Status Updates From Biblical Missions: Principl...

gifted by Danette — read up to the Introduction, and the glossary at the end

“Skin-color-conscious religion withholds forgiveness and nurses grievances, often for generalized “systematic” sins that nobody in particular has committed. Depersonalizing sin by projecting guilt on entire ethnic groups and cultural “systems” is utterly alien to the Bible (Ezek 18:20).” (Pg. 59)

“Is there an Old Testament Great Commission?” “The Old Testament consistently depicts worship of the Lord as being centralized in Zion.” “That gathering of the nations to Zion is contextually placed in the distant (Isa 1:27; 2:2-4; 35:10; 50:28; 51:11; 57:3-7; 66:18).” (Pg. 43)

“First Timothy 3:15 teaches that the local congregation is the pillar and support of the truth. Missions must center on starting and strengthening local congregations, not the myriad other good things that Christians might be interested in doing and funding.” (Pg. 39-40)

“Therefore, when missionaries interpret the Scriptures according to the normal rules of grammar and syntax and expound the Scriptures accordingly in the target language, they wield the greatest tool to confront all rival theologies and call people to repent and believe the gospel (Acts 17:30).” (Pg. 26-27)

“every church plant must begin with a high view of Scripture. Church planting that is not ordered by Scripture is not merely extrabiblical and will not glorify God despite any numerical growth it may see (2Tim 4:3). The church planter’s authority must be the divinely inspired Word of God.” (Pg. 398)

Proverbs 16:8: “Better is a little with righteousness than great produce with injustice.” “In other words, it is better to be an obedient poor person than to be a rich sinner. One must not evaluate obedience to the Lord by the amount of money or material comfort that someone enjoys.” (Pg. 373)

“Biblical engagement with the culture includes; speaking the local language (Acts 21:40), working in the local markets (Acts 18:1-3), receiving hospitality (Acts 28:1-2), observing local codes of honor (Romans 12:17), adopting to local clothing conventions (1 Cor 11:4-6): — yet always honoring and obeying the Lord above all (Acts 5:29).” (Pg. 850)

“The use of translators is helpful and sometimes necessary in advancing the gospel. But they cannot be the long-term solution. Nor is the missionary able to gauge whether what was translated accurately was understood by the hearer. There can be inaccuracies, even perversions of the gospel in the process. So translators should not be relived upon as a missions strategy.” (Pg. 871)

“ Missionary Compatibility
- Is the candidate compatible with the church and missions agency on doctrine? - Is the candidate compatible with the church’s vision and goals for missions? - Is the candidate compatible with other team members? - Is the candidate compatible with the national church and is leaders?” (Pg. 236-237)