April 6, 2008

 

Further work in missions:

 

   Christian missions was done in a two-fold variety:

a. New Testament—done by preaching the gospel of grace to individuals

and groups, supported by education and relationship evangelism

 

b. Political- sought to “convert” by military intervention and political ties

that avoided personal conversions;  when leaders became “Christians” then

national, linguistic and tribal groups followed in professing Christianity

 

1. Scots, Picts and Irish are converted through preaching of Patrick, Ninian,

Cuthbert and Columba.

  Patrick (389-461) was a child-slave and converted as a young man.

He was a proclaimer of scripture, not necessarily subject to the Pope.

  Columba establishes a monastery at Iona (western Scotland) under very

inhospitable circumstances, but with unusually successful efforts.  An entire

movement, called Celtic Christianity, grows out of this work with literature,

artwork and other surviving items.  These Celts opposed confession to priests, did not require “vows”, and may have opposed other Catholic practices.

 

2. Early on, England was an object of Celtic evangelism with Aidan (Scots) going

to England in 635.  In 596, Augustin, a Benedictine abbot arrived with

Laurentius and settled in Canterbury leading to the ‘conversion’ of King

Ethelbert.  This form of Christianity was decidedly Roman in practice.

  

3. Boniface (680-754), also called Winfred, has been called the apostle to

Germany.  He was strongly attached to Rome, and was gifted in speaking

and organization.  Columbanus (Irish) also preached to the Germanic or

Teutonic tribes—he along with Adebert (Gallic) and Clemens (Scots) came under criticism of Boniface due to their disloyalty to Rome. Each were later excommunicated.

   The last group to accept Christianity were the Saxons, the most war-like

and fierce of Germanic tribes.  Their subjection came in 804 and more political than genuine.  They were strongly nationalistic (later, Luther was Saxon) and opposed submission to Roman Cath. influence.

 

4. Scandinavia- made up of Norway, Denmark and Sweden—these countries

made up marauding bands who pillaged and stole from the English, Celts,

Italians, French and Russians.  Their wild behavior (drunkenness and gluttony

were high virtues, yet adultery was uncommon) made them difficult objects

of conversion.  Duty to family and courage were the greatest qualities.

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  Willebord, a Celtic Christian, visited the Danes in about 700.  He was

Followed by Ansgar (Frankish) in 822.  Ansgar went on to Sweden, by

invitation, before 831.  By 850, Christianity was settled in Denmark and

Sweden although conflicts did continue.

   About 950, Hakon The Good attempted evangelism in Norway and

Iceland.  In 995, Olaf Trygveson gained leadership in Norway and

established Christianity.

 

5. Slavic groups, like Moravian, Bulgarians, Bohemians, and Poles, along with Magyars (Hungarians) were principally ‘converted’ by politics.  One missionary was Cyrillus (Greek), with his brother, Methodius, who came into area near

the Black Sea in 860.  He would produce the Slavic (Russian) alphabet and

would preach and produce literature that aided in genuine conversions.

 

6. Russia would claim that its introduction to Christianity came through

the apostle Andrew in Scythia.  Initially, it was connections with the Eastern church (GK.Orthodox Ch) that brought formal Christianity to Russia.

Vladimir (980-1015) made it the official state religion with mass baptisms

that followed.  Churches, schools and monasteries followed as Cyrillus’

translation of scripture helped bring change on a widespread basis.