Mission to Europe
A great mission work is being done in Europe even as you read this! The Baptist Church of New England has been given an open door to play some small part in this.
Outside the Window
I’ve learned a great deal about global missions from the 10/40-Window perspective. This perspective sees the earth’s latitude between 10 degrees and 40 degrees as the primary target of global mission work. I’ve been to the 10/40-Window multiple times and hope to return, and my church supports missionaries serving in this region. The 10/40-Window perspective is not wrong to express the dire need for missionary support in regions yet to hear the name Jesus.
The problem comes when it is set over-and-against, in competition with, mission work in other regions of the world such as Europe. Let’s examine.
Reverse Missions
What is misleading is to think of countries in Europe as Christianized, once and for all. While it is true that many European nations have a long and rich history of Christian tradition, the current worldview throughout most of Europe is predominantly secular. There are often fewer Bible-believing Christians in major European cities than one might find in equivalent urban areas of Asia or Africa.
Europe has been experiencing what the United States is experiencing, just further advanced. What is often called a post-Christian culture predominates, with people who have grown dull to the gospel. Evangelical Christianity is seen as what people used to believe, and what some backwards, bigoted, and rather unintelligent folks might still believe. Social and theological progressivism has infiltrated the State Church with a new religion of secularism. This is more than politics; it is life and a worldview.
Sweden by some accounts is the least religious country in the world. You would be hard-pressed to find a solid Bible-believing church in Oslo, Stockholm, or Helsinki. There are a handful, thank God, but no more. In Luxembourg, luxury is no indicator of spiritual wealth. Reykjavik needs people called to missions as does Rwanda, Rome as Beijing, and the Emerald Isle as The Republic of India.
It Comes Down to Calling
Many are called to spend their lives for the mission of the gospel in countries throughout Europe. While they might not be in the same dangers of malaria or radical Islam as some other global missionaries, they are nonetheless devoted to studying, loving, and reaching a cross-cultural people group. I have had the privilege of spending time with and/or communicating back and forth with a good deal of global missionaries in Europe. They are excellent! They are highly skilled, passionate for the Lord, and deeply committed to reaching their respective ethne. For various reasons, Baptists in New England have found an open door of ministry there.
The Source of the Fountain
The majority of foreign missionaries, and foreign mission funding, has historically come from North America and Western Europe. That may be changing, as what were once mission fields are now sending missionaries. However, if we lose the mission-sending nations for the gospel, we have critically hindered the cause of world missions. If you cut off a fountain at the source, it is not merely the source that is affected but the entire reach of the fountain. If the west continues to spiritually decay, and the Christian faith becomes more and more ostracized, then the 10/40-Window will suffer in turn. To sum up, a healthy North American and European Church, funding missionaries and sending out theologically-trained men and women to the nations, is demonstrably better for everyone.
More Missions Everywhere
We need to create an environment where the 10/40-Window and Europe, along with the rest of the globe, boost up each other’s mission work. A love for missions in us fosters a love for missions in others. The idea of studying new languages and learning missiology, crossing ethnic boundaries and meeting new people, praying and laboring to see the gospel open doors of ministry, should never lead to an us-versus-them mentality. It is a work that inspires others to join together, regardless of the longitude or latitude of the work.
The need is so great for more missionaries everywhere, we only have time to partner with one another. Historian of the Swedish Baptists, Gustavus Wilhelm Schoeder, wrote in concern in 1898:
“There seems to be among some Baptists a disposition in these days to withdraw all financial aid hitherto granted to the missionaries in the nominally Christian countries of Europe. If, unfortunately, such short-sighted policy should be adopted and prevail, the effects on the Missions there would be very disastrous. If Christ were on earth and should renew his mandate to make disciples of all nations, it is my firm belief that He would not make any exceptions of such parts of the world as had, by the devices of Satan, been deceived into acceptance of Christian forms for Christianity. Surely the conversion of souls in such lands is as important as in any other;” - History of the Swedish Baptists in Sweden and America
Thank God for the mission to Europe!