Reaching Out
CARDINAL CHARACTERS
Section I: A Plan
It is interesting to observe that Luke mentions by name those whose actions directly affect this missionary plan and purpose. In particular, he considers Christian workers of importance only insofar as they have to do with the supreme purpose of preaching the Gospel. Individual missionaries and evangelists are visible only so long as they are busy in the forward movement. Many of them without question did good work, but Luke seemingly has no future place for them in the narrative when they cease to construct fresh sections of the spiritual railway.
A Positive Push
During the initial stage of railway construction in Jerusalem and vicinity (1-5), Peter and John occupy the foreground of the picture. Then Stephen becomes the central figure (6-7), because of his missionary outlook and sympathy for the lost, and because his martyrdom led to a wide extension of God’s spiritual railway. He is followed by Philip the evangelist, for the simple reason that he carried the railway forward through Samaria and beyond (8). His figure then fades from view to make room for Paul, missionary to the Gentiles, whose conversion and first labors are purposely dwelt upon (9:1-31). Notice, in this connection, the brief appearance of Ananias, probably because of his contribution in the furtherance of the missionary railway by bringing God’s message to Saul (Acts 22:16).
Peter next reappears, clearly because he opens a new section of the railway for the Gentiles at Caesarea (9:32–11:18). He is mentioned again in chapter 11 because, as in chapter 8, more persecution led to a fresh forward movement (notice 8:4). He makes room in turn for unnamed evangelists and for Barnabas (11:19-24), as they carry the railway to Antioch of Syria, the center of activity from that time forward. The narrative is next with the apostles Paul and Barnabas (11:25-30; 12:24-15:39), as they push ahead into South Galatia. Notice when, and for how long, John Mark is mentioned. Then, Barnabas disappears from view, and the events of the 2nd Journey group themselves around Paul, Silas and Timothy. Apollos (18:24-28) is seen for a passing moment, but the rest of the narrative is concerned entirely with Paul and his companions.
Enough has been said to show that Luke’s notices of individual workers are seemingly governed by their connection with the extension of the Gospel. In future chapters, we will consider the qualifications required in railway pioneers, but for the present, the great matter is to emphasize the paramount importance of using our best endeavors in the furtherance of the Gospel.
In one district of South India, there is a large Hindu temple situated on the sea coast. Thousands of pilgrims flock there from all parts. It is built of stone, which had to be transferred for a considerable distance over wide wastes of heavy sand. It is said that in order to transport the material under such difficult circumstances, the Hindus of those days formed themselves into long lines, stretching for miles over the desert sands. The stones were then handed from one to the other till they passed from end to end of that human chain and were finally put in place, till the temple was finished and its tower rose conspicuously for miles around. The illustration forcibly reminds us of our duty in fulfilling God’s great missionary plan.
The tragedy of failing to accept our responsibility is seen in this statement, “Neglect of India has been perhaps our greatest story of shame. In 1926, 18,000 Hindus signed a petition with their fingerprints asking to become Christians and we sent not one person.”
Someone, after reading that statement, might say, “I’m going to be a foreign missionary.” But, there is a basic misconception at the core of such a statement. The fact is, you’re now a missionary, preaching Christ out where the sinners are, or you’re not. To put missionary work out in the future is to defeat its very purpose. A missionary is fundamentally a soul-winner, despite time or place. To conceive of the missionary as one who, after years of Bible school and college training, boards a plane and leaves for a foreign field is to misunderstand the entire proposition. To determine to be today the missionary that you hope to be in the future is the only true attitude.
