Tactfulness in the Bible and SOP/EGW Writings

Tactfulness in the Bible and SOP/EGW Writings
  1. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
  2. Proverbs 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
  3. Jer 29:7  And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. 
  4. In the work of soul-winning, great tact and wisdom are needed. The Saviour never suppressed the truth, but He uttered it always in love. In His intercourse with others, He exercised the greatest tact, and He was always kind and thoughtful. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave unnecessary pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He never made truth cruel, but ever manifested a deep tenderness for humanity. Every soul was precious in His sight. He bore Himself with divine dignity; yet He bowed with the tenderest compassion and regard to every member of the family of God. He saw in all, souls whom it was His mission to save.  {GW 117.1} 
  5. Pastors are needed--faithful shepherds--who will not flatter God's people, nor treat them harshly, but who will feed them with the bread of life--men who in their lives feel daily the converting power of the Holy Spirit and who cherish a strong, unselfish love toward those for whom they labor.  {AA 526.1}
  6. There is tactful work for the undershepherd to do as he is called to meet alienation, bitterness, envy, and jealousy in the church, and he will need to labor in the spirit of Christ to set things in order. Faithful warnings are to be given, sins rebuked, wrongs made right, not only by the minister's work in the pulpit, but by personal labor. The wayward heart may take exception to the message, and the servant of God may be misjudged and criticized. Let him then remember that "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." James 3:17, 18.  {AA 526.2}
  7. They do not seem to realize that we are all judgment-bound, and must soon give an account for the use we have made of our God-given opportunities to do good. But what excuse will they give in that great day for not using in the cause of God their skill, their education, their tact, and their perseverance and zeal?  {RC 168.3} 
  8. Tactfulness, essential qualification of ministers GW 117-20
    1. Paul used, in attacking idolatry in Athens AA 241
    2. in presenting gospel to Corinthians AA 272
  9. Tactful work
    1. Tactful work, pastors should do AA 526; GW 185
  10. Daniel, perfect tact
    "Through the reign of successive monarchs, the downfall of the nation, and the establishment of another world empire, such were his wisdom and statesmanship, so perfect his tact, his courtesy, his genuine goodness of heart, his fidelity to principle, that even his enemies were forced to the confession that "they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful." PK 456.2
  11. Tact, 
    1. born of divine love, Christ used DA 184
      1. Paul used, at Athens Ed 67; SR 312
    2. born of love, needed in church 5T 349
    3. characterizes consecrated Christian life PP 667
    4. Christ carried, into His work DA 73
    5. Christ sought with, to find key to Samaritan woman's heart DA 184
    6. church members should cultivate, given them by God CD 269; MM 267
    7. colporteur work requires 4T 389, 603
    8. common work calls for FE 316
    9. cultivation of soil requires TM 243
    10. Daniel was perfect in his PK 546
    11. delicate, gospel work for youth requires GW 207
    12. divine, truth should be presented with DA 353; 6T 400
    13. do not cultivate sharper's, in business transactions 4T 540
    14. does not come from natural man 3BC 1131
    15. evangelism in city requires Ev 71
    16. God calls for far more, in His work FE 306; SD 284
    17. God can give, to His people COL 146
    18. God gives, to His workers AA 275; Ev 686; MM 154
    19. God is giver of 5T 481
    20. gospel worker's usefulness is increased hundredfold by GW 119
    21. gospel workers must use, in their work 5T 577
    22. gospel workers should learn to labor with FE 108
    23. greatest, Christ exercised DA 353; GW 117; SC 12
    24. illustrating sermon subjects calls for Ev 205
    25. learn to labor with Ev 108
    26. learned in colporteur work, fits men for other fields of usefulness CM 34; 5T 399
    27. lessons in, learned in colporteur work CM 30, 34
    28. men of, business managers should be 7T 247-8
    29. management of SDA institutions calls for MM 164
    30. meeting people where they are requires CD 284; MM 261
    31. ministers must prosecute their work with TM 415
    32. ministers should show, when visiting families Ev 437
    33. ministers should work with TM 415
    34. more, needed in gospel work Ev 126
    35. most delicate, teaching requires Ed 292
    36. mother needs, in child training CG 31
    37. much, preparation of nourishing food calls for MM 270
    38. needed in: dealing with children CSW 81; FE 262
      1. efforts for God PK 65
      2. God's work 2SM 176; 5T 276
      3. teaching children to economize AH 388
      4. teaching health reform to others 9T 161
      5. working for salvation of souls 4T 69
    39. needed to: acquire means for God's work CS 41
      1. adapt yourself to opening providences of God 3T 25
      2. develop minds of youth CT 180
      3. hold large congregations 9T 109
      4. interest your hearers Ev 178
    40. often more beneficial than skillful med. treatment given in cold and indifferent way MH 244
    41. Paul used, in letter to Philemon AA 456
      1. in winning Jews to Christ Ev 141
    42. preparing devices for illustrating truth calls for Ev 206
    43. presenting truth to others calls for Ev 69, 228
    44. put earnest and consecrated, into God's work ChS 230
    45. raising fruits and vegetables requires FE 322
    46. results of failure to use, in colporteur work CM 34; 5T 399
    47. spiritual, weakened by inactivity CS 124
    48. students should learn Ed 222
    49. success in temporal business requires 5T 276
    50. successful minister must have GW 111; 3T 553
    51. successful teacher must have CT 193
    52. teacher must use, in dealing with minds Ed 278
    53. that will not stand test in day of God 4T 540
    54. train youth to do work with CH 315
    55. true med. miss. work requires, in dealing with minds MM 209
    56. use, in gaining something for God's treasury TM 395
      1. in using God's money CS 290
    57. worldly, becomes stronger by exercise CS 124
    58. See also [in EGW Topical Index] Discretion; Diplomacy; Prudence
    59. Supplement
      1. account to give for, in judgment RC 168:3
      2. cleanness of heart more valuable than Mar 63:6
      3. gift for helping others and honoring Christ TDG 68:4
      4. learned through the religion of Christ OHC 29:3
      5. offer to help refused with, by Ellen White; about publishing books PM 208:3
      6. one may have, in one area but another's mind is needed 3SM 24:5
      7. preaching in other churches requires PM 306:4
      8. truth,
        1. fragments linked by OHC 207:6
        2. presented with, from a softened heart PM 307:1
      9. using, to advance God's cause Mar 183:5
      10. See also Discernment; Discretion

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