THE VALUE OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21627, 23 April 1932, Page 15

THE VALUE OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS

By the Yen. P. B. Hagoitt, Archdeacon of Christchurch.

There are few men better qualified to speak of the world-trends of to-day and of the position and outlook of Christianity than Ur John R. Mott. . He speaks with first-hand knowledge gained by many years of travelling. In his latest book, he states his conviction that the past twenty years have witnessed incomparably greater changes than any other period of like extent, and that the same is true of the world mission of Christianity. One of the most significant worldtrends is the spirit of nationalism the world over —for instance, in Japan, China, Turkey, India. In a conversation with Mahatma Ghandi, Ur Mott asked; “ Which do you prefer, dominion status or complete independence? Ghandi replied: “If dominion status ineans a little bit leas than complete independence, I stand for complete independence." Then Dr Mott: “What do you moan by independence? Uo you mean what -Canada has?” To that he replied: “Nothing could express better just what 1 want." Ur Mott then reminded him that Canada had arrived at her present position of statehood through generations of political experience in sitting at .the feet of the “ Mother of Parliaments,” and in qountlese practice games in local, county, provincial, and national government. Yet the international outlook seems to Dr Mott more reassuring to-duy N than it was, say, 30 years ago. In the first place, there are twenty voices and pens speaking and writing to-day to foster right understanding between nations where there was only one such voice or pen 20 or 30 years ago. ’ This is a very important fact, for light is a most potent force, most far reaching, rapid, penetrating, and health-giving. Another ground for optimism is the fact that all over the world there is com ing forward a new generation which expects to devote itself to ushering in a new day of constructive co-operation among the peoples of all lands. Another hopeful fact is the mission work of the Christian Church. •- The tens of thousands of missionaries are doing more than any other factor to throw out strands of understanding between the nations. Their efforts are strongly supported by such agencies as the World Student Christian Federation, the World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship, the International Missionary Council of the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. At their centre is Christ, Who by His incarnation. His unerring principles, His breaking-down of the walls of partition and by the continued work of His Spirit, makes possible the discovery and realisation of the unity of the human race. Consider the influence of medical missions! One church organisation alone has 52 hospitals in non-Christian lands with 6500 beds, 67,705 in-patients, and 1,500,000 outpatients and 8000 lepers in 20 camps. Think not only of the relief of siiffcnng but also of the contact with the best side of white civilisation! This must make for universal peace. Moreover, the Christian mission stands for the Fatherhood of God, the only adequate basis of the brotherhood of man. If we desire universal peace, we must support missions, for Christianity alone proclaims the Fatherhood of God. * And vet the great majority of Christians take not the slightest interest m missions. They have never realised two big facts: (1) That if Christianity is true at all, it is true for all; and (2) that we are the product of missions. Had it not been for missionaries., such as Aidan, Chad. Columba, Patrick, Nininn, Augustine, Great Britain would not be Christian, and had it not been lor Samuel Marsden, Bishop Selwyn, and others, New Zealand would not be Christian. We owe all the best we are and have to missions. But some man wishes to tell me that the heathen have their God-given religious. Our answer is twofold; (1) Wc have our marching orders, y< Go ye into all the world,” “Ye shall bo My witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth”; (2) we know something of these “God-given religions,” and sympathy impels us to offer them something better. What can you expect in a Mohammedan land if you know that the Koran teaches that “sin, after all, is a matttcr of little importance,” and that “ it is a greater sin to pray with unwashen Jiands than t o tell a lie or cheat your neighbour! ” What can you expect in a Buddhist land when you know that the religion teaches that the only hope for a woman is to be rebbrn as a man! Generally speaking, and with minor exceptions, writes Ur Mott, conditions previous to the entrance of Christianity may be thus summarised: Little girls were not welcome when born, or, at best, not so welcome as boys; education was denied to girls on the ground that they were incapable of learning; marriage was their only vocation; betrothal was arranged by parents through a middleman and was irrevocable; child marriage was the rule; when married, a girl belonged body and soul to her husband’s family; polygamy was sanctioned and concubinage condoned; divorce bv a husband was possible at any time if lie considered his wife jealous or too talkative; if she had no son, etc.; she could not divorce him for any causes; widow marriage was unknown. Wlven will Christian men realise how much they owe to missions in the past and show their gratitude by supporting them in the present? If only'two-thirds of our nominal churchmen would contribute even a small amount, say 3d a week, the church’s financial troubles would vanish. Another point I must make. We all hate war. Well, if we would have universal peace, there must be a world-wide realisation of the brotherhood of man; but how is this to be effected? There is only one way; there is only one adequate basis for the brotherhood of man and that is the Fatherhood of God, for men are brothers when they have a common Father, and Christianity alone proclaims the Fatherhood of God. Agreements are not enough; legislation is not enough. So, in the interests of universal peace, we support missions. If only the nations would set up Jesus Christ as their Conductor, we should soon abolish war. God is calling Christians all the world over to share with all non-Christian lands the benefits, social and other, of the gospel of sympathy. He calls for men and women to support by personal service, by prayer and alms, the educational work of missions, the medical work, the social work, the industrial work, the evangelistic work. And the one controlling motive He puts before us is this: God so loved the African, the Indian, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Melanesian, the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son thpt whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.