Full Text for The Pastor and Foreign Missions (Text)

Qtnurnr~ta m~tnln!ltral :!Intttl}ly Continuing LEHRE UNO VVEHRE MAGAZIN FUER Ev.-LuTH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLy-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. IX December, 1938 No. 12 CONTENTS Pap A Course in Lutheran Theology. Th. Engelder _______________________ 881 The Arrival of the Saxons in St. Louis. w. G. Polack ___ .___________ 905 The Pastor and Foreign Missions. A_ M. Rebwinkel _____________ . ___ 908 The U. L. C. A. and the Doctrine of Inspiration. W. Arndt _______ 917 Predigtentwuerfe fuer die Evangelien der Thomasius- Perikopenreihe ______________________ . __________________________ ________________ 924 Miscellanea ___________ . ___________ ... ___________________________ . ________________________ .___ 935 Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches ___________ 940 Book Review. - Literatur ____________________________________________________ ._______________ 953 EIn Prediger muss nlcht aIle1n wei- den, also dass er die Schafe unter- weise. wle sIe rechte Christen sollen seln. sondem auch daneben den Woel- fen weh1"en, dass sie die Schafe nlcht angrelfen und mit falscher Lehre ver- fuehren und Irrtum elnfuehren_ Luthe1"_ Es lst keln Ding. das die Leute mehr bel der Kirche behaelt denn die gute Predigt. - Apologia, Arl. 24. If the trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare hlmself to the battle? - 1 C01".14, 8. Published for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLlSIDNG BOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. 908 The Pastor and Foreign Missions Soon after the purchase of this land a part of the group was sent to Perry County to take charge of constructing the block houses for the colony. The thirteenth of April was a special occasion for the group in St. Louis. It was the thirtieth anniversary of Stephan's ordination. A celebration was arranged in his honor in the dwelling of Dr. Vehse, at which the clergy and leading laymen were present. Guenther says: "Die andern Gemeindeglieder waren in Depots ab- geteilt und erhielten freies Bier und ein frugales Mahl." Toward the end of April the Anzeiger des Westens brought another attack against Martin Stephan, which the leaders of the Saxons did not permit to stand unanswered. Their defense of Stephan appeared in that paper on April 27 and was signed by G. H. Loeber, E. W. Buerger, Max. 'Oertel, E. G. W. Keyl, and C. F. W. Walther. This was followed in the issue of May 4 by a "Pro- testation," signed by twenty-four lay leaders, in defense of Martin Stephan. It was only a little over a month later that their decla- ration in which they all publicly repudiated their "bishop" appeared in the same paper. It was in the last week of May that the transfer of the larger portion of the Saxons from St. Louis to Perry County was made. On June 1 the Anzeiger des Westens carried the above-mentioned repudiation. W. G. POLACK ~ III ~ The Pastor and Foreign Missions To evangelize the world was the Great Commission which Jesus gave to His disciples when He took leave of them to return to His Father. To evangelize the world is still the great respon- sibility of the Church today. The apostles preached first in Jerusalem and Judea but then went down to Samaria and from thence to the great Greco-Roman world beyond. Home Missions, or the evangelization of the unchurched in our community, is our first obligation; but while doing this, we dare not neglect the "Samarias" and the partes infidelium beyond. We have done reasonably well in preaching the Gospel at home and in planting the Church in every part of our great continent. The phenomenal growth of our Synod is a living testimony to this fact. But the great heathen world beyond is still a most disturbing reality and a challenge to all of Christendom. No Church can ignore it with impunity. This includes us. It is true, we have had a foreign- mission program for the last forty-five years, and we have also made wonderful progress, especially during the last decade and a half or morc. But admitting all this and rejoicing over what The Pastor and Foreign Missions 909 has been achieved, we must still confess, when we compare our achievements and our sacrifices for foreign missions with the achievements and sacrifices of the Apostolic Church or with those of the Protestant mission societies of Europe or even with those of some of the Lutheran bodies of this country, that we have every reason to be humble. Hence, as we pass from the first into the second century in the history of our Church, we ought to resolve to pay at least a part of our debt of gratitude for the spiritual and material blessings which God bestowed upon our fathers and upon us so abundantly in this country during the past century by a greater active interest in the cause of foreign missions. A fervent prayer during this centennial year will be, and always is, that God may preserve unto us and our children and children's children the blessing of the pure Gospel. But history teaches that next to preaching and teaching the Gospel of our divine Savior at home there is nothing a Church can do that will contribute more effectively toward preserving the Gospel for the Church at home than sharing it with others. God has a strange paradoxical way in dealing with those whom He makes the stewards of His spiritual blessings. A Church that hoards them for itself and selfishly lives in spiritual luxury while Lazarus is starving spir- itually without eventually loses what it has. This is true of whole church-bodies as well as of individual congregations. On the other hand, history also teaches clearly and conclusively that the mis- sionary epochs, whether in ancient or modern times, have been the times when the Church has been very powerfully stimulated and very richly blessed in all manner of spiritual blessings. With us the foreign-mission work is carried on by Synod. As a result we are inclined to think of foreign missions as a problem of Synod. But the problem of missions, whether home or foreign, is always a problem of the individual church, and in the home church it is, first of all, a problem of the pastor. The pastor is the leader and the teacher of his people; if he fails to lead and instruct, progress is almost impossible. But the pastor is not only a leader of his members at home, he is also the advocate for the heathen abroad. The man of Macedonia now beckons to the churches through the voice of the Christian preacher. Our mission- festivals belong to the cherished traditions of our Church, and they have contributed much to stimulate interest in missions; but ex- perience has also taught us that the interest thus aroused is liable to be of a temporary character unless reenforced by the continual efforts of the pastor. Only the faithful missionary pastor, fully conscious of his responsibility towards God and the Church in this respect, will succeed in building up a missionary church throughout the year. 910 The Pastor and Foreign Missions A noted missionary writer emphasizes the importance and the responsibility of the pastor in the following well-stated paragraphs: "The real problem of foreign missions is in the home churches, and without the pastor it cannot be solved. 'The weak spot in missions today,' says Dr. Theodore T. Munger, 'is not in the field ... nor in the administration of the board nor in the pews, but it is in the pulpit.' Professor Christlieb asks: 'Whence the great differ- ence of interest in missions often in one and the same province? I answer, chiefly from the difference of the position taken by the clergy in this matter.' At those times when the Church made her greatest missionary advances, the pastors were putting forth their whole strength in the effort to extend her sway. So, too, when there have been periods of neglect and indifference concerning the world-wide plans of Christ, the pastors have been showing a lack of enthusiasm on the subject. It is not a question of the location of the pastor or of his special natural ability. Wherever you find a pastor with overflowing missionary zeal and knowledge, you will find an earnest missionary church. "The pastor's position gives him authority; his character and work give him vast influence. The pastor is the educator of the church. There is no other way to get the ear of the whole church save through him. It cannot be done through the women's mis- sionary society or the young people's society or the Sunday- school. He has direct and influential access to all the members. Any idea which he persistently preaches and prays for in the pulpit will be gradually accepted as a rule of conduct by the people. "The pastor is an exemplar as well as a teacher. Dr. R. P. Mackay of Canada has well said: 'Whatever the Lord Jesus wants the people to know or believe the pastor ought to know and bellev\;!. . .. vVhatever the Lord wants the people to do the pastor ought to do.' He must preach what he believes and must practise what he preaches, or he will work without power deeply to move the people. It is this note of reality which makes one's life and words truly communicative. "The pastor is the director-general of the Christian forces. He should regard his church not alone as a field to be cultivated, but also, and more especially, as a force to be wielded on behali of the evangelization of the world. He is responsible not only to care for the souls of his parishioners, but also to direct their activities. What IS an army without a leader? But the leader must himself know the way, must keep ahead, and must get others to follow as a result of his own courageous spirit and contagious earnestness." * * The Pastor and Modern Missions, by John R. Mott. The Pastor and Foreign Missions 911 "But the leader must himself know the way." That is the all- important point. To lead, the pastor must know; that applies to all pastoral activities, also to missions. To lead his people to greater missionary activities, the pastor must know missions. This means that at least from time to time missions must constitute a regular subject in the program of his systematic studies. Some pastors have such a program, others have not. For such as have not the following plan might offer some suggestions as to how a program of mission studies might be arranged and carried out successfully. PLAN FOR SYSTEMATIC MISSION STUDY I. A Study of the Missionary Teachings of the Bible This should include both the Old and the New Testament. A careful study of the Old Testament will reveal many unexpected lessons in missions, not only in the prophets from which mission- festival texts are frequently chosen, but also from the history and the geography of the Old Testament. An investigation of this kind will of course include a careful study of the missionary teachings and the life of Jesus but above all a thorough study of the Acts of the Apostles and the life of St. Paul. II. History of Missions The study of this field may be subdivided as follows: 1. General history of missions. 2. Special types of mission-work, such as a) educational work in the mission-field; b) medical missions; c) industrial missions; d) work among the women; e) Mohammedan missions, etc. 3. Mission-work in different countries. 4. Mission-work of the different Lutheran synods and the various Lutheran mission societies of Europe. 5. Mission-work of the different denominations. 6. Missionary biographies. 7. Christian missions and social progress, etc. ill. Subjects Related to Mission-Work Under this general heading the following subjects might be studied: 1. The history, political and social life, and the customs of the dif- ferent pagan peoples. 2. A comparative study of the religions of the world, such as Moham- medanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, animism, etc. 3. International problems bearing upon missions. 4. Missionary geography. 912 The Pastor and Foreign Missions IV. Problems of ~lissions 1. Training of missionaries. 2. The relation of the home Church to the foreign field. 3. Unoccupied lands. 4. The financing of missions. 5. Missionary methods. 6. The native Church, etc. A program of this kind will of course involve several years of study, but it will be worth the effort. It will not only mean a better understanding of, and a greater interest in, missions, but it will also result in many valuable by-products, because the study of missions touches nearly every field of human activity and in- terest. The following bibliography might serve as a guide to begin a study as outlined: I. The Missionary Teaching of the Bible The Life of St. Paul, by Rev. James Stalker. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. St. Paul as Traveler and Roman Citizen, by Wm. Ramsey. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. Any good commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Mission Studies, by Dr. Edward Pfeifer. Lutheran Book Concern, Co- lumbus, O. The Bible a Missionary Message, by Wm. O. Carver. Doran Publishers. The Mission and Expansion of Christianity in the First Three Centuries, by Adolf Harnack, Vols. I and II. Evangelische Missionskunde, by Julius Richter, pages 1-86. The Footsteps of St. Paul. Old, but very good. There are also several essays in synodical reports on the Life of St. Paul which deal with missionary activities of the great apostle. The Life of St. Paul, by Wm. Dallmann. II. History of Missions Evangelische Missionskunde, by Julius Richter. This book was published in 1920 and is therefore no longer up to date as far as missionary statistics are concerned, but it is still the best book on the science and general history of missions. It is the mature work of a typical German scholar. A History of Protestant Missions in the Near East, by Julius Richter. A History of Missions in India, by Julius Richter. What was said about the Evangelische Missionskunde also applies to these two books. The Progress of World-wide Missions, by R. H. Glover. Harper Brothers, New York. Very good. Gives a general survey of the history of missions from the times of the apostle to the present day. Outlines of Missionary History, by Mason. Very good. A History of Christian Missions in China, by K. S. Latourette. MacMillan. 899 pages, with 54 pages of bibliography. The most complete single work on the history of missions in China. The Pastor and Foreign Missions 913 New Culture in China, by Forster. A ShoTt HistoTY of China, by Williams. Islam a Challenge to Faith, by Samuel M. Zwemer. Zwemer is the greatest authority on Mohammedanism and Moham- medan missions today. Any book by Dr. Zwemer is worth reading. India; Its Life and Thought, by John P. Jones. Somewhat old but still very good and useful. Japan and Its RegeneTation, by O. Carey. No longer up to date but still useful. Western Influence in ModeTn Japan, by Nitobe. Pacifi·c Relations, by Hoffman. ModeT1t IndustTY and the African InteTnational MissionaTY Council. New York. The New A}Tica, by Donald Fraser. Edinburgh House Press. The Gospel and the African, by Hitherwick. Published by T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh. Into All the WoTZd, by W. G. Polack. A brief survey of the history of missions, including a survey of the early Christian missions, written in a popular style and furnishing delightful reading. The World Is Ot~T Field, by F. J. Lankenau. A gc'lleral survey of the entire mission-field. A useful book in any pastor's library. Our ChuTch AbToad. The Foreign Missions of the Lutheran Church in America, by George Drach. Lutheran Book Concern, Columbus, O. A very useful book for the study of Lutheran missions. IF ". cal Missicll China ([nd Modern Medicine, by H. Balme. A shxly in medical mis,sionary development. London United Council for Missionary education. Rats, Plague, and Religion, by J. S. Carman. Published by Judson Press, Philadelphia. How Far to the Nearest Doctor? Stories of medical missions around the world, by E. 1'v'L Dodd. Friend- ship Press, New York. MinisteTs of MeTcy, by J, H, Franklin. Missionary Education Movement, New York. The Healing Touch in Mission Lands, by M. C. Lang. Eden Publishing House, St. Louis. An American Docto1' at Work in India, by W. Wanless. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. Biographies of j',iIissionaries Men and Missions SeTies, edited by L. Fuerbl'inger. Concordia Publish- ing House, St. Louis, Mo. IVlaTY Slessor of CalabaT, by W. P. Livingstone. Doran Publishing Co. Mackay of Uganda. The Story of His Life, by his sister. Doran Pub- lishing Co. Hans Egede. The Lutheran Missionary who Carried the Gospel to Greenland, by Schneider. The Lutheran Book Concern, Colum- bus, O. Modem Heroes of the Mission-field, by W. Pakenham Walsh. Fleming H. Revell Co., Chicago. 58 914 The Pastor and Foreign Missions Adoniram Judson, Apostle of Burma, by L. Helen Percy. Gospel Trumpet Press, Anderson, Ind. The Personal Life of David Livingstone, by Blaikie. Another by Jessie Kleeberger; still another by Basil Mathews. A short biography by W. G. Polack. Popular, but very good. James Hudson Taylor, Pioneer Missionary of Inland China, by Gloria G. Hunnex. Gospel Trumpet Co., Anderson, Ind. Every pastor and every Christian will find it profitable to read biographies of missionaries from time to time, especially in seasons of discouragement and spiritual depression. They serve as an effective tonic and are stimulating and inspiring. In the whole range of human history there are found no greater heroes than among the men and women of every age and every denomination who have gone to strange and hostile peoples to bring them the Gospel of salvation. Missionary Activity and Social Progress Christian Missions and Social Progress, 3 vols., by J. S. Dennis. Very good. The author writes: "Almost everywhere upon the face of the earth a gross darkness of ignorance seems to rest upon the hearts of men. A heavy burden of erroneous belief, both distressing and de- grading, has become fixed upon their conscience, and there it remains, except as the light of Christian education and Gospel instruction breaks in upon their night and introduces them into the freedom of truth." (Vol. 1, p.319.) All three volumes are a marvelous record of the external effect of the Gospel in darkest heathendom. Various Missionary Problems The Missionary and His Critics, by Rev. James Barton. Fleming H. Revell Co., Chicago. The Foreign Missionary, by Arthur Judson Brown. Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, New York. The Foreign Missionary Enterprise and Its Sincere Critics, by Cleland B. McAffee. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. Interpretive Statistical Survey of the World Mission of the Christian Church. International Missionary Council, New York. ($5.00.) Seven Great Bibles. Zoroastrianism, Christianity, by York. Comparative Religion The Sacred Scriptures of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Mohammedanism, Judaism, and Alfred W. Martin. Frederick H. Stokes Co., New The Moslem World of Today, by John R. Mott. George Doran & Co., New York. Popular HindvAsm, by L. S. S. O'Malley, Macmillan Co. The Battle of the Bible with the "Bibles," by Wm. Dallmann. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. Mission Periodicals International Review of Missions. Edited by Wm. Paton and M. M. Under- hill, 156 5th Ave., New York. International Missionary Council. Missionary Review of the World. Edited by Deloran L. Pierson, Harris- burg, Pa. Missionary Review Publishing Co. ($2.50 a year.) WorId Dominion. A Quarterly International Review of Christian Progress. Published in England but obtainable at the American office, 156 5th Ave., New York. ($1.50 a year.) The Pastor and Foreign Missions 915 A missionary magazine is indispensable for anyone wishing to keep himself informed on the progress of Christian missions in the world and about books that appear on the various phases of mission activities. The periodicals here suggested are excellent magazines. A pastor who has once acquired the habit of reading them will find it hard to do without them. They reflect of course the theology of the denominations which they represent, but the intelligent reader will be able to use them with discrimination. 1. The available missionary literature is very voluminous, and the bibliography here submitted is a mere sampling. The list con- tains some of the best books available on the respective subjects; but this claim is not made for all of the titles suggested. What was said about the theology reflected in the periodicals recom- mended applies also to most of the books listed. The most serious problem about the suggested program, how- ever, still remains to be solved, and that is the question, How and where can a pastor secure the necessary books for the study of missions? The average pastor's financial resources are limited, and the budget allowance for library expansion will not enable him to spend a great deal for mission books. Probably not much, - but there ought to be some. Books are the tools of the pastor. A plumber without tools is helpless and useless. A pastor without books will become helpless and eventually also useless. It is always precarious for a pastor to eliminate entirely the library from the family budget. 2. Pastors ought not to be too timid about asking their congre- gations or congregational organizations to include an item for a church library in their annual budget. Not every pastor will be able to persuade his congregation to do so, but surely there will be some congregations that have the means to do so and also the necessary understanding. Church councils never hesitate to pro- vide the janitor with the necessary tools to do his work. With some tactful instruction the same church councils might be con- vinced that the pastor's tools are of even greater importance to the welfare of the church than the janitor's tools. 3. The public libraries exist to serve their communities with desirable reading-material. If librarians know that certain books are in demand, they will secure them if at all possible. That is their business. A friendly conference with the librarian will always prove worth while. In many communities our pastors are members of the library board. In that event the cooperation of the library can easily be secured. That public libraries are interested in missionary books is 916 The Pastor and Foreign Missions shown by the results of an inquiry the writer made recently relative to mission material available in some of the prominent public libraries of our country. The public library of St. Louis reports more than 500 titles on the subject of Christian missions. The public library of Cleveland has a collection comprising several hundred titles. The public library of Milwaukee contains over 600 titles listed under the subject of missions. The public library of Fort Wayne reports approximately 100 titles of books on foreign missions. In addition they have mission magazines and numerous church publications. The public library of St. Paul reports 240 titles on the subject of foreign missions. If a similar investigation could be extended to all the public libraries of the country, the results no doubt would reveal a surprising amount of excellent missionary literature available in nearly every community served by a public library. Books on missions are in demand by all the denominations represented in a community. It is not so difficult therefore to convince librarians of the need of such books. Those wishing to pursue some special phase of mission studies will find the Mission Research Library, 3041 Broadway, New York City, very helpful. This library has the most complete list of mission books and magazines in N ortll America and possibly in the entire world. Accurate infOTmation can be secured from this source on nearly every phase of missions and on every new book appearing on this subject. The Mission Research Library lends materials under eel'- tain restrictions through the interlibrary loan system. The trans- portation for both ways is of course paid by the borrower, and usually the books are loaned for a month at a time. The Dale Mission Library at the Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., is another very large mission library. The Foreign ll/[ission Library of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. of Am., 156 5th Ave., New York City, also has a very excellent collection of mission books. In Canada the United Church of Canada has a most won- derful depository of mission materials and books in the Ryerson Building, 299 Queens St., West Toronto, Onto Certain materials might be borrowed; others can be purchased at a very reasonable price. The library of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has a modest but a well-chosen selection of mission books. Arrangements to borrow from this library can be made with the librarian. There is no nobler cause in all the world than the cause of missions. It is the business of the Christian minister to sponsor this cause. Let us learn to know our responsibility. A. M. REHWINKEL