The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-09


one OF logical mind, who will reason
from statistics, the thought of convert
ing the world by singing a few rous-
ing hymns or holding few enthusi-
astic meetings for the collection of
money! money!! moneyiil would be
childish. We do not 6espise childish
ness. We have all had our share. But
we all should say with the Apostle,
When was a child, L spake as
child and understood as a child; but
when 1 became a man I put away
childish things" Il Corinthians xiii,
ID.
christian people have been fooling
themselves long enoughI" Yes, it is
as absolutely irrational to think of
converting the world, as it is unscrip-
tural to believe that God ever gave US
that impossible commission. The Unit
ed States census reports show that
there are twice as many heather to-
day as there were a century ago. The
word heather carries to many a very
wrong impression. Many noble heart
ed Christians havo gone as mission
aries to the heather wholly unpre-
pared for what they met-intelligent
reasoning ability. etc. They found that
the heather were full of questions,
logical questions, too. which they as
Christians had never thought of, and
Itch they were wholly unprepared to
answer. Comparative few of the
missionaries are able to hold their own
in argument with Intelligent people in
danger of their converting those peo-
pie. There is more danger of their
losing their own faith in the Bible,
because of their misrepresentation of
some of its teachings-respectin the
mission of the Church, the hope of the
Church and the hope of the world!
Missionaries are thus handicapped
Full of commendable zeal they leave
our shores to tell the heather that
their forefathers have gone to eternal
torment, and that they are going there,
too, unless they accept Christ. 1t is
a rude awakening to be asked
have condemned them and their fore
fathers to such a horrible eternity?
and how this could be true and yet he
be a God of pity, compassion, Love
denomination5-the different theories
of the terms of salvation-by Water,
by Election, by Free Grace, by joining
the Church, etc. The missionary, Who'll
ly unable to answer the adult native,
gathers children about him, starts a
school and does all he is able, perhaps,
to Justify HE presence in a foreign
land-helping the sick and doing many
other acts of kindness which are very
commendable whether from a relig-
ious or humanitarian standpoint.
Preach the Gospel to All Nations.
Our Lords instruction was that his
people should preach the gospel in all
the world for a witness-not to con-
vert all the world, but for witness
to all the word. The mission of the
Gospel is to select the Kingdom class,
a little flock The first opportunity
to become members of this Royal
Priesthood was offered to the Jews and,
after the gathering of a remnant from
them, and after their national rejec-
ton, the message was to go to the
whole world, irrespective of national
lines, boundaries or Ianguage-any-
body, everybody having the hearing
ear was to be instructed respecting
Christ and the opportunity of beeom-
ing his disciples by full conservation
of mind and body, time and talent,
even unto death. These were to be
promised the reward of share in the
First Resurrection, to be members of
the Millennial Kingdom of Messiah,
will bless all the remaining families
of mankind-all the non-elect.
We are not complaining about the
failure to convert the heather! We
are not faulting the missionaries; We
are taking the Bible stand that all of
GODS purposes are being accomplish
ed; that Gods Word is accomplishing
III; that it was not sent to convert
the world. but to gather an -'elect''
or ''tirst fruits from all ma
tons (Revelat:ons xiv, ~. Let civiliz-
ing influences continue in heathendom,
as we'll as in Christendom. But let all
Christian, missionaries and others,
know assuredy that their labor is not
in vain if they are seeking for the
Lords jewels to the best of their abi1- /
ity. am in touch continually with |
know that the pure Gospel of Christ |
Is not greatly affected by their teeming |
millions. But the Gospel of the King |
dom is seeking out, blessing, sancti- |
tying, happifying, encouraging some, |
here and there: some, who have ears |
IF faith to hear, eyes of faith to see, |
and obedient hearts to obey the "call' |
20 suffer with Christ and by and by
blessing of all the families of the |
earth, by uplifting the willing out !
Of their present condition of sin and |
degradation and death.
The Millennium Necessity.
We have shown the value and ne |
cessity for the doctrine of the Millen- |
III Christians who would |
hold fast to their Bibles as a faith |
anchor and who would make progress
IN their study of the Word and be |
co-laborers with God In the gathering .
Of the elect" need to see that the |
elect only are now called to be heirs |
Of the Kingdom for which We pray, |
THY Kingdom come" They need to |
sion for the future blessing of the nom
elect. They need to see that the Bible |
1oes not teach. as many of them sup
pose, that the saints are called of God
20 SIT IN the heavenly DdlCOHy anu
ook over at the non-elect in eternal
anguish, and hear their cries.
Next let us note that the Millennium |
tself is an absolute necessity for the
world, according to the statistics of
he worldly wise. Many college pro-
lessons and ID. DIS are inclined to |
speak glibly of the Second Coming of
Christ being far in the future-"hfty
thousand years yet" say some. But |
evidently these learned gentlemen have
not used their educational advantages
n connection with such statements.
Any school boy can figure up what the
population of the earth would be one |
thousand years from now, taking the