Public evangelism is neither dead nor dying. The divine idea of the pastor publicly proclaiming the Word of God is not destined for the ash heap. Newer methods of spreading the "good news" may be discovered, but none better. There is no substitute for the personal witness in the local community. Obstacles in the path of this type of ministry are numerous and forbidding. But those who face them may gain much inspiration and profit by pondering the fascinating story of one of the twelve spies.
Israel was encamped on the south bank of Jordan—the wrong side. In this we are not unlike them. Add to this woe, the pessimistic report of the investigating committee. The divine minutes faithfully record their faithless outlook. "The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature . . • and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" (Num. 13: 32, 33). The brethren were duly impressed. One look at the giants had given them the grasshopper complex. It is understandable that they should appear as grasshoppers to the giants. What amazes the writer is that the ten spies adopted the attitude of the opposition concerning themselves.
In recent months our friends of other faiths have spent some time in critical study of our message and our movement. Some of them have concluded that we are sectarian "grasshoppers." This is understandable considering the distance from which they view us. It would, however, be catastrophic if we began to share their views concerning ourselves. Such a course would indeed blunt our witness and greatly retard the spread of the gospel. How quickly Israel forgot how the Lord had led them! Preoccupation with the problem obscured their vision of a God who parted rivers, gave shade from the burning heat of desert sands, rained bread from heaven, and defeated enemies. They had indeed become "grasshoppers." But God wants men—not insects—to carry out His purposes.
Then followed the crime of doubting God. "Wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land?" (Num. 14:3). Can it be that this sin is being repeated today? Is there any doubt among us that the message can and will go to the world in our day? Does the million-soul statistic of our membership, as compared with the multiplied millions of earth's inhabitants, present a seemingly impossible task? Is it our right to question? Shouldn't we just get on with the job? To help finish the work of God is the unique program of Seventh-day Adventists. Ours is the saving message for this time. Have we any doubt that the God who gave it to us will through us see it triumph? Brethren, the task is ours. Let us face it! The victory is ours. Let us claim it! The walls of Jericho were leveled by a supernatural push. With this Power at our side, there need be no doubting or holding back.
Faith Overcomes Obstacles
One of the spies, Caleb by name, dared believe God and stood out against the tide of spiritual inertia. "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it" (Num. 13:30). This was no starry-eyed visionary. He recognized that there were formidable obstacles to overcome. He saw the mighty giants and fenced cities. There was no underestimating the problem to be faced. But Caleb saw beyond the problems. He saw God standing by and knew victory would be theirs. So he said: "Neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not" (Num. 14:9).
The minister of God is faced today with circumstances most grievous. Audiences are harder to attract and souls harder to win. Sin's attractions are many and varied. Satan's citadel is well fortified and his agents are strong. But "the Lord is with us." "Their defence is departed from them." Victory is ours through faith. Seemingly impregnable cities will be cracked by the power of the gospel. We must warn a waiting world not only of its coming doom but of the coming of Jesus Christ. It is for this message that the world hungers, though it knows it not.
Now Is the Time
"Let us go up at once," said Caleb. And his timing was perfect. He knew that lost time is lost opportunity. A thousand problems will arise tomorrow that today do not exist. Some men hesitate to evangelize from fear, not knowing that fears multiply in the incubator of procrastination. A child loses his fear of water by plunging in. Similarly we lose fear of men—by seeking men.
Every Joshua has his Jericho, whether it be in district work, or promotional and administrative responsibility. Our text leaves no room for bemoaning past failings or shortcomings. Caleb made no reference to the circuitous wanderings of God's people in the past. Nor was he much concerned about Israel's present confusion. His emphasis was on the immediate future. "Let us go up at once," was his plea. Some man of God reading this article may be nursing his wounds. The past has not been what it might have been. It could be that there has been a failure in the work, or in one's personal experience. Whatever it is, it is past. It is now that counts. What will the record be this year? It was not Caleb's fault that the children of God turned again to the sea. He had witnessed, and the deed was recorded in heaven.
Attack the Problem
After years of frustration Israel stood again at the water's edge. The same formidable circumstances that existed before, faced them now. It seems that problems just do not go away. They must be faced. The orders were passed from man to man, "Ye shall pass over this Jordan" (Joshua 1: 11). Your present position is temporary. This will be no long siege; no baiting the enemy to attack. This will be an assault. We will go where they are. We will move with consideration—but not caution. We will not husband our resources—we will use them. These were the marching orders. Israel could ill afford the luxury of self-praise while the job was undone.
In faith Israel attacked its problem—Jericho. Today, towering mounds of rubble give mute testimony to the fall of the once-proud city that blocked the path of God. What might have happened forty years earlier was accomplished by faith, unanimity, and push! What city today can ignore or withstand such an approach? As these words are being penned, reports are filtering through of marvelous evangelistic advances in the cities of the world. God's men are on the offensive, and if they go forward with the faith and courage of Caleb, there will be nothing to fear and the work of God will triumph gloriously. Let us "go up" and triumph with it.
E. E. C.
