The Mission Field Tomorrow

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by Arthur F. Glasser

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Is it possible that the missionary movement as we know it may come to an abrupt end in our day and generation?

What will be the probable characteristics of the mission field of tomorrow?

We must first ask ourselves whether we are justified in probing into the future. Does not the Word of God tell us that our Lord would have us "take no thought for the morrow"? Does He not want us to concentrate on the immediate present, on living the precious moments of today in the directive will of God and not bothering about the morrow?

While it is true that the present is what counts with God – whether or not right now we are filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit – God likewise desires that we discern the times in which we are living, that we might anticipate future trends and prepare ourselves now for what lies ahead. The Christian today needs a greater sense of adaptability than previously, because the tempo of the changes is increasing steadily.

Of course, one can go to extremes in this. Five years or so ago, there were some warm-hearted American evangelists who made relatively short flying trips to Japan and held terrific numbers of meetings throughout the islands. In no time at all some of them envisioned themselves as experts on missionary methodology. They showed a tendency to frown on the missionaries, especially the recent arrivals, with their prosaic ways of plodding along in laborious language study. "Don't you people realize that Japan is going communist in a matter of months?" they asked. "There's no time to study the language; we've got to evangelize!"

So pontifical were these words that some were influenced. They put away their language books, engaged interpreters and set to work. Now, five years later, how filled they are with regrets, for they still can't speak the language. Moreover, they are beginning to regard their mass evangelistic effort in a different light. They are beginning to realize that the number of decisions made in public meetings in an Oriental country is indicative of the Holy Spirit's work, only when a year's time is allowed to elapse and the fruit of these meetings is still manifest. (See article "Japan - Revival or Just Rumor," by M. L. Fieldhouse, "The Christlife Magazine," Vol. 2, Number 12).

Hence, we would acknowledge that one must be very cautious as he seeks to appraise the future. We are unable to speak with the prophetic word. And you must be doubly cautious when yen seek to apply all this to your own preparation for future service. Only God has the key to the unknown future. Consider what we say, but wait upon the Lord for His particular guidance for you. He alone knows the end from the beginning.

Following are some of the probable future trends.

The Triumph of Totalitarianism

Barring some gracious intervention of God in the form of either the glorious return of Jesus Christ or worldwide spiritual revival with its consequent wholesome influence on the whole of human society, it would appear that the present worldwide political and social upheavals of our day will reach a climax and usher in some form of totalitarian world government. A historian no less distinguished than Arnold J. Toynbee states that due to technological development, world government is inevitable. He further believes that in our day, because of the very moral climate of the Western world, and the totalitarian efficiency of the communists, there is every possibility of the triumph of Marxism being worldwide ("A Study of History" by Arnold J. Toynbee. See the review in TIME Magazine, October 18, 1954, p. 108).

I do not propose to argue this point. All I know is that the Word of God portrays the present gospel age coming to a violent, terrible climax with the emergence of a man of sin, that Anti-Christ of Anti-Christs, who shall rule the world. How reads the Scripture? "Power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him...He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:7-8; 16-17).

When I think of this coming dreadful one, I pray that the time of his emergence be delayed a season. The world in its present darkness is still without Christ. Vast multitudes have not as yet had the privilege of hearing of His salvation. The liberals say we should be horrified at the thought of men living without Christ. This should be our missionary motive. In a sense we agree. But how much more awful to contemplate the unmitigated tragedy of men dying without Christ. Oh, that in these days, ere the awful end, the work of preaching Christ to the ends of the earth would be greatly accelerated.

Furthermore, when one thinks of manner in which the Wesleyan revival of the 18th century transformed the whole moral and spiritual climate of the English speaking world, one is constrained to pray that God will do it again, on a worldwide scale. "Revive thy Church, O Lord!"

In the year 1804, when Napoleon was still unconquered and Britain was in daily fear of invasion, many were convinced that he was the terrible Anti-Christ portrayed in the word of God. Many were wringing their hands. Some men felt that the times were so desperate that it was unwise even to marry. But, thank God, there were those devoted Christians who noted the darkness, recognized the times, but also read their Bibles and obeyed God.

In that same year, 1804, the first Bible Society was formed for the dissemination of the scriptures in the languages of those peoples who had not yet heard the gospel. Other Christians saw to it that the monstrous evil of slavery suffered in that same year its first major defeat. Still other Christians were active in founding great missionary societies (see "Trumpets of Jubilee," the British and Foreign Bible Society's popular report for 1954). And that was 150 years ago! Unfavorable political conditions are never an excuse for inactivity. And today is no exception as we face the ominous future.

So, although the future looks dark, we should see beyond the darkness of even Anti-Christ. He is to rule for a season, then the Lord will come and reign forever. And the Lord's coming is related to worldwide evangelization. One is the prerequisite for the other. Since Christ has not yet returned, the great task of missions is still unfinished, for "The gospel must first be published among the nations," and then the end shall come (Mark 13:10).

But what if totalitarian world government is in the near future? Since it is a distinct possibility, and serious minds say that it is, should we not face this fact? We desire to devote all of our energies to preaching Christ where He has not yet been named and hasten thereby His return. This is paramount. But it is neither profitless nor unreasonable for us to contemplate serving God in a coming totalitarian age. In fact, if we are wise, we will give this our sober reflection. It is bound to influence our evaluation of present missionary trends.

The Cessation of Missionary Work on the 19th Century Basis

The missionary movement of our day is experiencing not a little anguish. In many areas, it is true, things are relatively quiet and the work goes forward. But in other areas, missionaries are encountering all sorts of difficulties. Especially this is true where nationalism or racism are present, or where the communists are politically active, or where Romanism is sensing its growing insecurity as Protestants increase in number (which causes them to try to smear Protestants by calling them communists).

Now, it must be recognized that not all missionaries in one locale encounter the same difficulties. India is a case in point. Recently a liberal missionary in India had his request for the extension of his visa turned down. Upon returning to America he wrote a widely publicized article. Among other things he said, "Christian missionaries in India today are living under police surveillance. They frequently are attacked in the press and from the public platform. . ." (The Christian Century, Nov. 24, 1954 p. 1430).

The undiscerning might read this and think the day of mission work in India is rapidly drawing to an end. But such generalizations should be avoided. Upon checking up on this man, I discovered that prior to his going to India, he was very active as a labor union official and as an official in the old, pro-labor National Labor Relations Board. In India, he desired to work among urban industrial workers. Perhaps he meddled with the internal affairs of India. I do not know. But I do know that not all missionaries adhere to Paul's standard of determining to make central Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Indians especially resent missionaries who meddle in their internal affairs. As a result, they have every right to order them to leave.

However, there are godly Christian missionaries all over the world who are encountering increasing difficulties in their work for Christ's sake. It is because of their reports that mission leaders are beginning to ask themselves: "What is this all about? What is the future of missions if this state of affairs continues? Is it possible that the missionary movement as we know it may come to an abrupt end in our day and generation?"

These are serious questions. They have vast implications. And the problem is not limited to the intransigence of local officials. Sometimes missionaries have found it difficult to understand what is happening to the national churches with which they are supposed to work. At first there seems to be a restlessness that intrudes from time to time, disturbing fellowship and marring their relationship.

The national Christians seem to be too guarded, too restrained. Then a gulf begins to open between them. Some missionaries have had to endure the awful humiliation of being asked to leave. A nationalistic spirit seems to have gripped the church so that the very fact of his being a foreigner makes spiritual fellowship difficult. This experience was not uncommon to many missionaries working in China during the closing years of the missionary era in that land.

R. Kenneth Strachan, in a recent address on present missionary trends, quoted a letter he had received from a missionary working in Latin American who had been asked to leave. With his permission I quote it here:

We regret that there have been ugly scenes and personal bitterness as a result of the conflicts precipitating the move. We have made terrible mistakes, but we feel that the biggest mistake was that of sending us here in the first place. We regret having to leave just as we become acquainted and begin to get the feel of the situation here, but we regret that we ever came here at all.

If you people are sitting back and saying, "We thank Thee, Lord, that this does not happen in Costa Rica," let me raise my prophetic voice and say, "Woe unto all missions working under 19th century patronage, Ye are sowing the wind and ye shall reap in due time the whirlwind" (Missionary Research Library; Vol. V, No. 13., Nov. 12, 1954).

This letter is very significant. It reveals that in the present upheavals mission policies of the 19th century are causing difficulties for the missionaries of the 20th century. In fact, in country after country today, especially where nationalistic movements are growing, the 19th century type of missionary society is rapidly coming to the end of its usefulness in the plan of God.

This fact is causing some Christians to feel that the work of God is collapsing too. But this is hardly the case; we should not be too mission-centered in our thinking. Be God-centered. Be Church-centered. In the 19th century God did a wonderful thing. In order that His gospel should be preached unto the ends of the earth, He touched a Carey, a Judson, a Hudson Taylor and many other spiritual giants, and through them brought missionary societies into being. And He mightily used these societies in evangelizing the lost, training converts and planting local, indigenous churches. We must think of these societies as the tools that God has been using during the past 150 years. Many of them are still active in the work and God is still blessing their efforts.

But in our day, this day of revolution and change, He has been withdrawing some of these societies that the churches they have brought into being might continue the soul-winning work these societies commenced. In our day the center of evangelistic outreach is rapidly shifting from the foreign agencies to the national churches. And as to the future – well, the day may come when foreign missionary work as it is known today will have ceased to exist.

Consider China. A missionary force of several thousand missionaries has been withdrawn in recent years due to the triumph of communism. What did they leave behind? Just some buildings? Just some broken pieces of foreign organizations? No, they left a Living Church. True, it is a small church, whose aggregate membership is less than one percent of the total population.

This church, scattered throughout China, has the staggering task of not only maintaining its testimony for Christ, but of extending its witness to Him to the millions as yet without hope in God. It is completely surrounded by the awful pressure of a militantly atheistic movement. It is a church that is suffering for the Lord's sake. And we, on the outside, cannot go to our brothers and sisters there and labor with them in the work of the Lord. But is God's work coming to an end now that no foreigners are there to help? With God on their side, anything might happen!

To answer this question I would call your attention to Ethiopia. In 1936 as a result of Mussolini's conquest, all foreign missionaries were driven out. In one large area the converts numbered less than 100. As the missionaries departed, this little flock, in the midst of many wolves, cried out, "Goodbye, we'll be faithful till Jesus comes." And they were, though at a frightful cost.

The persecution was severe. Their leaders were beaten with lashes. The small congregations were beset by national spies and occupying Romish armies. And yet, the Lord was in the midst of His Church and the flame of God's salvation went from heart to heart. Pagan Ethiopians began to turn to these persecuted ones for that Life which they so manifestly had. Persecution increased. There were imprisonments. But "prisons became pulpits" and the number of martyrs increased.

In 1942 the missionaries returned. They found 150 churches with over 20 thousand Christians in attendance – and this without the help of a foreign missionary society. And there has been much growth since 1942. At present there are over 100 thousand Christians in this district supporting over 100 full-time evangelists.

The Task of World Evangelization Completed by a Suffering Church

The record of the Ethiopian Church may possibly become the general pattern for the days ahead. Have you heard of what God is doing in the Kikuyu Church in these days? That is the Church existing in the same tribe that also contains the Mau-Mau movement. The Church is suffering. But it is also growing.

Or consider the example of the Church in Colombia, South America. It is also a suffering Church. But it is also a growing Church.

A sovereign God is working today and will work tomorrow. All His works are perfect works and all His victories are complete victories. It was His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who initiated this program of world evangelization with the confident prediction that it would be triumphantly consummated with His personal, glorious return.

God's great work today is that men believe on His Son (John 6:28, 29). And this work will be completed when His righteousness has been vindicated through the worldwide preaching of the gospel, and when His gracious desire to save an elect people from among the peoples and tribes of earth has been accomplished. God is working today toward the ultimate victory tomorrow, and will continue to work through those of His own whom He can control, until the task is completed.

The Christian era commenced with a small minority of disciples filled with His Spirit and loving one another. They began their worldwide witness within the confines of a totalitarian state. They witnessed and suffered and died, but the Church grew. They did not create missionary societies to propagate the faith. They didn't need them.

For the first two or three centuries, the light of the gospel went steadily forward and outward as each individual Christian sensed his responsibility to contact the souls in his immediate neighborhood. Suffering, singing, witnessing, dying, they conquered the very totalitarianism that sought to destroy them. Who were they? Just artisans, craftsmen, peddlers, merchants, fishermen, many slaves, teachers, some government officials, many soldiers, a few wealthy, innumerable women and children. They all felt the responsibility to go tell someone else, and God worked mightily through them.

If present political trends continue, the Church may possibly return to its original, apostolic simplicity; triumphantly witnessing, until God's great program is completed. They may become the "poorest of the poor, the hungriest of the hungry" (The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, p. 89) – completely despised on earth. But God will be their God. He will not fail them and in His name they will go forward. With Him they will be the "richest of the rich!"

Suffering is bound to be the common experience of the Lord's people in the days ahead. The pressures of the Anti-Christs will be ever bearing upon them. All this is almost certain because of the presence and activity of the devil. Even as Satan is at work today, so will he be even busier tomorrow as he sees the day of God's ultimate triumph drawing ever nearer.

His present hostility to the Jews and his opposition to the work of world evangelism are indications of his realization of the great significance of these two factors as they bear on the return of Christ, and on his own doom. Because of this, the opposition he will give to God's people will mount in intensity.

Spiritual conflict on the morrow will be sharper than at any other period in the history of God's people and the common experience of all faithful followers of the Crucified will be one of suffering and pain. But God's work will emerge triumphant. His cause of missions will be consummated.

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December 27-31, 2009