Workable Plans

Workable Plans Workable Plans
George S. Benson
President, Harding College, Searcy, Ar

It is my understanding that the discussion of this subject is to be limited to workable plans for sending out workers and supporting them while they labor in new fields, both at home and abroad. Tomorrow I shall discuss methods of work on Oriental fields. The preaching of the Gospel should always be planned. Nothing of importance can ever be done well without a plan. The preaching of the Gospel is the greatest work ever intrusted into the hands of men. The work should, therefore, be very carefully planned and then the plans should be very carefully worked. The Gospel is a message of life to a lost world. Je-sus came to seek and to save the lost. The great mass of humanity was without God and without hope in the world when Jesus came. Mankind was already under a sentence of condemnation because of sin. Jesus came to make possible man’s redemption. He came to open a way of life—bringing hope to those who were sitting in darkness.

Jesus urged that his disciples carry this message of life to all the nations and preach it to every creature, continuing unto the end of the world. He thus gave a world-wide message fraught with eternal consequences, and age long in its duration.

God has also given a distinct plan for the evangelisation of the world. It is the will of God that this plan should be worked, and that the Gospel should be preached to all nations during every generation.

God has always been practical in his dealing with man. With every work that God has given man to do he has always provided a method—a way by which this work might be accomplished. God has given a method by which the disciples of Jesus Christ might evangelise the world in each generation. But we have not been working God’s plan. The result is that we have only seventeen men, fourteen wives and six single ladies—thirty-seven in all—now working within the countries outside the limits of our own nation. While Jesus looked upon the entire world as the field, making no distinction between home field and foreign field, yet we have all made a great distinction. Even though we now have about 2,500 preachers of the church of Christ within the bounds of our own country, yet we have only seventeen preachers within the countries outside of the United States. This does not represent a balanced program. We have been making such a sharp distinction between the home field and foreign field that We have kept more than 99% of our preachers within the borders of our own country. We have also so ignored God’s plan that even the limited number of preachers who have gone to foreign fields have continued to labor under unnecessary disadvantages.

There are three distinct steps in God’s plan for evangelising the world. The first step is found in Matthew 28:19, and is spelled with two letters—GO. This step represents individual responsibility. It is applicable to all those who become Christians. We are all debtors both to Greeks and Barbarians—both to the wise and the foolish. Every follower of Jesus Christ should feel the responsibility to GO. The apostle Paul said, “Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.” We should feel the same way today. The very fact that we have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a free gift from God makes us debtors to others for whom Jesus in like manner died, but who have not heard this great message of life. Perhaps some of us could go only to our next door neighbors, others could go a little farther. Some could go to an adjoining state for occasional work. Some could go to the extreme borders of our own country. A few could go into foreign fields. In this way the entire world would be included if we all felt the proper degree of responsibility in the matter of going. The second step is to be found in Romans 10:13-15. The apostle said, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?” So the second step is sending. This implies group responsibility. An entire congregation might send someone and sustain him while laboring in a new field. Sending also implies a willingness on the part of someone to be sent, and likewise a selection of the one to be sent. If we all felt the responsibility of going, of course, there would be plenty from whom to select. And if we would do sufficient teaching to cause the entire church to want to send we would at the same time create the desire to go in the hearts of many.

Then the very best men available should be selected for the most distant fields. Jesus selected fishermen, tax collectors, etc., to carry the Gospel to their own people in the land of Tudea. But he selected a man of unusual ability, Saul of Tarsus, who had been educated at the feet of that famous teacher, Gamaliel, to carry the Gospel unto foreign peoples—unto Gentiles. In Africa, India, China and Tapan problems arise which are much more perplexing than the problems arising in our own country. Moreover, it is not possible there to constantly fall back upon our own familiar background for methods by which to solve all of our problems. Even the most capable workers will often be much perplexed and greatly confused with the new problems that will be ever occuring on foreign fields. Therefore, we should select and send the very best men we have. So long as we fail to select and fail to send we should not criticise those who volunteer and who go without having been sent. There is adequate scripture to justify one in going whether he be sent by a church or not, but there is no scripture to justify churches in so completely failing to send workers to foreign fields that almost our entire force of for-eign workers have been compelled to voluntarily raise their own travel fund and seek their own support with very limited encouragement from the churches. They were doing their duty in going, but we have not done our duty in sending. The third step in God’s great plan for evangelising the world is giving. In Ephesians 4:28 the apostle exhorted the brethren to labor, working with their hands that they might have whereof to give to those who were in need. We are also exhorted to be ready unto every good work. No one is in greater need than the evangelist going into new fields and particularly among foreign peoples. There is always the need for our giving to these workers. Moreover, there is no better work than sending the Gospel message of eternal life to lost men; therefore, we should give as unto a good work.

If we would properly apply these three steps in God’s program— Go, Send, and Give—we would find ourselves able to evangelise the world in our own generation. The method of evangelisation among foreign peoples can be readily understood from the work of the apostle Paul. He succeeded in evangelising four provinces—Asia, Galatia, Macedonia and Achaia— in some eight or ten years. The task was so fully completed that the apostle considered that he no longer had any place therein to preach the Gospel. (Romans 15:23.) From the book of Acts we are able to trace the work which the apostle Paul did in these four provinces. We find that he did not attempt to go personally into every nook and corner. On the contrary he preached in the main centers. And having established churches in these main centers the responsibility of evangelising in those regions naturally transferred itself to the churches which had been established there. The work of preaching was not finished but the work of the foreign missionary—Paul—was fully accomplished. He was ready to depart from those provinces, ready to go to distant Rome, and ready to go from Rome into Spain, another new field.

We should apply the same methods in our labor on foreign fields today. When the Gospel has been preached and when churches have been established in the chief centers in any given region the duty of the foreign missionary has then been fulfilled and his work completed.

If we would work on this basis it would be altogether possible to evangelise the entire world in one generation. Our churches of Christ at the present time have a group of seven foreign missionaries in the city of Canton, South China I believe that it will be entirelv possible for this group to evangelize the whole of South China during their own I’ fe time, according to the Pauline method. The apostle carried with him in his own company certain ones like 'Iunutby whom he had converted in Gentile territory. And with the help of some converts m South China I believe that our missionary group there can succeed in establishing churches in the main centers of South China during their own generation. With twenty additional couples entering Chinese territory we could establish five more such units as we have at Canton. Each such group of missionaries could, during their own life time, establish churches in the main cities of their own region. T hus in our own generation the debt which we owe to China could be paid. If tw'enty-five couples could evangelize China, with one- fourth of the population of the w'orld, then one houndred couples should be able to evangelize the whole world after the Pauline method. This puts the entire problem on a practical basis. It would not be difficult for our six thousand congregations of the. church of Christ to support one hundred families on foreign fields. In fact, if we were, giving an average of $<'.0() a month from each congregation there would be sufficient money to furnish each family with $300.00 per month, (One-half of this amount could be used for personal support and one-half could be used in the execution of an effective program of work on the field.

If it is possible for our congregations to give an average, of $L00 each for the evangelization of foreign countries then it is possible for us to accomplish the task which the Lord has given us to do. While some small congregations would find it difficult to give that amount for this wrork, yet I doubt if any wrould find it actually impossible. Moreover, there are some congregations which could give ten, fifteen, twenty or twentv-five dollars a month for this work. Therefore, it would certainly be possible to reach the average of $L00 for each congregation. Hence, if we fail to evangelize the world in our own generation it is not because we are. unable to do it, but simply because we do not have sufficient interest to do it. The small group of missionaries which we now have on foreign fields have often suffered for sufficient funds to execute an effective program of work. They have usually received only a bare existence. This limits the activities and renders the labor far less effective than it should be. One of our missionaries m Africa found it necessary on one occasion to sell some of the family clothing in order to buy food for his children. Another in China tor three years has scarcely had sufficient to meet his barest needs. In attempting to eat a large amount of Chinese food his health has been seriously injured. Our great need today is not fod to send, but for a greater urge to work the plan which God has given Prom what source shall this urge come? I believe that it should come first from a desire to obey God, “Obedience is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Jesus became obedient even unto the cross—being rich he became poor for our sakes. If we have that same degree of the spirit of obedience we will recognise that we are. responsible today to the full extent of our ability for the preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. We wifi go, we will send and we will give according to our ability. If we would feel keenly this re' sponsibility as did the. apostle Paul and if we would respond in sin' cere obedience to the. Lord the entire world could be evangelised ac' cording to the Pauline method during our own generation.

We should also be urged forward in the exertion of our every effort through our love for lost souls. Fvery individual has a never dying spirit. Lach one shall be judged according to the works done in the flesh. There are only two destinies for the souls of men. Only the Gospel can save arid we are the sole stewards of the Gospel. Therefore, no one can be saved except in proportion as we respond to our duty in declaring the message of life. I feel confident that no one of us would sell our hope of eternal life for the wealth of the world. We value our hope of that inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away far more highly than we value afi of the gold and silver in the world. We are anxious that our own souls should be saved, but Jesus has taught us to do unto others as we would that they should do unto us. Jesus has taught us to love our neighbor even as we love ourselves. Should not our love for lost souls urge us for' ward until we have done our utmost to save the lost? In the third place out hearts are always touched with reports of human suffering. Our entire nation has lately responded in a very liberal way for the relief of flood sufferers throughout the Mississippi River valley. Could, not our hearts in like manner be touched through our desire to relieve those who suffer m heathen countries. Where the Gospel has never gone, there are no homes for the aged, no homes for the orphan, no free clinics, no common sanitation, and no public schools. But wherever Christ has gone these blessings have always followed. One hundred years ago Canton, Clvna, contained none of the things mentioned above, but today there is an asylum for the in' sane, a home for the aged, a home for orphan children, hospitals, free clinics, and many public schools in the city I believe that these bless' ings have come because there are some praying people who fairhfully serve God in that great city. You will remember that the entire city of Sodom might have been saved from destruction and that the entire population might have continued to enjoy all the blessings of fife if there could have been found ten righteous people in Sodom. Shall not the presence of righteous people in a city today .likewise bring special blessings to that city?

It is certainly true that American people enjoy more of the blessings of life today than do any other people in the whole world. Elec- tnc lights, electric refrigerators, the radio, the automobile, etc., are enjoyed by the great mass of our people in America. Yet in heathen countries these accommodations are the rarest luxuries to be enjoyed only by a limited number of high < ifhcials and especially wealthy citizens. The great masses of the people in all heathen countries Uve in a degree of poverty unknown to Americans. Should we not find ourselves urged forward by a desire to relieve human suffering which would carry us forward in our great seivice of delivering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations? My two children, ages 8 and 10, were born in China, they attended Chinese schools and mixed and mingled with the Chinese people almost entirely, speaking Chinese better than they spoke English. They saw little children whose hunger was never really satisfied, saw beggars in the parks and on the streets every time they went out, and were ever conscious of the great poverty of the people. On our wray home to America last summer they observed similar conditions during our brief visit in India, and also observed great poveity among the people in the villages of Egypt. In Palestine they also saw a great measure of poverty among the Arabs. But upon arriving in New York on August 26, Ruth and Lois saw a new world. Brother Hastings took us in his car to Coney Island. Ruth and Lois were greatly delighted with the large number of happy children running, playing and shouting everywhere. There were no sad countenances, no ragged clothing, no hungry faces and no beggars. Lois was so moved that she came to me and cried out, “Daddy, I just hope that heaven will be this nice.

Certainly God has wonderfully blessed us all in America. Com-aratively speaking, we are rich. The evangelization of the world is within our power. God has given the plan. Jesus has given the command And we have been supplied with every necessary facility, including financial ability. In Ezekiel 3:17-19 we have these words: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore, hear the word at my mouth, and give them, warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.” Truly today we are the watchmen on the wall God has spoken and has commanded men everywhere that they should all repent. Jesus said, “except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” The apostle Paul said whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus said: “Go preach the Gospel to the whole creation.” “Go make disciples of all nations.” Hence, God has spoken and has charged us to deliver the message. If men perish without having heard the Gospel message they die in their sins, hut it is possible that their blood will be re' quired at our hands. Whosoever receives the Gospel today becomes a watchman on the wall. We are all under this great responsibility and some day we shall give an account unto the Lord regarding our faithfulness in delivering this message of life to those who sit in darkness.

I fear that the value which we place on the souls of men is quite like the Chinese people have placed upon human life. Nothing in China is cheaper than human life. One time a missionary was traveling on a motor boat ascending one of the swift streams in China. A Chinese passenger fell overboard. The missionary observed that the man could not swim and realised that he would soon perish in the water. Consequently, he called out to some fishermen who were nearby to come drag their nets through and save the man. The fish' ermen called back saying, “How much money will you give us?” The missionary answered, “It is not a question of money. A man is per' ishing. Come quickly. Row your boats along. Drag your nets through and save him.” Again they called back, “How much money will you give us?” “All I have in my pockets,” was the frantic reply. “How much do you have in your pockets?” the fishermen called. “Six or seven dollars, 1 was the missionary’s answer. Then the fishermen began to row, dragged their nets through and brought out the body of the man the first effort. However, they had already tarried too long. The spirit of the unfortunate man had already taken its depar' ture while the fishermen were quibbling about money.

We today have adequate money to evangelise the world. We are the sole watchmen on the wall. The Lord is depending upon us alone to accomplish this great task. Let us go forward marching under the banner of the Lion of Judea, armed with the sword of the spirit, car' rying this priceless message of pardon and eternal salvation to the multitudes who have never yet heard the name of Jesus Christ. Let us GO, SEND and GIVE according to our ability, that it may be said of us in that great day that we have done what we could.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. What is the difference between an effort to save the world and an effort to evangelise the world? Which one is our duty,
save the world or evangelize it?
2. Why is it important for the church to evangelize the world during each generation?
3. Does the fact that ninetymine per cent of Gospel preachers are at work in the homeland and one per cent in other lands
indicate a lack of planning? How does it? How would careful planning and unselfish service change this per centage?
4. In the three distinct steps in the plan for evangelizing the world which step do you consider the more important? Why?
5. Can a church be a New Testament church and not feel concerned in helping to extend the Gospel beyond its own community?
6. What plans could be made and executed in your congregation to help extend the kingdom of Jesus Christ?