Radiologist Dr. (and Elder) Samual Cort offers some tips on sharing the Gospel with others at Berean SDA.

Elder Samuel Cort on the "One Minute Witness"

ELDER, PHYSICIAN, AND SERMONIZER SAMUEL CORT SPEAKS ON THE NECESSITY OF WITNESSING TO OTHERS

Pastor Fredrick Russell prefaced a sermon by Elder Samuel Cort (MD) with a sermonette of his own, although he demurely noted that his brief remarks were not exactly “preaching.” They were, rather, simply a “Word that God has put on my heart.” Pastor Russell asked a question that may not have surprised most of the regulars in the Wednesday night crowd, but could have served to edify any unversed persons in need of solace, or to serve as a reminder to any who might have let the knowledge gather dust: “How many people know that God has a plan for your life?” The sunny optimism of Jeremiah 29:11 was invoked. This is a verse that can never wear out its welcome:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Pastor Russell, after a few expository comments, addressed his listeners as follows: “God has a plan for your life! If you can experience that, you will know peace. After we sing to Jesus, we welcome Elder Samuel Cort here tonight.”

The song was “There’s Something About That Name” (this link is to a six minute rendition by Benny Hinn, a consummate showman, if nothing else). The song is yet one more production from Bill and Gloria Gaither, who have created more than 700 compositions in the course of a songwriting career that has almost spanned 60 years. Bill Gaither is secure enough in his relationship with the Lord that he has lately been acting as an impresario for some pop acts from the sixties. The passage of time (and perhaps, additionally, a slight lowering of the moral bar) has rendered Top 40 songs from that era inoffensive to all but the starchiest of believers.

At left, Maestro Luther Washington II. At right, Elder Samuel Cort. This image is by Burdie Henri, and can be seen in context at this LINK.

ELDER, DOCTOR, AND MASTER TO FUTURE MASTER GUIDES

First Peter 1:12: “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

In an angelic manner, I have recently developed an intense interest in Elder Sam Cort. He has chosen to augment the good works he promulgates in the course of his chosen profession with much supplementary, church-related activity. Prosperity has not made him soft. He lives up to the expectations described in Luke 12:48: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Dr. Cort does not restrain himself from lavishing attention upon those that would seem farthest removed from the Berean spiritual radar screen. Jesus strongly endorses this attitude in Matthew 25:40: “…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” The elder described, in the course of his remarks, a continuing relationship he is cultivating with an individual who had been consistently neglected by the balance of the membership at Berean SDA Church, Atlanta.

He will soon inaugurate a Master Guide study program. This is the particular subject that I personally “long to look into.” I feel, in regard to my proposed involvement with this activity, a little like the cartoon character that was voiced by the late Don Adams, overachieving penguin Tennessee Tuxedo. Here is a quote from the linked Wikipedia article regarding this ambitious bird: “Typically Tennessee would assure the dim-witted Chumley [his walrus sidekick] that his superior intelligence would carry the day, often with his catchphrase, ‘Tennessee Tuxedo will not fail!’ More often than not, however, he did!”

Tennessee Tuxedo was not nearly as smart as he thought he was. Nevertheless, he was determined (as his theme song states) to do “anything so he could measure up to man.”

Doctor/Elder Sam Cort recently attended the twenty-fifth reunion of his Oakwood University (“Enter to Learn. Leave to Serve.”) class of ’91. Dr. Cort did not mention it, but he was heavily involved in the planning of this Homecoming, one which featured a “spectacular Banquet Feast.” About 20 out of a class of 200 showed up. The next week he found himself serving as a pallbearer for one of his classmates. The deceased had enjoyed a life that was practically a parallel of Dr. Cort’s. He died on his daughter’s birthday, an unpropitious time for an untimely end. The end of life, or the end of the age, can come when we least expect it. What will signal the end? What prerequisite activity does the Bible prescribe?

Matthew 24:14 was quoted by the speaker: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Dr. Cort proceeded to apply some local color to this important verse by asking, “will Jesus come when the Gospel is preached in Atlanta?” No. The key word is ALL! It will be preached in ALL of the world. First Thessalonians 2:14 was noted as an inducement for Gentiles to evangelize vigorously. Dr. Cort then returned to the verse from Matthew, expressing his admiration for the Message Bible translation concerning the need to be persistent in sharing the good news: “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” Stick-to-it-iveness would make a good “Message Bible” term for the level of commitment good witnessing requires.

Dr. Sam Cort Jr. and his very nice family.

Elder Cort (the appellation I will now utilize for this man of parts) was interested in making all of us effective witnesses. This would assist us in the task at hand. It is one that we are obliged to participate in (“we are all disciples,” writes Ellen G. White). Three points were provided:

• POINT ONE: “You must be compassionate!” This attribute will conform you to the image of Christ, our role model for effective witnessing. John 15:7 was quoted in regard to our “abiding” in Christ, and also as illustrative of the unfailing assistance that God will provide to us as we discharge the Great Commission: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Elder Cort quoted from a speech that South Atlantic Conference President William Winston delivered recently at Oakwood University, “we have to be Christians all day, every day.” I have expressed my admiration for Elder Winston’s uncompromising attitudes before (yet why does he hate me so, O Lord?).  Elder Cort recalled a conversation he had with a “lapsed” Adventist. “Why do you no longer attend Sabbath services?” Elder Cort posed this question. The ex-congregant replied, “because I an tired of worshipping with hypocrites!” Elder Cort intimated that there may exist no better alternate to “hypocritical” worshippers. A final verse on the nature of compassion was provided, Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” We hypocrites require this measure of mutual forbearance, just in order to be able to tolerate one another (an editorial comment by myself that is a little hyperbolic, as it has been my pleasure to discover more than a few saints who manage to salt the unsavory, run-of-the-mill worshippers that are to be discovered everywhere, even at Berean).

Showing some compassion toward a fellow human being:: a stained glass rendition of the Good Samaritan, unattributed, and purloined from this crazy BLOG.

• POINT TWO: “Build genuine friendships!” Elder Cort observed that “listening” is a good way to build trust (whenever I find myself  becoming disengaged from some longwinded person that I am trying to patiently listen to, I pretend that I am Johnny Carson. This consummate listener never displayed any attitude that revealed that he was anything less than totally fascinated by what his interviewees were saying; it has been cited as one of the keys to his success). We are to make friends in a disinterested manner. Elder Cort noted that should we attempt to make a new friend just for the purposes of evangelizing them, they would “see right through” this ploy. You must employ agape, a love that esteems one’s fellows, without regard to their merit or worth. We must imitate Christ in our approach to friendships. Romans 5:8 relates: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Elder Cort said that once we had established a good personal relationship with potential converts, chewing the fat about relative trivialities, we could then successfully transition into conversations about much more serious matters. Nothing beats the topic of salvation for seriousness. It is as “serious as a heart attack.”

There has been a lot of buzz around Berean lately about avoiding the display of judgmental attitudes toward potential converts who (to paraphrase Dr. Abraham Jules) are not yet “accomplished dissemblers of their inner natures” (in other words, good hypocrites). These observations call for a few citations by myself, just as a reminder for sanctimonious types to “lay off.” Isaiah 64:6 declares that “…we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Jesus informs the teachers and the Pharisees, regarding their judgmental ways, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” I have to append, again, that we are not all “whited sepulchers.” Jesus can purge one of much of their internal rot, rendering them just slightly spoiled. My new favorite Ellen White quote is “Christians ought not underestimate themselves.” If I ever become an effective evangelist, it will be because I am firmly convinced of the efficacy of Christianity to “clean like a white tornado” (not a Bible verse, but maybe it ought to be one). I have no desire to be a career hypocrite, and I am certain that this also not your goal in life.

One more unattributed image, from one more crazy, but quite popular BLOG.

• POINT THREE: “You must trust and rely on the Holy Spirit.”  May 15, 2016 is Pentecost. Acts 1:8 records Christ’s promise to His sales force concerning the Spirit: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” To parody Elder Cort, I might state, “did Jesus say Atlanta?” No! He revealed that our mission field includes the UTTERMOST parts of the earth. Saudi Arabia is one of these parts. So is North Korea. Serious missionaries had better start packing their coffins right now! Elder distilled Jesus’ “last minute” instructions to his disciples at Mt. Olivet. He said that we will not know the precise moment of the Second Coming, but we will know exactly what we must do in the meantime. And we should be steadfast in this work. Jesus, through His Spirit, will assist us. The words of Matthew 28:19-20 are so very important that they will now be reproduced in full:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Probably the most important activities that Jesus has instructed us to do also happens to be one that most people either neglect, or perform in a very lukewarm way. Elder Cort has made a decision to not be lukewarm. He tried to motivate his audience to follow his example. He encouraged us to look into a book that he based his remarks upon, one entitled “One-Minute Witness,” by Monte Sahlin. This is an Adventist product. A cursory search on the net will disclose a similar title, with similar content, by non-Adventist Tom Elie. This alternate work is the source of the graphic below:

This alternative “One Minute Witness” is the brainchild of Evangelist Tom Elie, although he borrowed the “One Minute” part of its title. Read all about it at this LINK. Adventists have their own “One Minute Witness,” which may be purchased at this other LINK.

A slew (millions, perhaps) of potential bottom-tier management types (myself included) have been required to read a ubiquitous pamphlet called “The One Minute Manager,” progenitor of all of the “One-Minute” offshoots (the link is to a free PDF. Everyone who anticipates ever being thrust into a leadership position should read this short work). Like Elder Cort’s sermon, “The One Minute Manager” organizes its subject into three categories. These address (1) GOALS (why are we doing this? The purpose of the Great Commission is crystal clear). (2) PRAISINGS (recent Sabbath School lessons focused on Christ’s admonitions to the Seven Churches in Revelation. Jesus, a really good manager, always prefaced his criticisms with a little praise. Former Berean Food Pantry Czar David Riley would also temper his criticisms with praise, knowing how efficacious a “spoon full of sugar” can be). And, saving unpleasantness for the end, (3) REPRIMANDS (the evangelical analog of this would be some “hellfire and brimstone” oratory, but this usually marks the beginning, and not the end of the conversion process). “Witnessing” variations on the “Managing” original do not focus on any negative aspects of the conversion process. I think Elder Cort would be among the first to admit that “you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar!”

Elder Cort let fly a barrage of short citations from the Bible, from Luke, Philippians, Matthew, Second Corinthians, Peter… I lost track of them quickly. But, even though I had no time to jot them all down, Elder Cort thoughtfully spoke to the essence of each reference. This rapid-fire succession of snippets of Scripture was reminiscent of the rhetorical technique Jack Van Impe employs, but Elder Cort offered more than just a mention of chapter and verse. Van Impe only points the way to pieces of the Bible, leaving it up to his listeners to follow through. I seriously doubt that many do.

Elder Cort is also a photographer. He took this picture on 6/20/2015. The bearded Berean seen at center both looks and sounds like Luciano Pavarotti.

A encounter that the elder had at Berean, one alluded to at the beginning of this summary, was now described in detail. Elder Cort took it upon himself to speak to a lady who was a regular attendee of Sabbath worship services. After he extended the hand of fellowship, the lady remarked to him that, even though she had been coming to the church for the last four years, he happened to be the first person in all of that time to pay any attention to her. Elder Cort discovered that she was a “first day worshipper,” supplementing her Sunday church attendance with Saturday visits to Berean. Elder Cort promised her that he would sustain the contact with her that he had just inaugurated, and even provided her his phone number. There exists an obligation for every member of a church to go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome. A four year history of regular attendance made the lady in question something more than simply a newcomer. Elder Cort repaired a serious neglect of duty by the host congregation. He challenged us to exert ourselves in order to see to it that the circumstances surrounding this case do not get repeated.

A recap of the three main points concluded Elder Cort’s Wednesday night “War Room” remarks. They will also conclude this report:

1. Show compassion for the person you are about to engage.
2. Cultivate a genuine, as opposed to an opportunistic, friendship with them.
3. Employ the expert assistance of the Holy Spirit (it will not be necessary for you to “script” the dialogue you employ in the course of your witness. The Spirit will make you into a master of evangelical improvisation).