A Great Door Is Opened

A Great Door Is Opened
"A GREAT DOOR IS OPENED."
1 Corinthians 16:6.
BY GEO. A. KLINGMAN.
The letter in which we find these words was written by Paul at Ephesus on his third missionary tour and near the close of his two years' protracted meeting in that city. Every day witnessed multitudes of Jews and Gentiles from all parts of Asia pursuing their various interests in this great center of trade, religion, and education. The school of Ty- rannus attracted scholars and students of all classes. Paul used this school as an "open door" through which to reach all that dwelt in Asia. In Acts 19:8-10 we read: "And he entered into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and disobedient speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for the space of two years, so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks." Here we find the apostle located at a central point and note the hearts and minds of many people were disposed to receive the truth and that Paul continued preach­ing daily for the space of two years. In making an application of Paul's method to present- day conditions we observe:

I. That there are many centers from which the influ­ence of the truth should radiate. In our own beloved coun­try we may direct attention to the most favorable condition possible. We have forty-eight states with the great capital at Washington; each state has its own capital and is divided into counties each of which has its county-seat. Politically and commercially we are so situated that in a short time we can reach every citizen of our great Republic. Let us take Texas with its 244 counties as an illustration. Every county- seat is an open door through which to reach the population of the county. What is true of Texas is true of every other state in the Union. These doors are standing wide open and there are hundreds of them through which a preacher of the pure gospel has never passed. Let us bring the matter closer home still: Take our own county —Taylor; we are centrally located. Abilene is the gate-way North and .South, East and West, for a large territory. On account of recent develop­ments in oil and other industries, the eyes of the country are turned toward Abilene. This is a great country and no one is able to forecast the extent of its awakening and develop­ment. Abilene is not only a commercial center but is also known as an educational center. Our own school, like the school of Tyrannus, has the word of God taught in it daily; and with its present equipment and generous support is des­tined to become one of the great educational institutions of the world. With Paul's fervor and love of souls aided by the earnestness of the early disciples, the gospel message was spread throughout all Asia. We have the same message, the same advantages of situation, and with the same spirit of devotion and love of human souls, Abilene will become an Ephesus —a "great door and effectual."

11 . Our second consideration is that of the mental and religious attitude of the people. The whole world has had a shaking up religiously. The war has proved to us the inefficiency of denominationalism. To meet the demands we found it necessary to unify our forces. Just imagine every camp of soldiers having a hundred or more chaplains of "different faiths and orders" looking after the spiritual welfare and moral interests of our boys. Never before has the need of unity and union among Christians been more powerfully felt. The "clashing creeds of Christendom" have also been "weighed in the balances and found wanting." The slogan "Deed not Creed" gives expression to a senti­ment shared by millions of our fellowmen. The world feels its need of a merciful, heavenly Father, whose Son, Jesus Christ, willingly offered himself for us all and one who is our "elder brother" bearing our burdens and healing our wounds. The world is sick of speculative theology and philosophic discussions; we want the simple creed of the Christ finding itself in ministering to others; the only creed that is perfectly adapted to every human heart and condition, the one on which all the Christians in the world can unite. This world's hungry heart is crying out "Thou, Oh Christ, art all I want, More than all in Thee I find." To be sure we are divided into groups and always shall be; but with an absence of envy, jealousy, wraths, factions and such like, each group will labor for the glory of God and in the Name of the Master who prayed for the spiritual oneness of his disciples in every generation, and the practical unity and union that will inevitably follow. The plea for the unity of God's people on God's Book has never had a more hopeful opportunity than the present. The door is wide open, breth­ren, waiting for us to enter. To be more specific: The people are calling for an ef­fectual message and an efficient religion. They want to know how to be saved, and being saved, how to serve not only in acts of devotion and items of worship but "in deed and in truth." They are asking, How can we evangelize the world? How shall we educate our children? How can we best care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the aged, the sick, the feeble-minded, and the criminals? How shall we provide for wholesome recreation especially for our young people? The modern mind is one of inquiry and search, eager to be instructed and led. The president of the Wal- densian church in Italy told us that 30,000,000 Catholics had left the Romish church in Italy alone. They had demanded Bibles and when these were furnished them they "read themselves out of the Roman Catholic Church." Think of 30,000,000 people adrift —scattered as sheep without a shep­herd, for they know not where to go and there is no one to "gather them together" and teach them the simple gospel. China, Japan, Korea, India, Africa, —wanting to hear and know what is best for them, are waiting to be told. A min­ister sent out by the Baptists was relating some of his expe­riences on the foreign field. He said: "Brethren, my arms have ached from baptizing so many converts, I have been compelled to rest a while and keep the people waiting, and then resume." The hot tears coursed down my cheeks as I listened to "the story of the iron bands." Several years be­fore this missionary arrived on the scene of his labors, another missionary had just "passed through" and had told the natives about the true and living God. When he left them they had iron bands fastened around their wrists and ankles and decided to wear these until another God-man should come along and preach to them about the living God. He was to break these bands and they would all obey the true God. This missionary quietly and modestly remarked. "Brethren, can you imagine the joy of my heart when I took a hammer and broke the iron bands and at the same time, with the gospel hammer broke the shackles of sin and super­stition that had bound these people for centuries? Then he significantly added: "Those people do not know that I am a Baptist; I did not tell them one word about the different denominations; just preached Christ to them and told them about His church which He purchased with His own precious blood." A woman who is caring for many child-widows in India related to us the sad experience she had in passing through many villages from which great multitudes followed her crying and begging her to stop and tell them about Jesus. As she crossed a certain river hundreds of women were standing on the shore calling loud and long, "Come to us and tell us about God and the Savior." You do not wonder that this woman said, "I can hear them always, and see their outstretched arms pleading for salvation." Great doors just swinging wide open and no one to enter in and take pos­session for God. But what avails all this? Our hearts are stirred to no purpose if we fail to act upon the holy impulses awakened by a consideration of these startling facts. Not that we do not need enthusiastic meetings; our Lord himself provided for our "gathering together," and there is nothing to take the place of a large assemblage of kindred spirits. We need the inspiring singing, the soul-stirring prayers, and the mes­sages fresh from the throne of God's grace through His Holy Word, and the exhortations from warm and loving hearts; but how often is it the case that the people are will­ing and anxious to do the work of the Lord but for some reason it is not done. "I wish we would do this;" "I want to help in this good work;" "Let's get at it and do some­thing;" "Why don't we?" These and similar questions re­veal the willingness on the part of the people. Where is the trouble? What principle of Scripture teaching is ignored? I believe we shall be unanimous in our verdict. May I be privileged to set it forth in our third consideration of the theme before us:

III. The great door opened to Paul at Ephesus became "effectual" because a definite purpose and plan was wisely executed during the two years' protracted effort in that great center of population. Do you know of any congregation that has conducted such a campaign? Brother T. B. Lari- more once offered to hold a year's meeting for a church, preaching twice a day and three times on Sunday, and the church refused the offer. We cannot expect the results en­joyed by the early Christians unless we are willing to adopt their methods. It is not difficult to find persons who refer to God's ways and methods as "hap-hazard." "no plan at all," etc. They are correct in the usage of such expressions if they have in mind the erroneous ideas held by some folks in regard to God's plans, and more so, if they refer to the "slip-shod, slovenly, niggardly" way in which some congre­gations "carry on their work" (?). But nothing can be farther from the facts in the case, nor more out of harmony with the truth of God than to represent God's ways and methods as "hap-hazard," etc. Reflect for a little while on God's method and plan in creation! How wonderful the design! How marvelous its execution! How perfect the system! Consider the carefully developed plan of Redemp­tion! With what simple order and efficient methods the work of evangelizing the world was undertaken and ac­complished in the days of the apostles —the gospel being "preached in all creation under heaven." (Colossians 1:23) Read the book of Acts carefully and note the most efficient and expeditious methods employed in meeting every demand, any exigency, any emergency. Under the Headship of Jesus Christ, elders took the oversight of the flock, tended the sheep, ministered to the spiritual wants of the believers; deacons were appointed to care for the poor, the widows and orphans; deaconesses, such as Phoebe in Cenchrea, (Romans 16:1-2) served the church in matters of special business suitable for women to do, and they were sent on important missions in order to enlist the help of other con­gregations; missionaries were sent out by the congregations: evangelists were commended for the "work of the ministry;" the very best and most economic methods of finance were adopted and practiced. No better system has yet been de­vised than that which requires that "each lay by him in store" on the first day of the week, "as the Lord has pros­pered." Several years ago I suggested this plan to a con­gregation that was virtually dead. One of the elders said. "The Lord's plan won't work; I've seen it tried too often." T remarked to him, "My brother, you have never seen the Lord's plan tried." Finally, he said, "Go ahead if you want to risk it." We tried it. At the end of the year the treas­urer made his report. It was too much for the good man; he could not finish; tears of joy blinded his eyes and he cried out. "Brethren, I can't finish this report —there's over a hundred dollars in the treasury." This was thirty years ago in a little country church and there was but one doubt in the minds of the members expressed somewhat like this: Do vou suppose everybody gave as he was prospered? What could we not do if every one gave at least one-tenth? How can any blood-bought child of God think of giving less? The apostolic ways and methods of doing God's work have not been adopted and followed and for that reason more efficient work has not been done. The world has not been evangelized and the suffering mass of humanity has not been ministered unto because we have not been LOYAL to New Testament ideals and plans. The same never- changing principles of Christianity must be applied to pres- ent-dav conditions. With the church organized after the New Testament pattern, recognizing no other head but Jesus Christ, we must systematize our work and arrange for defi­nite work in a definite way. Let us not be afraid of doing the right thing because some one else does right; neither let us refrain from doing God's work because some one else may do it in the wrong way; let all prejudice, pride, jealousy, and sectarianism be put away; let us not fear counsel nor hesitate to co-operate in the larger spheres of activity. Let every congregation decide what it is able to do and, if neces­sary, appoint certain ones to see that it is done. There should be regular preaching, if only once a month, in every com­munity where there is a congregation; smaller congregations can co-operate in the spread of the gospel message in the home community, and the same plan works admirably for preaching the gospel in the foreign field. That is, instead of having "independent" missionaries abroad, or "free­lance" preachers at home, let the congregations select and send out their representatives in the proclamation of the gospel; and just as it may be necessary for several con­gregations to co-operate for the purpose of evangelizing a county, so let any number of churches co-operate in send­ing out a missionary, the element of mileage being the only difference. In this way we shall steer clear of the Scylla of Ecclesiasticism on the one side and the Charibdis of neglected duty on the other.

"Behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut." (Revelation 3:8.)