Brief History of Methods of Missions

Part 1

How did we get to where we are today, and what can we learn from the past?

1

Major Divisions of Church History

• • • • • • Apostolic 30-100 Ante Nicene 100-325 Post Nicene 325-500 Medieval and Renaissance Missions 500-1792 Great Century of Mission Pioneering 1792-1910 Century of Technological Missions 1910-Present 2

Ante-Nicene 100-325

• • • • Mostly Asia Minor, Palestine, North Africa, but also Greece, Macedonia, Cyprus and Rome Tradition says Thaddeus went to Edessa, Mark to Alexandria, Peter to Bithynia and Cappadocia, Paul to Spain, Thomas to India Local churches were small, able to meet in homes, but multiplied rapidly.

By end of 1 st Cent. Est. 100 city churches, mostly Greek speaking in thousands of homes 3

• • • • •

Factors of Growth

Roman road system Safety of travel (

Pax romana

) Common Greek language (as English today) Greek philosophy • Love of

truth

• Dissatisfaction with superstition Jewish synagogues everywhere • • Taught a personal God who wanted a relationship with everyone

Galatians 4:4

But when the

fullness of the time

came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 4

• • • •

2

nd

Century Dynamic Growth

Spread along Roman Road system (as train system in Argentina) Evangelists were Greek speaking (East) or Latin speaking (West), esp. to educated and upper class Roman church size seen in Eusebius’ letter at 251: 46 presbyters; 7 deacons; 7 sub deacons; 42 clerks; 52 exorcists, and readers; 1,500 widows and needy in church of Rome. Est. 30,000 members (Eusebius 1984:265) LaTourette states the Christianity active in all provinces of Empire 5

3

rd

Century—Less Dynamic Growth

• • • • • • • • Emperor Diocletian Edict of Persecution AD 303-311 Period of civil strife from German tribal invasion Great economic dislocation, inflation Great growth of church till AD 303 Estimate that 15,000 died as martyrs, many Dioletian 284-305 recanted under torture as did the Bishop of Rome Constantine issued Edict of Tolerance AD 311 Edict of Milan AD 313 made Christianity a legal religion The edict of Theodocius AD 383 made Christianity the only allowed religion and Rome the guardian of the Church.

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Gregory of Nyssa

Special characteristics of Early Church: Bishops

• “Bishops” continued the itinerate work of apostles and prophets, among house churches in urban areas • Instruction would continue till they could elect their own bishop • Gregory Thaumaturgos, appointed bishop of Pontus about AD 240 • Tradition: started with a congregation of 17, died with only 17 in the city unconverted • Substituted pagan feasts for celebrations for martyrs, to make easy transition to Christianity 7

Great missionaries

• Ulfilas: missionary to the Goths • In midst of Arian controversy, given permission by Constantius II to settle in modern Bulgaria in 348 (d. 383) • Devised the Gothic alphabet • Translated the Bible from Greek 8

Lay Missionaries

• Businessmen carried the gospel on trips, conversations, etc • • Roman soldiers first brought gospel to Gaul (France) and Great Britain • Retired with large estates on frontier of Empire • Often started churches, esp. in SE Europe • House churches in major cities multiplied under Bishop’s care Most bishops had been successful lay workers 9

Missionary Methods

• • • • • • • Preaching in public Teaching in schools, training schools for presbyters Using their homes, w/o buildings: congregation divided into cells Oral witnessing through testimonies Literature evangelism, apologias, letters, polemics and Scripture copying Public testimony by conduct, trials, martyrdom Social Service: Harnack lists 10 different ministries from supporting widows and orphans, to helping prisoners and slaves 10

• • • •

Missions in Post-Nicene Era

Remains in Rome Great numerical growth within Roman Empire through government involvement and support Approaching pagan tribes presented a challenge Constantine identified Christianity with Empire and best way to pacify warlike tribes Great preachers, early translations and benevolent work won many to Roman Christianity 11

Christianity pre- (325) and post Nicea (600)

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Monasticism and Missions

• • • • Monasticism began in deserts of Egypt to flee corrupt society Sought to become holy by solitude and discipline to gain acceptance before God Monastery regimented entire day and night to keep residents from sinning.

Tension: some wanted life of service, while others wanted solitude to gain holiness 13

Most outstanding evangelist: Patrick of Ireland (389-461)

• • Began as a lay evangelist, as a captive in war while a teenager • Organized many Christians already in Ireland • Converted many pagan districts to church Brought Ireland into relationship with Rome 14

Factors of Post-Nicene Expansion

1.

2.

3.

4.

Conversion

(change) became the norm — convenience rather than bold faith Expansion outside Empire impeded by Persian Zoroastrianism, yet some reached Arabia, India, Ceylon and China. Provided element of stability and security in a disintegrating society Moral living of Christians showed superiority 15

Factors of Post-Nicene Expansion

5. Zealous missionary activity 6. Demonstrations of power of Gospel 7. Favor and support of Roman government 8. Monasticism brought admiration, helping poor, defending oppressed 9. Success breeds success, growth brought more growth 10.Neighboring tribes that migrated to Empire quickly converted 16

• • • •

Medieval and Renaissance Missions (500-1792)

Roman church became base of great expansion, but political Romanism was in decadence Association with Rome was a disadvantage in Persia, India and China Gains of first 500 yrs mostly lost to Islam and Buddhism Meanwhile, Nestorians carried Christianity to China by 635 17

Encounter with Islam (600-1215)

• • • • • Just after winning over animistic pagans, militant Islam attacked Battle of Tours in 732 stopped Islamic invasion of Europe through Spain Took all of N. Africa to Afghanistan and Tunisia Christianity mounted a series of 7 Crusades to take back the Holy Lands (1072-1272) • Created a disaster for Christian missions due to atrocities committed in name of Christ —This bitterness has never left the region Opened the eyes of Europeans to world travel and more sophisticated civilizations 18

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Reaction and Renewal (1215-1650)

• • • • Eastern Church isolated to pockets and fortress mentality Western Church became major power dominated the political, cultural, economic and religious life of Europe through fear Such power brought inevitable corruption A reformation movement began —Bible translation • Wycliffe, Bohemian Brethren, Luther 20

Roman Catholic Missions

• • Joined explorers of Spain and Portugal Much cruelty and forced conversions on style of Muslim conquests • • Medieval dissidents were suppressed, documents destroyed by Inquisition Petrobrusians, Arnoldists, Henricians, Waldensians, Bohemian Brethren, Lollards, Hussites and Taborites all sought biblical authority for faith…and paid dearly 21

Protestant Reformers (1517 1650)

Farel, Calvin, Beze, Knox • Led by Luther, Farel, Zwingli, Calvin, Beze and Knox, but all lacked a world vision • Their hermeneutic took Rom 10 and Ps 19 as fulfillment of Great Commission • • • They were consumed with their reforms They had limited contact with other religions • Protestants rejected monasticism, which was chief toll of RCC missionary effort —No substitute structure was developed Reformers were very territorial —developed state churches with political and police powers • Their eschatology taught that they were in the end times, so no long range plans necessary 22

Reform and Revival (1650-1792)

• • • • • • Initially Protestantism lacked spiritual depth Pietism sought to renew spiritual life by small group, prayer and Bible study among Lutherans Univ. of Halle founded on these principles to equip missionaries Most famous graduate Count von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) and Moravian missions (Anabaptists) • Spent his life and fortune for world missions Forerunners of Wesleyan revivals and William Carey’s Baptist Missionary Society First Awakening in the US (1730-40s) 23

The Great Century (1792-1910) European Beginnings (1792-1810) • • • • • • William Carey (1761-18334) Father of Modern Missions Bi-vocational Baptist pastor/shoe cobbler/teacher Taught himself 7 languages, world geography and Scriptures Wrote, “An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathen” to answer hyper Calvinism Slogan, “Attempt great things for God; Expect great things from God” based on Isa 54:2-3 Carey’s philosophy of ministry: • Widespread preaching • Distribution of Bible in vernacular • Church Planting • Profound study of non-Christian religions • Ministry training 24

Evangelicals in 1790

S ourc es : D r. R alph W inter (U S C W M ), B ob S jogren (D es tination 2000)

Legend

Extent of Evangelicals in 1790 25 M ap by G lobal M apping International - (719) 531-3599, 8/99 P E R S _4