HOW SHALL THE WORLD BE CHRISTIANIZED?
THE field editor of Our Day, Mr. T. B. Davis, 1303 Y. M. C. A. Building, Chicago, has projected an elaborate plan for an advance movement in missionary work. The plan starts out by raising the great questions, How to abolish the liquor traffic, and how to Christianize the world. Assuming that all lands are now open to the Gospel, that the great strategic points are occupied by Christian missions, Mr. Davis thinks that the things now indispensable to success are: “(1) A knowledge of the enemy’s country; (2) a definite plan of attack.” On the first point he proposes a “Christian Commission,” composed of a “band of experts,” which shall “make a pilgrimage around the world in the same ship,” to inspect all the leading countries of earth, report their spiritual condition to those at home, and what methods should be used to convert the people of these various countries. These “experts” are to be made up of representatives of the great religious newspapers, delegates from all evangelical denominations and sects, and from the W. C. T. U., the Y. P. S. C. E., the Epworth League, the B. Y. P. U., the Salvation Army, the Luther Leagues, etc. These are to spy out the lands, interview the kings and statesmen, heathen and otherwise, and the missionaries, and wise ones of all classes and conditions, with reference to dispelling the darkness of heathenism and illuminating every inhabitant with the light of the Gospel. These “experts” would also write articles and agitate the matter all over Christendom, and arrange a plan for a great federation of all sects and societies, to carry out their recommendations so as to have no friction. This great itinerary would complete the survey, and arrive in Jerusalem by Christmas, 1899, to lead the world in a week of prayer. The year of 1900 is to be a year of jubilee, with twelve monthly celebrations in Jerusalem, Rome, Berlin, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Edinburgh, London, Paris, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco. What of it? Will the proposition be carried out?—Quite likely; for there are many in the various religious bodies of Christendom who would be glad to take such a trip. What would be the result?—Nothing, so far as the Christianity of Christ is concerned. It would amount to about the same thing as did the World’s Parliament of Religions. It would be a pleasant journey, a sort of Modern Pilgrim’s Progress. We do not question the motive or zeal of its projector, but we do not indorse the plan; it is not the way of Christ and the cross. “The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show.” Souls are not converted by great conventions, great federations or jubilations, great pomp or display of the great of earth. They are born into the kingdom of God by travail of other souls. Man and what is of man will be hidden and Christ will shine out through his truth. This truth will not be suppressed, curtailed, or compromised in any particular in order to prevent friction with those who believe not. The men who preach it should be, must be, to convert souls, even as was John the Baptist, voices crying in the wilderness. God’s word has revealed the condition of all countries. “The whole world lieth in wickedness.” He has given the Gospel to every converted soul to bear to those in darkness. Let men preach God’s message of the everlasting Gospel. Rev. 14:6–14. That is God’s plan, “Preach the word;” “Preach the Gospel to every creature;” “Preach Christ.” Such plans and methods of men as that summarized above promise much, and disappoint at last. There is no other way than the way of the Cross, of the Word, of the Truth.