The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-08
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Topic For the Week beginning july II.
Comment by Rev. :. IL. Doyle.


ToPIc.-Individual responsibility for the
rSnversion of the world. Rom. tx, l-3; X, l.
1915. "a missionary topic prayer for the In
ternational Christian Endeavor convention.)
The individual to some extent today
is being lost in the organization. lie is
an age of organization. In the church
we have societies and organizations
without number In the business world
there are trusts, syndicates, combina-
tions, trades and labor unions without
rumbor. The same thing is true of the
political, social and philanthropic
world. The danger Of all this is that
the individual may be lost sight of, and
with the passing away of the individ-
ual there may also pass away indiyid-
ual responsibility, which would be
serious calamity, for nothing could re-
pay the loss of individual responsibility.
Organization also chaIacterizes the
missionary world. The conversion of
the world is sought largely through
missionary societies, boards, commit
tees and bands. This is necessary. Indi-
viduals must be banded together in this
great work if it is TO be effective and
successful. But the danger to the indi-
vidual is the same here as in other
spheres of life. We should always re-
member that cur greatest responsible
ity to God in all His work is our indi-
yidual responsibility. We will not have
70 give an account for the society or
for the committee, hut we will have to
render an account Of ourselves to God.
This applies to our relation TO the con-
version of the world, as to every other
Christian duty.
How can we meet this individual re-
sponsibiliry so far as the conversion of
the world is concerned?
/. BY individual interest in missions
Paul leaves us an illustrious example
He was intensely interested in spread.
ing the gospel all over the world He
had great heaviness and continual sor-
row" in his heart for un Christian Israel
and would have given up bis own hope
Of heaven ii il could have saved them
How many of Us have such a personal
interest in the unchyistiQp millions Of
the world today? how many of us sor-
row and agoni2e fer the lost souls of the
world? Is II not fact that our individ
ual interest is low and that we leave the
heaviness of heart for the missionary
committee and think we have done our
part toward saving the world if we give
the committee 2 cents week for mis-
sions:
2. By individual information in mis-
sions. How few Endeavorers know any
thing oout missions! How often the
accumulation of missionary knowledge
is left to the committee also! If as in
dividuals we knew Of the awful needs
of heathendonl, it would not be so hard
to interest US III the work of sending the
gospel to all.
3. By individual gifts to the cause of
missions. How much do we give for
missions? Look over the past year and,
with emphasis OH the Il, " ask yourself
the question, How much did give for
missions in the past year in comparison
to what spent upon myself" Was it
all that you could or should have given
to save the world for Christ?
4. By individual prayer for missions.
How many never pray for the unsaved
world How many leave this great sub
ject for the missionary committee and
in private, personal prayer never think
of praying for the worldl
Each Endeavorer, each Christian, has
an individual responsibility toward the
conversion of the world. May God help
us, each one, to meet it!
Bible Readings. lisa. xxxv, lilo; xiii,
81; xix, 6; Nah. i, 10; Dan. xii, 3;
Math. V, l6; xviii, 10, 20; Luke ii,
25-32; Acts i, s; viii, 1910; xiii, l-5,
1910; Rom i, IA, 10; l Cor. tx, 16; l
Pet. V, 10, 20.