These four posts are based
on the sermon I presented on the first Sunday of 2018. I took a New Year focus because
of the timing but I hope the material and personal reflection is of interest at
other times of the year. I acknowledge that some turns of phrase may have their
origins in the book Firstfruit
that I had read last year after visiting Saxony and historic Moravian sites.
I recommend reading the posts in order: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four.
Zinzendorf's work to build unity Zinzendorf built among those disparate Czech believers had a lasting impact on the history of Christian mission.
What happened is that Herrnhut began to send out missionaries to other nations.
It started with a chance meeting between Ludwig and a slave from the Caribbean
island of St Thomas. This man had recently been converted. which surprised Ludwig
since, in his view, the Dutch colony was a thoroughly Christian place. However,
he found the gospel had not been extended to the hundreds of slaves; it seemed to have been purposely withheld, in case knowledge of the Bible, and its emphasis on human rights, caused rebellion. In
1732, the church at Herrnhut sent two missionaries to St Thomas and not long
after, two to Greenland. Many more followed, and a great number were added to
the faith. However a huge price was paid by those volunteers, as many died of tropical
diseases and other tragedies.
Over time, sharing
faith with those who had not heard became part of the DNA of the Moravian tradition, and it still is. The Moravians sent out missionaries long before Baptists or
Presbyterians did, and today there are the Moravian churches in many places
around the world – Jamaica, Africa, Canada, India and Scandinavia. My 2017 Children's Service for Christmas told the story of the Moravian Star which is seen in these places, and around the world. The biggest
mission movement was to America, which Ludwig thought could provide a haven for
European refugees; years later he ended up being one of them, when he was
exiled from Germany himself. By then he had been ordained as pastor.
As far as I
know there are no Moravian churches in New Zealand, but Ric and I loved worshipping
in the church at Herrnhut; there was lots of great singing, the sermon was translated
for us, and the pastor was a woman. The visiting preacher - from the USA - told us Moravian there is ‘Lutheran lite’, so perhaps that’s what I am!
In Psalm 96 the Hebrews were enjoined to "publish God's glorious deeds among the nations, and tell everyone about the amazing things he does." Jesus' command to his followers to “Go to all the world” in Matthew 28 enlarges this global commision.
In 1735, a young
English vicar sailed to America in hopes of bringing the Christian faith to the
native people. His mission failed, but his ministry ended up changing the face
of the English church. The reason was that on the ship he met some Moravians.
The liveliness of their faith and personal relationship with Christ impressed
him deeply. On his return to London, he attended their Bible studies, and on
May 24, 1738 had a spiritual experience that “warmed his heart” and assured him
of salvation. That man was John Wesley, and this experience empowered him with a
Spirit of great boldness in Christian mission. The Methodist movement he
founded has continued to share the faith, to celebrate community, to nurture
the young and to welcome the stranger.
This I have done for you;
what have you done for me? Count Nicholas Ludwig van Zinzendorf sought to
know Christ personally and to experience God’s leading in his life, and his
influence continues around the world today.
To Think About: So the fourth question is, How might I be more intentional about sharing my faith this year?
From the Moravian Daily texts for this third week in Epiphany:
... we affirm that the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.
Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul,
with all our mind, and with all our strength.
Loving God, in the midst of this busy day help us to remember your profound love for us,
Be close to us as we choose words and actions in our dealings with others.
In the midst of this busy day help us to remember that we are your ambassadors to the world.
May others see and hear in us the message of your life-giving love.
In the midst of this busy day help us to remember that in Jesus Christ you set for us a pattern for living.
Be near to our hearts as we make decisions concerning matters both great and small for we seek to give all of ourselves to you.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glory without fault and with unspeakable joy,
to the only God, our savior, be glory and majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, now, and in all ages to come,
Amen.
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