On 27 July, 2011, the Church lost one of its greatest leaders, Rev. John Stott. There were many tributes written in the days immediately following. He contributed so much in so many areas that it is hard to overstate his significance. He was called "a Renaissance man with a Reformation theology." Indeed.
He made a number of important contributions in the area of mission that deserve remembering and celebrating. His book Christian Mission in the Modern World was written in 1975. Despite the passage of years, it still has much to say. In the era in which it was written, it challenged evangelicals who often rejected or severely downplayed social justice and societal change as well as liberals for whom evangelism was an uncomfortable topic. Stott stated that Christian mission must encompass both evangelism and social action. "Ultimately, Stott points to the example of Jesus, who modeled both the Great Commission of proclamation and the Great Commandment of love and service. This balanced, holistic approach to mission points the way forward for the work of the church in the world." For many younger Christians, this is a no-brainer. John Stott helped make it so. The book was recently reissued by InterVarsity Press in a collection of classics. It is still well worth reading.
Comments
I'm happy to add a testamonial to what Seve writes, from the perspective of colleagues in Latin America. Both Stott's writing and his support in little and larger ways of of pastors and institutuions is widely appreciated there.
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