The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-22

FEBRUARY 2S is, s'The Foreign Mission
Work of Our Denomination; A Sur
vsy." ROM 10:S15.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The world is steadily growing
smaller. The ends of the earth are
movements are now neighbour God az
fairs. The INTERPRETATION of all hu-
manity is perceived today by every
thinking person. This implies world
citizenship. And the health, sanity and
general welfare of the whole becomes
part Of the responsibility of every citi-
zen. This big question has moved out
side the confines of professedly and
technically missionary operations: as
member of the world commonwealth.
every man owes the debt of neighbor-
illness and helpfulness to every other
man he can by any means reach
A world vision is the best cure for
small worries.
It is exhiIarating-it is sublime-it is
divtne-to have the world for ones
tails and for the Eternal. GOD so
loved the world" 1t is his diversion
and delight The drama OF nations Is
the best entertainment that mortal
mind can grasp. The surge and strug-
ale of humanity, in its slow, toilsome
progress upward. is a spectacle which
must thrill the angels as they behold
& from the battlements Of heaven.
The old idea of missions was some
times provincial, proud and Phari-
eaical. Now 1t is more nearly an i'm
perial vision. Christians realize that
the world belongs to Christ. It is part
of his heritage and kingdom. He
claims his own; he looks to his fol-
lowers to make conquest OF 1t for him.
He will never be content upon his
throne until earth's remotest nation
has acknowledged his sway, and has
returned to him in loving allegiance.
1.-THE World for Christ is a watchword
that is Synonymous with that other
one. Make Jesus King"
This Is the era of expansion in all
departments of life; If the church fails
to expand faster than commerce or
politics, she will be recreant to all
principles of good strategy and to her
own primary obligation
If non-Christian faiths were good
enough" then the intrusion of foreign
missions would be an impertinence.
The wayfaring man may see that these
bocalled "ethnic religions have missed
the mark, if judged by their obvious
fruits. The contrast is simple and ap-
parent: the non-Christian religions
have produced heathendom; Christians
tty has produced Christendom.
The best foreign mission work is de-
denominational, being broadly Chris
tan There is little sectarianism on
the foreign field: far less than may be
found at home. The missionaries are
too busy doing the primary work of
preaching the gospel to have any time
left for sectarianism. SO they cheer
fully apportion the territory. trusting
one another to preach an adequate
gospel; and all face with equani1nity
and even joy the prospect of a native
church that will bear no denomina-
tional name. II the rivalries and ex-
pensive competitions of the home mis-
sion fields could be reduced to the
minimum that has been attained on the
Foreign field, there would be an i'm
mense force of men and money re-
leased for vital service.
The missionary spirit at home is as
important as the missionary work
abroad.
It must be admitted that there are
such persons as missionary cranks. i"
Tho one firing to their fiddle Is foreign
missions. They are interested in moth
ing else. Neither in their local church.
es nor in The broad sphere of home mis-
g1ons are they of any particular use.
Now there is more reason for person
becoming obsessed by the one idea of
INSTRUMENTATION than any other
conception; yet the very genius Of the
spirit OF missions should make person
impulse which constrains a man to love
MS brother at the end of the earth,
should more powerfully constrain him
TO love his brother next door. Jesus is
khe model missionary: and he loved his
OWN unto tears and blood. The most
cosmopolitan and "a1l-around" member
Of a church, and workers for the world
should be the believer in foreign mis-
eions.
Prfh churches lG ~, az
save themselves in laboring to save the
world.
When an adequate conception of tbs
prise called foreign missions grips the
Intelligence of Christendom, 1t will nc
Longer suffer an inefficient missionary
10 set out for the field OF to remain
there after his inefficiency has been
discovered. This work demands the
very best talent, and none but the best
Lax methods Of administration, and
grave tactical b1unders, may be per-
united to the church In the homeland
but on the foreign field they are mex
ousRhle.
The possible success Of the mission
ary propaganda has been demonstrated
Genuine converts have been made in al
mission lands. Many, or most of these
display in their lives the historic Chris.
tian virtues. II 1t is possible thus t.
make q few score OF thousands of true
Christians in heathendom, 1t is not i'm.
possible to repeat this victory indef
nateiy until the world has been wor
for Christ.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
When we might be swamped by sue
cess God sends the ufe-boat Of trouble
Anon.