Lecture Notes: The Student Volunteer Movement and Debate on Mission

Introduction

• Student Volunteer Movement: One of the great movements in church history.
  • Highly consequential in world history, especially in the modern period.
  • Eventually ended due to a debate over the definition of mission.

Main Debate: Evangelism vs. Social Action

• Key Questions:

  • How do evangelism and social action relate to each other?
  • Is there a priority, or are they two sides of the same coin?
  • Is social responsibility a means to an end (feeding souls through feeding stomachs) or an end in itself?

• Speaker's Anecdote:

  • A provocative speaker suggested serving the poor 'for the hell of it', highlighting the view of social action as an end in itself.

Evangelical Positions

• Prioritism:

  • Social responsibility is a calling, but evangelism and discipleship are the primary missions.
  • Mission narrowly defined as evangelism and discipleship.

• Holism:

  • Social responsibility and evangelism are inseparable; both are essential.
  • Articulated by Richard Stearns in "The Hole in Our Gospel."

• Mainstream Evangelicalism:

  • Both views (prioritism and holism) exist within mainstream evangelical circles.

Historical Context

• Every Nation Churches: Founders leaned towards prioritism.
• Case Study Assignments:
  • Reading: "Rethinking Missions" by William Hawking (1932), critiquing Western mission work in Asia.
    • Concludes with redefining mission to focus on cooperation and social reform over conversion.

Recent Contributions

• Current Article: "The Case for Prioritism".
  • Lays out the terms, voices, and arguments of the debate.
  • Holism considered the dominant voice within current evangelicalism.

Lausanne Covenant

• Articles 5 and 6: Statements on social responsibility and evangelism.
  • Developed by Billy Graham (prioritism) and John Stott (holism).

Discussion and Reflection

• Reading Assignments:

  • "Rethinking Missions"
  • "The Case for Prioritism"
  • Lausanne Covenant Articles

• Key Reflection Questions:

  • How do these readings change or reinforce your understanding of mission?
  • Where do you see the priorities in your own church or organization?

Conclusion

• Practical Implications: Real-world decisions often require prioritization.
• Final Thoughts:
  • The balance between evangelism and social action is crucial and complex.

Prayer: Lord, grant wisdom, humility, and sobriety as we study together.