Roland Allen (1868–1947) Missionary Strategist
Key Points To Think On:
- Plant self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating Churches.
- National Churches must take root and grow in it’s own cultural soil.
- Don’t see the nationals as being in a lower rank or position.
About Roland Allen (1868–1947) Missionary Strategist:
“ALLEN, ROLAND (1868–1947) Modern missionary strategist Allen’s books published in the early part of the twentieth century continue to have great impact and to be reprinted along with the most current missionary works. As an Anglican clergyman, Allen served as a missionary in China from 1895 to 1903 with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Thereafter he served as a voluntary clergyman in England and from time to time abroad.
Allen’s main thesis was that national churches should be self–supporting, self–governing, and self–propagating. He believed that lengthy dependence on foreign missionaries was counterproductive, stifling the people’s own genius. If the world were ever to be reached with the gospel, he believed, it would be done through a multiplying national church that had taken root and grown in its own cultural soil. Allen perceived that foreign missionaries and subordinate national workers could never complete the evangelistic task.
Allen’s most significant writings included Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? (1912, 1927), The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church and the Causes which Hinder It (1927), and The Case for Voluntary Clergy (1930).”
W. J. KORNFIELD
Douglas, J. D., Comfort, P. W., & Mitchell, D. (1992). Who’s Who in Christian history (20). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
05.6.11
“First and Foremost”
” Ominously, the Chinese government has spoken its mind through official state-owned newspapers. One of these papers, the Global Times, ran an editorial last week that stated: “All Christians, as well as those of other faiths, are Chinese citizens first and foremost. It is their obligation to observe discipline and abide by the law.”
“But our citizenship is in heaven,” Paul reminds us, “and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Phil. 3:20]
While the New Testament commands Christians to obey the righteous laws of a nation, believers cannot bend the knee to the regime as their primary allegiance. No Christian is “first and foremost” a citizen of any earthy kingdom or nation. This is a despotic demand for the idolatrous worship of the state. ”
Source: AlbertMohler.com
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“Fear not”
“During the Boxer Rebellion, when the workers with the China Inland Mission were experiencing great suffering, the founder James Hudson Taylor, then in his late seventies, said to some colleagues, “I cannot read; I cannot think; I cannot even pray; but I can trust.” “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
“Fear not” is the word of assurance that the Lord gave to many of His servants: to Abraham (Gen. 15:1), Isaac (26:24), Jacob (46:3), Moses and the nation of Israel (Ex. 14:13), Joshua (Josh. 8:1; 10:8), King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:17), the Jewish remnant returning to their land (Isa. 41:10, 13–14; 43:1, 5; 44:2), the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 3:9), the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 10:12, 19), Joseph (Matt. 1:20), Zacharias (Luke 1:13), Mary (1:30), the shepherds (2:10), Paul (Acts 27:24), and the Apostle John (Rev. 1:17). You and I can say with these spiritual giants, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear” (Heb. 13:6).”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be committed. An Old Testament study. Ruth and Esther (45–46). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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Two Thousand Years Before Buddhism, Taoism, or Confucianism
“In the nineteenth century, due to the influence of Darwinian evolution, it was thought that modern religions actually evolved from animistic roots into polytheism and later into monotheism (that is, belief in countless spirits evolved into the belief in specific gods which in turn evolved into the belief in one supreme God). If this is true, primitive societies would have no concept of a Supreme Being (monotheism). However, not only is there no evidence that animism evolved into polytheism and later into monotheism, but there is tremendous evidence supporting just the opposite. It appears that monotheism de-evolved into polytheism. Today, anthropologists and ethnologists have proven that most primitive animistic religions have a latent monotheistic belief, even though they also believe in other spiritual forces. This is a common element in the oldest cultures on earth: the Australians, Polynesians, Zulus, bushmen, Congo tribes, and Mongolians. All of these cultures worship a primal Father. Belief in an all-powerful supreme Being also predates polytheism and pantheism in Eastern religions. For example, the earliest reference to religion in China refers to a Supreme God called “Shang Ti.” This belief goes back more than two thousand years before Buddhism, Taoism, or Confucianism arose in China. Similarly, an original concept of a supreme God is found in the early histories of Sumeria, Egypt, and other ancient civilizations.”
Story, D. (1997). Defending your faith (115–116). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.
03.25.11
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
“The story is told of Hudson Taylor, missionary statesman to China, in the terrible days of the Boxer uprising there. As one report followed another of mission stations being destroyed and missionaries massacred, Taylor remained quietly at his desk, singing softly these words that he loved so dearly:
Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul, for by Thy transforming power Thou hast made me whole.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, and Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart—Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its ev’ry need, compasseth me round with blessings. This is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee. Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth’s dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father’s glory, sunshine of my Father’s face, keep me ever trusting, resting; fill me with Thy grace.”
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions (287). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications. {Emphasis added by me.}
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“…so that we can witness to others…”
“The founder of the China Inland Mission, J. Hudson Taylor, once witnessed to a Chinese seeker. “How long have your people had this message?” the man asked, and Taylor told him, “Hundreds of years.” “Then why did you not come sooner?” the seeker cried. “My father sought the truth his whole life and died without finding it!”
We have the truth, not to embalm it, and “preserve” it, but to share it with a lost world. We have assurance, not so that we can become a religious elite, but so that we can witness to others who have no assurance. Truth and assurance are not ends in themselves; they are the means to the end of taking the gospel to the whole world. “As Thou didst send Me into the world,” said Jesus, “I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).
Jesus finished the work the Father gave Him to do, but His church has not yet finished the work that the Savior gave us to do. Our priorities are confused. We waste our financial and human resources on grandiose schemes that have little or no relationship to the commission God has given us. We are rearranging the furniture while the house is burning down. We are entertaining the saints when we ought to be evangelizing the sinners. To paraphrase Mark Twain, lies are running around while truth is still putting on her shoes.
True, we have sacrificed to build impressive buildings and outfit them, but “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). This does not mean that it is not God’s will for us to erect sanctuaries and offices; but it is a reminder that such programs, even in the will of God, are not a substitute for obedience. God wants our sons and daughters-and ourselves-as much as He wants our silver and gold, and perhaps more; for if He has us, He will have everything.”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1988). Prayer : Basic training (140). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.
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Wesley on Persecution
I found this quote interesting. When preaching on persecution Wesley said:
“Yet think not that you can always avoid it, either by this or any other means. If ever that idle imagination steals into your heart, put it to flight by that earnest caution, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” “Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” But will this screen you from persecution? Not unless you have more wisdom than your Master, or more innocence than the Lamb of God.
Neither desire to avoid it, to escape it wholly; for if you do, you are none of his. If you escape the persecution, you escape the blessing; the blessing of those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. If you are not persecuted for righteousness’ sake, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. “If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him, he will also deny us.
Nay, rather, “rejoice and be exceeding glad,” when men persecute you for his sake; when they persecute you by reviling you, and by “saying all manner of evil against you falsely;” which they will not fail to mix with every kind of persecution: They must blacken you to excuse themselves: “For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you!” — those who were most eminently holy in heart and life; yea, and all the righteous which ever have been from the beginning of the world. Rejoice, because by his mark also ye know unto whom ye belong. And, because great is your reward in heaven,” — the reward purchased by the blood of the covenant, and freely bestowed in proportion to your sufferings, as well as to your holiness of heart and life. Be exceeding glad;” knowing that “these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Wesley, J. (1999). Sermons, on several occasions. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. {Bolding for Emphasis Added by me}
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My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness
“The Christian often tries to forget his weakness: God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply. The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it: God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it. The Christian mourns over his weakness: Christ teaches His servant to say, ‘I take pleasure in infirmities; most gladly will I glory in my infirmities.’ The Christian thinks his weakness his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God: God tells us that it is the secret of strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives us our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”
Andrew Murray
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“As a teacher you aim…”
“As a teacher you aim, then, to develop a personality. You want your pupil not simply to know, but to live Christianity. You want him not merely to do right deeds, but to do them of his own will, knowing what he is doing and why he is doing it, and loving the right for sake of the Father who gave him that freedom. There is but one real test of a teacher’s work. God and men alike will ask you that one question. It is not, “What have you taught your pupil to know?” or, “What have you trained him to do?” but, “What sort of person have you helped him to become?”
Weigle, L. A. (1911). The Pupil and The Teacher: (P. 9). USA: Lutheran Publication Society.
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“No Bible—no breakfast!”
“The Word of God is certainly central in spiritual growth. I have yet to meet a strong, fruitful Christian who ignores his Bible. We must daily spend devotional time in the Word, seeking the mind of God. We must also study the Word regularly, in a disciplined way, so that we better understand what it teaches. The gifted Chinese preacher, Watchman Nee, used to read through the New Testament once a month. This becomes apparent when you read his books, for you are struck with his wonderful insights into God’s Word. The members of the Chinese church used to have a saying, “No Bible—no breakfast!” If we followed that motto in America, I wonder how many Christians would go hungry.”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Jud 20). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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