We are all familiar with Acts 1:8 in which Jesus commanded His disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth. This command is also a literal prediction, and we in America are proof that it was fulfilled. From Jerusalem, America is the uttermost. We use this verse today as a guiding principle for our missionary outreach. We begin in our Jerusalem and reach to the uttermost, whatever we consider that to represent.
I don’t claim to be the authority as to how this verse should be applied symbolically, but here is what it means to me: Jerusalem is my country, Judaea is other English-speaking countries, and Samaria is the major trade languages and countries. The uttermost represents the ethnic groups speaking languages that have never been reduced to writing and have no Scriptures. The focus of my thought here is Samaria and the uttermost.
Most Baptist missionaries never reach beyond Samaria because Samaria is their destination. They plan to go to a country. Even though that country may have many other languages, they only plan to learn the official language. The official language of Mexico is Spanish, the “Samaritan” language. However, there are at least two hundred ninety-six other languages. These are the uttermost languages. In Cameroon, the “Samaritan” languages are French and English, but there are two hundred seventy-seven other uttermost languages in this African country. As the uttermost represents millions of people and thousands of languages; it should disturb us that we are doing so little there.
To reach the uttermost, you must go there on purpose; it’s way off the beaten path! You also must pass through Samaria—and herein lies part of the problem. Samaria comes first, and most Baptist missionaries get stuck there. Compared to the uttermost, Samaria is an easy place to live and work. The language, although difficult, can be learned by study and hard work, especially with the help of a language school or tutor. None of these advantages exist in the uttermost. If the missionary does not know how to learn an unwritten uttermost language, he probably won’t even attempt to. I know it sounds simplistic, but why not train our missionaries to learn languages? You may be shocked to find that our Baptist Bible colleges don’t! It is like teaching a child math, history, English, and science, and then telling him to go outside and rebuild the engine in the family car. Homiletics, hermeneutics, Bible doctrine, speech, and missions are wonderful courses that every pastor and missionary should study. However, these do not enable him to accurately recognize, reproduce, and write the sounds of a strange new language. They don’t help him discover the culture of a people group. Yes, he knows how to preach in America, but if he cannot speak the uttermost tongue, he is helpless. Furthermore, without adequate knowledge of the belief system, he doesn’t understand the people’s false beliefs and is unable to replace them with the truth.
Another reason the missionary stays in Samaria is that is where he can get quicker results. And after all, isn’t that what we want? Don’t we Baptists want to see reports of souls saved, people baptized, and churches established? Even if the missionary had planned to reach the uttermost, the folks back home will not be disappointed if he stays in Samaria, as long as he is getting results. You see, the uttermost is located within the country of Samaria. The worldview of Samaria is broader and its culture more readily accepts a new religion. The uttermost culture, however, is very closed. Rejection of the old way and embracing the Christian way may bring ostracism or expulsion from this group. These people seem to be even more bound by evil spirits than the Samaritans. Years may pass before the home churches see results from their investment in the uttermost missionary.
To sum it all up, we usually do what is easiest. Samaria is not easy, but it is much more so than the uttermost. Uttermost missionaries must learn two new languages: first that of Samaria and then the uttermost language. The Samaritan tongue and culture is difficult, but compared to the unwritten language and culture of the uttermost, Samaritan is easy. However, Jesus didn’t tell us to go into all the world and do what is easy!
I should ask God where (not if) I am supposed to serve. I should never tell God that I will go only to Jerusalem or Judea. Even willingness to go to Samaria is not enough. If I am not surrendered and willing to go all the way to the uttermost, then I am not really surrendered to God! He may want me at home, in Judaea, in Samaria, or in the uttermost. If it’s the uttermost, I must dedicate myself to that place. I must prepare for that place. I must be totally determined to reach that place and stay there. And, as I pass through Samaria, I must keep moving and not get stuck!