any impediment or embarrassment which any one, whether in the church or out of it, throws in the way of a faithful gospel minister to retard, delay, or in any way obstruct his usefulness as a good soldier, of Jesus Christ, is regarded as a hindrance of the gospel. In the connection of the text concerning "hindering the gospel," the apostle speaks of the imperative duty of ministering to the temporal support of faithful gospel preachers. And while it had not been so done to him, he would not suffer this neglect of his brethren to hinder, fetter or embarrass him in the proclamation of the gospel; but with labor and travail, night and day, working with his own hands, "he suffered all things," whether hunger or thirst, cold or heat, trials or buffeting, lest he should hinder the gospel of Christ.

We may learn by a careful reading of this 9th chapter of 1 Corinthians, and other Scriptures, that when the apostles and primitive ministers of the gospel labored with their own hands in some worldly business as Paul did in making tents for Roman soldiers, that it was not for the purpose of earthly gain or to gratify any lustful desire to lay up treasure where moth corrupts and thieves steal, but it was to promote their usefulness as gospel ministers as examples to their brethren, and to avoid hindering the gospel of Christ.

There are many ways by which both preachers and members may interpose hindrances to the proclamation of the gospel. Idleness, slothfulness in business, wastefulness, pride, and living in a manner above their means, thereby involving themselves in debts they are never able to pay--all these things are hindrances to the proclamation of the gospel, and to the usefulness of gospel preachers, whether they are interposed by preachers themselves or by their brethren.

That there is a gospel duty enjoined upon brethren and churches who have the faithful labors of those whom God hath given them as pastors and teachers, cannot be successfully denied. In this 9th chapter of 1st Corinthians this subject is so clearly defined and forcibly illustrated that none but those who are willfully blind to their duty could possibly fail to see it. "Who goeth to warfare any time at his own charges"? Would it not be rebellion against the government in which he lives to do so? If he is subject to the powers that be, he will wait till he is called out, armed and equipped by its authority and expense, in which every citizen and tax-payer of the government bear a part. And those who skulk and dodge, or by one excuse or another seek to evade their duty in bearing their part in sustaining the Soldier who stands in defense of the rights of his country, are regarded as hindrances, just as those who fail to do their duty in the church are hindering the gospel of Christ. This is a sin against Christ, because it is a violation of the law of Christ as written in the heart of his saints, and as given in the letter of his word to his church

But again the reasonableness of this duty of ministering to the support of the ministry is illustrated by .planting a vineyard and eating the fruit of it--by feeding a flock and eating the milk of the flock--and then comes the command of the law not to "muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn," which thing was written for our sakes in a gospel day and in the gospel church relations.

But we will close this article by beseeching our brethren generally, and the preachers particularly, that they "suffer all things," even neglect from their brethren, lest they hinder the proclamation of the gospel of Christ. Those who call a preacher from year to year, and then burden him by withholding what should be given to him in order to gratify their own greed of gain, are certainly guilty of hindering the gospel of Christ in the sense referred to by the apostle. And some who have thus withheld are greatly withered away as Baptists, and a withering blight seems to fall even from the hand of God upon their earthly comforts and temporal prospects. They have hindered the gospel in that particular. Lord help them.---M.