Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

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Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
Expansion
of theWorld Christian Movement
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The Purposes of God
Isaiah 1424,27
The Lord Almighty has sworn,Surely, as I have
planned, so it will be,And as I have purposed,
so it will stand.
For the Lord Almighty has purposed,And who can
thwart him?His hand is stretched out,and who
can turn it back?
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The Purposes of God
Isaiah 4610-11
My purpose will be established,And I will
accomplish all My good pleasure.
Truly I have spokenTruly I will bring it to
pass.I have planned it,Surely I will do it.
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The Purposes of God
Proverbs 1921
Many are the plans in a mans heart,But it is
the Lords purpose that prevails.
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Gods Continuing Purpose
To redeem a people from every people.
To rule a kingdom above every kingdom.
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Our Question
God, what is Your will for my life?
my
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The Question To Ask
God, what is Your will?
Your
How can I join You in what You are
doing?
You
You
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History of the World Christian Movement

• Ten Epochs in the Movement

2000 B.C. 1600 B.C. 1200 B.C.
800 B.C. 400 B.C. 0
0 A.D. 400 A.D. 800 A.D.
1200 A.D. 1600 A.D. 2000 A.D.
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History of the World Christian Movement
Galatians 44
In the fullness of time, God sent forth His
Son
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Mission Mechanisms
O.T. Period N.T. Period Modern Missions
GOVoluntary GOInvoluntary
COMEVoluntaryCOMEInvoluntary
Abraham Hebrew prophets
Philip to Ethiopian eunuchPeter to
CorneliusPaul
Missionaries Tentmakers
JosephJonahEstherDaniel friends
Persecutedchurch
MilitaryBusiness peopleGovt employeesPersecute
d church
Naaman the SyrianQueen of ShebaRuth
MagiGreeks seek out JesusCornelius sends
for Peter
International studentsBusiness immigrants
Gentiles forcibly resettled in Israel
Roman military
Refugees
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Gods Purpose
Gods purpose is to forward His mission
WITH
WITHOUT
WITH or WITHOUT the cooperation of His chosen
people.
With the blessing is the responsibility.
Dangerous if unfulfilled!
With the blessing is the privilege.
Joyous when fulfilled!
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History of the World Christian Movement

• Five Epochs Since Christ

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History of the World Christian Movement
Acts 15
Breakthrough!
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History of the World Christian Movement

• In the ROMAN period

Christianity spreadas a result of
Divine signs in the sky
Persecution
Heretics
The Chamber of Commerce
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The Church in the Fourth Century
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Roman Period
Christianity all the way to England by AD 212
Diocletian edicts
Edict of Toleration in AD 313
Official religion in AD 375
Christianity was the only religion with no
nationalism at its root!
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Roman Period
Christianity all the way to England by AD 212
Diocletian edicts
Edict of Toleration in AD 313
Official religion in AD 375
Church councils
Ulfila, an Arian Christian, goes to the Goths
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the ROMAN period

Divine signs in the sky
Persecution
TRUE!
TRUE!
Heretics
The Chamber of Commerce
TRUE!
TRUE!
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Barbarian invasions of 4th/5th centuries
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Barbarian invasions of 4th/5th centuries
Get the point!
Christianity was well-established in the Roman
Empire however, Latin Christians did not reach
out with the gospel to their unreached neighbors
the Goths.
In Gods eternal purpose, He brought the Goths to
them, so that they too might be saved.
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the BARBARIAN period

A wife of the emperor
Fear force
A kidnapped boy
Advanced Roman civilization
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Barbarian invasions of 4th/5th centuries
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Barbarian Control of Roman Empire
Civilization lost
Urban to rural (cities abandoned)
Fertile land to desolation
Great Roman engineering into disrepair
Law order disappeared
Money ceased to be used
Freedom exchanged for survival
Language lost
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Barbarian Control of Roman Empire
The Church was the only surviving institution in
the ancient world!
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Barbarian invasions of 4th/5th centuries
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A Nation Transformed
Planted 700 churches
Who Is He?
Trained 3000 pastors
Baptized 100,000 Irish
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Churchs Role in Society
Helped the poor
Cared for the sick
Provided refuge for the outcast
Served as civil-servants
Created hospitals
Established homes for the aged insane
The only source of education
Transmitted the Latin language
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Churchs Role in Society
Preserved ancient writings
Taught a respect for the written word
Taught the importance of record-keeping
Sole link between the classical past and the
future
Instilled the value dignity of the individual
Led in draining swamps, clearing forests
developing better agricultural methods
Mitigated violence through its teaching
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the BARBARIAN period

A wife of the emperor
Fear force
A wife of the emperor
FALSE!
Fear force
FALSE!
A kidnapped boy
A kidnapped boy
Advanced Roman civilization
TRUE!
Advanced Roman civilization
FALSE!
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History of the World Christian Movement
Get the point!
Christianity is well-established in the new Holy
Roman Empire
Charlemagne was eager for his own kind (Germanic
tribes) to become Christian, but didnt reach out
to the Scandinavian peoples to the north.
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Christianity in Asia
First 300 years Severe persecution in West
(Rome) Relative freedom in East (Persia /
Syria)Next 300 years Imperial religion in West
Severe persecution in East Trade routes to
West closed Nestorian church spreads further
EastNext 300 years Rise of Islam closes all
trade routes No contact between East West for
600 yrs Mission extension obliteration in
East697 A.D. Conversion of Anglo-Saxons Chinese
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the VIKING period

Conversion of Eric the Red
Slave girls
Captured monks
Mass Conversions
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The West Under Threat 8-10th centuries
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the VIKING period

Slave girls
FALSE!
TRUE!
Slave girls
Conversion of Eric the Red
Conversion of Eric the Red
Captured monks
TRUE!
Captured monks
Mass Conversions
Mass Conversions
TRUE!

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History of the World Christian Movement
Get the point!
If you dont go to them with the gospel, they
come to where it is but it may not be in a
friendly way!
Gods determined purpose, remember?
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The West Under Threat 8-10th centuries
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the MUSLIM period

Traveling evangelists
Friars
Taking Jerusalem from Muslims
Conquistadors
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The First Crusade
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The First Crusade
Defense against invading Turks
Opportunity for Roman Church to expand into
Byzantine Church territory
Opportunity for petty kings and lords to gain
riches and land
Opportunity for disinherited sons to spend
energies and gain wealth
Opportunity to gain remission for sins and a
secure place in heaven
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The First Crusade
Get the point!
Passion, love and sacrifice are no substitute for
a clear understanding of Gods will.
God brought Christian Europe into contact with
a new people needing His truth and they responded
by killing them.
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The Reconciliation Message
Nine hundred years ago, our forefathers carried
the name of Jesus Christ in battle across the
Middle East.
Fueled by fear, greed and hatred, they betrayed
the name of Christ by conducting themselves in a
manner contrary to His wishes and character.
The Crusaders lifted the banner of the Cross
above your people. By this act they corrupted its
true meaning of reconciliation, forgiveness and
selfless love.
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The Reconciliation Message
On the anniversary of the First Crusade, we also
carry the name of Christ.
We wish to retrace the footsteps of the Crusaders
in apology for their deeds and in demonstration
of the true meaning of the Cross.
We deeply regret the atrocities committed in the
name of Christ by our predecessors.
We renounce greed, hatred and fear, and condemn
all violence done in the name of Jesus Christ.
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The Reconciliation Message
Where they were motivated by hatred and
prejudice, we offer love and brotherhood.
Jesus the Messiah came to give life.
Forgive us for allowing His name to be associated
with death.
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Christianity spreadas a result of
History of the World Christian Movement

• In the MUSLIM period

Friars
Traveling evangelists
TRUE!
Traveling evangelists
Friars
TRUE!
Taking Jerusalem from Muslims
Taking Jerusalem from Muslims
FALSE!
Conquistadors
Conquistadors
FALSE!
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History of the World Christian Movement
The Greatest Missed Opportunity in World
Evangelization
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History of the World Christian Movement
The Reformation
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History of the World Christian Movement
The Reformation was a CULTURAL breakthrough!
CULTURAL
Latin uniformity vs. cultural diversity
Acts 15 repeated!
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Depiction of God in Luthers Bible
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In the fulness of time
The Printing Press
Spread Reformation ideas rapidly
Within 100 years the Bible had been translated
into almost every European language.
Education (and the means to form ones own
opinion) was no longer limited to the clergy or
very wealthy.
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In the fulness of time
The Internet!
Radio!
Satellite TV!
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In the fulness of time
The Internet!
Radio!
Satellite TV!
Disseminating information ideas across
economic, ideological, geographic and political
boundaries.
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History of the World Christian Movement
Get the point!
Luther and the Reformers did not see missions in
the Bible.
Except for the amazing Moravians, the Protestants
did not engage in missions until 250 years later.
Why? Protestants rejected mission
structures. MODALITY -- SODALITY
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History of the World Christian Movement
God, what is Your will?
Your
How can I join You in what You are
doing?
You
You