Grapeshot and canister from the arsenal of truth on mission methods

Front matter

ALLEN HILL AU'I'RY

Book Al

Copyiight N?.

Contents

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Introduction, by Rev. Ben. Cox 3

Scripture Argument 7

CHAPTER I. The Scripture Argument

The missionary enterprise originated in heaven, prompted by infinite love. Eph. 1 :3-12 ; Jno. 3 :16. It was dimly disclosed to our first parents in the garden of Eden, soon after the fall, Gen. 3:15; more fully developed to x\bram in the promise that in his Seed, Christ, should "all the families of the earth be blessed." Gen. 12 :l-2, 22 :18 ; Gal. 3:6. This missionary spirit was still more clearly revealed by Jehovah to the Prophets in successive promises. Psa. 2:8; Isa. 2:2; 35:1; 54:2-3; 60:1-10; 61:1-3; 66:8; Dan. 7:27; 12.4; Hab. 2:14. Thus promise after promise was given from time to time, more fully developing the origin and purpose of missions, until the Son of Righteousness himself arose upon our world, and the angel appeared to the astonished shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem, saying : "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL people/' Lu. 2 :10-11.

To this end our Lord announced at the beginning of His missionary labors that the "Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Lu. 19:10. He proclaimed that "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come." Matt. 24 :14. From the very beginning the New Testament church wa6 a missionary church. When Christ constituted his church of the disciples of John the Baptist He declared that he would make them "fishers of men/' Matt. 4:18-22. Afterward He called the twelve and sent them forth as missionaries to preach the gospel of the kingdom. Matt. 10:1-7; Mark 3 :13-14.

Later He sent out seventy evangelists into every city and place whither He himself should go. Luke 10:1-10. And, finally, He gave His disciples the world-wide commission, Matt. 28:19-20, and bade them tarry at Jerusalem for witness-hearing power. Luke 24 :48-49 ; Acts 1 :8. He made them missionaries when He said, GO, and He made them missionary preachers when he said, GO, PEEACH THE GOSPEL; and he made them Missionary Baptist Preachers when he said, GO, PEEACH and BAPTIZE; and he made them world-wide Missionary Baptists when he said, GO INTO ALL THE WOBLD. make disciples of all the nations, baptize and teach; and He made it impossible for them to work in the wrong place when He said, GO into all the world; and he made it impossible for them to leave out anybody when He said : Preach the gospel to every creature; and He made it their duty to train them for service when He said : Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and He made it impossible for them to be lonely when He said : Lo, I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age; and He made it impossible for this Missionary enterprise to fail when He said: "Upon this Bock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 16: 18; and He gave them the privilege of using any method in the prosecution of the missionary enterprise which would be in harmony with the spirit of their mission when He said: "GO INTO ALL THE WORLD," without giving them specific directions as to HOW to GO.

THE CHURCH AND A CALLED MINISTRY

of course, were His chief agents in the prosecution of all missionary enterprises. (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-17; 1 Cor. 12:28-29; Matt. 28:19-20; Matt. 10:1-10; Luke 10:1-12; Acts 13:1-3; Rom. 10:13-15; 1 Cor. 9:1-14.) They were not tied up, however, to any given method of reaching the nations. When they thought best they made division of the territory according to the adaptation of the workers :

"And when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given nnto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." (Gal. 2:9.)

For convenience they were allowed to divide their work into City, State, Home and Foreign Missions:

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you ; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8.)

Churches co-operated with each other at will, and by their own methods. Sometimes they communicated with each other by means of traveling agents :

"And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches." (2 Cor. 8:18.)

"But I have all, and abound ; I am full, having received of Epahproditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God/' (Phil. 4:18.)

Sometimes they used boards as means of co-operation between churches :

"Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you; or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ." (2 Cor. 8:23.)

This Board handled the funds sent by the churches :

"And we have sent with Titus the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this contribution, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind/' (2 Cor. 8:18-19.)

The churches were requested by the Apostle to report to this board, and to demonstrate their love for the cause by their gifts :

"Wherefore show ye to them (the Board which handled the funds), and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf." (2 Cor. 8:24.)

They had a Corresponding Secretary, who urged them to make ready their gifts and turn the same over to the Board whose duty it was to handle such funds :

"For as touching the ministry to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready." (2 Cor. 9 :l-3.)

They had a Superintendent of Missions, who in love had the care of all the churches in respect to mission work, and who sent men to visit the churches whenever he thought it would promote the cause of Christ :

"And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; and we have SENT with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you." (2 Cor. 8:18, 22.)

"Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." (2 Cor. 11:28.)

Sometimes the Corresponding Secretary would write them and appeal to their denominational pride, and send some agent to stir them up by the example of others : "For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf ; that, as I said, ye may be ready ; lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me. and find vou unprepared, we (that we say not ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your contribution, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty and not as of covetousness." (2 Cor. 9:2-5.)

Sometimes an enterprise would be launched by an individual, and he would go of his own accord and stir up the churches:

"But thanks be to God who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you, for indeed he accepted the exhortation; and being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you." (2 Cor. 8:16-17.)

Sometimes the Church would take the initiative:

"Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the Church, which was at Jerusalem ; and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch." (Acts 11 :22.)

Sometimes the preachers and teachers, the leaders of the Church, would take the first step and arouse the churches to a sense of their duty :

"Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul; as THEY ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when THEY had fasted and prayed, and laid THEIB hands on them, THEY sent them away/*' (Acts 13 :l-3.)

Sometimes missionaries would be sent out by a Board of Missions, and the churches would be asked to support them while on the mission field :

"And when James, and Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." (Gal. 2:9.)

"I robbed Other churches, taking WAGES of them to do you service. And when I was present with you and wanted, I was chargeable to no man; for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia (Board of Missions, 2 Cor. 8:23) supplied/' (2 Cor. 12:8-9.)

Sometimes an individual would appoint a missionary and assign him his field ; and that, too, on his own motion :

"Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seek Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people." (Acts 11:24-25.) "Then came he to Derbe and Lystra; and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, HIM would Paul have to go forth with him." (Acts 16:1-3.)

Sometimes the missionaries would adopt their own plans and places of work, and choose their own helpers :

"And some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Saul thought not good to take him with them, who parted from them from Pamphilia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other; and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus; and Paul chose Silas, and departed," etc. (Acts 15 :36-41.)

Sometimes the Corresponding Secretary would recommend a religious worker to the churches, and insist that they help the work on the plea that said Christian worker had been a great help to the Secretary :

"I commend unto yon Phebe onr sister, who is a servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea; that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you; for she hath been a succurer of many, and of mvself also." (Eom. 16 : 1-3.)

"But I trust in the Lord to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I hear of your state; for I have no man likeminded who will naturally care for your state. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants." (Phil. 2 :19, 20, 25.) "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is my beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your state, and comfort your hearts." (Col. 4:7, 8.)

Sometimes the Corresponding Secretary would send agents to win them to the plans which he had adopted, which he thought best for the progress of the churches :

"Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you ? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Walked we not in the same spirit? Walked we not in the same steps?" (2 Cor. 12:17, 18.)

In New Testament times the Corresponding Secretary never apologized for his position, but he taught them that what he did was for their good and edification: "Think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? We speak before God in Christ; but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying." (2 Cor. 12:19.)

New Testament churches co-operated on the numerical basis in their conventions; small churches might have three or four messengers, while churches numbering thousands were represented by all the members present:

"When, therefore, Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders, with the whole Church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas/' etc. (Acts 15:2, 4, 22.)

The method adopted by some crude Baptists of late in allowing a church of fifty members to be represented by as many messengers as a church of five thousand members, is both unfair and unscriptural.

New Testament Churches were taught to support their ministry, and to help in every laudable enterprise :

"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (1 Cor. 9:14.) "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." (Gal. 6:6.)

They would sometimes make appropriations for the most needy fields, going sometimes beyond their ability in helping the churches :

16 Grapeshot and C (mister

"For to their power I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the contribution, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints." (2 Cor. 8:3, 4.)

They were taught to provide for this fund by regular weekly offerings:

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come/' (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2.)

But when the churches failed to make their weekly offerings, the Corresponding Secretary would send Agents of his own choosing to arouse them to duty, and to take their offerings; sometimes they were willing, but they were neglectful and inactive, and it was necessary for one who was absorbed in the work to stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance :

"For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I SENT the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your contribution, that the same might be ready." (2 Cor. 9:1-5.)

The churches were also expected to pay the traveling expenses of their general Agents: "And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul; and they that conducted him brought him to Athens/' (Acts 17:14, 15.) "Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you; for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be BKOUGHT on my way thitherward by YOU." (Rom, 15 :24.) "And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go." (1 Cor. 16:6.)

Sometimes the Corresponding Secretary himself handled the funds which had been collected by the churches, just as they do sometimes today:

"But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints who are at Jerusalem; when, therefore, I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain/' (Rom. 15:25-28.)

The churches in those days were expected to give their ministers "HIRE," and to pay them "WAGES/' so as to support them without stint :

"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest; for the laborer is worthy of his HIRE/' (Luke 10:2, 7.)

"I robbed other churches, taking WAGES of them to do you service." (2 Cor. 11:8.)

New Testament missionaries claimed the right to exact sufficient support to forbear working both for themselves and their families, but sometimes they denied themselves this right and privilege and did not demand it, because of the prejudice and weakness of some of their brethren who might charge them with mercenary motives :

IS Qrapeskot and Canister

"Mine answer to those that do examine me is this: Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather ? Nevertheless, we have not used this power; but SUFFER all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ." (1 Cor. 9:3-12, 14.)

Such ignorance and prejudice among professed Christians the Apostle once winked at, but it is inexcusable for men and women in this age of the world. All this howl about mercenary Boards and Conventions and preachers, and all these charges of the misappropriation of money by religious bodies, made for the most part by men who, by their own conduct, have lost leadership in the denomination, are born either of malice or prejudice, or both, certainly not of ignorance. In this age when a Bible may be had for five cents, or for nothing, and numerous religious books at a nominal price, such leadership (?) is criminal. And no lawful words are too strong to condemn such a course. When would-be leaders studiously plan to create prejudice in the minds of the uninformed and the unwary, and then appeal to that prejudice to mislead, and to create false impressions, such a course is unthinkable for Christian gentlemen. There is no language too strong in which to describe it; no colors too dark in which to paint it; no measure* too radical by which to condemn it; no pit too deep to which to consign it; and no moment too inopportune in which to urge people to flee from such leadership. But in spite of the efforts of the Corresponding Secretary, the Evangelists, and Agents, and Messengers, and every class of Christian workers, such as Sister Phebe, and brethren Titus and Timothy, et al., in spite of the constant appeals to their denominational pride and the work of their fellow churches; in spite of it all, many of the New Testament churches were laggards, and would not help at all in denominational work. Such churches would use the Evangelist freely without a collection, while the faithful churches were "robbed" to foot the bills : "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them to do YOU service." (2 Cor. 11:8.) They may have objected to the "hired" evangelist, or to the "wage" earning preachers, or to the "•aiary of the travelling Agents, or to their travelling expenses, or to the methods employed in their missionary operations, or what not; whatever might have been their plea for their denominational indifference, still the fact remains that they were not helpers, if the Apostle's word is to be relied on. Hence the Apostle drew the line of demarkation, and declared that such churches "were inferior to other churches, because he had preached to them the gospel without a contribution" (2 Cor. 11 :7, 13), and he asked them to "forgive him of this wrong." These laggard, indifferent, do-nothing churches, were usually the most ungrateful churches, just as it is today : "For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you ; though the more abundantly I LOVE YOU, the LESS I be loved." (2 Cor. 12:13, 15.)

The church which would not help in the denominational enterprises was accounted an "inferior church" in those days; it is so today. The churches of today, as in New Testament times, which do the least to help in any denominational enterprise, are the most ready to cast reproachful aspersions on those who do the most, the quickest to pronounce every aggressive movement an innovation. It has ever been so. At one time it seems that every church in Macedonia, except one church only, refused to adopt the missionary plans of their Superintendent of Missions. To that faithful church their Corresponding Secretary wrote an endearing letter, congratulating them upon their firm and loyal stand with him in all their missionary enterprises :

"Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." (Phil. 4:15.)

But as a faithful Corresponding Secretary he continued to write to these delinquent churches, and send them financial Agents; and, with reproofs and rebukes, with tender appeals, and with all the enthusiasm of his missionary soul, by his doctrinal instruction and his heavenly zeal, he tried to set them on fire for God and the cause of missions. (1 Cor. 15:57-16:3; 9:1-14; 2 Cor. 8:1-23; 9:1-7; Gal. 6:6.)

Paul gave the churches specific instructions on the grace of giving, needed as much today, in some parts, as then:

1. They were to give individually : "Let every one of you lay by him in store." (1 Cor. 16:2.)

2. They were to give systematically: "Upon the first day of the week."

3. They were to give proportionately: "As God has prospered him."

4. They were to give bountifully: "He which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." (2 Cor. 9:6, 7.)

5. They were to give purposefully: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give."

6. They were to give liberally: "Not grudgingly, or of necessity."

7. They were to give cheerfully: "For God loveth a cheerful giver."

They were taught to give from right motives:

1. They were to give and serve from the principle of love :

"If ye love me, keep my commandents." (Jno. 14:15.) "The love of Christ constraineth us." (2 Cor. 5:14.)

2. They were to give out of gratitude to God :

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that, as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." (2 Cor. 8:9-12.)

3. They should be moved to give by the example of others :

"Moreover, brethren, we must inform you of the gtace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the contribution, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints ; and this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same contribution also. Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that ye abound in this grace also. / speak not by comandment, but by occasion, of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love." (2 Cor. 8:1-8.)

"For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, YE) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty." (2 Cor. 9:1-7.)

4. The hope of a bountiful harvest, splendid returns, great results, should prompt us to sacrificial giving:

"Give, and it shall be given you; good measure, pressed

Tlie Scripture Argument 23

down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your BOSOM, for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38.)

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. (Pfov. 11:24, 25.)

5. Christians should give of their means, because Christian giving honors God:

"Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." (Deut. 8:18.)

"Them that honor Me, I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." (1 Sam. 2:30.)

"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty." (Prov. 3:9, 10.)

"Eemember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said (Lu. 6:38) : It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35.)

"Freely ye have received, freely give." (Matt. 10:8.)

"The Lord hath ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel." (1 Cor. 9 :14.)

6. We should give of our means to Christian work because Christian giving inures to a growth in grace.

If one is lean and unfruitful religiously, other things being equal, his barrenness might be accounted for by the stagnation of his liberality. Christian liberality is one law of Christian growth :

"But this I say: He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly : and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposed in his heart, SO LET HIM GIVE; not grudgingly, or of necessity ; for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you ; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work; as it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Being enriched in every thing to all liberality, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Cor. 9:6-15.)

7. We should give of our means to support the cause of Christ, because our Lord has declared that systematic giving is a good antidote for the boll-weevil or the cropdestroyer :