These last days of gentile times are seeing rapid changes bringing opportunities and challenges. Following, we note opportunities in the mission field and the economic circumstances that interact with them.
The Gospel to Many Lands
This month we report a preaching effort in Israel, several baptisms in the Philippines and good progress in Costa Rica. In past months, news has appeared of the Truth being received in Vietnam, Korea, Japan and China. We have read of the travail of believers during civil war in West Africa and natural disaster in East Africa. And we have published a steady review of the work in El Salvador, which now features four ecclesias.
Elsewhere we read of a Bible school in Poland, ecclesias in Lithuania, Latvia and Russia, baptisms in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Siberia. Fifty years ago, we would never have suspected the Truth would go forth to so many places. Ten years ago we never dreamed believers would be found throughout the former Soviet empire.
Challenge of mission work
In the process of carrying the gospel to so many places, we face challenges our community has not previously experienced. We must learn foreign languages for Christ’s sake; we are exposed to diseases for which we have not built up immunity; we must voluntarily endure the discomfort of heat, cold, rough roads and sparse living conditions; ecclesias take root in countries with no government programs for lepers, the blind and hungry; we must contribute money in greater sums than we had envisioned and sometimes we make mistakes to our consternation and dismay.
How are we doing meeting the challenge? In some cases, spectacularly. Projects such as operating an orphanage, providing food supplements to villagers and helping lepers have opened doors for our community in India which, after 20 years, is now growing rapidly (31 baptisms in February). Articles in the Bible Missionary, The Caribbean Pioneer and The Gospel News indicate a significant number of brothers and sisters involved in mission work one way or the other. Last year, the UK brethren donated $80,000 to special-help projects in addition to supporting the regular work of the CBM. Visitors to mission ecclesias consistently report exhilaration as they witness vigorous and tenacious faith, as well as sound Bible knowledge, in the converts. It is apparent that seekers for the Truth in any tongue appreciate our ability to open out the scriptures, and they welcome a religion that makes sense.
Mistakes and shortcomings
As in any new endeavor, there have been setbacks. This is inevitable as we are working across barriers of culture and language, and, in many cases, must deal with political and economic conditions totally foreign to us. Furthermore, we are often trying to teach the Truth and perform pastoral functions by long-distance contact supplemented with occasional visits from mature believers. (That sounds much like the first century.) That things have gone as well as they have, is nothing short of miraculous.
We should learn from our mistakes, but not let them overwhelm us.
All of us have watched toddlers learning to walk and communicate; if they quit trying after a few mistakes, no one would ever learn to walk or speak.
In reviewing the mission reports as we do on a regular basis, we have noted that the North American brotherhood does not seem to be carrying its share of the load. One writer from afar gently commented: “It has been suggested to us that there are areas in the world (maybe USA and Canada?) where the demand for funds for mission work have not been heavy and where there are what might be called ‘untapped resources” (Bible Missionary, 7/97, pp. 42-43). Perhaps readers have noted that in our own backyard, in Latin America, mission workers have come from New Zealand, Australia and Britain. In fact, there is an on-going appeal for volunteer help by the CBMA (see back cover).
A spur to our own faith
Those participating in mission work find their faith greatly stimulated. Inevitably, they are drawn to the first principles as they counter the traditional errors of the apostasy. In some lands, they are dealing with Islamic and Hindu ideas and come to realize aspects of New Testament exposition exactly suit the situation.
We come to realize, as well, that some of the traditions of our worship are culturally, not biblically, based. The gospel is designed to be for all peoples in all circumstances. There are areas where brethren are holding true to Christ under persecution and under the most deplorable conditions. We are exhorted by their strength and encouraged that if they can faithfully endure, perhaps we can, too, in the strength that God gives.
Capitalism Ascendant
At first, this challenge of our times may seem disconnected to preaching the gospel. Yet the fact is that, in many areas, doors have been opened to mission work because of the collapse of communism. The cold war was won by the west, but it was an economic victory, not a shooting war. Accordingly, many things from the west, including preachers of the gospel, have gained admission into areas previously denied them. Further, prosperity at home has helped fund the mission efforts.
As with everything human, however, there is a significant disadvantage to the surge of capitalism. Our sense of economic security can be so shaken, that we are loath to part with the resources made available by the economic improvement.
Not long ago, a person could take a job with an insurance company, bank, large industrial firm or even the post office, and realize a sense of employment security, reasonable pay increases and retirement to a pension which would be supplemented by Social Security.
No longer!
Pressure to increase share-holder value (a euphemism for satisfying stock market expectations) has led to cost-cutting that at times becomes ruthless. Companies merge for the prime reason of eliminating layers of middle management or of combining operations to maximize efficiency. The result is that many long-term employees are laid off with varying degrees of financial benefits. Major employers who once kept their workforce intact during downturns now lay off thousands, only to hire as many back two years later. In the meantime, many take menial jobs and wives start working to make ends meet. Insurance companies and banks are no exception as computer systems take over many of the human tasks and firms no longer wait for normal attrition to reduce the work force. They are under such pressure to make a profit that some make working conditions intolerable with the hope long term employees will resign. Competition from private delivery firms has even put pressure on the post office, and other government services face the threat of privatization.
The efficiency is productive and the standard of living, measured in material goods, continues to improve. But uncertainty about the future is endemic, leading to a compulsion to prepare against possible bad times ahead. The urge is intensified by the prospect of old-age pension funds running dry within 20 years.
Spiritual dangers
Our circumstances can create the ironic situation that we have more money than we ever did, but fear to let go of it because of an uncertain future. Wives stay in the workforce, even when their incomes are not immediately needed, just in case the husband is laid off. Here is a real spiritual challenge: we have needs in the brotherhood crying for help, we have the money to help, yet we hold on to it because of prosperous, but uncertain times.
Uncertainty is not new to servants of God. As we are reminded in two articles this month, the patriarchs wandered as strangers and pilgrims in sometimes hostile circumstances. They survived and spiritually prospered by placing their reliance on God and intensifying their vision of the future.
This month we are also reminded of the good Samaritan who was prepared to get involved in the needs of others. The savior in the parable depicts the Lord Jesus who gave so willingly of himself and wants us to do the same. He knows our problems and our fears, and he has promised to care for us until he comes, if we will follow the example of his love and put our concerns and uncertainties in his hands.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One