(Part Six) For some time we have been considering the significance of the increasing emphasis on indigenous churches as the goal of Christian mission endeavor. Several important factors demanded consideration. Primarily we were interested in whether this goal and the methods which must be employed to achieve it are in harmony with the principles of the […]
(Part Five) WHEN the first edition of Roland Allen’s book Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Our’s? was being prepared for publication, the Right Rev. Henry Whitehead, D.D., then Lord Bishop of Madras, was asked to write the introduction. Many of his statements deserve our respectful consideration as coming from a man of wide experience in Christian […]
(Part Four) This time we would begin with an apology and a request. Our original intention was to write a brief article or two pointing up some of the more important aspects of the challenge which Christian missions face in our modern world. Soon it became evident that unless we spent some time dealing more […]
Christianity alone can lay claim to being truly universal in scope and success—and that she does only in hope awaiting’ the consummation of the ages. Even Islam, that clever imitation of the true faith, has never been able with easier and more worldly methods to lay claim to the allegiance of such multitudes as rallied […]
(Part Two) Many are the problems facing the Christian church in her missionary vocation. None of these is more pressing or more complex in our day than that which has generally been denominated for want of more specific terminology the “indigenous method.” Some of the facets or this problem of first magnitude were considered in a recent […]
In one of his recent works Dr. J.H. Bavinck of the Netherlands insists that among the most significant lessons which the Holy Spirit has been teaching the church of our day is the truth that missions belongs to the very essence of the church. Let us listen to what this scholar has to say, “A Church […]
Statistics, someone has once said, can be used to prove anything. Though this is largely true, if statistics are correctly handled they are also able to give a fairly adequate survey of any given situation. In the Christian Reformed Church mention has been made from time to time of the rather amazing growth which we […]
QUlTE generally men throughout the ages have conceded the fundamental importance of the home for human life. Although perhaps more widespread and conscious in Christian lands, this emphasis has by no means been limited to those countries which have traditionalIy been exposed the gospel of God’s grace in Christ’s Jesus. Even those who do not […]
We are living today in a highly critical age. People no longer are afraid of attacking anything or anyone. Even the Lord of heaven and earth is openly criticized and blasphemed as if He were mere man. And surely if they fear not God, they have lost all respect for the Word and the service of the […]
The world in which we live differs markedly from that known to our grandparents. Today we lake for granted the many conveniences which were undreamed of half a century ago. Electricity, radio, television, automobiles and planes have become standard equipment in our modern civilization. And not satisfied with enjoying these inventions ourselves, we have through our […]