Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/84

Contributor - Freda Witteveen

Title - You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can't Make Him Drink

Topic - Editorial

Those who are acquainted with the peculiarities of horses can tell us if this old adage is true, although through the years we have come to accept its simplistic logic as being true and we can apply the truism to many different situations.

From this side of the typewriter, the saying might be, "You can write, edit and publish Pioneer, mail it directly to the members of the RCA, but you can't make them read it." As writer and editorial committee member, I feel both a great challenge and responsibility with the opportunities to influence some life on the journey to God's Kingdom. Admittedly there is also frustration, knowing the message is hidden in the bookcase or under a stack of newspapers. The members of the denomination at the very least should be obligated to read the Pioneer. It should be part of our daily educational life, a duty we assume when we make Public Confession of Faith. Oh, yes, you may not always be motivated to read; believe it or not, we are not always similarly motivated to write. However, I believe this is something required of us by God.

You see, in the past God has worked through devoted people in our church to bring about this magazine. It can be an important tool; its usefulness should not be minimized. It is important in linking the diversity of the denomination and it can be used by individuals as a springboard for sowing seeds for the Kingdom.

For that very important goal, those who serve the Pioneer strive continually to maintain a high standard of quality and we hope our striving is not in isolation. We need the readership to complete the task.

Yet we are sorrowfully aware that many of those who are in greatest need of the message are those not already reading it. Of course there are many wonderful readers who do feel enriched by the material and it should be incumbent on them to urge others within the body of Christ to read and to find ways to encourage nonmembers to read. This is one small way in which we can make the commitment we profess in our hearts visible in our living.

We lead the horse to the water trough because we know he needs water to live. Maybe he doesn't know it and we must convince him it is so. Likewise, the living water is here, which will fill our being, so we need never thirst again.

Parents read the youth page, then discuss it with your teens. Perhaps you will find your views are closer than you thought. Young parents, work through the childrens' page with the kids. Skip the TV and spend time in closer communion with them. Everyone, let us hear from you.

There is a sense of urgency in this job, heightened by the present focus on the Advent season, for we are reminded that the Kingdom is at hand. The harvest is not collected and the workers are tired and few. As surely as you read these words, God's plan for the second coming of Christ are unfolding and many will not be ready. Matthew 24:30 a, 31.... and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

In that day, Christ will find many kinds of believers, those who walk in moral uprightness, those struggling to hold on to their faith, those whose spiritual life has stagnated. We must regularly take stock of our faith, and measure it against what we know Christ expects of us. in that day he will accept no excuses. If we are in fear of that day, rather than eager for its arrival, our commitment to the church may be lacking. For what truly binds us together as Christians is that heartfelt commitment to the surety that the Kingdom will come and that there is a place prepared for us. Rev. Brownson in his article last month said we are a people who belong, and Rev. Bons expressed eloquently at the last editorial meeting his belief that we are a people with a commitment.

The vision of this committee is not on the monthly task of preparing the magazine but on the future of the church as it marches forward to its rightful place in the Kingdom.

Rev. 22:7, 12,20: "And behold, I am coming soon... behold I am coming soon, bring in my recompense... He who testifies to these things says.-Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

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