The Work of Missions Inseparable from Christianity
By Arthur T. Pierson
Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, in the Missionary Review of the World THE work of missions is inseparable from the very spirit of Christianity, and so far so that without it the essence of Christianity would be lost. The gospel is “good tidings,” and the name implies the bearing of the news to a lost race. In the close of every Gospel narrative and in the beginning of the Acts the command and commission are five times presented, and in as many different forms. Together they give the commission in its entirety. In Matthew the emphasis is on discipling all nations and the promise of Christ’s presence. In Mark it is on proclaiming the gospel to the whole world and to every creature, and there is a more definite assurance of confirmatory signs. In Luke the stress is upon witnessing, and there is a promise of power from on high. In John there is a commission direct from our Lord, a definite sending forth and a breathing upon them of the Holy Spirit. In Acts the duty of witnessing is emphasized, and the expanding territory of testimony outlined, with the renewed promise of power not many days hence. In no other case does such repetition occur, and such variety of statement. The evident intent is to burn this one impression upon the very mind and heart of the early church, that the dominant duty of disciples is to see that Christ and his cross are set up in every part of the wide world. There are four aspects of the work set before us. It is preaching and teaching, witnessing and winning or making disciples. Preaching is the work of a herald announcing good news. Witnessing is the work of a believer testifying what he knows. Making disciples is the result of the preaching and testimony in gathering in converts, like sheep in a fold, and teaching is the subsequent and larger work of training such converts in a fuller knowledge of the will of God. If there is thus a fourfold work, there is at least a threefold promise:— First, of Christ’s perpetual presence and co-operation: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Second, of confirmatory signs, showing God’s hand and co-working miracles of power and love. Third, Pentecostal power from the Holy Spirit, or a supernatural energy and efficiency in the work. We dare to contend that so far as the fourfold work has been faithfully done, the threefold promise has been faithfully fulfilled; and that there has been and still is, throughout the whole history and territory of apostolic missions, abundant proof of Christ’s promised presence, of supernatural working, and of spiritual enduement. These three results are similar, and not always distinct. We cannot always draw a sharp line between the co-operation of the Lord Jesus with his workmen and the attending signs of God’s supernatural working and the Holy Spirit’s enduring energy and unction. But it seems to us that Christ’s divine co-operation is best seen as that of a leader and commander to the missionary host; that God’s supernatural working is most apparent in the victories achieved over the powers of darkness, and the Holy Spirit’s enduring power in the qualification of the laborers for their work. The study of Christian missions will reveal evidence of the Lord’s generalship in three main directions:— - Opening doors of access into hitherto closed territory.
- Raising up and thrusting forth laborers into the field.
- Arousing the church to support them by prayer and gifts.
The divine working in the results of missions may also be studied:— - In the overcoming of difficulties and antagonism.
- In the outgathering of converts from the world.
- In the development of native churches into mission centers.
Likewise the special work of the Spirit may be seen in the equipment of the workmen:— - In the peculiar sanctification of the character and life.
- In the holy courage and constancy of testimony.
- In the passion for souls and for the truth of God.
No student of missions will for a moment dispute the fact that all these and more proofs of God’s faithfulness are to be found written large upon the history of the missionary campaign; and together they constitute at once the supreme sanction of missions and the supreme encouragement of the missionary.