All Articles For The Lord Gave the Word

Several truths which have implications for missions emerge out of the Old Testament Scriptures. We noted in our previous article that the Old Testament teaches that all the nations will ultimately come into the Kingdom of God. It is also plain from the Old Testament that God did not leave Himself without witness to the whole world. In the earliest period of Old Testament history we find this phenomenon.

It is far from my intention to write an extensive account of all the mission endeavors performed throughout the world, particularly in the past few centuries. Volumes have been written on only phases of this work, and therefore it would be useless to attempt to summarize it. Moreover, our chief concern is mission endeavor as it served as a background in our own lives, chiefly to see what God has accomplished, often in spite of the errors and weaknesses of sinful men.

At a recent meeting of the editorial staff it was decided to add a new department on Missions in the Standard Bearer. At present this department will appear only from time to time, but in the future it may become a regular addition to our paper. Since I have been asked to write for this department, and since my recent trip to Jamaica gives me a splendid, ready-made subject with which to commence, I shall avail myself of this opportunity to tell our readers, something about this prospective field of mission endeavor. 

The question has often been raised, How did our churches come into contact with this field of mission endeavor in Jamaica? Therefore I shall try to acquaint you briefly with the first contacts that were made and the further developments that followed. 

The proper evangelical approach in missions must certainly be based upon the Scriptures. God Himself must lead the way if we are ever to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth as His ambassadors and in a manner that is pleasing to Him. In fact, we must be sure that God is preaching His Word, carrying out His purpose unto the gathering of His Church and the coming of His kingdom through us. “He who is not for me is against me,” is the Word of Christ that applies also in this case.

It was in the early part of 1963 that the entire matter of future mission endeavor in Jamaica was discussed by the Mission Committee.

We are discussing the question, “What is the evangelical approach according to the Scriptures?” In the previous article on this subject we considered the preaching of the Gospel in the world before the flood. We recognized the fact that there was a twofold seed: the seed of the serpent, or the natural children of Adam and Eve, who were conceived and born in sin, and, on the other hand, the seed of the woman, who also were conceived and born in sin but were regenerated by the Spirit of God.

Later Naomi went to Moab and witnessed there of her God to her two daughters-in-law, with the result that God caused Ruth to forsake all her former life and accompany her mother-in-law to Judah, while Orpah turned back to her idols and her people. Both Ruth and Orpah had been instructed by the same witness of Jehovah; both considered returning with Naomi to her land and people, weighing the consequences of the step they would be taking. Orpah weakens and drops back to her idolatry and heathen practices.

Dr. Daane writes in the October issue of the Reformed Journal under the heading “From 1924 to 1964”: “Yet today even critics of Professor Dekker’s position are openly acknowledging God’s love for all men. This represents a tremendous change—and a tremendous gain. We may expect that this will bring about a profound- change in the pulpit messages of Christian Reformed Churches. And if it is true that God loves all men, then silence on so profound and glorious a truth has been a serious and sad omission . . .

In the light of the evangelical approach that is commonly advocated in our day, one could readily conclude that the coming of our Lord and His public ministry on earth was not most perfectly timed after all. We might be inclined to conclude that the fullness of time that marks the appearance of Christ in the flesh should have been at the close of this twentieth century instead of two thousand years ago. Take, for example, the thoroughly organized Billy Graham campaigns with all their workers, choirs, stadiums, radio and television support.