B. u s i n e s s
July 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
342
A Day in a Jewish Mission Field ( Continued from page 340)
constraint and of misunderstanding. In the minds of many, joining the membership of the church and conver sion are utterly different things. Preparing for the one, they think, has nothing to do with the other. So that sometimes the best-intentioned minister may find himself up against a brick wall in this respect. There is a cen turies-old wall of respect for church membership as a passport to respectability and it is considered the cus tomary step to take at about such a time in one’s church life; but there is a feeling of alarm, a sense of strangeness and novelty in the minds of many church-bred young men and women, at the bare mention of conversion. Therefore the pastor’s task is to break down the old false idea that joining the church means no more than regular attend ance, contributing, and a moral life, and to substitute for it the sense of the necessity for a radical regeneration as taught by our Lord. This is no easy matter to accomplish. But besides the danger of constraint and misunder standing in this regard, the class method is likely to miss some who might be gathered in at the more public ser vices. A good fisherman draws his net frequently, on all occasions when he is likely to catch fish. Why should not the fisher of souls do likewise? It seems to me that the logical, sensible thing is that the appeal should be imme diately followed by the call for decision. Else why make the appeal ? Why sing evangelistic hymns calling on men and women tO' come to the Saviour if you make no pro vision for them to come, or have no expectation of their coming? Why plead for decisions, and then as the hearers pass out the door, merely ask after their health ? To me, such a condition is exasperating, foolish. It is like grow ing the crop and being denied the fruit, toiling all day and receiving no wages. D. L. Moody used to hasten through his sermon in order to get into the inquiry room. But the only room multitudes of poor unfortunate “ evangelical ministers” are allowed is a cooling room, the vestry. The Devil finds abundant distractions for their flocks from the moment they leave the sacred edifice, and thus- the preacher’s fine ardor (aroused at such cost of prayers and agony of soul) is stolen away. On one pretext or another the hour of decision is indefinitely postponed and golden oppor tunities to gather precious souls are lost. What is wanted to pull our preachers out of their straight-jackets is to turn that “ evangelical” into “ evan gelistic.” The change would be radical and far-reaching in its effects. The difference would be almost as great in the life and enthusiasm of the Christian Church as was the substitution of electrical power for snail-like oxen upon the farm. It would give ministers, now repining, fresh heart to go on. It would check and improve ser mons, and add a constantly increasing stream of fresh life to the fighting strength of the ranks of God’s people, Separated From the World The telegraph-wire must be completely insulated be fore it can convey the electric communication. So we must be separated from the world before God’s message to sinners can have free course through us. When Saladin looked at the sword of Richard Coeur de Lion, he won dered that a blade so ordinary should have wrought such mighty deeds. The English king bared his arm and said: “ It was not the sword that did these things; it was the arm of Richard.” We should be instruments that the Lord can use, and when He has used us, the glory should all be His.— Geo. F. Pentecost.
Twelve o’clock already! How dreadful! At half-past twelve a little group of our faithful Christian friends will gather with us for our Tuesday noon prayer hour for Israel. Soon after that, Miss Leader returns to the office. She has had a busy morning. It is late afternoon before Mr. McLean emerges from the fray. “ The happy warrior” we call him. This time he is more than happy. His shoe maker, with whom he has dealt so faithfully and long, has definitely accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Messiah. Mr. McLean waits only long enough for conference with Mr. Cant, then he packs a fresh consignment of “ ammuni tion”—Gospels and tracts— into his brief case, and is off again for fresh adventures of faith. The ensuing hours in the office are variously filled. The afternoon draws on to a close. Mr. Cant, after hectic efforts amid manifold distractions, has at last succeeded in completing his annual report which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Mission on the coming Mon day evening. He reads it before he leaves the office and we exult together as we trace all the way wherein the Lord has led us as a Mission. C auses F or T hanksgiving God has greatly widened our borders. Not only has He enlarged our staff but He has given us also our splen did Women’s Auxiliary and a large group of volunteer helpers. At the same time on every hand, Jewish homes and hearts are opening to the Gospel testimony. Hundreds of Jews have been reached in the street meetings and in the hospital visitation; while uncounted thousands of Jews have been reached indirectly through our postal ministry. The definite results of our work cannot be expressed in formal statistics. The persecution o f Jews who accept Christ is so terrific that only a fraction of those who really receive the witness in their hearts have the courage to come out in an open confession of Christ. During the year, however, we have had the joy of winning at least seven definite converts to the Lord, with some five or six more giving strong evidence of growing conviction that He is indeed their own Messiah. We close the office at 5 :30, but the day is by no means done. There is to be a Jewish party in the evening. Ten lovely daughters of Abraham, from eighteen to twenty- four years old, are being entertained by a consecrated Christian woman who counts it an honor to open her beautiful home to the Jews. A happy evening will be spent with games and mirth. Before the girls leave, they will gather reverently in a circle while the missionary reads aloud to them from the Gospel of St. John. On the way home they will ask her thoughtful questions, while Gertie, their acknowledged leader, will whisper confidently to the missionary that they all are deeply interested in the Christian faith. If we can prove to them that Jesus Christ is really their Messiah, then they will accept Him for themselves! For Mr. Cant, after a long day’s work in the office, there are still several hours ahead of testimony to God’s people. This is hospital night. And after the hospital ministry is over, there may still be further demands upon our Superintendent’s time and heart and strength, as one or another of the Jewish men or boys may follow even to his home, there to engage him—more than once it has been until long after midnight—with their problems.
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