Tell It to the World!

People of today do not have the serious, reflective minds of forty years ago and this mental change seriously militates against the acceptance of those Divine truths which it is our privilege to put forth: the Gospel of the Kingdom of our Lord.

I have often heard it said, “Oh, people do not want the Truth”, so this article is written by way of critical enquiry ... Are these things so?

Empty Chairs - Why?

This state of mental apathy is often seized upon by brethren and sisters to explain the lack of interest in our meetings and the absence of strangers therefrom. I have often heard it said, “Oh, people do not want the Truth”, and sometimes this is taken as sufficient excuse for sitting back and not putting the amount of effort which is needful in the Lord’s service. Some have even closed down their lecturing efforts, or hold such addresses infrequently. So this article is written by way of critical enquiry. Are these things so? Is it really the fault of the people around- their listlessness and indifference to things eternal- or is it possible that our methods may also be at fault?

Avenues of Enquiry

Therein lies a great question. We know that we have the greatest message, the mightiest truth: “The Hope of Israel”. But how do we present this truth? Often the procedure is to insert an advert of two or three lines in a local paper and then wait for results. In other cases, leaflets are given out spasmodically. Here again arises more enquiry. Is the message attractive? Does it grip the hearer? Is the title of interest? Is it timed rightly? Has it got a real human appeal? Is the speaker one who can hold attention? These and many other factors come into this arena of enquiry.

Now let us consider the business field instead. If we have a commodity which we know to be excellent, how do we sell it? How do we advertise it? Do we sit at home and wait for people to come and buy our wares, or do we send out salesmen whose job is to find prospects? Do we publish it on hoardings and tell the world about its advantages, stress its values far and wide? I think so. The successful merchant never attained the top place by sitting in his warehouse, or by placing a small advert in the local newspaper. He made his advertising matter interesting, compelling, appealing. He went about telling everyone about it. He made a noise about it. If his advertising matter was cheap, poorly written, lacking appeal and devoid of interest, it would militate against successful business. These are facts well known amongst business people. I often think that we find a far greater degree of efficiency and effort in business life than in the Lord’s service.

Returning to the greater subject – the field of the Gospel – the comparison is far above those mundane matters of daily life. We have been given the knowledge of something which is far greater than material commodities: the message of life eternal. Jesus and his disciples went out into the highways and byways. They often preached by the great caravan routes which ran from Galilee down to Arabia and many times they must have told their message to the concourse of people passing by. Jesus had said to them, “Come, and I will make you fishers of men”. Most of his followers were fishermen. They were used to the patient watching for the sign of fish, those shoals which come and go. On the other hand, they often watched the lake in vain and caught nothing, even after much toil. But the fisherman was a patient fellow. He knew the right bait, the right place to fish and he used all his skill. We, too, are fishers of men.

I have seen brethren who, on finding someone with a knowledge of spiritual things, proceed to demolish the spiritual foundation of the one who is looking for more light, instead of building upon the foundation already there. To show the better way from the Bible, instead of condemning another’s ideas is more successful.

Attractive Matter and Titles

Then again, people today are simply not interested in such subjects as whether the devil is a person, or the precise moment in which Adam’s sin brought so much difficulty into the world. They are much more interested in the human story of life’s adventure, its meaning, purpose and identity and the coming of Jesus to alter the present and state of world affairs. I am not suggesting that doctrinal subjects – especially those fundamentals we know so well – are of little worth. They are. They form the basis of the Gospel. But no fisherman ever caught fish with the hook only. It was the attractive bait on the hook which was the magnet. If the disciples were here today, it is very probable that their foremost theme would be – in such an outstanding era as ours – the return of Jesus Christ and the sequel, and also its effect upon the lives of mankind.

Thus I would stress firstly that the foremost message for today is the coming of the Lord Jesus. I would hammer away with this message week after week with the same main heading, but varying sub-titles. Undoubtedly there is a serious time ahead, and I would dwell on it. As we read in Luke 21: “These are the days of vengeance that all which is written might be fulfilled”.

I would stress firstly that the foremost message for today is the coming of the Lord Jesus. I would hammer away at this message week after week

Must Make People Think

Another need today is wide publicity. That which has been heard in the ear should be shouted from the housetops. It is no good sitting back and thinking that a ½ inch newspaper advert will stir people. I would tell it by flaring poster, by stirring leaflets, by shop window card adverts, by posters on the sides of cars, by newspaper articles, by radio and in any other way which would make people think. Brethren and sisters should be canvassed one by one and asked to take an interest in these things instead of showing the deadly complacency which seems to be settling down on the brotherhood in many parts of the world. The day draws nearer and the signs deepen day by day. What we want is more of the individual approach, more of the door to door canvassing, more of the personal testimony and appeal. I would like to see more of the Sunday afternoon street meetings.

Our Own Apathy

Many members do not come to the meetings at night – many could, but do not. They do not realise the effect of their absence, both on the speaker and to themselves. The coming of the Lord is fearfully close. I say “fearfully” because of the tremendous issues – both personal and national – associated with it. We cannot afford to treat this subject lightly. How can we enthuse other people if we ourselves are apathetic? How is the stranger affected when he finds the hall sparsely filled, even when the subject is so alluring?

If we knew the Lord was coming next Wednesday, what would our reaction be? We would rush about to make sure of the last minute things. We would try and fill in many things we had left out. We would be sure to go to the meeting, and this can happen any day.

A Part for All

Now for the personal side. A meeting can be greatly helped by personal contact, that is, by members going out and seeking their audience. They can persuade others to come along and listen. The personal factor is a great one. Jesus and the disciples used it in their day. They had many a private conversation, and apparently they concentrated upon many people as individuals. At work, or in conversation, people can be asked to go along and listen to a good speaker and his message. Even in this seemingly apathetic age there are still people who can be influenced to think upon divine things. A few minutes here and there during the day might work wonders. If brethren and sisters would try the personal factor more than is done, it would probably yield better results.

These are stirring times. Never was the Gospel of the Kingdom charged with such mighty possibilities which are so near.

Let us remember the illustration of “one-get-one” campaign. It is this. If ten people could persuade another ten in one year, how much would this amount to, in the same ratio year by year, at the end of 12 years? The answer is startling, for it is 20,480. All that is necessary is that one person should gain another one each year. It is obvious from our small numbers that many have not gained even one for a long time.

Surely, on review, it must be agreed that we need to put into this great work much more effort than we have in the past, if we hope to interest people. We need to overhaul our methods, make each member of the meeting an ambassador and an advertising agent for the Lord Jesus. All should be conscious of this high office to which they have been called. There is more need for addresses on the coming of the Lord, more need for warning the people around of the judgements that are near, and the mighty changes that will shortly take place on earth, and their effect upon people generally. The Hope of Israel commenced with a promise to Abraham and an assurance of the ultimate peace of the world through this promise. Therefore it is a sure message for a chaotic world and we need to present it as if it were the only thing in the world; we need to stress it, tell it everywhere and on all occasions.

We need, too, friendly meetings, where the stranger is made to feel welcome. We need interesting speakers who have studied the subject beforehand, and, lastly, we need efficient publicity. These are stirring times. Never was the Gospel of the Kingdom charged with such mighty possibilities which are so near. If these remarks have stirred any to think upon the possibility of improving our presentation of the Gospel, then this article will have fulfilled its mission, to tell the world.

Bro Charles French (Australia)