Failure of Modern Missionism.
Zion's Advocate, September 1902, Vol. 41, No. 9.
By Modern Missionism we mean the unscriptural methods made by Arminian churches to "christianize" the world. It has been declared by some that the whole world would soon be gained for Christ. Such are either ignorant of the facts or too dishonest to state them. Rev. James Johnson, F. S. S., in "A Century of Christian Missions," published in 1886, says, "The heathen and Mohammedan population of the world is more by 200,000,000 than it was a hundred years ago; while the converts and their families do not amount to 3,000,000. The numbers now generally accepted as accurate and quoted by missionary and other societies, are 173,000,000 of Mohammedans and 874,000,000 of heathens -- 1,047,000,000 in all. We mourn over the sad fact that the increase of heathen is numerically more than seventy times greater than that of the converts."Such is the state of "Foreign Mission" work. Think of it! The increase of heathen is numerically more than seventy times greater than that of converts! The whole theory is based on the supposition that God wills the salvation of all men, and that his plan is to save them through the preaching of the gospel. As he possesses foreknowledge, he knew, when the modern mission system was set on foot, that during the first century of its operations the increase of heathen would be more than seventy times greater than that of the converts. If he originated and authorized this plan to save the world, he originated and authorized a plan that he knew would fail to such an extent that its best informed friends and managers would "mourn over the sad fact." If his agents mourn over the failure, what could be said of the originator of the plan? Surely all heaven would ring with the piteous wails of a disappointed inventor!
With reference to the work in civilized lands, the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage says: "I simply state a fact when I say that in many places the church is surrendering, and the world is conquering. When there is one man brought into the kingdom of God through christian instrumentality, there are ten men dragged down by dissipations. Within the last twenty-five years the churches of God in this country have averaged less than two conversions a year each. There has been an average of four or five deaths in the churches. How soon, at that rate, will this world be brought to God? We gain two; we lose four. Eternal God! what will this come to?"
The church is surrendering, and the world is conquering! By "the church" he means all denominations that claim to be the churches taken as a whole, not including the Old Baptist church we suppose. Dr. Talmage was the best informed and most renowned representative of Arminianism in the world. Jesus said that the gates of hell should not prevail against his church. Since the world is conquering "the church" referred to by Talmage, that church is not the church of Christ. He says that ten men are dragged down by dissipation where there is one brought into the kingdom of God through christian instrumentality. In a quarter of a century four are lost by death to every two gained by conversions. He asks, "How soon, at that rate, will this world be brought to God?' "ETERNAL GOD!" he exclaims, "What will this come to?" There can be but one answer to the question: It will come to a failure. If we believed that Christ was depending upon such "Christian instrumentality" to accomplish his work, we would be ashamed of his failure, and would be compelled to give the devil great credit for his superior wisdom and skillful tactics.
How glad we are that Christ is not dependent upon such unsuccessful means, and that he will not share in any such disgraceful failure! He quickens whom he wills, just as the Father raises up the dead. This is what he teaches concerning the sovereignty and success of his work. The dead hear his voice and live. He is stronger than any strong man armed -- stronger than Satan himself. No evil fortification is proof against the power of his omnipotent Spirit. While deluded worshipers at the shrine of modern missionism are throwing in their mites for the salvation of sinners, and while the learned prophets of the day are crying loudly for their god to save sinners and begging the sinners to let him save them, at the same time lamenting the evident failure of the whole plan, Jehovah simply speaks and it is done. As a result of his efficient work an innumerable company of redeemed sinners will forever praise his glorious name for having saved them out of every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
J. R. D.
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