Bible and Missions Christian Missions

Bible and Missions Christian missions have been an essential component in spreading the gospel of Christ. The bible is often utilized to assist in drawing people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. The purpose of this discussion is to examine the Influence of the Bible on Christian mission. The research will also focus on discuss how the Bible has won some countries over to Christ and its influence in some countries. The bible and Christian missions The bible provides the blue print for the Christian faith.

It is utilized in many different ways as it relates to the practice of the Christian faith. As it pertains specifically to the Christian Mission the bible is utilized by those that are witnessing to explain the foundations of Christianity to non-believers (Barnett et al., 2005). The bible explains who Jesus Christ is and the purpose that he served during his earthly ministry. The bible also provides an account of Christ virgin birth and his earthly ministry.

In addition, it provides an account of His death burial and resurrection and explains the transfigurative nature of the blood of Christ along with the promise of salvation. For people in some countries Christian missions were instrumental in providing the opportunity to read the bible for the first time. This is particularly true in countries that banned bibles or in countries that never had access to translated bibles.

As it pertains to countries that banned bibles, Christian missionaries have smuggled bibles into certain countries so that people would have access to the word of God and what it teaches. Some countries have banned any type of religious expression that is not approved by the government. In these countries missionaries and Christian churches have been forced underground (Barnett et al., 2005). People literally risk loosing their lives to hear the gospel, and to preach the gospel. In these underground churches bibles are essential for teaching and missionary work.

In addition, the bible has been translated into many different languages. The bible has also been put on tape for those who are illiterate or not able to see. Translations of the bible allow people to red the word of god for themselves and it also breaks down certain barriers that may exist between cultures. For instance, in some countries Jesus Christ is perceived as the God of the West or the God of White people (Barnett et al., 2005).

When a bible is translated into a specific language some of these perceived ideas are disproved. Also access to translated bibles allows missionaries to minister more effectively because it reduces some of the language barriers that may be present. The translations and recorded versions of the bible have proved instrumental in the conversion of people throughout the world. For instance the Morvian mission in Tanzania depended heavily on the study of the bible.

According to an article found in the journal Ethnology missionaries taught the bible with great fervor and there were many conversions to Christianity as a result (Gabbert, 2001). Although the mindset of missionaries towards Tanzanians and African's in general was somewhat misguided and in some cases downright demeaning, they were able to share the tenets of Christianity and many people accepted Christ as a result (Gabbert, 2001). The people who were converted were able to see the reality of Christ through the bible.

In addition to places such as Tanzania the bible's influence on Christian Missions is also evident in places such as China and Russia. For instance, in China where Christianity and Christians had been persecuted for many years, the bible has been instrumental in assisting missionaries in spreading the gospel in spite of persecution and alienation of Christians in China (Lee, 2001).

According to an article entitled "The Oversees Chinese Networks and Early Baptist Missionary Movement across the South China Sea" Beginning in the 1830s, American Baptist missionaries who preached among Overseas Chinese in Siam found in the process a way to reintroduce Christianity to the Chinese mainland. Material and social opportunities as well as religious fervor encouraged Overseas Chinese converts to help spread their new faith through native place networks abroad in Siam and, later, through kinship networks after they returned home.

Because these networks were outside Chinese official control, they provided a stable and effective channel of religious transmission to facilitate Baptist expansion from Southeast Asia to China proper (Lee, 2001-page 752)." This expansion was due in part to the presence of bibles throughout Southeast Asia and eventually China proper. Because they had access to bibles, missionaries were able to teach the word of God and effectively win people to Christ.

At the current time it is reported that China has become rather open to Christianity -- or at least much more than it has been in the past. In the past China's government was extremely antagonistic towards Christianity. However, Christianity has grown substantially in China and is becoming more acceptable and there is less prosecution of Christians within the country. In addition to China, the influence of the bible on missionary work can also been seen in Russia and throughout Europe.

According to an article found in the Ecumenical Review "When the Bolsheviks rose to power in Russia in 1917, one of the main points on their ideological programme was to wage war on all manifestations of religion. Aggression soon turned into full-fledged genocide during the 1920s and 1930s: the destructive methods of militant atheism spared nobody -- neither bishops, nor priests, nor monks, nor nuns, nor laypeople (Alfeyev, 2005, pg.

82)." The clergymen that were persecuted left behind children and wives who were ostracized and were referred to as the "children of the enemies of the people." These "enemies" were actually put in secular boarding schools and religious leaders from various- Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists - were all subject to persecution (Alfeyev, 2005). With these things being understood, missionaries faced incredible odds as it related to the proselytizing of Russians, this was particularly true during the period of time in which it was illegal to bring bibles into Russia.

Similar to other communist nations, Russian Christians and missionaries had to practice their faith in private so that they were not victims of persecution. Having bibles allowed missionaries to spread the gospel throughout Russia even though it was forbidden. Although there were many who were tortured and killed as a result of their Christian faith, the spread of the gospel was not in vain or lost because today Russia is a nation that is very open to the gospel and the message Jesus Christ.

It is evident that the availability of the bible and bible translations allowed missionaries to continue to spread the gospel although it was extremely dangerous to do so. In more recent times that European Union has come under some attack for even suggesting that Europe's Christian past should not be mentioned in the proposed constitution (Alfeyev, 2005). In addition there was a great deal of outrage when French officials banned wearing any religious symbols in Public (Alfeyev, 2005).

With such hostility towards Christianity taking root throughout Europe and the world, it is becoming even more important that bibles are available and continue to influence missionaries and mission work. In addition, it is important that Christians throughout.