Saturday, February 12, 2011

William Carey’s 11 commandments of missions

1. Set an infinite value on immortal souls.

2. Gain all the information you can about “the snares and delusions in which these heathens are held.”

3. Abstain from all English manners which might increase prejudice against the gospel.

4. Watch for all opportunities for doing good, even when you are tired and hot.

5. Make Christ crucified the great subject of your preaching.

6. Earn the people’s confidence by your friendship.


7. Build up the souls that are gathered.

8. Turn the work over to “the native brethren” as soon as possible.

9. Work with all your might to translate the Bible into their languages. Build schools to this end.

10. Stay alert in prayer, wrestling with God until he “famish these idols and cause the heathen to experience the blessedness that is in Christ.”

11. Give yourself totally to this glorious cause. Surrender your time, gifts, strength, families, the very clothes you wear.

Listed in Christian History, Issue 36, page 34.
Hat tip: Jason Delgado, Ray Ortlund

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I am very happy that we no longer live in William Carey's time - however this same type of drivel is still used as a tactic in many evangelical groups to this day as a means to gather those in who can not think for themselves in order to build church empires and (if you will) the "mega church" complexes. There is no Christianity in this type of pursuit.

Unknown said...

I am very happy that we no longer live in William Carey's time - however this same type of drivel is still used as a tactic in many evangelical groups to this day as a means to gather those in who can not think for themselves in order to build church empires and (if you will) the "mega church" complexes. There is no Christianity in this type of pursuit.

Azou said...

Yeah, I'm also happy we don't live in his time. Very true.

Reynold said...

2. Gain all the information you can about “the snares and delusions in which these heathens are held.”

3. Abstain from all English manners which might increase prejudice against the gospel.

Yeah, like calling them "heathens" who are living under "delusions"?

That's probably what they'd say about you people and your religion as well.