The True Missionary Spirit by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1874

The True Missionary Spirit.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

Much has been written showing the importance of consecration and devotion to the cause of Christ, if we would be successful in the missionary work. All that has been said and written upon this point is true, and much more might be said. The burden of the work should be felt and the importance of it realized by those that enter upon it. The heart must be drawn out after others to that extent that personal interests are laid one side if others can only be brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Selfishness has no part nor lot in true missionary work. The motive that actuates the true missionary is pure, disinterested benevolence. It is the spirit that brought Christ down from Heaven. It is to do good to others without looking for a reward in this life. The reward will be in seeing them saved with an everlasting salvation in the kingdom of glory. “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?” says the apostle; “are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” 1 Thess. 2 : 19, 20. Thus we are ever pointed forward to the resurrection of the just for a reward.

The language of the Saviour is very explicit upon this point: “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14 : 12–14.

When pure religion is defined by inspired men, a class of works is referred to that cannot be performed unless this principle exists in the heart. James 1 : 27; Matt. 25 : 35–40. It should be the ruling principle of life. Everything of a worldly nature that we have to do with while here in this world will be used for the carrying out of unadulterated Christianity. The object of the farmer who plants his corn and sows his seed in the spring, and of those who engage in the various trades and occupations which have temporal ends in view, should not be that they may say to their soul: “Soul, take thine ease,” but that they may bless others with the means thus obtained. And that which is appropriated for our own use should be for the purpose that our life and health may be preserved to exemplify the Christian religion, and thus be the means of gathering others to the fold of Christ.

This principle does not grow in the heart that is unrenewed by the grace of God. It is a heavenly principle originating in the bosom of God the Father and of his Son Jesus Christ. And where the Spirit of God and of Christ dwells, this spirit will be manifested, and its fruit will be seen. If no fruit is seen, this spirit is wanting. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his.” But when this Spirit controls the heart, then “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” “So then they that are in the flesh [or controlled by a selfish spirit] cannot please God.” “For to be carnally minded [the minding of the flesh, margin] is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8.

Here the spirit of selfishness or carnal-mindedness is contrasted with the spirit of disinterested benevolence, which is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit of Christ never witnesses with a heart that is controlled by selfish motives; for there is no principle in it that God's Spirit has any sympathy with.

It is the object of the tract and missionary society to develop this unselfish principle. We do not say if you do a little to-day or to-morrow by way of giving your means or labor that that is the end of it. No, not by any means. The little that has been done is only by way of educating ourselves to do more. If we have sacrificed a little, it is only preparing the way to sacrifice more. If we possess the Spirit of Christ, our sacrifices will increase and not decrease. As the man who educates himself to any profession or trade becomes familiar with his calling, more is expected of him. This is reasonable and right. Thus our sacrifices will increase in proportion as we possess the Spirit of the man of Calvary, who left all to come into this dark world of sin to die for us.

Never should it be set forth as a prompting incentive for individuals to join the tract society that it will advantage themselves; that is, that they can procure reading matter at a less cost than they otherwise could. It is true that the Publishing Association has offered great inducements to the tract societies in reduction to them of the prices of our publications; but this is not that individual members may get the reading matter into their own houses and lay it by for a library. But it is to get the reading matter before others. If there are poor brethren who cannot purchase some of our important works, such as “The Testimonies,” “How to Live,” &c., the tract society should give them these publications. But it is no part of the missionary spirit for individuals to join the Tract Society to simply benefit themselves with reading matter.

A letter was received at the Review Office from a brother a few weeks ago, requesting them to send him a “History of the Sabbath” and a few other books for himself, stating that he belonged to a tract society in a Conference which was one thousand miles or more from where he then lived. This request could not be granted; for, 1. Orders for publications to the Office should always come through the president of the tract societies. The Constitution reads as follows: “He [the director] shall order all his books through the president of the tract society.” “It shall be the duty of each director to see that a librarian is appointed in each church, and he shall commit to such librarian a suitable quantity of publications for that church.” It is thus that individuals are supplied. 2. It would be taking advantage of the liberal offer made by the president of the Publishing Association, to appropriate such publications to our own individual use, thus violating the principles upon which missionary labor is based. The offer made to furnish the tract society with the “History of the Sabbath” at the price it does, is to place it in public reading rooms and in the hands of those who we hope may become interested in the truth. And we feel assured that no member of any tract society correctly understanding the spirit and object of his work would ever take advantage of such liberal offers to secure to himself publications.

Our hearts should be enlarged. A world lies in wickedness. Thousands upon our right hand and our left are perishing for want of the light of truth which God has mercifully permitted to shine in our pathway. And shall we become so engrossed in the cares of this life that we cannot devote time to labor for those for whom Christ died? Will we withhold means that God has committed to us to do good with, and see the cause of God languish which has cost the precious blood of the Son of God? Will we let our minds become entangled with trials and darkness so that we have no time or interest to labor for others? Or, when a system is adopted to spread this truth, shall we seek to advantage ourselves by it? God forbid. To sacrifice, to bear burdens, and to toil for others' good, is to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour and to walk in the path which will end in eternal bliss. S. N. HASKELL.