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In the previous three articles of this series we have examined some of the views of Rufus Anderson. Because it has been some time since this column has appeared we shall give a brief review of what we have discovered thus far in our study of Anderson. Anderson, like Henry Venn and John Nevius, was firmly convinced that the mission church should become self supporting, self governing, and self propagating as soon as possible. In this connection Anderson stressed that the sole aim of missions must be evangelization and not civilization.

The point made in our last article is that the work of the missionary is to be distinguished from that of a pastor of an established congregation. The latter cares for a specific, settled congregation. He does so chiefly by the preaching of the Word. The missionary also preaches. This is his calling. But the missionary preaches to the unconverted. By this means Christ gathers His elect out of the nations. The aim or purpose of the missionary is that a congregation with its own officebearers, including a native pastor, may be established.

In the previous article we noted that Rufus Anderson emphasized the absolute necessity of the preaching of the Word on the mission field. Without preaching, the church simply cannot be gathered. Because this preaching, as well as the work of elders and the ministry of mercy, must be done by native converts it is necessary that schools be established. In some fields it is a must that the Scriptures be translated into the native tongue.

With some variation in detail the mission writers we have studied (John L. Nevius, Henry Venn, Rufus Anderson) agree that the missionary must strive to establish self-supporting, self-governing, self-propagating indigenous churches. What has become known as the “three self formula” is helpful and has validity provided the terms be carefully defined along Biblical, Confessional lines. This has not always been done; neither have missionaries implemented this method along Biblical lines in many instances.

It is our purpose to expound I Corinthians 9:19-22 in this and succeeding articles. We are convinced that this passage has much to teach concerning mission work. The passage speaks of the proper attitude a missionary must have towards himself, towards his work, and towards those to whom he preaches the gospel. It deals with questions such as the following: 1) What is the proper motive behind missionary preaching?

(The Views of Rufus Anderson) The fundamental principle of Anderson’s (1796- 1880) views on missions is this: the aim of mission work must be the gathering of indigenous churches which are self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating. In this connection Anderson stressed that the task of the missionary is solely evangelism, i.e., the preaching and the teaching of the gospel. The missionary is not to engage in the work of civilization.

In the previous issue we began an exposition of I Corinthians 9:19-23. We believe this passage has much to teach concerning the mission task of the church. Here we learn how the missionary ought to regard himself, his work, and those to whom he preaches the gospel. Continuing this exposition we pay particular attention to verse twenty which reads, “And I became to the Jews as a Jew in order that I might gain the Jews; to those under the law as under the law, [though not being myself under the law], in order that I might gain them that are...

In this series we are studying I Corinthians 9:19-23. This passage, we believe, has a good deal to teach concerning the proper attitude and conduct of a faithful missionary of the gospel. In the previous two articles we treated I Corinthians 9:19-20. The entire passage reads: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under...

(The Views Of Rufus Anderson) We have seen that Anderson conceived of the missionary’s task solely in terms of the preaching of the gospel. The missionary must not attempt to transform heathen culture. He must preach and teach the blessed gospel and baptize those who are gathered into the church by that preaching. With this we are in hearty agreement. The aim of missions, according to Anderson, is the establishment of self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating, indigenous churches. To these principles we shall return, D.V., in later articles.

With this article we conclude our brief series on I Corinthians 9:19-23. The passage reads: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ), that I might gain them that are...