Reaching Out
SECRETS OF SUCCESS (2)
Section III: A Precedent
Characteristics of a Missionary Church:
Sent and Supported
It is truly significant that the Antioch church sent out the old experienced hands, the best they had. One cannot but wonder what would be the result if 100 or more of our largest congregations were to send out their best men, heralding the great message of God to a world lost in sin. It is frightening just to imagine the total impact both at home and abroad of such a bold move. The early church sent them out.
The Holy Spirit cries, “And how shall they preach except they be sent” (Rom. 10:14)? Does it mean anything that the man who gives up his home, his loved ones, country, comforts, customs and carries with him a deep, insatiable love for the lost, and the great news of the saving Gospel, has sufficient income on which to live? This old saying applies: “If your out-keep goes over your income, then your up-keep is your downfall.” Do missionaries eat less than preachers at home? Are they less worthy because they preach to less saints and more sinners? Financial aid was given (1 Cor. 9:14). Expenses still cost money. A missionary should not even consider leaving home without proper support for his family. He owes that much to his children and wife. Also, a working fund should be considered for taking care of such items as rent on a worship hall, advertising, Bible Correspondence Courses, postage, utilities on worship hall, tracts, filmstrips, projectors, screens, teaching supplies, Bible school materials, computer, software, and other needed items. A working fund is to the missionary what the treasury is to the local home church. A missionary should never be afraid to ask for what is needed – but always make sure what is asked for is actually needed to preach the Gospel!
Dr. Harrison once said: “In order for the preacher to do his best, we must back him up. Give the preacher the praise and the encouragement he deserves. Don’t freeze him. He’s got the hottest message in the world. He just needs somebody to fan him.”
Paul was supported by churches (Phil. 4:15). Today we rob preachers – Paul robbed churches. Every business company in the world expects to pay more for overseas duty. The very least brethren should do is extend adequate support, determined by the local conditions.
The church owes the missionary as much today as in Paul’s day – self-denial, prayers, and wholehearted support. Growing churches are sending churches, just like the one at Antioch. When you send, this presumes you care. If you do not care, you only get into trouble by sending. You find yourself doing a work with only your hands, and not your heart. Love before you care. Care before you send, and allow both your love and care to go with the missionary. This was the example of the church at Antioch.
A Cosmopolitan Church
As we have seen, the population of the place was mixed, comprising Syrians, Jews, Greeks and Romans. This feature is reflected in the composition of the church itself.
The evangelists from Cyprus and Cyrene, themselves Jews, addressed their message here, for the first time, especially to the Greeks, i.e. Greek speaking Gentiles: (R.V.) “and a great number of those that believed turned unto the Lord.” Among these would be both Greeks and Syrians with probably a sprinkling of Romans. Most likely they represented that body of Gentiles who had previously come under the influence of Judaism and were in varying degrees, in touch with the Jewish synagogue. However, they were not for the most part circumcised. There were also Jews converted in the church at Antioch. Thus the congregation was cosmopolitan in character and composition and so well fitted to become a missionary church. Being universal in spirit and sympathy, it could feel for, and yearn over, the whole wide world of men. The more diversified the elements gathered into a particular church, the more likely is that church to become a missionary power. Racial or caste spirit is the death of evangelistic zeal.
While we deplore such things in others, we need to beware, lest, however unconsciously, national and racial pride hinder, through us, the progress of the Gospel.
On the other hand, unity is seen in many areas. When the rice fields are full of ripening grain, the little ridges which divide them into plots and sections are lost to view; then we see not a series of separate patches, but one wide stretch of living green. Christian unity and missionary fruitfulness also go together.
