96 The Fundamentals souls by ten9 of thousands are being born every year. The faith of the missionary was never stronger, nor his hope brighter. The only cloud that crosses his horizon is the fear lest the church at home may not live up to her privilege. If we in the home churches, with all our machinery and members and wealth and education and favorable conditions, as we think, are largely cumberers of the ground; and if mis sions against great odds, improperly supported, with very imperfect equipment, humanly speaking—if they are sowing and reaping abundantly, and to a large degree are saving the Church from utter humiliation when the Master comes year by year seeking fruit, then we ought to ask missions the secret of their power. If our lamps in the home churches are burning dimly, if out of our twilight and shadows we see the light in tire far away distance shining steadily, it might be well for us to ask what kind of oil fills that lamp. Like Apollos the eloquent, the home church ought to be willing to be instructed by this Aquilla and Priscilla in “the way of God more perfectly.” Now if I read aright the story of missions, the secret of their power, the message they bring to the modern ministry and to the whole Church is the emphasis upon this trinity of doctrines: Atonement in Christ, Ministry of the Spirit, and Prayer. I. THE ATONEMENT AND MISSIONS In emphasizing the atonement in Christ we believe that missions have good Scriptural grounds for their position. “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Christ,” was Paul’s battle cry. No doubt, on going to Athens and Corinth, Paul may have been tempted, because of their edu cation and culture, to preach differently from what he did to the rough people of Galatia. But he did not. This is his
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