The Missionary Spirit by A. O. Burrill

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 1, 1904

The Missionary Spirit

By A. O. Burrill

A. O. BURRILL

THIS was what was found in the church in the apostles’ days. When Christ selected twelve men, he called them his twelve apostles, or missionaries. “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples [missionaries],” he sent them forth. Matt. 10:1, 5. And he said, “Go rather to the lost sheep,” “and as ye go.” By this we see that these men were selected with the express purpose of going forth. They were not to remain at home, but to go into all the world. And as they went, these missionaries had a message, which was, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This missionary spirit was to take them from city to city, from town to town, and from house to house. By the reading of the prophets and the sermons of Christ they were so imbued with the missionary spirit that they could leave father, mother, brother, sister, houses, and lands to carry the glad tidings into the regions beyond.

The world to them at that time meant largely the basin around the great Mediterranean Sea. Here, under the Roman government, they found all nationalities. The division walls had been broken down. The different nationalities had come into close relation with one another, all over this great territory. The wars of Rome, and their captives, had carried the inhabitants of many cities into the various parts of the then known world. The victorious armies of Rome had gone out from the imperial city in every direction. Among the captives were all classes of individuals, the educated and the uneducated. Many of these were sold into slavery, with but little prospect of their ever obtaining their freedom; so that when the gospel was carried by these missionaries to these individuals, they saw in this blessed gospel of the kingdom a promise of freedom from sin, and

in the life to come, everlasting freedom. Thousands upon thousands who had been taken from their homes, and subjected to slavery, were made glad by such glorious prospects.

These missionaries were endued with the power of healing the sick of all their maladies. The day of Pentecost was not fully past before there were enrolled individuals from fifteen different nationalities. And so thoroughly were they imbued with this missionary spirit, that they “sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need.” Their first work was largely done in Jerusalem. Their companies were augmented with such vast numbers that they were soon forgetting their great commission as missionaries. To stir them up to the sense of what they should do as such, the Lord allowed persecution to come upon them, so that only the twelve apostles were left in Jerusalem. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.”

A few glimpses of the results of their labors are seen in the book of Acts, and hinted at in the epistles. In about thirty years these missionaries had carried the glad tidings to all the inhabitants of the then known world. Col. 1:23. About the time that Peter and Paul were martyred at Rome, they had the satisfaction of knowing that the gospel had reached every individual then living. What a joy it must have been to the hearts of these men! Well could one of them exclaim, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, . . . henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Our Work

This same missionary spirit that actuated the believers in those days is again to fill the hearts of God’s people. “I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” This angel is joined by the second, and then the third unites with these with a warning against the worship of the beast, and his image, and the reception of his mark. So we have the three messages in one, with their threefold parts. These are followed by the personal coming of our Saviour to this earth. These messages are to prepare the inhabitants of earth for the great day of God.

It is those who keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus, who bear the warning to the world against the threefold apostasy of the last days. They are to be imbued with the Spirit, which is symbolized by the angel as flying. These last days have brought to God’s people a rapid mode of travel by land and sea, so that they can visit all parts of the earth. In Paul’s day only a small territory could be reached in a long time. But now the missionaries are going into all parts of the earth. These missionaries are to run to and fro, until every man, woman, and child has had an opportunity to know that the coming of Christ is near at hand.

Only see what the missionaries have done for the last hundred years in penetrating into the dark parts of the earth. There, while living with the natives, they learned their language, and then translated the Scriptures into their native tongue. Only think what a burning zeal these men have had to do this work. Think of the numerous Bible houses in all Protestant lands, and the large sums of money that have been contributed to prepare the Scriptures for these different nations.

As the early church sacrificed their earthly goods to send the gospel to all nations, so this people are being imbued with a spirit of sacrifice to send their sons and daughters to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The call which was made by the last General Conference Committee Council, for eighty thousand dollars, at first seems large; but what is that amount for these seventy-five thousand Adventists? Many of these thousands are poor, yet they are rich in faith. The coming of the Lord is to them more than everything else. With joy they trace the lines of prophecy and their expositions in our periodicals and books. They have become largely imbued with the spirit of the Lord’s coming. In many thousands of homes, father, and mother, and children are planning to contribute their part to this sum of money for this glorious work.

When Paul wrote to the Hebrews, he referred to their sacrifices as the “spoiling of their goods,” and says that they took it joyfully. So there are many to-day who are called to send their hard-earned money to the treasurer of our Mission Board, that real missionaries may speed the way to all parts of the earth. The recommendation of the last council, for missionaries to leave the home land and go to the regions beyond, thrilled the hearts of the loyal subjects of this message.

Think of the sacrifices made by the Russian and Japanese soldiers in the great Russo-Japanese war. Thousands of them are laying down their lives for their country and homes. If they are willing to do this for an earthly crown, what ought we to be willing to do to close up this mighty work? Soon the last opportunity to contribute for its support will be in the past. Happy at that day will be those who have given their all to it.

In the book of remembrance is recorded many a conversation, many a sacrifice, to further this message to the ends of the earth. The reports of our missionaries from China, from India, from Africa, and from the islands of the sea are read with joy. This missionary spirit needs to come into each of our homes, into each of our hearts, so that we shall not only give our means, but, like Hannah, dedicate our children to this great and glorious work.

We appeal to all our brethren and sisters in the Ontario Conference to assemble regularly at their places of worship during the week of prayer, and there earnestly plead with God to raise up laborers to finish this work. Let each do his best to give all that he can.