Lessons From Carey
This is a post Bill Wilkie put on the Sept. 29 blog. It’s so accurate:
If we are going back to the beginning, where does the “Original Commission” fit in from Genesis 1 to ‘...multiple, fill, subdue and rule?’ If mankind’s original purpose was never withdrawn but actually work, does that make this type of work holy? Does the Great Commission then become the complement rather than the only driving force? Is discipling a nation as the end as important as discipling an individual?
Disciple a nation-create new institutions with appropriate values, policies, practices and structures.
This merits a holotabloggin!!!!!
This kind of “engagement” is very significant and requires long-term perspectives and work--the only kind that really makes any difference, at all. It also merits what we do in terms of societal engagement. Vishal Mangalwadi in his Legacy of William Carey gives him as a model that transformed a culture. He wasn’t your come hear my sermon on Sunday kind of a missionary. His was not just “go preach” but “go engage,” his entire life said that.
One of his “elders” Ryle made that famous comment about if God wants the heathen saved, he will save them he doesn’t need Carey. Ryle was right about who does the saving. This relieves me of much guilt that I don’t need to “save” anyone! I grew up with the fear that I was populating Hell faster than I could populate Heaven because how could I witness to everyone and where did my responsibility start and stop. Ryle was wrong about how God does it. God expects us to be right in the middle of the process--flawed as we are--broken as we must be--using us as the instruments. Don’t forget, Carey was also just as reformed as Ryle in his theology. The question was not what is “reformed” but what was the effect and impact of “reformed” theology upon the world. Carey’s biggest lesson initially to the church was “go.” It could be the most important lesson of Carey is coming today in terms of “what” meaning how he engaged society. Carey was the first social gospel evangelist, or, as I would say kingdom gospel engager!
Let the blogging begin!
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Oct 15, 2006 at 02:54 PM
"holotabloggin"... that's the word of the day.
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Oct 16, 2006 at 09:14 AM
Bob,
Great paragraph from Bill …I would say I agree with everything in your post except one line,
“This kind of "engagement" is very significant and requires long-term perspectives and work--the only kind that really makes any difference, at all. ”
I would agree that this type of engagement is significant and over the long-term does make a greater difference, but it is not the only kind that makes a “real ” difference. My concern about engaging Nations through discipleship is the enormous amount of investment (time and money) and energy (doing) ….more so on the energy...the going and doing. My fear is that Churches will do this type of engagement without the structures in place to handle Missional burnout. The truth is that American Churches are sold on the going and doing, but lack a system to handle the sitting and being. So, when Churches adopt this type of engaging (and they will because it works) how may will forsake Spiritual depth for the thrill of engaging Nations? Don’t read into my writing that I do not agree with Nation Building, because I do believe in it. I am just concerned most American Churches will buy the sizzle and not the steak. To do Nation Building (Discipling) you must have a Church base that is Spiritually sound, and that is not the case for most Churches. Most Churches focus on the going and doing, and never spend more than the mandatory Sunday Service seeking God. Bob, I have heard you say many times, that this type of engagement starts on your face ….alone …before God. My intent is not to discredit the impact of discipling a nation. I just want us readers to realize that what you (Bob) do (Nation Building) does not happen because you go and do, but because you have sat and listened.
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