Category: Foreign Evang.

Just think of it: India is rapidly advancing in technology and commerce; her people prospering as never before. I instantly fell in love with these kindhearted, hard working and very intelligent people. They are as fine a people as any in the world. India (Bharat, which is Hindi for “The Republic of India”) has about one billion people and this incomprehensible number makes me think of the Lord’s confident urging to believers in John 4:35, where he said, “..behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.“ If we claim to love Him, how can we resist this opportunity?

While I can not say that the work in India is more important than any other, it surely has a special place in my heart. These are good and faithful Christians, and the potential for the salvation of many souls is very clear. As is always the case, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (cf. Matthew 9:37).

May we all be careful and honest in both reporting our work and seeking support. Let us concentrate on the blessings God has promised the faithful and let nothing deter us from living in such a way as to reach our heavenly home (Col. 3:2; 2 Tim. 4:7-8).

Some conservative preachers have moved freely between conservative and liberal churches, even having institutional preachers in for gospel meetings because it’s “different” in Europe than in the U.S. Non-institutional churches in the U.S. have financially supported so-called “conservative” preachers who labor in Europe who practice such blurring of lines as we have described in the preceding sentence because ‘it is not the same over there; they have not divided over these issues.’

The gospel has in itself innate power much like a seed. Let it be sown in the hearts of men and God will give the increase (1 Cor. 3:6). Let it be followed and changes will result in the lives of men. Let it be kept in a good and honest heart and much fruit will be born to the glory of God. Let it be followed through the uneven journeys of life and eternal glory will be the result. May all who preach, whether at home or in foreign lands, preach the gospel to those who hear them!

The churches of Christ are probably taught all they can receive about mission work already; what they need is for more preachers to ‘lead out’ by going to some needy field and practicing what has been preached. If, now, these Western opportunities are to be slighted, how are we to frame an answer to our judge for not having embraced them? They are waiting, they are calling, they are dying – unheeded!”

Remember that every appeal to Christians to give of their financial means was accompanied with the work for which the money would be used. All giving in the New Testament was done for a work. None was ever given to accumulate and hold a large fund! May we all learn the lesson and do likewise!

Let us pause to appreciate the conviction, however misplaced, possessed by these people and their efforts to live consistently with their beliefs. Their mistaken and/or false beliefs and the lengths to which they went to live consistently with them stand as both an example and warning to us today.

Jesus saw the straying multitudes and was moved to compassion for them (Matt. 9:35-38). Their need compelled Him to work. Likewise, He calls upon us to be conscious of the condition of the people around us (they are lost in sin); to have compassion for them (be distressed to the point of action); and to be committed laborers in His harvest (praying and working). The work is before us. The call to labor is clear. With Isaiah, will we say (as we often sing), “Here am I, send me” (Isa. 6:8)?

The same brethren who are willing to tolerate those who teach error on fellowship, divorce and remarriage, the creation account or other doctrinal subjects are not willing to discuss and forbear with those who teach and document the truth. While faithful brethren seek to leave the door open for further study and discussion, those claiming greater tolerance show themselves to be the ones who have drawn the line of fellowship excluding faithful brethren. Sad, but predictable.

Just as there are men who need to go out preaching the gospel, there are others who should not. May we all recognize what a serious matter preaching the truth is and make sure we do not encourage an unworthy or unprepared preacher to enter the mission field. Further, may all who desire to do mission work soberly consider what we say herein. If we will be fit for the master’s use there are things of which we must purge ourselves (2 Tim. 2:21-22).

This article is not intended to imply that one cannot be a faithful Christian unless he goes to work in some foreign field. Nor should one infer from it the message that, unless he goes to a foreign land to preach, he is fearful. However, if fear is the only hindrance to a brother’s doing mission work it would be our hope that our words herein would lead such a one to think further on the matter. Let us put the great commission above our own emotions (Mk. 16:15-16)

Much damage has already been done to the Lord’s cause by preachers who have become known for being overly friendly with women or, worse, for being immoral. Let us all love God and the souls of others above ourselves and be resolute in this matter. The dangers we discuss in this article are real and understandable. Therefore, there is good reason to be wise and understanding with regards to them.

The application of unity-in-doctrinal-diversity has no logical end. Yes, there will be brethren who will be inconsistent and arbitrarily refuse to fellowship certain errors. However, many of us have noted this same phenomena among our institutional brethren who violate the silence of the Scripture with regards to the work of the church, but will not countenance other violations of the silence of God like instrumental music in worship.

Gone are the days when going to the mission field meant leaving most of the information found in your library behind. While computer accessed data may never replace the book in the hearts of many of us, it does allow for a far more normal “office life” for one far from his library than has ever been possible.

Because the poor will always be with us, we will come into contact with them from time to time. Good judgment should govern our conduct towards them. If it does not, there is a very real danger that any given preaching effort might be detoured away from its true purpose.

We are to, as much as possibly, be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18). But when the Lord’s will and work conflicts with man’s law we must “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We should not allow the edicts of men to prevent us from doing the work of God.

I have known of Glenn’s work all of my life, and my respect for the Roger’s influence has grown. When I was a very young man growing up in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, I heard the name Glenn Rogers. The local church my family attended received a little bundle of newsprint papers from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The paper was called “Along the Border,” edited by Glenn Rogers. As a little boy, I remember thinking about how suitable these papers were for the childish purpose of making a paper airplane. In my immaturity, I had no idea all the good and serious work that little paper represented. Bro. Rogers reported on various activities of preaching and teaching among the Mexican people along the border separating Texas and Mexico.

Many brethren today are involved in carrying out the Great Commission. Their work reflects their simple faith in the commission our Savior gave so long ago. Jesus yet calls us to this work today. Are you doing your part? Does the church where you are have the capability to support men in this work? Is there some way you can help logistically, perhaps by getting tracts in a foreign language printed? Let us answer Jesus’ call to teach all nations.

If we are going to take it upon ourselves to convert those in places far from other Christians, we ought to also consider how we are going to “service” such converts.