The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 19

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

19

of conviction attributable to stubbornness and self-
ishness? We should hate to claim this to be the
case. We are rather inclined to attribute it to a
lack of vision; they are not seeing that the fields
are white to harvest. They see the white fields in
a way, and yet in another sense they do not see
them. The missionary consciousness has not got
into their spiritual circulatory system.

But what can be done to better their vision?
What can be done to awaken their missionary con-
sciousness? We know of only one way, and that
is to-do as Jesus did: point to the white fields
everywhere in sight and tell of the urgency of sav-
ing the ripe grain, point to the great harvest all
around and urge the importance of praying the
Lord to increase the number of laborers that are to
bring in the sheaves.

If once our people awaken to the greatness,
ripeness, value, and danger threatening the harvest ;
if once our Christians realize that it is the Master’s
will that this rich, ripe harvest be gathered by us,
surely then there will be no hesitancy, no lack of
willingness, on their part to do the Lord’s will.
We are all convinced that the Gospel is the only
means of bringing salvation to the millions of un-
churched in our country. We profess our belief in
the Church as Christ’s body. But it is certainly
inconceivable that the body should be rebellious
against the Head; and the Head has commanded
the body to bear witness of Him.

So, then, dear Christian friend, lift up your
eyes, and as you lift them up, ask, as did the blind
man in the gospel: “Lord, that I may see!” In
answer to your prayer the Lord of the harvest will
show you millions in our favored land from whose
eyes is hidden the beauty of the Lord, whose hearts
have not yet thrilled with the sweet ecstasy of know-
ing the heavenly Father’s love; and whose souls
are still ignorant of that peace which passeth all
understanding. Within the compass of your vision
will pass a picture of the religious destitution of
our frontiers, the challenge of the newcomers to our
land, the millions in our cities calling by their con-
dition for spiritual uplift, the spiritual darkness
that covers as a black cloud vast rural areas of our,
native land.

Let none of us think that they are living in a
community where all Home Mission opportunities
are past. The writer lives in a small town of less
than 5,000 population. In our town there are seven
churches. When we came to this little city, over
twenty years ago, and spoke of doing Home Mis-

sion work, we saw indulgent smiles on the faces of
some of our brethren, and one of them told us that
we must not expect to gain any adults for the
church. Not a year has passed that we did not
gather in a number of new adult members, and the
year that has just passed has brought more adult
converts into the fold than any of the preceding
years. There are Home Mission opportunities
everywhere, in every urban and rural community.
Lord, that we may see! F. J. L.

Dedication Service of Bethlehem Chapel
at Oakland, Cal.

The president and vice-president of the Cali-
fornia and Nevada District, some of the professors
of Concordia College, most of the pastors of the
Bay Cities, and delegates from most of the churches
assembled at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, to join
with the members of Bethlehem Chapel on the
joyous occasion of the dedication of their beautiful
church-building. The church was purchased last
September, but it was not used at an earlier date
because of the remodeling that was done. This
work was finished by the first of the year, and the
chapel was formally set aside as a house of wor-
ship on the above-mentioned date. The day was
beautiful and clear. The custom of marching into
the building was not observed, for we had no other
place of worship. The audience soon filled the
building to its capacity. Professor Record rendered
music for the services. The dedicatory act, prayers,
and Scripture-lessons were read by the undersigned.
The festival sermon was delivered by Vice-President
G. Mieger. His text was Ps.87,1—3. In glowing
words he told us what joy and gratitude should fill
our hearts on this happy occasion, the dedication of
a church where the pure Word would be proclaimed
and the Sacraments would be administered as they
were instituted. He then dwelt on the true glory
of a Lutheran church, showing, first, that it was
built on the one and only foundation, Jesus Christ,
a sure and certain foundation, which nothing in the
ages has shaken or moved; secondly, how the Lord
loveth the gates of Zion because those who enter
through them hear His Word and do His will; and,
finally, that glorious things are spoken in a true
Lutheran church, the wonderful and saving doc-

‘trines that will make us happy in this life and

blessed in the life to come. It was an impressive —
sermon that will be long remembered by all who
heard it.