10-Waiting Fields

10 WAITING FIELDS Text “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white unto harvest.” John 4:35. The elements in a call to the ministry, viewed from the earth side, are many, and often complex. Doubtless this is due to the dullness of our ears and to the dimness of our vision. The way of life is narrow and straight, and the call of God is clear and simple. We make the way difficult by our willfulness, and the voice of God uncertain because we continually hearken to the voices of earth.

Although the purposes of God are constant and his will for us is unchanging, temperament, environment, and education will determine sontewhat the manner in which his will is made known. Men equally positive of a call of God to the Christian ministry find on comparing experiences that they differ very greatly, although the experience is equally satisfactory to both, and for each the divine sanction upon his ministry is unmistakable. For many servants of God the first conviction of a call to definite, whole-time life service is an experience of inner necessity.

“Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.” It is an impulse of consecration by which one would gladly be consumed on the sacrificial altar of service. No doubt this experience in some degree is a part of every genuine call.

Again, the voice of the people sometimes comes as the first evidence of a call to Christian service. “Vox populi, vox Dei.” When I was a young man feeling my way toward the path of duty and of Christian privilege, I had a feeling that I did not want any one to speak to me concerning the ministry. I was afraid they might confuse for me the clear call of God, for which I was listening. I do know, however, that, after all, the words of others encouraged me. As I analyze from this distance my feelings and their promptings, I am now convinced that what I really feared was insincere or ill-matured words of encouragement or approval. I had frequently heard people say of certain other young men: “He ought to be a preacher; he is such a good talker.” To my mind such a remark showed a lack of appreciation of the real qualities in a young man that point toward the ministry. I did not consider the “gift of gab” as the primary prerequisite.

I was impressed rather with what Charles M.

Sheldon made one of his characters say in a book that fell in my hands, and which I read with extreme satisfaction: “I must preach the Gospel, even if I have to speak from the tail end of a wagon, else why did God make me to love people so.” Real, geniune, disinterested love for folks is such, a subtle element in a young man’s make-up that it is likely to be over-looked, while less important characteristics are emphasized. But when out of a sober conversation one in whom a young man has confidence suggests that perhaps he should give himself to the ministry, that young man is likely to listen as to the voice of God.

While the elements named are most likely to be present, there is always in every genuine call to the ministry the consciousness of a waiting field. The vision of a man’s job in a field that some one should occupy is often the Holy Spirit’s first means of approach in leading a young man to see his duty in relation to the Christian ministry. Whatever other means are used to awaken a sense of responsibility in this regard, and in whatever manner the Spirit first speaks, or succeeds in being heard, it is the sense of a waiting field that confirms the call. Whatever power may impel one to move forward, the open door shows the way and encourages the next step. The Holy Spirit is searching today for sensitive souls who are able to see the ripening fields which wait to be garnered for the Kingdom of Heaven. For the disciples of Jesus Samaria had been a territory to be shunned. Even now for them it was merely a passage way from Judea to Galilee; an uninteresting strip of country to be passed through, as quickly as possible. Its inhabitants were of another race; worse yet, they were a mixed race! The disciples and Jesus were Jews. And “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” But to the Master these Samaritans were folks. They were not members of the Jewish race, but they were members of the human race, to which, and for which, he was giving his life. The woman by the well furnished him his opportunity, therefore, and the response of the villagers to her testimony concerning the Christ suggested a harvest field of sinful but seeking human souls ready for the reaper. From the viewpoint of the Master as revealed in this declaration at Sychar there are waiting fields all about us, white for the harvest, but which we fail to see because of our provincialism and our prejudice. The true disciple of Jesus is able to see beneath differences in race or language or color, and to discover the heart-hunger of our common humanity. To think only in classes is both coarse and cheap. This is true no matter how large or how important the class. Americanism is something we all believe in, and which we desire to promote; but even that splendid term is so narrowed in definition by many, even by certain United States senators, that it fails to arouse enthusiasm on the part of the followers of the Lord of all life. Every effort to Americanize the foreigner is in the interest of a more stable national life, and should be supported by all good Christians. But to Christianize Americans, both native and foreign-born, is the obligation of the churches of America. For this service the fields are white, both from the standpoint of need and of opportunity. The world is the field; and the field is white. We are living in a changed world; in a restless, uneasy, mobile world. These are elements that do not make for stability of life and character. Bather do they hinder the progress of the Kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of peace and righteousness, and of hope. Therefore this spirit of unrest is enmity against Christianity. However, these indications of unrest have a meaning not revealed in the surface readings of society and the present social status. This dominant uncertainty and aimless striving is but an indication of the soul-hunger which prevails everywhere. The molten, mobile state of society is a call to the churches to supply the Christian mold while the conditions are right to shape society for Christ. The fact that every would-be prophet has his coterie of followers, and everyism its adherents, is evidence of dissatisfaction with things as they are; the indication of a “ divine discontent. ’ ’ The further fact that these cults and creeds fail to give satisfaction is proof that only the Christ can satisfy: Here then is the supreme opportunity of the Christian church to bring to bear upon a sin-sick and troubled world the only religion that will save and the only life that will satisfy, the Christianity of Jesus.

There is one thing more to be said in considering the world as the harvest field, and the present state of society as the church’s opportunity. “While doubts have arisen in the minds of a great many people as to the efficacy of the prevailing philosophy of the time, there is a growing confidence in the Church as the exponent of a vital and saving faith. Men everywhere are able to see what havoc can be wrought by a most highly civilized people, when they do not possess the Christ spirit. There is more than a lurking suspicion that materialism however refined, and education however scientific, are unable to lead humanity out of the woods. Out of the shadow and mist of conflicting ideals and opposing institutions has emerged in clearer outline the Church of Jesus Christ. Increasingly and everywhere men will embrace the glorious hope which it is her privilege to hold out to them, if she can be given the leadership which the opportunity demands, and for which God is calling.

While the world is the field and as such makes its appeal to those who desire to make the most of their lives, yet to view it in this comprehensive way is likely to discourage rather than to stimulate a response to the call for leaders. “What young men need perhaps more than anything else, if they are to be led to give themselves to the Christian ministry, is to visualize a specific field in which one man can find his opportunity to inspire and organize and develop the religious forces in such a way as to spiritualize the entire community life. And after all has been said, there is just one way to Christianize the world. Some one must bring to bear upon each specific community the spirit and methods of the Master. There must be provided the proper leadership of all the local forces, until every member of the community catches the vision and gives his cooperation to 1 the holy emprise. For several years I have studied somewhat carefully country life conditions as presented in the growing body of literature on that subject. Especially have I considered the relation of the church to the problems of the country community. More recently as chairman of the Interchurch Rural Survey Council of my own state I have come into first-hand knowledge of conditions and needs as they actually exist. The situation in West Virginia in this regard is similar no doubt, to conditions elsewhere. The survey of Ohio by the Country Life Commission of the Federal Council justifies this judgment in the matter. A review of the fields occupied by our own Seventh Day Baptist elmrclies confirms again this fact so clearly evident everywhere, that what the church needs is leaders. Every Seventh Day Baptist church in West Virginia but one, is set in a community where there is no other minister resident and giving his whole time to the service of the community. What is true in West Virginia is true in many other localities where there are Seventh Day Baptist churches.

What an opportunity this presents to Seventh Day Baptists if capable men, consecrated and trained for the work, can be placed in these communities, as pastors of Seventh Day Baptist churches, but as leaders in all community interests and enterprises. There is needed in every community a resident minister, the pastor of one church, who can give himself to the work of building up the life of the whole community, and of infusing the economic and social relationships with the community spirit and the Gospel of Christian brotherhood. It will riot do to discourage our young men by saying, as has been said, that the denomination already has “preachers to burn.” These men who are not now employed in the waiting harvest fields have for the most part been trained for a different kind of service than that which is required by present conditions. There is need of a larger force of reapers, men who really do burn with a holy fire, and a passion for service; men who are trained to meet the opportunities in these waiting fields. No longer can any denomination justify its course in ministering to a few families in a given community, while feeling no responsibility for the numbers of unchurched living all about, and who are as sheep without a shepherd. The Seventh Day Baptist minister has a two-fold service to render, which calls for the noblest of our young men; and for young men with the best possible training and equipment. In the first place we need young men who give forth no uncertain sound when it comes to preaching Sabbath truth. The call is for. young men who are acquainted with, and who appreciate, the Sabbath of Scripture and of history; men who are imbued with the real Sabbath spirit, who love the Holy Day, and who honor God and serve men in the use they make of its sacred hours. Whittier’s advice to the young man who wished to be of real service was that he champion some unpopular but worthy reform. This is the Sabbath-keeper’s happy position and privilege. It requires courage to stand for an unpopular truth, but it adds zest to life.

Along with this spirit and service of “the reformer, which indicates and insures a healthy and militant Christianity, should go the desire and purpose to render a spiritual ministry to all who need help. For such championship of truth, and for such a ministry, the world is waiting. The fields are white. The call is loud. ’The need is urgent.

“Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white unto harvest.”