The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-22
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More About Missions.


More About Missions
Editor of The Richmond V.rginian:
Sir,-It is in no spirit of controversy or with
a desire to butt in the discussion between
Mr.. J. stanton Moore and the Southern
Churchman the subject of foreign missions
that this article 10 written but rather. II can
show the fallacy of Mr.. Moore's arguments and
pat In a clear light the scriptural teaching con-
corning the evangelization of the heather.
MIR. Moore in his article in The Virginian
refers TO the law OF election the teaching of
Holy Writ and he notes how God chose the
Hebrews His peculiar people, and says the
Jehovah of the Hebrews never had much use
or love for the heather; they cut no figure IN
His economy philosophy" Mr. Moore quotes
the sweet psalmist rejoicing and praisina
God that the heather are persisted out of his
land" and as invoking God Ito pour out His
wrath upon the heathen," etc. Says Mr.. Moore
Il cite these to show that God does not seem
to have concerned Himself about these people
under the old dispensation, except to devote
them to destruction to show His contempt and
aversion, and not only to sanction their ruin
but to command it,"
TO be perfectly frank this humble writer
knows very little on the subject OF Gods law OF
election (Which is the case with everybody else)
and hence to attempt to discuss 1t would be
profltless but I do not for moment believe
that heavenly Father arbitrarily and des-
politically destroyed the heather anywhere or
at any time just to show His contempt and
aversion for them. He had good reasons for
choosing as His peculiar people the Jews, and
He had good reasons equally for destroying the
heather But let mo remind MIR Moore that
under the old dispensation they had plurality
of wives, divorces and the spirit of an EYE for
an eye and a tooth for tooth prevailed. Tn
der the Christian dispensation we have a fuller
and better development. 1t Is not fair to argue
from the conditions and environments OF peo-
pie in hat early age Of which know so little
and conclude that God desires the destruction
of heather in every age and in every cline.
Mr.. Moore is not bit more accurate in his
Bible Interpretation when he comes to the New
Testament than he is in his Interpretation of the
Old He cites with quite fiourlshing air pas
sages in ST. Matthews Gospel such as. Go
not into the way of the Gentiles (the heather Of
that day., and into any city of the samaritans
enter ye not, but rather go to the lost shee D
of the house Of Israel" Mr.. M. further quotes
4 am not sent but unto the lost sheep OF the
house OF Israel" did not our Lord Himself
go first to His own people?' Mr.. NJ asks and
adds. w are reversing, not initiating Ills ac-
tons." This sounds very plausible, but let us
look little into the matter. The seventy dis
ciples who were sent out by Lord and who
were told to go In certain cities and who were
instructed not to go In the way of the Gentiles
were sent only on tour of preparation for our
Lord Himself to follow up. Sent on a special
mission, they had been, with their limita-
ti0ns, it would have been a waste Of time to
have attempted to instruct the heather of which
they were then incapable. Jesus himself had
limitations and for that reason he preached to
the lost sheep OF the house of Israel not be-
cause he didn't love and care to save the Gem
tiles which later We're to come In and get the
benefit of his world wide gospel Just at that
time the Gcntiles were not ripe for the gospel
as they were later in the time OF Paul and
Peter This view Of the matter explains why
or Eotd was slow in answering the PRAYER
OF the Syrophenician woman who asked him to
cure her daughter, who was deminized Under
the limitations that surrounded him. Jesus could
not grant her request at first, and II was her
grand faith that oVerleaped the barriers that
surrounded him and brought her the blessing
she sought our Lords delay In answering
her request done to test her faith but it
was the result OF conditions that He. could not
remove If he carried out the plans of his Father
ma hes nd
n prophecy of WHAT the future heather world
would do when the rtpeness OF time came to
them, MI MS plea for the heather at our
doors is all right 1t is our duty to try to save
them, but owe IT to far-away brother
try TO him, too
There is no conflict between foreign and d.
mestic missions. but it is true that the person
who does the most fer the heather far away
will do the most for the heather at home and
the reverse of this is true.
We do not agree with MIR. NJ. that the heather
in Africa and China have had a fair chance
There millions in those countries who never
heard of Jesus. Seventy five years is a very
short time to expect millions to give up idolatrv
and become good and consistent Christians We
civilized people have been for centuries pro-
Il ssedly a Christian people, but we haven't any
thing to boast of, but great deal to make us
eel ashamed.
AS to Mr.. Ms money argument, he uses
against foreign missions. much need be said
in reply. MFR. NJ. ought to have thought M
what Christian nations spending for LIQUOR
chewing-gum and other trivialities
on the "pitiful sum" that foreign missions have
cost Christian people The idea OF counting
money cost when you come to saving precious
souls for whom Jesus died, Aye, here is the
uouble-so many are too close listed to give to
this good cause, and they pirate about the fall
ufe OF missions. 1t Is enough to make one
hearts to think about 1t. | pass over Mr.
Ms slur at the ministers encouraging foreign
missions because, as he thinks 1t financially
pays them TO do so. which slur will fail very
harmlessy the minister's but fill be a
writer. Intelligent
tfan public will form their own opinion of such
a slur. 1t il folly to talk about Christian union
as long as such anti missionary views as Mr.
Nj. entertains are held by professed followers
of our Lord who tells US In John g. Is: God
so loved the world that he gave" etc, and who
gave the marching orders to his disciples to
go into all the world and preach the gospel
to every creature" etc
We doubt seriously that the Christian denomi- |
nations Will ever be organically one and we |
do not believe 1t is the better plan for them to |
become such, but we very confident that |
the missionary idea carried out fully wiIr 70 I
farther than any other to bring them in closer |
fellowship.
e. P. PARHAM.
Grafton. Va