The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 9

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Che Lutheran Pioneer.

A MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

PusiisnEep BY THE EVANGELICAL Lurmeran SyNopican CONFERENCE or Norvit AMERICA.

REV. F. J. LANKENAU, EDITOR.
Published monthly by Concordia Publishing Mouse, St. Louis, Mo. Subscription price, 50 cts. per annum, payable strictly in advance,

Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Acceptance for malling at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103 Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 5, 1918.

Vol. XLVI. ST. LOUIS, MO., FEBRUARY, 1924. No. 2.

OUR MONTHLY MISSIONARY MOTTO.

“‘God was in Christ, reconciling the WORLD unto Himself ...; and hath COM-
MITTED UNTO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION.”’ 2 Cor. 5, 19,

Money.

The other day the writer visited a congrega-
tional meeting in which the complaint was made
against the pastor that he preached too much about
_ money. We doubt not that in many instances

pastors do bore their members with the unending
preaching on money and harass themselves by
doing so. On the other hand, we must not lose
sight of the fact that very often congregations make
this complaint without good cause, and that every
mention of the need of money is offensive to them.
If things were as they should be, the simple presen-
tation of the wonderful growth of missions in prac-
tically every country of the civilized and uncivilized
world would be the only thing necessary to make
the money flow like water. The simple telling of
the marvelous story of modern missions far and
near, the simple narration of the savingof millions
of immortal souls everywhere through the faithful
and unselfish efforts of Christian missionaries, ought
to stir us all with enthusiasm and awaken in us
a desire to aid in this blessed work to our utmost
ability. And therefore there ought to be no need
of ever dwelling on the subject of money at any
great length.

We are all people of at least average intelligence,
are we not? Such being the case, and because we
want to see Christ’s parting command faithfully
carried out and His Gospel preached over the whole
world, we know that missionaries cannot be trained
and sent out into mission-fields unless money is

forthcoming. Salvation is free, but bringing the
glad tidings of salvation to people costs money; it
requires money to preach and teach the Gospel of
Christ, to build churches and schools. This being
true, there is not one among us who does not know
that it is his duty to give his financial support'to
the Church and its missionary enterprises.

The mixing of a little grace with our common
sense ought to enable us to settle the money ques-
tion quite easily. If we but let God’s grace sanctify
our knowledge of conditions, the money question
will quickly be arranged. Here also we may apply
the advice of the apostle: “Let all things be done
decently and in order.” Use method in your church
and business finances as you do in your other affairs. _
Remember that you are God’s steward and therefore
you ought to make money matters in church affairs
a matter of conscience. Set aside a portion of your
weekly or monthly income for the Church. Do not
do this hastily, but use deliberation. However,
when once you have decided what sum it is to be,
then abide by your decision. Having decided
definitely and positively what sum the Lord is to
have for His kingdom, you should set aside a part
of this for missions and pay it in regularly, be it
weekly, monthly, or quarterly. This, we think, is
the best way to contribute to missions. It is much
better than occasional or spasmodic giving, since
it will enable the various mission boards to estimate
in advance the sums that will be available for the
coming year and will make it unnecessary for them
and the missionaries to act as collectors. We have