CHRISTIAN CO-OPERATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 15

CHRISTIAN CO-OPERATION.

JTHE FORCES IT LIBERATES. DR MOTT S MASTERLY EXPOSITION. The vast movement in many lands throughout the world to-day in the direction of co-operation, federation, and unity is one to which Dr John R. Mott, the .world traveller and missionary statesman, attaches the most profound importance. He made this in its relation to the Christlon Church the subject of a deeply thoughtful and arresting address delivered at the evening session of the Missionary Conference on Tuesday night. The meeting took place in Knox Church, and was open to the public, which attended in large nura. bera. The Rev. Professor Hewitson, chairman of the conference, presided, and a brief devotional service was conducted by the Rev. W. A. Sinclair. Dr Mott began with a characteristically striking leading statement. “Christian missions,” he said, “have led the way to the most beneficent and fruitful co-operation between Christian communions, between nations, and between races. This conference in itself constitutes a demonstration of the practicability and value of co-operation. It also presents a summons to the Christian forces and agencies represented here, to devise and to enter into more adequate plans of co-operation and unity. The Christian Church needs to-day, as never before, to employ wlmt the French in the war termed “grand strategy.” By this they meant the strategy that took in all fronts, in fact, the whole map. They also meant united action on the part of all the widely extended and scattered forces on land and sea." Dr Mott proceeded to indicate some of the reasons why larger and more efficient co-operation is to-day absolutely essential in the world-wide missionary enterprise. It was necessary in order to counteract the marked growth of the divisive forces among men. The world was still filled with misunderstanding, suspicion, fear, friction, and strife. All the arguments in favour of co-operation used in 1910 at the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh were now accentuated tenfold Christian missions were indeed the great and the true internationalism. Co-opera-tion was essential to enable the Christian Church to give her true testimony to the absolute and unique ability of Jesus Christ and His Church to meet the deepest needs presented by the international and inter-racial situation. International cooperation, as well as interdenominational co-operation was essential, as never before, to emphasise the truly catholic and ecumenical nature of the Christian Church. The Church of Christ consisted of all those of all nations united by the gift of a common faith, loyalty, and experience; but genuine co-operation only could best demonstrate this fact. The magnitude, complexity, and great cost of the world-wide missionary enterprise on the one hand, and, on the other, the relatively meagre resources in available funds and highly qualified workers, absolutely necessitated and demanded co-operation on the part of the Christian forces. The baffling difficulties and grave dangers to-day confronting the Christian movement at Home and abroad, such as were to make the task impossible, if they sought to accomplish it with divided ranks. In all his 30 and more years of work among the nations, never had the missionary undertaking seemed so difficult. Never had their forces seemed so inadequate. Need it be added that the extreme urgency of the present world eituation summoned them irresistibly to present a united front through constructive co-operative effort? All of the great battlefields of Christianity were to-day wide open to the unselfish ministry of their faith. The nations were in a plastic state. It was a startling fact that in the face if such a situation it was entirely possible that in this critical and fateful hour the Christian forces might fall short, simply through failure to combine In time. What were some of the new or added forces which w'ould be released for the missionary movement through interdenominational, international, and inter racial co-operation? In the first place, without shadow of doubt, such co-operation would augment the financial resources placed at the disposal of the missionary movement. To-day almost every church and missionary organisation was hampered through lack of sufficient available funds. One of the reasons was that their policies and plans did not impress rhose who could and should give largely as representing the wisest, most economical, and most productive use of funds. A policy of co-operation entered into heartily by the various Christian denominations and by the Christians of different nationalities would inevitably result in strengthening the leadership of the missionary enterprise. There were all too few creative minds. Great indeed was the need of men and women who could rethink, re-state, re-interpret the missionary message, and, where necessary, revise the missionary methods. Co-operation augmented the intellectual resources of every co-operating body through pooling the intellectual abilities and contributions of all. It was expensive business for each mission to have to acquire in its own way a rare experience which, through co-operation, could be shared with aU. He commended to the favourable consideration of the missionary societies of all the Christian communions of New Zealand the plan proposed in the recent Missionary Conference at Melbourne of a highgrade missionary training college for this part of the world, similar to the one established in Toronto as a cooperative enterprise by the various churches of Canada. It represented home base missionary cooperation at its best. It might also be well for the leaders of all the missionary agencies in this country and Australia to look into the desirability and practicability of launching a truly worthy united missionary magazine, which would serve effectively all the missionary interests of Australasia. Co-operation on the part of the churches, as well as of the different nations which are engaged in missionary undertakings, would develop a larger and truer sfateemraainp for the Kingdom of God. The manner of life of far too many administrators, board members, and church leaders was not conducive to the devolopment of Christian statesmanship. One liad t4* *und tha fact that such a dispropor-

tionately large amount of their time and attention was to-day given to promotive activities. They needed to be drawn out of the meshes of their ordinary financial and administrative routine into fellowship with kindred minds of other bodies. The missionary message would be wonderfully enriched through the most intimate cooperation of all true believers. In fact, was not genuine co operation and unity absolutely essential to ensure the giving of full-orbed expression to the message of the Church of Christ? Christ had not revealed Himself solely or fully through any cno nation, race, or communion. No part of mankind had a monopoly of His unsearchable riches. Every nation and denomination had a contribution to make which could enrich the whole body of Christ. How much the rising national indigenous churches would be profited from entering into such co-operative relations as would keep them in touch with organised Christianity of other lands. How little had they entered into the marvellous power of genu ine Christian fellowship, they of different Christian names. What an incalcuable re inforcement of power would come to each one of them if they entered into such fellowship. The apologetic power or influence of the Chirstian religion would be enormously increased through genuine co-opera-tion and unitv. The unity or oneness among Ilis followers down the generations, for which Christ prayed, was not to be regarded as an end in itself, but rather as a means to ensure the great central end of Christian missions—namely, “that the world may believe” In his lecont visits to different parts of the Moslem world he was solemnised and humbled to find tlat the principal argument the Mohammedans were using them was that of their divisions. The same was true, when they got to the bottom of it with reference to the attitude of unbelievers everywhere. To preach the Gospel, and then to stand aloof from one another on the mission field, or at home, or to fail to fraternise or to ro-onerate. belied their teachings, and created the impres sion that Christianity, like other religion*, had lofty ideals, hut that the practice of its followers or promoters showed that it was impracticable. They must do away with this stumbling block. 'lhe great Power* of the new gerieiation would be enlisted through large pro grammes and plans of co-operation, federation and unity, whereas a failure at tnis vital point might lost* this generation to their cause. They did well to remind themselves that this generation had been by no means won. Finally, effective, fruitful, triumphant co-operation was ever accompanied with fresh accessions of spiritual power. The reason was a simple one. but one that we were prone to forget—namely, that the co-operation we so much desired could never be realised apart from the help which camp from superhuman wisdom, superhuman love, and superhuman power. Therefore, wherever it was achieved, it was found to be in line with the tides of Divine power. There were unquestioned clangers which attended the development. of co-operation between churches and between nations. Wherever new and great energies were liberated, every real clangers were to be found. Chief among these danger? were those due to ignorance, to neglect of sound guiding principles to lack of clear thinking, to want of forethought or to failure to count the cost, to lack of suffi cientlv close collaboration, or of continuous vigilance on the part of all concerned. These difficulties and dangers, however, were in a very real sense their salvation They would inevitably drive them to God. and serve to deepen their acquaintance with Him. Jesus Christ was familiar with the problem of disunion, lack of concerted effort, and want of love and spiritual solidarity among His professed followers. Ilis solution was strikingly unique, lie summoned them to love one another, to- serve one another, and thus actually to unite wire one another. By His own example and teaching lie made it forever clear that this wonder work of vital union among those who bore Ilis name, was the work of God. ‘There are a sufficient, number of Christians in this conference,” concluded Dr Mott, “if they would but form the undiscou rag able resolution to understand each other, to continue and extend the atmosphere of belief, the vision, the fellowship of these never-to-be-forgotten days, and to unite in planning, action, and intercession, to advance by unbelievable strides the worldwide missionary enterprise. Let each dele gate dedicate himself afresh to the Lord Jesus Christ, and resolve so to act with reference to his fellow Christians of other communions, nations, and races, that if his colleagues here would do likewise, a ,great, manv scattered all through this assembly might not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come in power.” The gathering concluded with the singing of the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation.”