Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11
How Missions Are
Blessing the World
$500 Sermon by
KEW. FLOYD W. TOMPKINS,
Text: Ezekiel, xviii. l-lo

The work OF Christian missions is to
proclaim tho Gospel OF salvation
through Jesus Christ Wherever that
Gospel Ia accepted human hearts are
made happy and human lives are puri-
hed' For II is not only salvation from
inc penalty of sin that Christ provides.
out salvation to newness of living.
therefore, II brings blessings to the
"orid az well as TO the Individual
'"ris'ian. New standards of moral life
are lifted up. New relationships be-
.ween man and man are established.
Ne" energy in Saily service for the
oeteat or evil and the maintenance OF
righteousness is created, and because
me Gospel gives a new meaning TO tho
"orio existence. new hopes and fresh
courage are kindled and humanity ia
'itted up from deafness and despair TO
strength and cheer. For Christian mis-.
siona are the civilizing power which
goo mas ordained in order that the
""fia may he purified and fitted for
the future coming OF Christ.
inc process is necessarily slow be-
cause the first message came 10 n few
people in an isolated part OF the world
ana It's spread demanded time in order
mat II might reach all nations II ia
Flow also because Satan is ever seek
ing 10 defeat Gods purpose; whore
1000 seed is sown the enemy i.nmedi-
"'eiS bows tares With the missionary
~ tne ship AS he sails to foreign lands
nero are carried thousands of gal
IONS OF whisky. and the poor heather
1ahnot separate the two messengers
coming from the same country. for ha
does not know that God sends ono and
ne oeIil sends the other But. though
SOW. me work is sure. The Almighty
"itn HIS servants, and in due time
tie brings blessed results
no" CHRISTIANITY HAS
CHANGED LIFE OF WORLD
We might review the pages of his
tory and Gee how Christianity has
changcd the life of the world. and IL
would fill US with new faith and
courage. For nothing which has lifted
humanity up has an origin apart from
me truth of the Gospel. and the dali,
n!es"ings. which are so constant a part
-. our IKE tha' We scarcely think Of
'hem all hnd their source in Chris
uanity. The history of the world. as
inperfectiy recorded BY human writer's
Tor there liz much that has never been
"ritten), can no more leave out God
than II can disregard man and his
experiences Religion has always
horne such an important part in the
story Of tho race that /; cannot be
taken away or disregardcd without
the whole fabric falling 70 pieces. so
me history OF the past nineteen CEN
turtles is incxtricahiy associated with
christ and His truth. with mission
aries and their labors. No unbcliever
can write a fair history o. the world
But. passing b. this great fact
which is too immense for US to deal
With mere. let us think OF some of the
evident blessings which Christianity
has brought and which become ever
richer as nations become more truly
Christian. And the first is surely n
knowledge Of God as the Father OF us
all Man cannot know his origin save
as II Is revealed by Him who is the
Creator OF life. The heathen SEEKS
for n creator, and since he can find
none. nc fashions one after his own
liking and bows down TO idols of wood
and stone, the best expression possible
OF the hunger OF his soul for a father.
Then the Gospel comes. not as n
theory. but as fact. God came 10
earth and told men that they we're
Ills children: that He made them and
loved them. and would take them in
due time to His Home II they would
love and trust Him And when men
heard that, they rejoiced with exceed
ing great JOY. The problem was
solved. Their Father was found. No
longer orphans, but dear children, ten
Derby watched over by God. they !eaped