p. 10 | Christ’s Marching Orders for the Church

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 24, 1907

Christ’s Marching Orders for the Church

By L. F. Starr

L. F. STARR

MANY questions of importance come before us for consideration; but there can be nothing of such vital worth as knowing the mind of our Master regarding the work of the church. We have but one source of information, God’s Holy Word. In it we can find the direction we seek.

For what does the visible church exist? What is Christ’s test of its being his church? Can it fulfil its mission, if it fails to stand that test? These are interesting and vital questions that the church needs to ask and answer from time to time, in order that it may know what is its true standing before God.

Many who stand high in missionary circles say that the present demand of Christ is for complete recognition of the church’s mission in the immediate evangelization of the world. Is this the supreme requirement? Is obedience to his requirements the one test of a standing or falling church? It is important, both to the church and to a lost world, that these questions should be answered, and answered correctly.

What, then, are Christ’s marching orders? What is the plan of campaign, or program, for his church? As we search God’s Word for information, let us turn to Christ’s own teachings. Christ, in the very beginning of his ministry, had a conception of the universal reach of his mission. He said to Nicodemus: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That this conception did not change, is seen in his prophecy, outlining the future of the gospel work: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14. Christ’s conception of the mission of his church is put into the form of a positive command in the last charge given to his disciples as representatives of the church for all time: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Here Christ, the representative of the Father, and our king, sent out his disciples for the specific purpose of making disciples and training them to obey him. The commission as recorded in Mark 16:15, 16, shows that the message is for the whole world. John likewise made record of the Master’s words, proclaiming to the followers of Christ that they are sent into the world, even as the Father hath sent his Son. He also makes mention of the commission in the closing invitation in Revelation. All who accept the divine call are commanded to address it to others, a command that reaches every saved man, and from which there is no escape, thereby laying anew, as it were, the foundation for universal witnessing of the Christian fellowship. Luke has the commission in twofold form. Luke 24:47, 48; Acts 1:8.

To this work Christ sent his disciples, and sends his church, witnessing, preaching, discipling, and training to obedience many in all lands. If these are Christ’s orders, if this is his program for his church, given in the form of a positive command, what follows in regard to obedience to them? First of all, Christianity is distinctively and essentially missionary, having in view always the whole world, at home and abroad. Its missionary work is not secondary and incidental, but primary and supreme. It is impossible for churches to remain Christian, and live in disobedience to this command of the Master. The

churches are made up of sinners saved from sin, by grace, not at all for selfish purposes, but for service and world rescue. The question, Can churches disregard Christ’s one command that furnishes reason for their existence, and still be Christian churches? answers itself. Obedience to Christ as Lord, is no less essential to salvation than trust in him as an atoning Saviour. Tested by the Scripture, the church is Christian and Christ’s so far, and so far only, as it is obeying its Lord’s commands and injunctions. Tested by the signs of the times, we find the necessity of absolute obedience to the commands of Christ.

How many and varied are the excuses which are brought forth when this vital question is being discussed! One says, “I do not believe in missions.” Another, “I do not believe in foreign missions, as we have all we can do at home.” Still another says, “I do not believe in home missions as the call is so imperative to go forth into foreign fields.” After all, my friend, if you believe in Christ’s command, you believe in missions, both home and foreign, for they are so closely related, the one to the other, that there is no place where we dare try to divide them, hoping that the operation will be successful. “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem [at home], and in all Judea [their own State or province], and in Samaria [down south, up north, neighboring States or nations], and unto the uttermost part of the earth [foreign fields].”

In the mind of him who died to save us, and raise us up a peculiar people, there was no discrimination between home and foreign missions. One holds as dear a place in his heart as does the other. For us to say that one is more needful than the other, is to change the word of the Lord. Let us, then, decide as a church that we will obey the order of the day, and do our part in sending the good news (the third angel’s message) to others, that they may know our Father, and have his name written in their foreheads, and join with us in the song of praise and triumph when we meet around the throne in glory.

Stuart, Iowa.