p. 8 | The Real Eastern Question by C. P. LILLIE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 4, 1916

The Real Eastern Question

By C. P. LILLIE

C. P. LILLIE

Much is now being made of the Eastern Question. The hour seems near when the Turk will “plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.” Dan. 11:45.

As we contemplate these things, our hearts swell with emotion. We rejoice in the thought of soon greeting our Redeemer, and going home. The fulfilment of the prophecy quoted above will show us where we are in the stream of time. It is one of the last guideposts on the road leading to the consummation of the promise.

But is this the real Eastern Question? No; to us as a people there is another Eastern question infinitely greater than the overthrow of the Turk. In his great prophecy Christ says, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” How and when shall we get this gospel of the kingdom before the people of the East? Jesus is bidding us now, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Ah, the question of greatest moment is, How soon will every truth-loving Turk be gathered into the fold of Christ?

And what about India and China, Korea and Japan, and the isles of the sea? Millions and millions and millions—the greater part of this world’s population—are living without Christ, and thousands are daily going down into Christless graves. This is the greatest missionary problem that confronts us as a denomination. How shall the everlasting gospel be carried to the Eastern peoples in this generation?

This Eastern question is insistent. It is addressed to every Seventh-day Adventist. How are you going to answer it, brother, sister? You students, with strong bodies and well-trained minds, how are you going to answer it? And what will you do, ministers and Bible workers, successful evangelists in the homeland? We need mature, experienced men in these Eastern fields, as well as those fresh from our training schools. And the question also comes to you who possess means not yet fully consecrated to the finishing of the work. Oh, so much depends upon your answer!

The native Christians are loyal and eager in their service. The gospel will

of necessity be largely carried by them to their own people. They are self-sacrificing, too, and willing to contribute liberally when calls are presented to them. We are confident that some of our Eastern fields will in time be able to support the work already established. But leaders to train these native converts and direct the work must for the present come from the homeland. Those of us already in the field plead for more help. Hunan Province, China, with a large, growing work, has only one foreign Seventh-day Adventist family. Over forty Chinese workers are employed, and there is only one foreign preacher to superintend the work. Newly entered Shantung Province, with a population of about forty million, has only one foreign family as yet, and several of the other large Chinese provinces have no workers, either native or foreign.

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” And if you are free to come, answer, “Here am I; send me.”

Chefoo, Shantung, China.