General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

THE CRISIS OF OUR MISSIONS

F. M. WILCOX

[READING NO. 3, SUNDAY, MAY 17. — PART I.]

WE have reached a momentous period in the history of the world. The ends of the earth are upon us. That grand but awful event - the second coming of the King of kings, and Lord of lords, in majesty, power, and might, that event of which the poets have sung and the seers have prophesied - is about to take place. The purpose of God is about to be consummated. The great controversy between Christ and Satan, between truth and error, which was begun in heaven itself, and has waged so fiercely and ceaselessly for the last six thousand years, is nearing its close. And most thrilling is the thought that this earth is to be the arena of this last great conflict, and we are to be the participants in the struggle. Every soul living will have a part to act; none can remain spectators, or stand on neutral ground. The last great drama in the game of life, which Satan is playing for human souls, is about to be enacted. The stage is the world, and men and angels are the actors. Truly - GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.1

“We are living, we are dwelling, GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.2

In a grand and awful time;
In an age on ages telling -
To be living is sublime.”

We are in the judgment hour. The destinies of men hang in the balance. “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” This is the time and the situation that confront us today. It is indeed no fancy sketch, nor imaginative condition, but a stern and awful reality. Sensing it as it is, we may better understand our relations to our time and to the work committed to us. GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.3

Fifty years ago God gave us a message for the world. That message was for every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, a message to warn of coming danger, and of the issues which are now imminent. Starting in comparative obscurity, that proclamation has increased in power, until it now encircles the globe, numbering its adherents in almost every nation of earth, and commanding the respectful attention and careful consideration of all serious minds within the range of its influence. It is no longer an obscure and insignificant movement, but one whose power is recognized even by its enemies. Through God it has wrought a mighty work. GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.4

But as there are crises in political history, so there are crises in religious work - times when there must be a general forward movement, times when not to advance is to go backward, when even to hold the ground already gained, and not to enlarge thereon, is to retrograde and court final defeat. Such a time has been reached in our work. We are face to face today with a crisis in our missionary operations. Hitherto our efforts have been along the skirmish lines; we have been posting our sentries, planting our batteries, and gaining control of strategic points and commanding positions. Our labors have of necessity been confined to Protestant fields; like the early disciples before the ascension, we have labored in Jerusalem and Judea, and have attempted but little for God in the darkened corners of the earth. So long have we delayed that the time of the harvest is well nigh over, and we have gleaned but little in the byways and hedges. GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.5

Meanwhile, God has been patiently waiting, waiting for us to throw off the incubus of lethargy and inaction, and enter upon the openings before us. His providence is leading the way. Hearts in every nation are being impressed, and almost every foreign mail relates instances of persons who have been brought to a knowledge of the truth for this time by a personal study of the Bible, with no knowledge of us and our work. What do these things indicate but that we are falling behind the openings of God; and the Spirit, wearied with our delay and indifference, is working outside of the human instrumentality for the accomplishment of the last work. Today God has gone before us in every nation. The Macedonian cry, “Come over, and help us,” is sounding from every shore. GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.6

The great Spanish-speaking field, with its seventy-five million people in which we have but thirty laborers of all classes, is rich in opportunities for planting the seeds of truth. The vast multitudes of India have grown weary with the service of them that are no gods. The “Light of Asia,” is but darkness. The people are now ready for the “Light of the World.” Who will carry to them the knowledge of how to find Jesus? In mute appeal do the more than four hundred million of China, Korea, and Japan, and the ignorant, superstitious races of the Dark Continent, who, like ancient Nineveh, cannot discern between their right hand and their left, ask for the knowledge of Him who is no respecter of persons, but accepts in every nation such as seek him with sincerity of purpose. The way is indeed prepared. The doors of the nations are ajar. The Red Sea is opened; the Jordan is dried up; and the walls of Jericho are fallen to the earth. What doth hinder us from entering in, from taking advantage of the abundant opportunities open before us? GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.7

To fail of doing so is to prove recreant to our trust. To refuse to give the gospel is to deny its power in ourselves, in our own experience. In the very nature of the case, our work is an intensely aggressive one. As soon as it loses its aggressive character, it loses its power. If it loses its power and prestige, it must slacken its hold even upon the present. Hence not to advance is to retrograde, and fall back. Can this be done? Must this be the end of our hopes, of our plans, and of our purposes for the last half century? Every loyal heart will respond in the negative. It is too late now to turn back. Victory is too near to lose. The only recourse now is to stake all upon the issue, and for our own and others’ eternal good, sacrifice temporal life, and temporal benefits. GCB April 1, 1896, page 695.8

Such opportunities exist today as were never found before, for the broadening and extension of our work. The highway of success is open before us. To every nation we have free access. The minds of men are stirred, their hearts unlocked, and there is a growing inquiry in every quarter for light and knowledge. Thousands have broken away from the manacles of chained thought and religious dogma, and now stand in the valley of decision, ready to accept the truth if presented to them; but with no one to point them to the higher way, they will fall again into greater misery and darkness than ever before. Now is the time to work. Never has there been such a time. Never again will the future present such opportunities. We repeat it; now is the time for a general movement all along the line. GCB April 1, 1896, page 696.1

If it be asked what will most contribute to such a movement, we reply that there are two necessary elements which must always enter largely into the prosecution of the work of God. These are consecrated laborers and consecrated means. The great drawback in the extension of our organized work into these abundant openings is found in the lack of these two very necessary requirements. So far as our individual responsibility is concerned, perhaps the latter obligation outweighs the former. All may not go personally to foreign lands, but all may have an opportunity in contributing to send those upon whom God places the burden to go. When once the means are provided, the Spirit of the Lord will not be slack in stirring up consecrated men to volunteer for service. Hence the great responsibility to-day that rests upon the church of God is to supply the Lord’s treasury with funds, that his work may go forward and not be retarded. GCB April 1, 1896, page 696.2

Over one hundred men and women could be sent out today, to fill as many needed openings, were there means whereby their expenses could be paid and they sustained in the work. But the saddest feature of the outlook is that while the demands are constantly increasing, the offerings of the Lord’s people are rapidly decreasing. Instead of following hard after God’s opening providences, we are not now even holding the positions already gained. Every quarter shows a falling off of several thousand dollars in our gifts to missions. Thus far no missions have been closed, nor missionaries recalled for lack of support; but this falling off cannot long continue without most serious results to our work. From what quarter will help arise? Who will stem the tide and turn the course of the current? From what source should assistance be expected? Must it not come from those who have been made the depositories of the truth of God in the earth? Must not the beneficiaries of God’s grace, those upon whom he has laid the burden of warning the world, fulfill the charge committed to them? Has not God committed the message today to his people for this very purpose? They cannot, they must not fail to meet the requirements of the present hour. Our missionaries must be supported. We, as a denomination, have sent them out, saying, “Go, and we will sustain you.” Now can we allow them to come to want? Can we permit the work of God to be disgraced and the cause of truth to be brought into disrepute? — No, a thousand times, no. This must not be done, and God holds every Seventh-day Adventist responsible, to the extent of his ability, that it shall not be done. God has made us stewards of his goods, and holds us accountable for their use. We are not to take the Lord’s means to hoard miserly, or to lavish on self, while the cause of God is languishing, and souls are perishing for the help we might bestow. Today, as never before, should God’s people dispense with luxuries in dress, in food, in general living, and practice economy in the use of life’s necessities. GCB April 1, 1896, page 696.3

This is not the time for idle investments, nor for questionable speculation. “Sell that ye have, and give alms,” applies now with more force than ever before. God calls upon his people to rally, and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. This is the time for labor. Now, just now, is the time to dedicate both life and substance to God to be used in his service for the salvation of a perishing world. It is today that God calls to service; tomorrow may be too late, both as regards our opportunity and the salvation of souls, we might help now. Let not the world’s pleasures or allurements blind the eyes, or deaden the consciences of any, so that the gold that perisheth shall be counted of more value than the eternal riches. The world is ready for the message, and God is ready to send the message. The armament of all heaven is prepared. The Spirit is impressing hearts, and they are open to receive the truth. The angels of God are waiting to give their assistance. May we stand ready to act as the bearers of light and life to the perishing nations of earth. GCB April 1, 1896, page 697.1