Perspectives
on the World Christian Movement
"A course about God and what God is
doing"
Following is
what I learned from the Perspectives course:
Purpose is not to transform every student into a
missionary, but there is a desire "to inform every serious Christian so
that his/her decisions and discipleship can be strategic as well as obedient in
participating with the living God in his world mission."
The Biblical Perspective explores God's abounding purpose that his people
participate with him in bringing his redemptive rule to all peoples of the
earth.
The Historical Perspective examines the progress and continuity of the Christian
movement in world history. Various strategies and notable figures of the major
epochs shed a penetrating light on the current situation and the remaining task
of world evangelization.
The Cultural Perspective pinpoints crucial issues of cross-cultural communication
and service and suggests a fresh but Biblical understanding of identification
and contextualization in the missionary task.
The Strategic Perspective offers understanding an overall strategy of reaching the
world's unreached, focusing on strategies of evangelism and church planting,
relief and development, going and sending, and prayer.
FAIR WARNING This course carries with it a
certain danger. The experience of taking this course will set you apart in
certain ways from even your closest friends. There is something terrifyingly
lonely about the cross of Jesus Christ. You may not feel at home in all human
circumstances and diversions. A whole new pattern of relationships might
develop if you hang in with great determination concerning a Commission which
pertains urgently and crucially to people who are outside the range of normal
conversation, beyond the awareness of normal church life, thinly and almost
meaninglessly, if at all, in the prayers of the average Christian. It is this
element of loneliness with which the Great Commission itself attempts to deal.
ASSUMPTION: You desire to follow the
teachings of the Bible. But what kind of obedience is encouraged in the
Scripture? Is missions/evangelism on the periphery, an afterthought? Is
evangelism a good Christian behavior?
WE WILL DISCOVER THAT MISSIONS LIES AT THE CENTER OF
GOD'S CONCERN.
Missionary evangelism is more than good activity, it is
partnership and fellowship with the living God, for he is a missionary God.
THE LIVING GOD
IS A MISSIONARY GOD
I. Missions and the Bible
A. The Bible - The Basis for Missions.
"Missions is in the Bible somewhere." Universal Themes (Is 45:22;
John 3:16).
Isolated mandate verses (Ps 96:3; Mark 16:15)
B. Missions - The Basis of the Bible
The story of God accomplishing his mission is plot of
Bible
God's mission is the backbone upon which the Bible is
built
God's mission is based on delivering his Word: Mission is
reason there is a Bible
II. The Purpose of God
A. God's Problem (1) satanic kingdom bent on
usurping God's reign
(2) Mankind in rebellion, abdicating vice-regency in a
bid for power
B. God's Unified Purpose It is expressly missionary.
-Reconquer His rightful domain and reestablish reign
-Reconcile man to Himself through the cross
To redeem a people from every people, and to rule a
Kingdom over all Kingdoms.
III. The Plan of God
A. Genesis 1-11 God deals with all mankind. His purpose includes all
peoples.
B. Genesis 11 God's scattering of the nations was judgement and
marvelous mercy
C. Genesis 12 God's choice of Abraham was a beachhead--a strategic
breakthrough
THE OBLIGATION
AND THE OPPORTUNITY
I. The Obligation The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12) and Sinai
Covenants
Witness to God's name: Ex 34:6-7; Num 14:18; Ps
86:15;103:8; Joel 2:13; Mic 7:18; Jonah 4:2; Is 12; Ps 113:1-9; 48:10; 66:4;
86:8-10; 96:1-10; 99; Ps 145:8-20; Jer 16:19-21; Zeph 3:8-12; Mal 1:11.
II. The Opportunity Set apart
Ex 9:13-16; Is 63:11-14; Jer 9:9-10; Ps 106:7-8; Ex
32:1-14 (Nations in view) Num 14:1-23 (Believe and pass on glory or Israel to
pass away); Dt 7:6-8 (People set apart); Dt 26:16-19; 14:1-21 (Law set them
apart)
- Geographical location pivotal; Temple a focal point for
God's name to be revered.
(Dt. 12:1-11; 1 Kg 8:41-43; 10:1-9; 8:54-61; Is 56:6-8)
- Israel Profanes God's Name (Judg 8:22-23; 1 Sam 8:4-22;
12:6-22; 1 Kg 11:1-3; Ez 20:5-44; 36:16-23) Isolated his Name (Jon 4:2)
III. God's Persistence: Exile and After
- Israel taught that if God is only a national deity, he
had failed.
Coming of Kingdom to include all nations (Dan 7:13-14; Is
11:1-10; Ps 102:12-22; Zech 14:1-9; Mic 4:1-8; 5:2-5; Is 49:6)
- Grand opportunity as witnesses eg. Daniel, Esther,
synagogues, proselytism
THE KINGDOM
STRIKES BACK!
I. The Day of the Lord
-Power (Is 66:15-21; Zeph 1:14-18; 3:8-13; Ps 96:10-13;
Joel 2:28-32; 3:12-17)
-Peace (Zech 2:10-11; Mic 4:1-7)
-Purification (Amos 5:18-20; Mal 3:1-5; 4:1-6; Is 66:3-6,
14-21)
II. John and Jesus
-John: Ancestry of no account Mt 3:1-12
-Jesus: Good news Mt 4:23; Lk 4:14-30
III. Kingdom "The Kingdom of God is the exercise of
God's right to rule."
Already, Not Yet: The apostolic work of church is the
reason for the interim.
Matthew 24:14 The length of the Interim
IV. Jesus the Missionary Messiah
Care for Gentiles (Mt 8:5-13; 15:21-28; Jn 4; Lk 9:51-55;
Jn 12:20-32)
Jesus' Strategy
1. J. concentrated on the Jews (uniquely prepared,
theological base)
2. J. concentrated on small group of disciples.
3. J. acted to bear the sins of many.
4. J. repeatedly announced his Commission between
resurrection and ascension.
(Jn 20:21 (Mission of the Father); Mk 16:15 (Mission of
power); Lk 24:44-48 (Mission founded on OT scripture); Mt 28:18-20 (Mission
based on his authority)
V. His Disciples--Reluctant Apostles
Pentecost, persecution, Peter.
Antioch Church (Acts 13:1-4)
Breakthrough (Acts 11 and Gal 2)
THE NEW TESTAMENT'S SEVEN GREAT
COMMISSIONS
---J. CHRISTY WILSON
1. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY MATTHEW 28:18-20
2. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S UNIVERSALITY MARK 16:15-16
3. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S RESPONSIBILITY LUKE 24:46-48
4. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S SOLEMNITY JOHN 20:20-21
5. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S STRATEGY ACTS 1:8
6. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S MINISTRY ACTS 26:16-18
7. THE GREAT COMMISSION'S NECESSITY ROMANS 10:13-15
THE EXPANSION OF THE WORLD
CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT
"Since God's global purpose is central in the drama
of Biblical history and our God is the Lord of history, then we would expect
that same purpose to be important in subsequent history. But our popular
impressions of history tell us otherwise. Things seem to get off to a good
start, but a chaotic darkness appears to blanket the Christian movement until
the Reformation. Did God get frustrated with his followers in the first century
and give up on His intention to see the Gospel go to the ends of the earth? Has
God only recently awakened to some bright possibilities of missions in the
modern world? [Does] God let eons of struggle and darkness roll by without
action? Thus, the basic question emerges: Is there any continuity to history?
Dynamics of economics? Evolution of human society? We will consider the dynamic
of the steady evangelization of earth's peoples as the principle of
continuity.
I. THE EPOCHS OF EXPANSION (CULTURAL BASINS)
A. Romans (0-400 AD) Mediterranean
Rim peoples incl. Roman, Armenian, Celtic.
Ulfilas, Nestorians, Armenians, Alaric
B. Barbarians (400-800 AD) West Central European peoples, mainly Gothic.
Patrick, Colomba, Clovis, Charlemagne,
C. Vikings (800-1200 AD) Scandinavian peoples of Northern Europe.
Monasteries, Cluny
D. Saracens (1200-1600 AD) Horribly misguided mission--Muslim peoples
Francis of Assissi, Raymond Lull
E. Ends of the Earth (1600-2000 AD) Thousands of people groups of megaspheres.
Ignatius of Loyola, William Carey, Ralph Winter
II. Momentum of the Movement
Note "pulsations of retreat and advance"
(Latourette) of mission. When God's people did not reach out, darkness ensued
with invasions, plagues, or destruction. Disobedience in regard to the gospel
was serious. Taking away the blessing resulted in the Blessing being forcefully
passed on to new peoples. "Disobedience to the heavenly vision--in any
era--will quell the interest in sending people out" (Ralph D. Winter).
III. Fruit of the Faith
A minority of earth's population clings to faith in
Christ, but more people espouse belief in Jesus than any other. The effect of
Christianity is all out of proportion to its size. In education, alleviation of
suffering, ending of war, humanitarian achievement, Christianity is
unparalleled in its influence.
"Never
has there been a day of greater potential for the spread of the Gospel."
Vocabulary Example
Voluntary Go William Carey to India
Involuntary Go WWII Xn soldiers go global &
return to start 150 Mission Agencies.
Voluntary Come Queen of Sheba to Solomon's Court
Involuntary Come Slaves brought
to America
Modality Cornerstone Baptist Church
(support mission band)
Sodality Wycliffe Bible Translators (Second
Decision-extend church)
IV. THREE ERAS OF MODERN MISSION HISTORY (1800-2000 AD)
1. First Era--Coastlands--William Carey
2. Second Era--Inland areas--Hudson Taylor
3. Third Era--Unreached Peoples--D. McGavran, Cam
Townsend, R. Winter.
V. PIONEERS OF THE MOVEMENT
William Carey offers a challenge to his day and ours to
follow at least as far as commerce will go to reach distant lands. His
exposition (An Enquiry) of the commission of Christ exposes all who
would leave it in the dusty apostolic past.
Hudson Taylor issued a call to go inland. China's
Spiritual Need reflects his passion for the Chinese and served as a call to
service to thousands.
Cameron Townsend's heart was turned to peoples without
the Word, no longer hidden behind the walls of geography, but behind formidable
linguistic barriers. Founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Donald McGavran added profound strategic edge to
Townsend's vision of people groups without the gospel. Bridges of God
has profoundly influenced recent mission endeavor. Founder of the School of
World Mission at Fuller Seminary.
Ralph D. Winter in a speech before the Lausanne Committee
for World Evangelization in 1974 while a mission professor at Fuller ignited
the world church in focusing on the Remaining Task--Unreached Peoples. Founder
of the US Center for World Mission.
THE DIMINISHING TASK! Across the
centuries, the constantly decreasing number of non-Christians (people who do
not consider themselves Christian) per committed Christian (people who read,
believe, and obey the Bible).
100AD 360
1000AD 220
1500AD 69
1900AD 27
1950AD 21
1980AD 11
1989AD 7
* 500 million committed Christians today are in about 7
million congregations, which is 583 congregations for each of the remaining
11,000 people groups.
* Seventy percent of all people throughout history who have
come to Christ have come in the last 200 years.
Seventy percent of those people have come since 1945.
Seventy percent of the people since 1945 have come to
Christ in the last ten years.
* Non-Western Christians are now the majority--58% of
world Christianity.
THE TASK REMAINING
Status of the World Christian Movement
More individuals confess the name of Christ than any
other religion. An arm of the church lives in almost every land. The Christian
movement grows as never before, exceeding in many places the population growth.
There is no room for pessimism. But at the same time, at least two-thirds of
the people in the world do not know or believe the gospel.
Cultural Distance from the Gospel
The most stunning and awesome reality is that even if Christianity
flexed all of its muscle and shouted the gospel to all within its sphere, still
there would be silence among over 2.5 billion people groups. Why? Cultural
distances between the evangelizing force and the people without Christ.
People Blindness
"Unreached People Groups: those cultural and
linguistic sub-groups, urban or rural, for whom there is as yet no indigenous
community of believing Christians able to evangelize their own people."
Christians today do not know much about the people groups
still without the gospel. Why? There are several reasons:
Political: Common view: "nations" refers to countries
God's view: "nations" refers to
peoples
Strategic: Common view: Focusing on the actual count of individuals (Xn/nonXn)
Strategic view: Focus on potential movement to
Christ w/in people groups.
Cultural: Common view: Defining work
done at a significant geographical distance as missions.
Cultural view: Better to understand work at
significant cultural distance as mission.
Missiological: Our view: Evangelist's communication distance, cultural
dislocation
Their view: Peoples' conversion
distance, blocking out unnecessary cultural dislocation to become Christian.
Basic Distinctions:
--Evangelism and Missions: We reserve the term Missions
for cross-cultural work. Certainly evangelism takes place in all mission work,
but we use the term Evangelism to disignate evangelistic work within the
same culture as that of the evangelist.
--Regular and Frontier Missions: Whenever a church is unnecessarily
objectionable or not culturally accessible to a people, we consider this people
group to be beyond the frontiers of the gospel. Work among these people
is called Frontier Missions. Foreign workers among a people group which
has a viable, indigenous, evangelizing Christian movement are still considered
missionaries, but we refer to this kind of work as Regular Missions.
UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS 11,000
Major Blocs: Tribal, Hindu, Muslim, Chinese, and Buddhist.
Priority: 1- Penetrating Frontier People Groups
"A Church
for Every People and the Gospel for every Person by the year 2000"
2- Mobilizing the Total Mission Force
3- Mobilizing for Missions on the Congregational Level.
* Currently only 11% of the world mission force and 1 penny
of every $100 given in church is used in frontier mission.
GLOBAL HARVEST FORCE AD2000 PROJECTION
165 ecclesiastical traditions/families
32,000 denominations
24,000 parachurch or service agencies
103,000 institutions
2.1 billion Christians
2.0 billion affiliated church members
4.1 million worship centers
400 million Sunday school enrollment
1 Billion active Great Commission Christians growing at
6.5%pa
600 million daily evangelizing Christians
300 million daily intercessors
30 million in full-time prayer ministry
4 million full-time Great Commission workers
40,000 Great Commission leaders
41,000 Christian martyrs every month
200,000 new churches planted or opened a year
10,000 churches closed or suppressed a year
190,000 net increase in churches a year
4,800 mission agencies
400,000 career foreign missionaries
60,000 foreign missionaries from Third-World countries
250,000 short-term foreign missionaries
500 Great Commission research centers
5,000 computerized networks
75 global networks
9 global meganetworks
1 Great Commission giganetwork
350 million Christian or church-owned or operated
computers
Copyright 1997-2008 Gene Brooks. You are visitor #
since January 9, 1998.
Last updated March 30, 2008.