Introduction Introduction B. A Definition of Missions C. Revivalism
Is organized mission work a given for all Baptists? Is organized mission work a given for all Baptists?
“Missions, as we use the term, is the extension of God’s redemptive purpose through evangelism, education, and Christian service beyond the local church.” “Missions, as we use the term, is the extension of God’s redemptive purpose through evangelism, education, and Christian service beyond the local church.”
II. The Turn to Organized Mission Work II. The Turn to Organized Mission Work A. Early General Baptists B. Early Particular Baptists C. A People on Mission
“The call for liberty of conscience and freedom of worship was a consistent mission of Baptists in the 1600s and 1700s. That grand missionary effort should not be ignored in our attempt to understand the missionary identity of the people called Baptists” “The call for liberty of conscience and freedom of worship was a consistent mission of Baptists in the 1600s and 1700s. That grand missionary effort should not be ignored in our attempt to understand the missionary identity of the people called Baptists”
Article V: “God in His infinite power and wisdom, doth dispose all things to the end for which they were created; that neither good nor evil befalls any by chance, or without His providence; and that whatsoever befalls the elect, is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good.” Article V: “God in His infinite power and wisdom, doth dispose all things to the end for which they were created; that neither good nor evil befalls any by chance, or without His providence; and that whatsoever befalls the elect, is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good.” Article VI: “All the elect being loved of God with an everlasting love, are redeemed, quickened, and saved, not by themselves, nor their own works, lest any man should boast, but, only and wholly by God, of His own free grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ, who is made unto us by God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and all in all, that he that rejoiceth, might rejoice in the Lord.”
“They believed that all persons were totally depraved and had no ability to move toward God until God had "infused" the grace to believe. Though all were depraved, God in mercy had ‘elected’ some persons for salvation before the foundation of the world. Those persons would ultimately be drawn to salvation by the irresistible grace of God. All others would follow their destiny of depravity to reprobation and damnation. That God should choose any was an overwhelming gift of grace.” “They believed that all persons were totally depraved and had no ability to move toward God until God had "infused" the grace to believe. Though all were depraved, God in mercy had ‘elected’ some persons for salvation before the foundation of the world. Those persons would ultimately be drawn to salvation by the irresistible grace of God. All others would follow their destiny of depravity to reprobation and damnation. That God should choose any was an overwhelming gift of grace.”
“The earliest Baptists did not send out official missionaries, but they understood themselves to be on mission. They insisted that all believers were witnesses to the grace of God and that church membership was extended only to those who could testify to a work of grace in their hearts. Some seventeenth-century Baptists actually practiced the laying on of hands at baptism as a sign that all believers were ordained to take the gospel to their particular part of thecommunity. Thus, for Baptists, the concept of missions exists within the concept of the church's mission.” “The earliest Baptists did not send out official missionaries, but they understood themselves to be on mission. They insisted that all believers were witnesses to the grace of God and that church membership was extended only to those who could testify to a work of grace in their hearts. Some seventeenth-century Baptists actually practiced the laying on of hands at baptism as a sign that all believers were ordained to take the gospel to their particular part of thecommunity. Thus, for Baptists, the concept of missions exists within the concept of the church's mission.” Further, “The mission of Baptists in the 1600s seems to have been to call people to faith, and to encourage them to see Baptist views as the most biblical way of understanding Christian life and practice. They founded churches, urged sinners to experience God's grace in Jesus Christ, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and celebrated worship, all as part of their missionary imperative.” However, Leonard says, “Early in their history, Baptists disagreed over both the need and method of sending out missionaries in Christ's name. These differences have shaped Baptist attitudes toward missions throughout their history”
“To say, as one often hears at Baptist meetings, that ‘Baptists have always been a missionary people’ is to overlook the fact that at one time Baptists were concerned with survival, not expansion” “To say, as one often hears at Baptist meetings, that ‘Baptists have always been a missionary people’ is to overlook the fact that at one time Baptists were concerned with survival, not expansion”
“Basically, Baptists are a mission society announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ, calling men and women to repentance, baptizing them in the name of the triune God, and gathering together as the beloved community to extend the Kingdom of Christ.” “Basically, Baptists are a mission society announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ, calling men and women to repentance, baptizing them in the name of the triune God, and gathering together as the beloved community to extend the Kingdom of Christ.”
“Baptists see themselves as part of the wider world church of God, with a common mission to live and preach the Good News of Jesus, and to bring people everywhere into God’s family.” “Baptists see themselves as part of the wider world church of God, with a common mission to live and preach the Good News of Jesus, and to bring people everywhere into God’s family.”
III. Organized for Missions—England III. Organized for Missions—England A. An Emphasis on Organized B. The Beginnings of Mission Work in England
“The cause of missions created the emotional impetus to draw Baptist churches out of their local isolation into a shared vision of evangelizing the world” “The cause of missions created the emotional impetus to draw Baptist churches out of their local isolation into a shared vision of evangelizing the world”
“Every soul that comes to Christ to be saved . . . is to be encouraged.” “Every soul that comes to Christ to be saved . . . is to be encouraged.”
IV. Organized for Mission—America IV. Organized for Mission—America A. Early Work B. Early Mission Societies C. The Move towards National Organizations D. Formation of the General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denominations in the United States of America for Foreign Missions
1796 The New York Missionary Society 1796 The New York Missionary Society1800 The Boston Female Society1802 The Female Baptist Missionary Society
The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denominations in the United States of America for Foreign Missions The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denominations in the United States of America for Foreign MissionsKnown asThe Triennial Convention
1817 Began domestic missions work with John Mason Peck—financial difficulties soon ended this initial work in domestic missions 1817 Began domestic missions work with John Mason Peck—financial difficulties soon ended this initial work in domestic missions1832 Established the American Baptist Home Missionary Society
V. Selected Statements on Missions V. Selected Statements on Missions A. “Baptist Distinctives and Diversities” (1964) “Missions” B. “The People Called American Baptists: A Confessional Statement” C. The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, Article XI Evangelism and Missions
“Recognizing the relevancy of the gospel for all, Baptists have demonstrated a missionary passion that has carried them to the ends of the earth. The knowledge of human need and God’s provision to meet it have offered sufficient motivation for missionaries to endure hardship and death in their efforts to serve as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. The daring faith of these women and men has so inspired Baptists, that they find it easier to rally to the support of this aspect of their Christian responsibility than to almost any other. Baptists believe that the gospel of Christ ‘is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” “Recognizing the relevancy of the gospel for all, Baptists have demonstrated a missionary passion that has carried them to the ends of the earth. The knowledge of human need and God’s provision to meet it have offered sufficient motivation for missionaries to endure hardship and death in their efforts to serve as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. The daring faith of these women and men has so inspired Baptists, that they find it easier to rally to the support of this aspect of their Christian responsibility than to almost any other. Baptists believe that the gospel of Christ ‘is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”
“. . . as American Baptists We affirm “. . . as American Baptists We affirm A Missional People --who strive to fulfill the Great Commision. --who engage in educational, social, and health ministries. --who accept local and global responsibilities, and --who affirm both individual redemption and corporate justice.”
“It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.” “It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.”
Dissent over Missions Dissent over Missions A. From the Beginning B. Organized Dissent in America C. Organized Dissent in Great Britain D. Formation of the Southern Baptist Convention E. A Reaction to SBC Mission Work
“Early in their history, Baptists disagreed over both the need and method of sending out missionaries in Christ's name. These differences have shaped Baptist attitudes toward missions throughout their history” “Early in their history, Baptists disagreed over both the need and method of sending out missionaries in Christ's name. These differences have shaped Baptist attitudes toward missions throughout their history”
John Taylor John TaylorJoshua Lawrence1820 Thoughts on MissionsThe Kehuckee Baptist Association1827 “A Declaration against the Modern Missionary Movement and other Institutions of Men”
“Brethren, we would not shun reproach, nor seek an exemption from persecution; but we would affectionately entreat those Baptists who revile us themselves, or who side with such as do, to pause and consider how far they have departed from the ancient principles of the Baptists, and how that in reproaching us they stigmatize the memory of those whom they have been used to honor as eminent and useful servants of Christ; and of those who have borne the brunt of the persecutions leveled against the Baptists in former ages. For it is a well-known fact that it was in ages past a uniform and distinguishing trait in the character of the Baptists, that they required a “Thus saith the Lord,” that is, direct authority from the word of God for the order and practice, as well as the doctrine, they received in religion.” “Brethren, we would not shun reproach, nor seek an exemption from persecution; but we would affectionately entreat those Baptists who revile us themselves, or who side with such as do, to pause and consider how far they have departed from the ancient principles of the Baptists, and how that in reproaching us they stigmatize the memory of those whom they have been used to honor as eminent and useful servants of Christ; and of those who have borne the brunt of the persecutions leveled against the Baptists in former ages. For it is a well-known fact that it was in ages past a uniform and distinguishing trait in the character of the Baptists, that they required a “Thus saith the Lord,” that is, direct authority from the word of God for the order and practice, as well as the doctrine, they received in religion.”
“We believe that many who love our Lord Jesus Christ, are engaged in promoting those institutions which they acknowledge to be of modern origin; and they are promoting them too as religious institutions; whereas if they would reflect a little on the origin and nature of the Christian religion, they must be, like us, convinced that this religion must remain unchangeably the same at this day, as we find it delivered in the New Testament. Hence that anything, however highly esteemed it may be among men, which is not found in the New Testament, has no just claim to be acknowledged as belonging to the religion or the religious institutions of Christ.” “We believe that many who love our Lord Jesus Christ, are engaged in promoting those institutions which they acknowledge to be of modern origin; and they are promoting them too as religious institutions; whereas if they would reflect a little on the origin and nature of the Christian religion, they must be, like us, convinced that this religion must remain unchangeably the same at this day, as we find it delivered in the New Testament. Hence that anything, however highly esteemed it may be among men, which is not found in the New Testament, has no just claim to be acknowledged as belonging to the religion or the religious institutions of Christ.”
The Strict and Particular Baptists(later called the Gospel Standard Baptists)William Gadsly (1773-1844) pioneer leaderThe Strict Baptist Aid SocietyUpheld strong Calvinistic views
A division over the ownership of slaves A division over the ownership of slaves by missionaries
The Address “affirmed that the object of the new body was to extend the Messiah’s kingdom and the glory of God.” The Address “affirmed that the object of the new body was to extend the Messiah’s kingdom and the glory of God.”
“What ought to be the task of the missionary is another difference between us [the SBC and the CBF]. We think the mission task is to reach people for faith in Jesus Christ by preaching, teaching, healing and other ministries of mercy and justice. We believe this to be the model of Jesus in Galilee. That is the way he went about his mission task. Fundamentalists make the mission assignment narrower than Jesus did. They allow their emphasis on direct evangelism to undercut other biblical ministries of mercy and justice. This narrowed definition of what a missionary ought to be and do is a contention between us.” “What ought to be the task of the missionary is another difference between us [the SBC and the CBF]. We think the mission task is to reach people for faith in Jesus Christ by preaching, teaching, healing and other ministries of mercy and justice. We believe this to be the model of Jesus in Galilee. That is the way he went about his mission task. Fundamentalists make the mission assignment narrower than Jesus did. They allow their emphasis on direct evangelism to undercut other biblical ministries of mercy and justice. This narrowed definition of what a missionary ought to be and do is a contention between us.”
Concluding Thoughts Concluding Thoughts A. Baptists Disagree B. Why Baptists Participate in Missions C. The Future of Missions
It is central to teachings of the New Testament It is central to teachings of the New TestamentAll Christians are called to participateThe call to make disciples is essential to the Gospel message4. The church’s call to missions is a response to the whole person
“Baptists will do missions in the future because of a fundamental belief that humankind can only be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.” “Baptists will do missions in the future because of a fundamental belief that humankind can only be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.” BUT “For Baptists to have a missions future, they must recognize that missions is the activity of marginal people, living in distinction from their culture and giving witness to the gospel as the ultimate power”
In 1973 just over 3,400 non-Western cross-cultural missionaries were serving. In 2006 the number reached 103,000 In 1973 just over 3,400 non-Western cross-cultural missionaries were serving. In 2006 the number reached 103,000 “The day of western missionary domination seems to be coming to an end”
“Though the Four-Fifths-World [Africa, Asia, Latin America] missions movement is still much smaller than the Western [European, Northern America, Pacific] missions movement, it is growing at a much faster rate. It also is adding a larger number of missionaries each year” “Though the Four-Fifths-World [Africa, Asia, Latin America] missions movement is still much smaller than the Western [European, Northern America, Pacific] missions movement, it is growing at a much faster rate. It also is adding a larger number of missionaries each year”
Carla Gay A. Romarta-Knipel, “One Mission, Different Voices: Overseas Missions of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches,” Baptist History and Heritage Spring 2006: 41-54). Carla Gay A. Romarta-Knipel, “One Mission, Different Voices: Overseas Missions of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches,” Baptist History and Heritage Spring 2006: 41-54). Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, “The Overseas Chinese Networks and Early Baptist Missionary Movement Across the South China Sea,” The Historian 63.4 (Summer 2001): 752-68). Michael Jaffarian, “Are There More Non-Western Missionaries Than Western Missionaries?” 28.5 (July 2004): 131-32. Christopher J.H. Wright, “An Upside-Down World,” Christianity Today January 2007: 41-46
“Christianity has never had a territorial center. Our center is the person of Christ, and wherever he is known, there is another potential center of faith and witness” “Christianity has never had a territorial center. Our center is the person of Christ, and wherever he is known, there is another potential center of faith and witness”
In today’s world, “post-denominationalism, saturation of personal technology, reorientation toward the local church, and reevaluation of mission field models have resulted in higher levels of lay missions involvement among young people, more diverse expressions of missions, and greater external pressures upon the Baptist missions enterprise” In today’s world, “post-denominationalism, saturation of personal technology, reorientation toward the local church, and reevaluation of mission field models have resulted in higher levels of lay missions involvement among young people, more diverse expressions of missions, and greater external pressures upon the Baptist missions enterprise”
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