The Lesson of Mar's Hill

N. C. WILSON, Vice-president for Southern Asia Division, says—

Those of us who work in pagan and highly philosophical lands are often im­pressed with the apostle Paul's experience in dealing with a problem similar to ours. He tried the same methods which many Christian missionaries are still attempting, but he reached the conclusion that the gospel of Christ and pagan philosophy do not mix at all well together. He found that if a man is going to preach Christ, he had better stick to his task, and not seek to blend in local philosophy as a "bait."

The gospel of Christ is the power of God to save men. Pagan philosophy is human wis­dom that tends to confuse men's minds. The former leads in a straight path to God and truth; the latter goes around in a never-ending circle. We find today that the advent message in all its fullness needs neither help nor sup­port from the predominant false religious sys­tems of the East. That they are diametrically opposed to God's truth and message is incon­trovertibly clear. We have no fellowship with the mystical and indefinite religious teachings of these lands.

The apostle Paul learned his lesson, and we must learn the same lesson. The positive­ness and simplicity of the truth of God ap­peals to the hearts of men, whether they be in Calcutta or New York. God has given us something tangible and solid to lay hold upon in the advent message, and this inspires peo­ple with heavenly hope regardless of where it is preached.

When we try to adapt our presentation of the truth and our method to those of the great religious movements of the East, we wander out of God's pathway for His people. The advent trumpet must be given "a certain sound," and that sound is easily recognized whether it be given in India or some Western land. We are not a philosophical people, nor do we want to be. The advent message has within itself the power of God, and any com­promise weakens that power.

Many people in Eastern lands are seeking for something new—something better than their age-old religions can offer. We must  take every opportunity "in season and out" of presenting that better way—God's only true way. This can never be done by compromising with specious philosophy, God's message is to be clearly proclaimed, and when this is done it stands out in glorious contrast to the mystical teachings of the great Eastern religions, just as the apostle Paul's message cus­tomarily stood out in contrast to the pagan philosophy found in his day in Asia Minor.

It has wonderfully cheered our hearts and given us renewed confidence in the advent message to see Indian men of learning and culture attentively listen to the preaching of  our doctrines from night to night and comment favorably on the attractiveness of the clear truth of God. If they wanted to listen to philosophical discussions, they could go to those schooled in such things. But they are tired of uncertainties. The simplicity and directness of the advent truth speak to both their hearts and minds, and provide them with a solid foundation.

We feel from experience and observation that those methods and plans and plain presentations of the message which have made our movement what it is in the home-base fields, are also the most successful in these Eastern lands. Of course, skill must be employed in gaining and holding the attention  of these people. Different methods of approach and labor are often necessary. But we must constantly make sure that we are preaching the great God-given verities of the advent truth, not a diluted or showy gospel which we feel may appeal to the people, only to find that we have missed the mark.

We are doing everything we can to encour­age our workers to enter into the program of larger evangelism to which this division has committed itself. I am confident that our workers, one and all, are anxious to see a much larger ingathering of souls. We are confident that 1937 will be revealed as our best year in baptism when the statistics are completed.