I’m all the time intrigued after I learn the writings of missionaries from earlier generations, particularly missionaries of the pioneering type. The place did their preliminary drive come from? How was their sustaining perseverance instilled in them? Unquestionably, they had been, at the beginning, women and men who didn’t rely their lives as valuable; they solely aimed to complete the work given to them by their God (Acts 20:24). However what of their upbringing, schooling, friends, lecturers, and mentors? What function did these play of their zeal?
Definitely, the mother and father and mentors of many formed them to worth the decision to depart behind residence and household for the glory of the King. John Paton and Amy Carmichael function good examples right here. Others had been influenced by a forerunner in missions, equivalent to David Brainerd. His biography and writings arrested males like William Carey, Robert Morrison, and Henry Martyn, finally guiding them to faraway lands. However the extra I learn concerning the historical past of missions, the extra I see the essential function of establishments, and particularly their key leaders, in shaping so many long-term missionaries.
Particularly, a breakout session at a latest Radius Convention made me conscious of the novel nature of Princeton Seminary as a missions hotbed.
Nursery of Missions
Two centuries in the past, Princeton was the jewel of theological schooling within the English-speaking world. It’s no overstatement to say that it was probably the most recognized, trusted, and revered seminary of the nineteenth century.
Luminaries like B.B. Warfield, James Boyce, Jonathan Edwards, J. Gresham Machen, and so many others served as professors or studied as college students at this venerable establishment. And amazingly, in its prime, one out of each three Princeton graduates headed out to be concerned in severe long-term missions (Princeton Seminary, 406).
When Princeton was shaped, one of many acknowledged pillars of the varsity was to be a “nursery for missionaries,” and professors led and taught to that finish (Princeton Seminary, 139). This intentionality fostered student-led teams that met repeatedly to hope that some amongst them could be led to missions. The “Society of Inquiry” handled logistical points in reaching faraway international locations, collected language information, and labored steadily to collect a library of books to assist these college students getting down to be missionaries. College students additionally queried lively missionaries, asking for details about their area of service, the encompassing folks teams, and methods they may pray for the work on the bottom.
Briefly, the college of Outdated Princeton made missions a major subject of dialogue and examine, and college students caught what the professors prioritized, leading to over one-third of graduates shifting to locations the place no church existed. Oh, for God to lift up in our day extra seminaries, Bible colleges, and schools with the Outdated Princetonian values!
Schooled by Princeton
Contemplating that the majority who will learn this text won’t assist to guide a Christian establishment of upper schooling, what purposes can we take from the mannequin of Outdated Princeton for our church buildings and different establishments at present?
1. Making missions major helps, not hurts, the church.
David Livingstone, the well-known missionary to Africa, is reported to have stated, “The most effective treatment for a sick church is to place it on a missionary eating regimen.” Whereas many would anticipate a missionary to say as a lot, listening to the identical sentiment from different Christian leaders is uncommon. The spirit that existed at Outdated Princeton was alive for Christ-exalting missions, and the college at each degree purchased into it. Archibald Alexander, the seminary’s first president, would comment, “we regard the missionary trigger as the best beneath the solar” (quoted in John C. Lowrie’s 1876 paper, “Princeton Theological Seminary and Overseas Missions,” 11). This spirit grew the seminary numerically, however extra importantly, in zeal.
There exists at present, as in earlier days, an voiceless concern that if a church or seminary pushes missions too exhausting, the constructing initiatives received’t get achieved, the giving will decline, and a few who’re wanted on the house entrance will likely be despatched to the sector. The issue with this concern is that it views the duty of missions by means of man-centered eyes. If the duty of taking the gospel to these peoples nonetheless in darkness is merely conjured up by fallen males, then we’re proper to carry again sources, keep away from talking about it from the pulpit, and usually tamp down the whole enterprise.
“The astounding legacy of Princeton may be measured by what its graduates gave their lives for.”
But when Christ himself issued the Nice Fee, then the God of all grace has stamped his personal title on this job, and it stays binding on the church at present. He should usher in his sheep which have but to listen to his voice (John 10:16). And his voice, his name of the gospel, comes by means of God’s ambassadors, as if God himself had been making his enchantment by means of males (2 Corinthians 5:20). Removed from being a man-centered job, the Nice Fee is given by God, is orchestrated by God, and can end in God’s everlasting glory.
The church, the varsity, the seminary that places the fee of the God of heaven and earth above endowments, above constructing plans, above succession plans works in concord with the center of our God. The establishment that makes itself a “nursery for missionaries” won’t remorse that path. How great for an area congregation to foster sister congregations all over the world raised up by women and men whom they’ve despatched! On that nice day, the glory accorded to these pastors and congregations will likely be one thing to behold.
2. Champion missions from the entrance.
The astounding legacy of Outdated Princeton may be measured by what its graduates gave their lives for. However many of the graduates didn’t go into the seminary with missions in thoughts; they caught the eagerness of the establishment’s leaders. Males like Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, Samuel Miller, and others led from the entrance.
Hearken to what James W. Alexander stated in a chat to the seminary college students about “calling” in missions:
Candidates for the sacred workplace [church pastor] are an excessive amount of accustomed to suppose, “I’ll put together myself to serve God as a preacher in my place of origin, and if I needs to be specifically moved, and loudly known as, I’ll change into a international missionary.” Right here there’s altogether an error, and an error so nice, that we’d like not be shocked to search out him who harbors it, as actually unfitted for the ministry at residence, as he supposes himself to be for the ministry overseas. (Issues on Overseas Missions, 125–26)
Did you catch that? In response to Alexander, in case you suppose you want a particular name to enter missions, you’re unsuited for ministry in your house nation. That is coming from the management!
No quantity of zeal from a youngster and no depth of historical past from a missions committee can substitute for a pastor main his flock into long-term missions. If the pastor isn’t “into it,” it possible received’t occur. There would be the proverbial missions weekend or an providing for some abroad trigger, however there will likely be scant few who leverage their futures to go to the nations until the church management is genuinely main that means from the entrance.
I don’t imply each Sunday brings a Matthew 28 or Acts 1 message, however the pastor clearly and repeatedly places the burden of reaching these teams who nonetheless haven’t any entry to the gospel earlier than the congregation. He tailors the church’s e book studying so missions is within the combine (good biographies to start out with) and ensures that these within the subsequent technology are taken to the best conferences, uncovered to missions repeatedly, and given an opportunity to see what it could be wish to consecrate their lives to the duty of cross-cultural church planting. What would the world appear like with church leaders who fearlessly lead in “come and die” missions?
Legacy in Overseas Tongues
The teachings from Outdated Princeton are too good to not be retold. At this time, Outdated Princeton is spoken of most frequently in regard to its theological acumen and well-known graduates who modified the course of the English-speaking world. However when the King does the ultimate accounting of this college sometime, Outdated Princeton will possible bear a much more superb legacy — one sung in international tongues.
Could God increase up extra like her for his glory to the ends of the earth.
