The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-08
Must Pagan Nations Wait {?

So some are saying, and in saying it
they by no means intend TO deny that
the heather need the gospel, nor that it
IS the duty Of Christians to reach all ma
lions at the earliest practicable moment.
But the heather must wait, they say, be-
cause there are Just at present other in
terests of special urgency to which the
energies of the Church should be directed
There are religious and educational en-
terprises close at hand which appeal
strongly to the sympathies of the Chris
lan and the patriot. This is critical
period in the religious life of our coun-
try, and does not Christian prudence re-
lulre that in this crisis all our strength
be concentrated upon the work at home
IN order that when the crisis is past we
may undertake with vigor the work of
evangelizing the world? Some pastors
and others have been led to reason in this
way, and hence the people in certain
churches have heard an utterance from
the pulpit which strikes them as new and
strange: the heather must wait"
Such an utterance is both ill-iudged
and wrong; ill-judged because it is not
IN this way that men will be led to give
tor the home work; wrong, because it
proceeds on the utterly false assumption
that the churches of this day are not able
to give both for home and foreign work
all and more than they are now asked to
contribute. That there is need of en-
largement in the gifts of Christians for
the evangelization Of our own land no in
telligent Christian can deny. The mil
hons gwen In recent years for Christian
education in the United States; the more
than million dollars now given year by
year for various branches of evangelistio
work in our land have not fully met the
requirements in the case. There is call
Tor yet larger giving Let the claims of
this work be pressed with all vigor. It
Is prime necessity for the worlds well
fare that our land should be thoroughly
Christianized. But the assumption on
the part of any one that in order to meet
these needs efforts in behalf of unevan-
gelized nations must be deferred for
time, borders on the ludicrous Does
any one imagine that the contributions
for foreign missions make such drain on
the charities of our churches that there
is not enough left to meet other calls?
Are Christians so impoverishing them
selves by giving to the work in India and
China and Africa that they have no more
to give, so that it is necessary to check
their zeal and allow them to replenisb
their exhausted resources ? Must the
heather wait because there will not be
enough left to help them if we do what
we should for our own?
=
They have waited a great while. When
will their time come? Must they wait
until our churches have houses Of stone,
beautiful in architecture, with all appli-
ances which minister to taste and com
fort e? Must they wait until protesting
disciples Of him who pleased not himself
shall have grown richer, and so can afford
to give each one half cent day to send
abroad the blessed tidings without such
heavy strain upon their charity? Sc
riously, is it not absurd to suggest that
the churches are now everlasting them
selves for foreign missions, and that they
must be relieved from pressure in behalf
of China and Japan-a pressure too heavy
to be borne? As yet the Church is Civ
ing for the unevangelized only the crumbs
that fall from her table. A tenth part
of what her members spend in needless
luxuries would double the present eff
cheney Of all foreign missionary boards.
She has means enough for all necessities
at home and abroad. 1t should be the
aim Of all pastors to touch the springs of
benevolence in the heart, to inspire to
Christ-like love and self-sacrifce. The
Chnrch OF ln-dav naeds To be told not