30 years
2000 more tribes in
by W . Cameron Townsend, W ycliff Bible Translators, Inc.
O ver *93 years ago , Mrs. Mary A. Thomson wrote: “ 0, Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, to tell to all the world that God is Light; That He who made all nations is not willing one soul should perish, lost in shades of night. . . . Proclaim to every people, tongue and nation that God in whom they live and move is love: Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation, and died on earth that man might live above.” Sixty-six years ago, John R. Mott in his. book The Evangelization of the World In this Generation wrote: “Although the Gospel portions of the Scriptures have been translated into the chief languages and dialects of the world, there are yet many in connection wi^h which this work must still be done. It is a gigantic task to furnish in their own tongues to all races of mankind the revelation of God through the Scriptures, but it is indispensable to the enterprise of evangelization. There are also many languages still to be reduced to writing. . . . The pathway both to mind and heart of the people is through their mother tongue. It is not easy to mas ter any language; it is a tremendous task to get a thorough hold on such languages as the Arabic, Chi nese- and Japanese. What an undertaking, then, to translate the Gospel into the hundreds of languages and dialects which do not today give expression to the glorious message. . . . “Until a sufficient number of Christians believe” continues Mott, “ that it is the duty of the members of the Church to evangelize the world it will not be done. Many fail to regard Christ’s command as im perative, and look on the promotion of the enterprise of evangelization as optional so far as they are con cerned. The vast majority of the membership of the Church have yet to learn that the taking of a knowl edge of Christ to the whole world without delay is a most pressing duty.” Erasmus wrote in 1516 A.D.: “ In Asia and Africa there are barbarous and simple tribes which could eas ily be attracted to Christianity if we sent men among them to sow the good seed.” Four hundred and fifty years after this was de clared, and 93 years after Mary Thomson’s hymn of haste and 66 years after John R. Mott’s clarion call on behalf of those without a chance, we are still faced by the need of Bible-less tribes in countless areas of the earth: we are still calling out to a Church that is dull of hearing: “ Haste . . . Proclaim to every peo ple, tongue and nation!” We still yearn that “ a suffi cient number of Christians” may be raised up to translate the Gospel into the hundreds of languages and dialects in which there is no part of God’s Word. *One book says 98 years ago.
As I near my 70th birthday, after having ob served during 30 years the advance of our own or ganization to nearly 400 tribes and tongues, besides that which other organizations have accomplished, I ask myself, “When will the task be finished?” For years I thought that the day might come when Chris tian leaders, magazine editors, radio broadcasters, sem inary and college presidents, youth leaders, great preachers and laymen would get John R. Mott’s vision and poet Thomson’s urge for speed. If they did, how easy it would be to launch a great crusade that would sweep all before it! Two subtle arguments prevent such a thing. The first has to do with money. If someone gets too excited about pioneer missions, he is apt to be reminded, that his church needs a new sanctuary, his favorite broad cast needs funds to get on more stations, or his lay men’s group should not divert its funds abroad. The second argument is more subtle, if not as potent. It goes this way: “We cannot help all the missions so we should not help any.” Some wonderful organiza tions and Spirit-filled leaders succumb to this logic. The hitch is that as a result, no vital challenge for Bible-less tribes comes from areas o f great potential. The challenges that are given out so forcefully stop at our national, denominational or personal frontiers. The church that should lose its life at home to find it in abundance abroad is finding it at home in better buildings, more magazines, more books, more every thing except in the vital dedication to the Master’s will that stirs young men and women to say with the Apostle Paul: “ I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the un wise” (Romans 1:14). “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named. . . .” Even so the task is going to be done. The Gospel is going to be preached in every tongue. As far as Bible translation is concerned, give us an average of 300 new recruits every year for 20 years and we shall translate goodly portions of God’s Word into 2000 more tribal languages by the year 1996 if our Lord does not return before then. This, as John R. Mott reminds us, “ is indispensable to the enterprise of evangelization.” When the task has been carried out and the last tribe has heard (if not before), we shall behold as John did in Revelation 7:9 and 10; “ Lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
40
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker