An interesting man to be sure. A professor who I took 'intro to Christian missions from' used him as an example of what not to do: colonialist, reckless, a danger to them. Why go since prevenient grace would probably take care of it (the prof. Had a rather interesting view of prevenient grace; but he's a fan of Brian McLaren so what are you going to do?).
But this article (from a non Christian, it seems) clarifies much, shows his long drawn out planning and thinking. He certainly was not racist, colonialist, nor reckless. I'm not convinced he was glory seeking. If he was trying to hide it from most so as to enable to actually do it and then remain there for a decacde or more, he wasn't seeking glory from humans, it seems, but rather the glory that comes from the only God. I'm hardly qualified to say if God had called him to that, but, if I were in his shoes, it seems a reasonable conclusion.
An interesting man to be sure. A professor who I took 'intro to Christian missions from' used him as an example of what not to do: colonialist, reckless, a danger to them. Why go since prevenient grace would probably take care of it (the prof. Had a rather interesting view of prevenient grace; but he's a fan of Brian McLaren so what are you going to do?).
ReplyDeleteBut this article (from a non Christian, it seems) clarifies much, shows his long drawn out planning and thinking. He certainly was not racist, colonialist, nor reckless. I'm not convinced he was glory seeking. If he was trying to hide it from most so as to enable to actually do it and then remain there for a decacde or more, he wasn't seeking glory from humans, it seems, but rather the glory that comes from the only God. I'm hardly qualified to say if God had called him to that, but, if I were in his shoes, it seems a reasonable conclusion.
Thanks for the comment, Sean! I think your assessment is a reasonable assessment too.
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