of The DynamicsChristian Mission History through a Missiological Perspective Also by Paul E. Pierson: A Younger Church in Search of Maturity: Presbyterianism in Brazil, 1910-1959 Themes from Acts Emerging Streams of Church and Mission The Good News of the Kingdom (co-editor) of The DynamicsChristian Mission History through a Missiological Perspective Paul E. Pierson 2009 Published by ©2009 William Carey International University Press 1539 E. Howard St. Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 398-2106 [email protected] Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permis- sion, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Pierson, Paul E. The Dynamics of Christian Mission: History through a Missiological Perspective / Paul E. Pierson. ISBN: 978-0-86585-006-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2008930382 This book is composed of edited transcriptions from lectures and study materials prepared by Paul E. Pierson, Ph.D., at Fuller Theological Seminary, School of World Mission, 1990. This book is for Rosemary, with profound gratitude for fifty-eight years of blessing. Contents Preface 5 Early Expansion 1: Introduction 9 2: Biblical Background: Expansion in the Apostolic Period 19 3: The Two Structures of the Church 29 4: The Early Church: Apostolic and Post-Apostolic 41 5: Expansion in the Roman World 51 6: Early Monasticism 61 7: The Celtic Church 69 Change and Attempts at Renewal 8: The Barbarian World 79 9: Major Defeats: Islam and the Viking Invasions 89 10: Monastic Renewal and the Crusades 97 11: Medieval Lay Movements 107 12: The Friars: Mission Accepted 117 The Reformation Era 13: Preparation for Reformation 129 14: Luther, Calvin, and the Reformation 135 15: The “Radical” Reformation: The Anabaptists 151 16: The Catholic Reformation and Mission 161 Renewal and the Beginnings of Protestant Mission 17: Puritanism and Pietism 177 18: Moravians, Methodists, and Mission 187 19: William Carey and the Emergence of Protestant Mission Structures 199 20: The Beginning of Mission in America 207 21: The American Frontier: New Patterns of Leadership 219 22: The Dynamics of Renewal Movements 229 3 The “Great Centuries” 23: The Second Burst of New Mission Structures 241 24: Women in Mission 251 25: Edinburgh 1910 and the Ecumenical Movement 261 26: Survey of Modern Missions: Asia 269 27: Survey of Modern Missions: Oceania, the Middle East, and North Africa 281 28: Survey of Modern Missions: Africa 289 29: Survey of Modern Missions: Latin America 295 30: Pentecostalism and Mission 303 The New Era 31: Our Changing Era in Mission 315 32: New Personnel in Mission 321 33: New Places and Patterns in Mission 329 34: The New Churches 335 35: Issues for the Future: Urbanization and the Poor 343 Index 353 4 Preface The Dynamics of Christian Mission he material in this book is based on a obstacles they faced? What kinds of movements course I taught for over twenty-five gave birth to mission? What structures were used T years at the School of World Mis- as they engaged in mission? What were the char- sion (now the School of Intercultural Studies) acteristics of the mission movements’ leaders? at Fuller Theological Seminary. It is a compre- How did these leaders interact within their own hensive history neither of the Church nor of the churches and societies? missionary movement. We will find that in general, mission has been Traditional “church history” examines the devel- the result of personal and/or corporate renewal, opment of the institution we call “the Church.” It and that such mission movements always appear also seeks to understand the Church’s theologi- to have arisen on the periphery of the broader cal struggles and divisions. Early church history Church. Those who responded to the missionary focuses on the Middle East and North Africa. call have always been a minority, often perceived Church historians then typically turn almost all with disdain or rejection by their societies and of their attention to the advance of the Church in even their churches. Yet they persevered and, de- western Europe and the United States. Church spite their apparent failures, God did “exceeding- historians routinely ignore the extraordinary ly abundantly” above all they had hoped. Often, growth of the Church in Asia, Africa, and Latin like their Lord, these missionaries were grains of America during the last two centuries, and the wheat that fell into the ground and died in order movements that brought such growth. that fruit could come later. Among the leaders of However, the questions we ask of the historical Christian missionary movements throughout his- data on the Church will largely determine what tory, we will find men and women who enjoyed a we learn from our study. We need to ask different profound life with God. Moreover, as they moved questions than have been asked previously as we deeper in their life with God, they began to feel look back over two thousand years of Christianity, His heartbeat for the world. As in Isaiah 6:1–8, beginning with the apostolic age. This book, then, they overheard the voice of God. They were then will study the history of the Church, the People able to communicate their vision to others. of God, from a missiological perspective; that is, Thus, the purpose of this work is as follows: it will seek to discover the dynamics of mission- To study church history in a way that will en- ary movements. What motivated those unique courage you to appreciate the importance of men and women who took the Good News of the dynamic principles underlying the expan- Jesus Christ across geographical and cultural bar- sion of the Christian movement. riers, usually at great risk? What were some of the 5 6 Th e Dy n a m i c s o f ch r i s T i a n mi s s i o n To help you recognize the dynamic princi- continent. Obviously, there is a great variety of form ples involved in the past, current, and future in the basic mission structure. expansion of the Christian faith. My thesis is that both congregational structures and To challenge you to apply these underlying mission structures are essential to the completion of principles to present strategies of mission, the mission of the Church to the end of history, assuming these principles are transferable. and that both are equally the Church, the People To challenge you in your commitment to of God. (I reject the term “parachurch” to describe God’s purposes for our world by exposing mission structures, because this implies that such you to many people who have served the will structures are something less than the Church.) of God in their generation, and by reminding A key leader has triggered most mission movements. you of God’s desire to use their examples in This leader has typically experienced a profound life your own life. (See Hebrews 13:7–8.) with God, felt God’s heartbeat for the world, and As I have studied this material over the years, a been able to communicate his or her vision to others. number of theses have jumped out at me. Not New methods in selecting and training leadership all of them fit every movement we will examine. have often been a characteristic of renewal and mis- However, they provide a grid, or tools of analysis, sion movements. These new methods have recog- that I believe will be helpful to you. nized the gifts of all believers and have moved from elitist, institutionalized modes to a more grassroots Movements of renewal and mission always seem approach. This has made it possible to recruit and to arise on the periphery of the churchly struc- train a much greater number of leaders, which is tures. This is not to denigrate those structures; necessary for the growth of movements. This grass- they are often helpful and even essential. Nev- roots approach has also produced evangelists and ertheless, this thesis does remind us to be always pastors having more in common with the people to open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit, who has whom they minister. worked through unexpected people in unexpect- ed ways so often throughout history. Mission has normally come out of renewal. As men and women go deeper in their life with God Typically, two kinds of structures have been equally and receive a new touch of His grace, they are mo- important in the history of the Church. tivated to follow the Lord in radical obedience. The first is the local church congregation and a net- Movements of renewal and mission have often work of such groups. Ralph Winter uses a broader involved theological breakthroughs: a discovery or term, “modality,” which includes everything from rediscovery of a previously unrealized or forgotten families to cities. I focus on “congregational struc- aspect of biblical faith. The first example comes in tures.” These structures are local and inclusive of Acts 15, when the Spirit led the infant Church to fervent as well as nominal believers, youth and the realize that Gentiles were saved by faith and heart elderly, new Christians, and mature disciples. obedience alone, without first becoming Jews and The other structure, equally important, is called a accepting circumcision and the law. A second ex- “sodality” by Winter, who includes both military ample, seen often in renewal movements, is the rec- forces as well as private enterprises in his definition. ognition that every believer has unique gifts of the Within that category I focus on “mission structures.” Spirit and that these gifts are for use in ministry.