12 Witnesses

The answer from William Carey, the “founder” of the modern protestant mission movement (italics are my emphasis):

It has been objected that there are multitudes in our own nation, and within our immediate spheres of action, who are as ignorant as the South-Sea savages, and that therefore we have enough work at home, without going into other countries.  That there are thousands in our own land as far from God as possible, I readily grant, and that this ought to excite us to ten-fold diligence to our work, and in attempts to spread divine knowledge among them is a certain fact; but that it ought to supersede all attempts to spread the gospel in foreign parts seems to want proof.  Our own countrymen have the means of grace, and may attend on the word preached if they choose it.  They have means of knowing the truth, and faithful ministers are placed in every part of the land, whose spheres of action might be much extended if their congregations were but more hearty and active in the cause; but with them the case is widely different, who have no Bible, no written language (which many of them have not), no ministers, no good civil government, nor any of those advantages which we have.  Pity therefore, humanity, and much more Christianity, call loudly for every possible exertion to introduce the gospel amongst them.

Concerning those who are content simply to pray for the lost without going:

Many can do nothing but pray, and prayer is perhaps the only thing in which Christians of all denominations can cordially, and unreservedly unite; but in this we may all be one, and in this the strictest unanimity ought to prevail.

We must not be contented however with praying, without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for.  Were the children of light but as wise in their generation as the children of this world they would stretch every nerve to gain so glorious a prize, nor ever imagine that it was to be obtained in any other way.

From his seminal work, An Enquiry into the Obligation of Christians to use means for the Conversion of the Heathens, 1792.

Now let me ask this:  Do you think Carey would agree that contributing to a denominational structure that parses out pennies on the contributed dollar to the actual “Mission Field” is the same as a church taking the responsibility itself to go where the doors are open?  Even if it is far?  Even if the economy is dire?  Even if the cost prohibits some from making the journey?

Posts with related content

• June 29, 2009 -- Missional and Relational via Paul in Athens (0)
• June 3, 2009 -- Must Read – redefining success in evangelism (0)
• May 29, 2009 -- Everyone A Missionary? (0)
• March 24, 2009 -- Vietnam 2009: Lessons Learned (0)
• March 20, 2009 -- Vietnam 2009: Reintegration (1)

Church, General Christian, SBC, Vietnam

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