The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-20
WHY WE SHOULD DO MISSION
WORK.

w OhN.
To the Editor: There are two COM
manding reasons why every Christian
should be actively engaged in the work
of world wide e~angelization.
The first is loyalty to Christ. All the
inestimable benefits that have come to
us through a Christian civilization, all
the priceless privileges and blessings of
redemption. into which we have entered,
were purchased for us by Christ at a
most fearful cost, even His humiliation,
His suffering and death And now Christ
asks of us, and demands of Ills. that we
help preach the gospel to every Great
ures"
The love of Christ should constrain us
to gladly and enthusiastically carry out
His last wish and command. To fail to
do so betokens the absence of both love
and loyalty to him.
He teaches Ills that mems needs are His
needs, that in them He is in the world
sick, naked, hungry, imprisoned. If we
wish to serve Him we can but do so by
serving those with whom he has idneti-
fed Himself.
The best way to show our loyalty to
Him is to do our work in the relief of
human wants, the removal of human ig-
nOrance the elevation of human morals,
by Christian teach ng, until His kingdom
shall be established in all the world and
redeemed and perfected humanity be
presented to the Father as the purchase
of the travail of His soul.
The second reason is found in the need
of the race for the gospel. In the struc-
ture of the gospel salvation must base
it's pillars deep in the profound of hui
man guilt and ruin.
'The whole world lieth in wicked
ness"
The dark places of the earth are full
of the habitations of cruelty"
Every lesson of observation and eXpe-
rience confirms the declarations of the
scriptures concerning the deprayed moral
condition Of man. Even the most unob-
servant see the guilt and gloom of the
world. Even the most callOus are touched
with sympathy for the woes and wretch
edness that envelope humanity apart
from the gospel.
We cannot put away from us the fact
that the whole race is under sin and ex-
posed to it's penalty. without holiness
of heart man can see the Lord"
Can the heather be saved without the
gospel? If holy they can be. But where
do you find the holy heather? Where are
there the sweetness and purity of life
necessary to holiness? They are not to
he found 1t is folly to talk about their
innocence. Every testimony that comes
to us about their moral state is but the
relation of a condition which makes the
piouss heart shudder and grow sick, at
the thought.
The first chapter of Romans is but
verbal photograph Of the heather world
of today, as accurate, repulsive and
alarming as when first drawn of pagan
ism.
Solemn as is the thought. we cannot
put away from us the fact that they are
exposed to all that is fearful in the pen
atty of sin, all that is awful in the result
of an outraged moral law.
The only sufficient remedy for them is
the gospel of Christ, which is the power
of God unto salvation to every man that
believeth."
Nearly one billion of people. about two
thirds of the race, are without Christ
and dwell in the region and shadow Of
death.
And "of these thirty-five million pass
annually in one CHASTITY. reproachful
mOurnful procession into Christless
graves"
These people are our brethren. The un-
ity of the race is clearly taught in the
Scriptures.
And the solidarity of the race in the
redemptive plan of God is a conspicuous
truth of the Bible.
These people are salveble. "The same
Lord over all is rich INTO all that call
upon Him. Jesus Christ, Dy the grace of
God. tasted death for every man."
Wherever the gospel has been preached
it has proven itself able to save all who
truly accepted it.
1t is our duty to the Christless,as far as
in us lies, to put them nthe way Of saliva
ton by preaching the gospel unto them.
An enthusiasm for humanity ought to be
an absorbing passion in every Christian
heart.
Our life work should be to hep carry
to those who are perishing the message
Of salvation that Gods "way may be
known upon earth, His saving heata
among all nations"
+. d. SWINDEL4L.