REFORMATION TODAY "Therefore go and make disciples of all nati ons, baptising th em in the name of the Father and of the So n and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. An d surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28 v. 19,20 ·. · .· Where will the missionaries . ! · • . ·· come from? - . .. · · . .. see overleaf JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1988 - Where will the missionaries come from? At the present rate of increase the popu­ in Calcutta in 1830 he discovered that lation of the world will be 6.135 billion Tahitian missionaries had been working by the year 2000 . Of these 81.4% will be in the Samoa islands and five years later living in non-Western countries. Half he found that there were 2,000 Chris­ will live in urban environments and 75 tians as an outcome. The Karens of per cent of the world's largest cities Burma founded their first missionary (over 5 million) will be in non-Western society in 1850. countries. When noting the rapid rise in the At present it is calculated that there are number of missionaries from non­ about 16,000 unreached peoples or cul­ Western lands we must avoid wrong tures which do not have a significant conclusions. We should not think that It gospel witness. will require about the awakening missionary interest in 200,000 new missionaries to evangelize non-Western nations lessens our own the unreached peoples of our genera­ responsibility. There is a great deal that tion. we can contribute not only in sending out our own missionaries but in pro­ The number of missionaries from the viding knowledge and expertise to UK has decreased between 1976 and heighten and make more effective the 1986 by about 1,000. The present num­ resources of manpower available in ber is about 5,500. But in that same other countries. Literature plays an period the number of serving mis­ important part. Urgent requests come sionaries worldwide of all from overseas countries asking for denominations doubled. The number literature to help in the training of men of non-Western m1ss1onaries is for the ministry. It is vital that the increasing steadily and at the present theology that inspires worldwide mis­ rate of increase could be 100,000 by the sionary effort be pure. Their converts year 2000. The USA has about 40,000 multiply. We have the study materials. missionaries ser\'ing in overseas May we be alert and generous in countries. meeting the need! South Korea (population 40 million) has the largest theological seminaries in In the introduction to the Southern the world. Several Presbyterian semi­ Baptists (Carey Publications) Tom naries in that country have over 1,000 Nettles shows that the doctrines of grace students. There are 283 theological inspired the mighty missionary impulse institutions, 38 of which are seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. turning out over 500 graduates a year. Evangelism and missionary endeavour The largest increase of trained however can be ruined when solid theo­ missionaries being sent out is from logical foundations are not laid, and Korea, Nigeria, India and Brazil. more harm can be done than good when the gospel of repentance toward God We should not think that non-Western and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is missionary enterprise is a new pheno­ turned into easy believism, with no menon. When Alexander Duff landed repentance and no regeneration. ii Editorial The Westminster Conference complete freedom of religion that the The subject of this year's two day West­ sixteenth century produced, one that minster Conference was 'Divisions and went beyond both Erasmus and Luther. Dissensions'. The merit and usefulness In it Hubmaier argued that the nature of of the six well researched papers will be the gospel precludes coercion. To per­ evident when they appear in paperback secute a man for his religious opinions form. Here I will refer to four of them as or affiliation is to deny the incarnation they have a particular bearing on (art. 28). The nature of the church pre­ controversy today. In describing the cludes persecution (arts 14,21)' [Estepp. Reformers' attitudes to Catholics and 209]. This work did nothing to prevent Anabaptists, David Boorman chose to Hubmaier's demise. Anabaptists were concentrate on the example of Calvin. It given precious little time to formulate was evident that both the magisterial anything systematically and still less to reformers and the Catholics believed adjust, moderate or perfect their views. that it was the responsibility of the civil In 1527 Hubmaier was arrested, tortued, magistrates to enforce both tables of the condemned to death, and burned at the law. While the Church had power over stake. His last words as they rubbed the State, heretics were subject to the sulphur and gunpowder into his beard death penalty. were, 'Odear brothers, pray God he will give me patience in this my suffering. I Our debt to the reformers is enormous will die in the Christian faith. ' but we must be careful to observe that Three days later his faithful wife was they made their mistakes and that some executed by drowning in the Danube. aspects of truth and interpretation take time to develop. With hindsight we can During the lively debate that followed see how there was a failure to estimate the first session at Westminster it the true position of the Anabaptists, the became more and more evident that we extent of that movemr.mt, and its diver­ need a well researched paper on the sity of character. William R. Estep's history of freedom of religion. This Renaissance and Reformation has a fine conference has been a great asset in the chapter on the Anabaptists. Included is British evangelical scene as it has a moving account of the life and maintained a high standard of research. martyrdom of Michael Sattler (1490- In 1975 Alan Kreider presented a paper 1527). 'Perhaps no other execution ofan on the Anabaptists which in itself was a anabaptist had such far-reaching in­ reminder that if we want to know who fluence,' suggests Estep. the Anabaptists were and what they believed then we must be prepared to Balthasar Hubmaier described by Estep read their own works and assess their as 'the first major theologian among the position correctly. That cannot be done Anabaptists', wrote one of the most if we confme our reading to those who important treatises of the Reformation were utterly hostile to the radical titled Concerning Heretics and Those who reformers. Burn Them. This was an abstract of principles pleading for religious liberty. A paper on Freedom of Religion could 'It was the first treatise on behalf of perhaps begin with Marsiglio of Padua (1275-1342), and then trace out the That is not something I relish. I listen theme through the centuries right up to with profit to his sermons on cassette. I the present. The paper by Gordon am sure that he and other ministers for Murray on Oliver Cromwell revealed whom we have a high esteem are of Cromwell was far ahead of his times in such stature that if prophecies were his understanding and promotion of attempted in their churches they would religious freedom. be scrupulously examined and any mis­ chievous elements firmly repudiated. In his description of the early Sepa­ Roy Clements concedes that there are ratists, Hywel Roberts outlined the life dangers and in the text where I use the of Robert Browne (1553-1633). The word 'rapturous' to describe the errors of separatism can be more reactions to prophetic claims, that word atrocious than the perils of staying in a is not mine, I have quoted accurately mixed denomination as Browne dis­ what he has himself has said in the covered to his chagrin since he was UCCF booklet, and what he has said excommunicated by his own separatist about the dangers is not exaggerated. church and had no forum to which to (With regard to UCCF publications one appeal. Browne wrote a famous treatise ill-advised booklet should in no way advocating immediate secession from blind us to all the good of the other the Church of England with the title, UCCF materials!). Treatise ofReformation Without Tarrying for Anie. Browne returned however to The dangers which attend opening up the Anglican fold, and spent his meetings to those who think they have remaining 43 years ministering within the gift of prophecy are very real and not that communion. imagined. It is possible to make up horror stories but we do not make them Robert Oliver's presentation of the up. Evil has resulted in evangelical Arminian controversy of 18th century churches where the claim to prophecy Methodism was most helpful in show­ has been given license. To illustrate this ing the patience and dignity of George I cite an example which was close by and Whitefield. Toplady was quite intem­ which I know well. At the end of a perate as a controversialist and his bad worship service a so called prophet rose example should be avoided at all costs. and made a prophecy which was in The Wesley brothers never did under­ substance a criticism of the pastor for stand Calvinism. Predestination was not being charismatic enough. Sides taken out of its biblical context. In their were taken and the church split into minds it made God an ogre. They pro­ three separate factions or groups. ceeded to caricature Calvinism and then Irreparable damage was done to the attack the image they had set up. This cause of Christ in that town.