On May 12, 1792 William Carey published a little pamphlet entitled, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. By God’s grace, his words inspired the modern missionary movement, and by God’s grace, I’m praying that they will inspire a fresh passion for global missions at Glory of Christ.
Carey was persuaded that one of the most important actions mission-minded Christians must take is fervent, united, and persistent prayer. However, he added, we “must not be contented…with praying, without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for.” In other words, we must add to prayer Christ-centered, faith-filled, Spirit-empowered action. Indeed, Christians should seek to use any and all acceptable means to accomplish their mission, and they should be more passionate about their aims than are the children of this world. Carey writes, “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.” That is, they would pray with white-hot passion and labor with unstoppable determination to accomplish the mission of God in the world.
Carey was persuaded that one of the most important actions mission-minded Christians must take is fervent, united, and persistent prayer. However, he added, we “must not be contented…with praying, without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for.” In other words, we must add to prayer Christ-centered, faith-filled, Spirit-empowered action. Indeed, Christians should seek to use any and all acceptable means to accomplish their mission, and they should be more passionate about their aims than are the children of this world. Carey writes, “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.” That is, they would pray with white-hot passion and labor with unstoppable determination to accomplish the mission of God in the world.
Carey continues, “When a trading company have obtained their charter they usually go to its utmost limits; and their stocks, their ships, their officers, and men are so chosen, and regulated, as to be likely to answer their purpose; but they do not stop here, for encouraged by the prospect of success, they use every effort, cast their bread upon the waters, cultivate friendship with every one from whose information they expect the least advantage. They cross the widest and most tempestuous seas, and encounter the most unfavourable climates; they introduce themselves into the most barbarous nations, and sometimes undergo the most affecting hardships; their minds continue in a state of anxiety, and suspense, and a longer delay than usual in the arrival of their vessels agitates them with a thousand changeful thoughts, and foreboding apprehensions, which continue till the rich returns are safe arrived in port. But why these fears? Whence all these disquietudes, and this labour? Is it not because their souls enter into the spirit of the project, and their happiness in a manner depends on its success?”
With this worldly spirit in mind, Carey concludes, “Christians are a body whose truest interest lies in the exaltation of the Messiah’s kingdom. Their charter is very extensive, their encouragements exceeding great, and the returns promised infinitely superior to all the gains of the most lucrative fellowship. Let then every one in his station consider himself as bound to act with all his might, and in every possible way for God.”
Oh, may we have ears to hear, hearts to receive, and wills to obey!
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