South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-24
FAITH IN CHRIST
NEED Of CHURCH
Christian Nations Are Doing
Much For HeathenS, But Not
Enough-PuIpit For Work of
Christ, Only.

The pulpit OF Jesus Christ stands
Tor Him. and subjects concerning
Him, and Him only should be given
out and discussed from IT," said Rev
James i. Gardiner. -. D.. pastor Of
y, faHls Methodist church. in an
address on The Secret of the Mis-
sIonary Impulse"
During the past five years greater
emphasis has been laid on the subject
or foreign missions than ever before
In the history of the Christian church
In the year 1909 there was held in
Edinburgh. Scotland. the greatest
missionary conference that the world
mas ever known since those stirring
Gays when the church at Antioch sent
Paul on his first missionary journey.
Representative were there from every
evangelical church in the world. They
one and all laid aside their differences
OF policy and creed in a common eff
fort TO answer the question. How
/ shall we reach the heather WOrld2
II was what John r. Mott has called
} the Decisive hour IN the history Of
FChristian missions.
Again and again since that great
! conference has the cause Of missions
lbeen presented. Again and again have
/ we listened 20 missionaries of the cross
/ like Bishop ThorbOrn as they have
told Us OF the claims OF the peoples
/ of the world who have never heard
:he story of our Christ. Again and
a gain has the Christian church been
urged 10 take greater interest in
the conversion of the heather world;
nevertheless there is lacking in many
quarters vital interest in the cause Of
Christian missions.
"I am well aware Of the fact that
there never was a time when the
church Of Jesus Christ was doing
more financially and otherwise for
the conversion OF the world. l am not
unmindful of the heroic work done
by various missionary societies. The
point 7 am now making Is this-there
Is today lacking q real genuine enthu-
siasm for the cause OF missions
And why this apathy among thou
sands of processing Christians First
because Of what we might call human
sclfshness and greed We are so
busy thinking of ourselves; we are so
taken up with the question of making
money for our own homes and families
that we have forgotten the millions
who have never heard the gospel OF
Jesus Christ
But there is another cause for this
Indifference. this apathy of the Chris
ltian churches I'm America and other
countries toward the heather world.
And what lis this cause 10 is our lack
Of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
once a distinguished missionary said;
some people do not believe in mis-
sions; they have no right to believe IN
missions because they do not believe
in Christ
This 7 am sure strikes the root of
the matter No man can become IN
terested in the conversation of the
heather world until he himself fully
and firmly believes in the gospel OF
Jesus Christ What we need today in
the Christian church is a revival or
vital faith in the saving power of the
gospel of the Son of God. Faith in
Jesus christ and i'm His gospel is the
secret of missionary enthusiasm and
missionary effort. Let us pray then
Tor a vital faith in that gospel which
s. able 20 save unto the uttermOst all
them that come unto God by Jesus
Christ