Introduction to Missions Lecture 16: Introduction to Missions Lecture 16 MI Dr. Robert Patton
History of Missions: History of Missions Two models but one basic principle
Incredible growth of the church: Incredible growth of the church Started with 120 in the upper room Now 33% of world are “Christian” – at least nominally – about 2,000,000,000
The Roman Empire: The Roman Empire Apostolic period 33-95 AD with approx. death of John Much of the Mediterranean area - ? Spain All apostles persecuted; all martyred except John, who was exiled to Patmos when Domitian could not kill him Persecution started with Nero – approx. 64 BC
Advantages in spread: Advantages in spread Good roads & transportation Uniform language - Greek – and culture Toleration of Judaism as a protected religion “ Pax Romana ”
Persecution 64-313 AD: Persecution 64-313 AD Many bishops martyred Ireneus Polycarp Justin Martyr The martyrs of Lyons – such as Blandina
Persecution: Persecution 10 major persecutions between Nero and Diocletian, who vowed to remove all Bibles and destroy Christianity Yet Christianity spread in all provinces of the Roman Empire and to Mesopotamia Tertullian: The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church (Christianity is worth dying for)
Why persecution?: Why persecution? Religious – protected when considered part of Judaism, but when that was rejected – persecution Political – you can believe, but Caesar must have first place. Emperor worship consolidated the empire
Why persecution?: Why persecution? Economic – loss of income, such as from making idols Social – convicted others, did not attend the theater and arena, no immorality Considered atheists – because they did not worship idols you can see
Constantine: Constantine Had a vision before a battle with another competitor – a cross and a voice “in this sign conquer” Painted crosses on shields, “baptized en mass the troops marching in the river, and won Thus – accepted the Christian faith
Edict of Toleration 313- 500 AD: Edict of Toleration 313- 500 AD Christianity tolerated, then preferred Many heathen priests and laymen flocked to the churches – most unsaved Many heathen practices were “Christianized” Purification through persecution was no longer present
Edict of Toleration 313- 500 AD: Edict of Toleration 313- 500 AD Little stimulus for true evangelization Church became rich and powerful
Medieval expansion 500-1517: Medieval expansion 500-1517 Roman Catholic church prominent – there was a split with the Greek Orthodox about 1000 AD Roman Catholic doctrine against true evangelism Combination of the church and political power – such as Charlemagne, etc.
Syncreticism with paganism: Syncreticism with paganism Catholic doctrine often mixed with paganism Trust in baptism & sacraments Often persons relapsed back into paganism Some true believers at all times Classic example – Francis Xavier Syncretism still exists today
Charles Martel: Charles Martel
Charlemagne: Charlemagne
Boniface chopping down the oak of Thor: Boniface chopping down the oak of Thor
Europe “Christianized” by 1200 AD: Europe “Christianized” by 1200 AD The area of France and Germany, where there was a lot of competition Scandanavia – finally the Vikings were placed under control
Cyril and Methodius: Cyril and Methodius
By 1000, Christianity was the state religion of Sweden King Olaf Harald: By 1000, Christianity was the state religion of Sweden King Olaf Harald
Major attacks by Islam: Major attacks by Islam Islam spread rapidly from 632 to 732 – all of Arabia, much of the middle east to the Balkans, and North Africa Expansion into Spain for 800 years, and to France until stopped by Charles Martel Major Mongol invasions from the east to the area of Russia
Spread of Islam: Spread of Islam
Saladin – muslim conqueror: Saladin – muslim conqueror
Genghis Khan: Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan empire: Genghis Khan empire
The fall of Constantinople: The fall of Constantinople
Francis of Assisi: Francis of Assisi
Peter Waldo: Peter Waldo
Protestant Reformation 1517-1700: Protestant Reformation 1517-1700 Reformation – to restore Biblical Christianity; return to the Scriptures Luther Zwingli Calvin But opposed by the Catholics, and by the counter-reformation
John Wycliffe: John Wycliffe
John Huss: John Huss
Maarten Luther & German Bible 1534: Maarten Luther & German Bible 1534
Zwingli: Zwingli
John Calvin: John Calvin
Travels of Francis Xavier: Travels of Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier: St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier: St. Francis Xavier
Reformation: Reformation Reformation is present, not revival False theology – especially Calvinism & Reformed – see below
Why the “great omission”?: Why the “great omission”? Claimed the great commission was only for the apostles The heathen are at fault for rejecting God’s word The government rather than the church is responsible for reaching the heathen
Why the “great omission”?: Why the “great omission”? God would save the heathen without their help “where there are Christians, missions are superfluous; and where there are no Christians, they are hopeless”
Phillip Spener, father of German Pietism: Phillip Spener , father of German Pietism
August Franke – University of Halle : August Franke – University of Halle
Schwartz: Schwartz
Moravian revival: Moravian revival Continuous 24/7 prayer meeting for 100 years Unity among those at Herrnhut Outreach using laymen, who also were “tentmakers”
Count Zinzendorf: Count Zinzendorf
Zinzendorf preaching to the nations: Zinzendorf preaching to the nations
Herrnhut: Herrnhut
American Revival: American Revival Jonathan Edwards, but also others Evangelicism also in England Whitefield Wesley Note well – true revival often spurs missions
Revival – 18th Century: Revival – 18 th Century German Pietism – revolt against sterile Lutheranism Franck, Spener & the Danish Halle Mission Count Zinzendorf & the Moravian mission More missionaries from one small church than from all Protestant churches for 200 years Greenland, West Indies, Suriname, & many others
Jonathan Edwards: Jonathan Edwards
Theodorus Frelinghuysen & Gilbert Tennent: Theodorus Frelinghuysen & Gilbert Tennent
George Whitefield: George Whitefield
John Wesley: John Wesley
19th century – the Great Century: 19 th century – the Great Century William Carey – father of modern missions Mission societies started 1792 – An Enquiry written Pioneer evangelism Adoniram Judson – Burma Christian Schwartz – India Many others – usually on the coast
William Carey and Serempore College: William Carey and Serempore College
Adoniram Judson: Adoniram Judson
19th century: 19 th century Hudson Taylor Beginning of faith missions China Inland Mission David Livingstone AIM, SIM – reaching into Africa
Jennie Faulding, Taylor’s second wife & Taylor: Jennie Faulding, Taylor’s second wife & Taylor
Judson in prison: Judson in prison
Henry Martyn: Henry Martyn
Robert & Mary Moffatt: Robert & Mary Moffatt
David Livingstone: David Livingstone
Sculpture Livingstone mauled by a lion: Sculpture Livingstone mauled by a lion
John Williams, memorial tomb: John Williams, memorial tomb
John Geddie & Aneityium: John Geddie & Aneityium
John G. Paton: John G. Paton
A B Simpson: A B Simpson
Nyack College & Simpson: Nyack College & Simpson
Fredrick Franson: Fredrick Franson
20th century: 20 th century Growth of many faith missions Specialization Medicine Radio & TV Aviation Agriculture translation
HCJB: HCJB
HCJB: HCJB
Graham Staines: Graham Staines
First group for AIM: First group for AIM
Jim Elliot and others: Jim Elliot and others
Mother Eliza Davis-George: Mother Eliza Davis-George
Her ENI schools - : Her ENI schools -
Modern challenges: Modern challenges The unreached people groups – 97% are in the so-called 10-40 window The untaught – only 7-8% of the 6900 languages have a complete Bible. 2000+ language groups have NO scripture Persecuted – 200,000 martyrs/year; 400 million under some form of persecution