Jesus said, “Go ye into the highways and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”. A casual reading of this verse may cause us to wonder why Jesus used the word “compel”, for we know it is not our prerogative to compel any to accept God’s plan of salvation. On closer examination, however, of the Greek text, we find that no better word could be used. The emphasis should be placed on the manner of our proclaiming the message of salvation. It should be a compelling one, and the alternative to its acceptance should be made perfectly clear to all who have ears to hear.
The challenge also of those words of Jesus to those who have been entrusted with the good news of salvation is a compelling one, the reality of which is just as vital today as it was to that small band of believers to whom Christ spoke. Indeed, they accepted his challenge and the urgent demands it made upon their lives. They left the comforts of their own circle and environment, and went out into “every city and village”, even to “the uttermost parts of the world” with their compelling invitation to “come in, that my house may be filled”.
We are apt at times to consider these words in the light of an era that has passed, particularly when we contemplate our own ecclesial life and sphere of service, which has indeed a very limited horizon. But let us remember that in today’s world—in our own generation—there are men and women who have taken up this challenge of Christ and who, not content to mould their spiritual lives around the ease and comfort of their own environment, have gone forth into the highways and byways, even far afield into foreign lands with their simple message of salvation.
At times the Christadelphian Bible Mission has been criticised for endeavouring to win converts from the less advanced peoples of the world, who have hardly the capacity to fully understand the “truth” as we know it. But the following words clearly define the Mission’s policy: “Our message should be positive and constructive, abstaining from unnecessary controversy. Our primary duty is to present the message of salvation by faith, baptism, and a steadfast life in Jesus Christ, in such a manner that when ‘the poor have the gospel preached unto them’ they should be able to understand and accept it. With this in view we should be as simple as the essential subject matter will allow, and learn to distinguish between the basic ingredients of saving truth and the attractive elaborations of them which come better with maturity than with spiritual infancy. With the same object in view we should obtain from the children whom the Lord brings to s a confession of a real and positive faith, and take no unnecessary steps to bring unhappy controversy to their notice, if they were not otherwise liable to meet it.”
The accounts of the fruits that have been born in these more distant lands among the men and women of darker races who have responded to the compelling influence of the true gospel makes inspiring reading indeed. Perhaps the following illustration alone, written by an English brother, may help to broaden our vision of these lesser known aspects of Christadelphian preaching:
“About five years ago (1956) the Christadelphian Bible Mission introduced the truth to an African in Zomba, Nyasaland, named Mr. Msyam boza. Over a period of two years he was given further knowledge through the Bible Study Course. When, on my way to Europe in 1959, I called in at Zomba and discovered there a very fertile field for the sowing of the seed, so I determined on my return to give special attention to the people of this territory. It was in September, 1960, that I visited the territory again and found a tremendous enthusiasm, particularly among the students who had been receiving the studies. Having decided to be very selective, I narrowed the applicants down to a mere seven, and, after baptising them, gave them a series of addresses on following the Divine pattern. The ecclesia is at Ramsay Village which is about 22 miles inside the reserve from Zomba. They have built a hall, and, thanks to assistance by the Christadelphian Bible Mission, Highways And Byways the hall has been thatched before the rains started. Prominent in this work is Brother Msyamboza, who is a man of great intelligence and a most dedicated Christadelphian. His whole life and energies are spent in the ‘Truth’s’ service, even to the extent of neglecting his business and impoverishing himself. Although a very sick man, he travels great distances for the purpose of preaching the Gospel.
Another remarkable Christadelphian is Brother Dernison Chita, who has a withered right leg through polio. He hobbles along the roads in the hot African sun by the aid of a stick, preaching as he goes, and distributing literature. We have about 220 on our roll who are receiving the studies, and, when we are blessed with baptisms following the efforts made, we know that it is God who giveth the increase.”
Accounts such as the foregoing, which come to hand from various corners of the vineyard, serve to remind us that the work, commenced so long ago in the highways and byways of Judea, still goes on, and that “God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him”.
Perhaps there are some in the more distant parts of our own land, at our very door, so to speak, who have as yet not heard the glorious message of salvation that these natives of Africa are responding to. Let us reflect upon these matters in the light of our own ecclesial environment and the very limited orbit of our service for Christ. Let us think of the many like Brother Mayamboza and Brother Chita—of their infirmities — the dusty roads — the hot African sun—the seven baptisms into the sin covering name of Jesus. And let us think, too, of the place where they gather—the shanty with the thatched roof, and the peace and securiy they have found there.
Lord, What wilt thou have me to do?