The Reformation and missions
This article examines the surprising lack of missionary activity among early Protestant Reformers despite the spiritual awakening of the Reformation era, using the example of Jean de Léry's 1556 mission to Brazil under Calvin's support to illustrate how Reformed churches did engage in some missionary efforts. Through historical narrative and theological analysis, Holstege challenges the common narrative that Protestants were entirely disinterested in foreign missions during the age of exploration.
We miss in the Reformers not only missionary action, but even the idea of missions, in the sense in which we understand them today. -- Gustav Warneck1 Instead of saying 'We ought to have missions, and we will have them, as soon as the Lord opens the door,' the Protestants tended to say 'Missions are neither obligatory nor desirable, and our lack of them cannot be held against us as blindness or unfaithfulness. -- Stephen Neill2 One would naturally expect that the spiritual forces released by...
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