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The Missionary Spirit

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 30, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 35.

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The Missionary Spirit

By I. H. Evans

When Christ sent his disciples into the cities of Judea to preach the gospel, he said, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” It is this spirit of giving that permeates all who receive the gospel into their hearts. One no sooner feels the touch of divine fire in his soul, and finds the assurance of salvation in Christ his Saviour, than his thoughts go out to others. A longing desire possesses his being to bring others to his Saviour.
Thus we find, wherever the knowledge of Jesus is received into the heart, there is begotten the desire to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
When the call for the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund was made for the work in Washington, it found a response from believers in nearly every nation on earth. Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, Russia, India, China, Japan, Africa, South America, the islands of the sea, sent in their offerings to establish our headquarters in Washington, D. C. A twofold blessing was received in all these offerings. Those who received these donations felt that their hands were strengthened by this united co-operation of believers throughout the world, while those who gave received the blessing which comes to those who give for Christ’s sake.
But our hearts were especially touched a few days ago when the Mission Board received a donation from the church in Calcutta, India, for the work in China.
The first thought naturally would be, India is a great country just as destitute as China. China’s need does not exceed that of India as far as we can judge. The Mission Board is sustaining the work in both countries. The needs of both these fields are almost infinite. The strength of one is about equal to that of the other as far as means for pushing the work is concerned. Why should not India keep her funds to open up work in her countless cities where no work has ever been done? Why should India help China when India is perishing for the need of funds?
Yet, I venture to say that the twenty-nine rupees that the Calcutta church sent to help the workers in China will be a tenfold greater help to the work in India than it would have been had India kept this money for her own use.
There is nothing that strengthens the spiritual life of believers more than to do something for others. The missionary spirit is the spirit of the gospel. When Japan heard the Macedonian cry from Korea, “Come over and help us,” was it a hindrance to the work in Japan when she sent the chairman of her board to visit that field and baptize the believers?
It is this spirit that keeps the church of Christ alive in these degenerate days. Every conference should look beyond its own territory for missionary work. Look how the German Conference in Europe has reached out beyond its own borders. It has opened up the work in many fields outside of its own. But this very spirit of service for others has been a great blessing to the local work in the German field itself, and its number of believers has greatly increased. One can hardly be a true disciple of Christ without this world-wide missionary spirit entering into his life.
The command is, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” This means that each is to help the other. India shall help China, and China shall help Siberia, and Japan shall help Korea, and every believer shall help to send the message on.
The most blessed omen that we see in the church to-day is this active missionary spirit. Let the good work go on. Let it spread and permeate the church till every believer in this glorious truth is an active missionary in the hands of God to save a perishing world.
I. H. Evans.