Turning Points in the Expansion of Christianity

Ever since Mark Noll published his classic work "Turning Points" over two decades ago, it has become a popular framework to study the history of Christianity. Such "turning points" are essentially significant moments in time that have changed the course of history. In Noll's book, some significant moments include the Fall of Jerusalem (AD70); the Formation of the Council of Nicaea (AD325); the Monastic Period (AD530); the Coronation of Charlemagne (AD800); the Great Schism (AD1054); Rise of Protestantism (AD1521); The Second Vatican Council (AD1962-5); etc. These significant events helped shape the Church into what it is today. For all his valiant efforts, even Noll's latest edition of his classic only touches the tip of the iceberg of history. It will take many more volumes to uncover the multitudes of decisions that have shaped the many developments throughout the history of the Church. Using Noll's framework that covers events from AD70 to the 1970s, author and professor Alice Ott boldly apply the same methodology to events from Pentecost to the Present age. She defines her turning point as both the beginning of a "new trend" as well as the "climax and culmination" of mission work outreach. Some of the unique features in this book include:

- Anecdote or illustration to introduce readers to the impact of the turning point
- Five chapters cover Christian influence before the Protestant Reformation
- Seven chapters cover the turning points after the rise of the Protestant movement
- Additional material on East Syrian and Roman Catholic missionaries
- Themes of missiology, theology, and history highlighted throughout the book
- Methods and strategies for evangelization
- ...

My Thoughts
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This is a fine extension of the type of historical survey inspired by Mark Noll's "Turning Points." The moment one sees the title, one would recognize the format to see the crucial impacts of Christianity at particular times. Author Alice Ott takes the concept further to focus on expansion, covering crucial points of history that Noll had excluded. The Jerusalem council in AD49 settled the Jewish-Gentile controversy by declaring equal standing for both. This officially extended the Christian faith to non Jews, and prevented the conflicts from getting out of hand. The patron of Ireland, Saint Patrick brought the gospel to the Irish in AD450, to reach that part of the world often labeled as barbaric and unreachable. The Jesuits reached China through Matteo Ricci in the 1700s. William Carey and others brought missions to Africa, India, and to the outermost parts of the world. Like Noll's book, Ott concludes with the Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization in 1974. Such a review of the historical thrusts toward missions and evangelism inform modern readers about the faith and obedience of our predecessors. It is inspiring to see the level of determination against all odds. Every single one of the missionaries and evangelists face theoretical insurmountable barriers. Yet, just as Jesus has taught, their faith manage to move mountains of doubt. Reading this book is inspiring for that reason.

In our modern world, we all need a dose of faith in an era of rising secularism and skepticism. The struggles faced by the bold missionaries are quite daunting and not for the faint of heart. Yet, these men and women of faith are not deterred by the challenges. Rather than be ashamed about our lack of zeal when compared to these believers of old, we should take a leaf from their lives and to consider what God has given us, how He is calling us, and what He requires of us. If there are lessons we could learn from the historical expansion from this book, there are at least three. The first is of course the inspirational aspect already mentioned above. Professor Ott has meticulously highlighted the expansion of Christianity that reaches the outermost parts of the earth. This reminds us of the Great Commission that Jesus has called all His disciples to do.

The second thing we could benefit from this book is to be reminded that modern believers cannot simply adopt the old methods wholesale. Every generation will have to creatively rework their strategies of reaching out. In the past, colonialism might have carved out opportunities to share the gospel. Unfortunately, such strategies are not just outdated, it is undesired, especially for those places still bitter about gunboat diplomacy adopted by the powerful colonial masters. There is a new sense of pride growing in developing countries. They do not need the industrialized West to tell them what to do and what not to do. They need local leaders. Some of the most successful missionary efforts come from great investments on building up local skills and knowhow. This is also known as discipleship. Just as individuals need to be discipled, nations too could be discipled.

Finally, the word "expansion" might be an uncomfortable word for certain readers. That is because of some bad memories from the past about colonial conquests and exploitation of the poor by the rich. For those living in developing countries, they are increasingly suspicious of anything coming from the West or rich nations. Learning to deal with these suspicions and skepticisms might be our new challenges. There is still a strong underlying suspicion that the gospel is a Western religion. Of course that it not true, but perceptions are often more relied upon instead of reality. Believers need to be humble and to aim at winning trust. This calls for prayerful work in the area of mission. If there is one thing common between the old and new missionary endeavors, it would be love. Without love, we will not bother about the neighbors we have in other countries. With love, we will continue to reach out in the Name of Christ.

Thanks to Professor Ott, we are reminded once again that the Great Commission is the responsibility of every generation. This book is a valuable contribution to the work of mission.

Alice T. Ott (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is affiliate professor of the history of mission and world Christianity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. She previously served as a missionary in Germany for 21 years with ReachGlobal.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.