Nothing Draws Like the Lifted-Up Christ
J.W. McCollom, also a missionary from Alabama, reported to the Convention on May 6, 1898:
The People, while showing no marked interest in the Gospel (rather manifesting a chilling indifference), are not entirely unwilling to be told of Christ the world-Saviour. Material prosperity has so absorbed their energies of heart, mind and body that, to all appearances, they were unwilling even to think that this life would ever end.
One peculiar outcome of this indifference has been a greater willingness to hear just the Gospel and nothing but the Gospel. They have no time to listen to fine-spun theories; but, though in great haste, the pure Gospel has for them an attraction which compels attention. Thus the truth of Christ's words, "and I if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself," has been strikingly verified. Nothing draws like the lifted-up Christ.
Statistics -- Our statistics will show that the year has not been entirely fruitless, though the progress has not been so marked as we had hoped it would be. However, when we remember that eight years ago very few of the sixty-one members repotted knew anything of the Saviour, we are made to rejoice anew in the fact that the Gospel is the power of God -- to every one who believeth.
To me it is so amazing that 111 years ago the main stumbling block to the Japanese accepting Christ was materialism because I think that is the top reason today. Besides that, it is not surprising to me that 111 years ago, 2,000 years ago, and today, nothing draws like the lifted-up Christ.
The People, while showing no marked interest in the Gospel (rather manifesting a chilling indifference), are not entirely unwilling to be told of Christ the world-Saviour. Material prosperity has so absorbed their energies of heart, mind and body that, to all appearances, they were unwilling even to think that this life would ever end.
One peculiar outcome of this indifference has been a greater willingness to hear just the Gospel and nothing but the Gospel. They have no time to listen to fine-spun theories; but, though in great haste, the pure Gospel has for them an attraction which compels attention. Thus the truth of Christ's words, "and I if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself," has been strikingly verified. Nothing draws like the lifted-up Christ.
Statistics -- Our statistics will show that the year has not been entirely fruitless, though the progress has not been so marked as we had hoped it would be. However, when we remember that eight years ago very few of the sixty-one members repotted knew anything of the Saviour, we are made to rejoice anew in the fact that the Gospel is the power of God -- to every one who believeth.
To me it is so amazing that 111 years ago the main stumbling block to the Japanese accepting Christ was materialism because I think that is the top reason today. Besides that, it is not surprising to me that 111 years ago, 2,000 years ago, and today, nothing draws like the lifted-up Christ.
