To Every Man's Door, Part One

By Jim Barclay


I want you to know that it is a genuine pleasure for me to talk with you as a lay person about our responsibilities to God as they relate to our mission to the world. In Matthew 24:14 is one example in the Bible of the basic instruction God has given us about our mission. You will observe that the instruction is general—not specific. This church, however, has been greatly blessed by the work Ellen White did for us under God's direction. The specific instruction she has given us greatly clarifies our mission responsibil- ities.

Let's start with general instructions that Ellen White gave that parallels Matthew 24:14: “It (the coming of the Lord) will not tarry past the time that the message is borne to all nations, tongues, and people.” Review & Herald 6/18/1901.

I want to call your attention to a specific point before we get too deeply into our subject. Neither the Bible nor the Spirit of Prophecy sets any quantity standards for the second coming of Christ such as:

1. Baptized church members

2. Churches

3. Schools

4. Publishing houses

5. Hospitals & clinics

6. Conferences or institutions

We must admit, however, that we do have a quantity standard that must be met before the second coming can become a reality— “the message to all nations, tongues, and people.”

Today our world population is more than [6.3] billion people. By the year 2033 we are told that the population will be more than 8.7 billion. That is about [30] years away. Many of us know that [30] years is not very long. These facts may frighten us, and we may become discouraged and call the task impossible. Let's remember though—God does not give out impossible assignments. We can take comfort in the following instructions: “When we give ourselves wholly to God, and in our work follow His directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment.” Christ's Object Lessons, p. 363.

“In comparison with the millions of the world, God's people will be as they ever have been, a small flock.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 590.

But...“Success does not depend on numbers. God can deliver by a few as well as by many. He is honored not so much by the great numbers as by the character of those who serve Him.” Patriarchs & Prophets,  p. 550.

Further examination of the instructions indicate we are to carry the message “from town to town, from city to city, from country to country.” Gospel Workers, p. 27. And in addition, we are to “carry the word to every man's door.” Review & Herald 7/10/1883.

As we contemplate this responsibility, we must recognize that there is no other corporation in the world with a marketing responsibility to go to every town, every city, and to every man's door in every country. This is an enormous obligation, and we cannot continue to deal with it in a casual or frivolous manner.

How can we implement our mission? Let's look again at the instructions given in the Spirit of Prophecy. “The proclamation of the gospel is the only means in which God can employ human beings as His instrumentalities for the salvation of souls.” Vol. 7,  Bible Commentary, p. 984.

The apostle Paul, that great preacher, has an observation about the subject of proclaiming. Let's look at it in 1 Corinthians 1:17, the first part: “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”

I am confident that Paul was not opposed to baptizing converts to the gospel. I am also confident that Paul has a message for us here today. Baptizing, which to us signals church growth, is not our first priority. Proclaiming the message is our first priority.

Many of us feel very uncomfortable with our responsibility to the mission. We don't know what we should do or how we can do it. I believe that part of this feeling of insecurity comes from our lack of understanding our duty as compared to what God does.

Baptizing, which to us signals church growth, is not our first priority. Proclaiming the message is our first priority.

Let's examine for a moment what the instructions say God does:

1. “He alone can water the seed sown.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 420. SO WE DON'T WATER THE SEED.

2. “God alone can give the increase of the seed we sow.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 529. SO WE DON'T GIVE THE INCREASE.

3. “While we are to preach the Word, we cannot impart the power that will quicken the soul and cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.” Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 63,64.

And the one I like best:

4. “As men, women, and children proclaim the gospel, the Lord will open the eyes of the blind to see His statutes and will write upon the hearts of the truly penitent His law.” Vol. 7,  Bible Commentary, p. 984.

How do we proclaim? What tools do we use? The Lord's messenger tells us: “The living preacher and the silent messenger (published word) are both required for the accomplishment of the great work before us.” Review & Herald 4/1/1880. You will notice that this is a required team effort: the living preacher and the published word. BOTH MUST BE USED.

Most of us are somewhat aware of how great the work is before us. Most of us are very aware of our basic role as a living preacher. We are also concerned about our limitations in reaching people: our neighbors, our associates at work, the people in our town, etc. We are not so confident of our use of the published word as a means of accomplishing the great work before us.

Let's look at the instructions again: “The book work should be the means of quickly giving the sacred light of present truth to the world.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 69. I want to call your attention to the word “quickly.” Rarely do you see it used in relation to accomplishing the mission.

“The same ministry of angels attends the books that contain the truth as attends the work of the minister.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, pp. 315, 316. With this instruction we can more easily understand that we do have the tools necessary to carry out the great work before us. We can now go beyond our personal limitations as a living teacher.

Here is another principle that we must clearly understand. “Preaching is a small part of the work to be done for the salvation of souls. The ministers may do their part, but they can never perform the work that the church should do.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 69. If preaching is a small part of the work to be done, we laity have largely been expecting preaching to do the whole job.

Let's continue with the Spirit of Prophecy instructions that have been given to us. “It is not the Lord's purpose that ministers should be left to do the greatest part of the work of sowing the seeds of truth.” Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 21. At this point we laity must admit that there is no logical way that the relatively few ministers of our church can do the greatest part of the seed sowing work in the world of [6.3] billion people. Let's be realistic—the greatest part of the seed sowing is our work, not the minister's.

Coming to grips with this reality also means that paying our tithe does not transfer our seed sowing responsibility to the ministry or the church structure. Have you ever heard of a notice being sent down from the General Conference, Union, or Local Conference saying, “Just send us your money—you don't really need to do the seed sowing?” Obviously you have not and you will not.

I believe we have allowed ourselves to come to this condition of an unfinished work, because we have at least partially subscribed to what Ellen White calls “criminal unbelief.” “The work of God is retarded by criminal unbelief in His power to use the common people to carry forward His work successfully.” Review & Herald 7/16/1885. You and I are the common people; and with God's power, we can do what He has asked—SOW THE SEED!

Part Two