CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning July 28—Comment by Rev. S. H. Doyle.
Topic.—Missions; true philanthropy.—Gal. vi, 1-10.
Philanthropy is the practical love of mankind. It is “universal good will, readiness to do good to all men.” Philanthropy should embrace the entire man—body, mind, soul. It is usually limited to the care of the body and of the mind, but should not be so limited, because “the soul is the man, and the man is the soul.” A limited philanthropy is a defective philanthropy. True philanthropy is not limited and hence not defective. True philanthropy is nowhere so well illustrated as in Christian missions. The Christian missionary aims to elevate body, mind and soul, and therefore is the truest of all philanthropists.
Missions help the physical man. The care of the human body is of most vital importance. It is the dwelling place of the Holy Ghost and is not to be denied or dishonored. The relation that exists between the body and the mind is a most intimate one, and a sound body is a primal necessity to a sound mind. Heathenism largely ignores the body, and is usually grossly ignorant of its wants and needs. Christianity gives the care of the physical man its proper place. It does not deify the body, nor does it ignore it, but it does give it an important place in man’s nature as greatly influencing both mind and soul. Wherever the missionary goes the importance of the human body is emphasized, and the proper methods for its development, care and preservation are inaugurated, and the physically weak and infirm are cared for.
Missions help the intellectual man. Christianity is not stoicism. It does not make the cultivation of the mind the chief end of man’s existence, but it does believe in the education and development of the intellect; it does believe in and practice the care of those who are afflicted with mental infirmities. Wherever the Christian missionary goes there is renewed interest in education, in the development of the mind. The church and the school, the Bible and the spelling book, go hand in hand. Christianity is the handmaiden, not the foe, of education and of intelligence.
Missions help the spiritual man. The supreme aim of Christian missions is to care for the human soul, to have it redeemed by the blood of Christ and kept by the power of the Holy Ghost after it has been redeemed. This is the end of all missionary work. It would reveal God to man in Jesus Christ and have God reconciled to man in Christ. No philanthropic work of any other character can be compared to this. The care of the soul is of infinitely more importance than the care of body or mind. The missionary therefore in any every sense is the truest philanthropist. This fact should increase our missionary zeal. Philanthropy is greatly magnified today. If we would be the truest of philanthropists, we must be interested in and supporters of missions.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Let the missionary committee arrange a special missionary programme.