E.D. Burns, Christian Focus, 263 pages, 3 of 5 stars

E.D. Burns wrote Missionary Theologian to show that missions must coexist with sound theology to be effective. If you previously viewed missionaries as good ‘ole boys who love talkn’ bout Jesus but don’t know the difference between a hypochondriac and the Hypostatic Union, Burns wrote this book for you.

For years, Burns has served as a foreign missionary in East Asia and beyond. As a veteran missionary myself for nearly two decades, I enjoyed hearing a cross-cultural evangelist laud the importance of biblical theology and healthy ministry methods.

Indeed, missionaries won’t succeed if they don’t know and love the Word. Churches should block the runway if ignorant missionaries try boarding the plane to a foreign land. As Spurgeon said, “We cannot send men of third and tenth-class abilities, we must send the highest and the best.”

A Quick Summary

In Chapter 1, Burns uses Galatians 3:2-4 to show that justification is crucial in making a missionary, and quotes plenty of Luther and Augustine along the way. Chapter 2 is mostly about the missionary call, which Burns argues must be both corporate and individual. In Chapter 3 we learn that the history of missions is the history of prayer and without it we will never see many sinners converted.

Chapter 4 demonstrates the word is central in missions and doctrine affects method. Chapter 5 discusses sending, helpfully breaking down partnering churches into three categories:  home, sending and supporting. Chapter 6 shows how to partner with the global church while Chapter 7 promotes the humble shepherding of the flock. Chapter 8 encourages apologetics through the lens of Athens in Acts 17 and Chapter 9 closes out with Burns’ bread-and-butter on principles of missions from the Life of Adoniram and Ann Judson.

Pros

I found myself nodding in agreement as I flipped the pages. Yes, not everyone is a missionary. Yes, in time a sending church may descend into just a supporting church. Yes, desire doesn’t equal calling. Burns wrote this book for the man in the pew or a member of the Missions Committee.

Burns knows how to exegete a passage and is familiar with church history and modern theological issues. Anytime an author refers to short-term mission trips as “short-term vacations”, we can know he’s aware of the times.

The author’s time-tested standards of excellence at the end of Chapter 6 were excellent–the opposite of multiculturalism so common today. The latter half of Chapter 9 on the Judsons was insightful and thought-provoking. Missionary teams could take an entire day discussing each of those five strategic models.

Cons

This really was a good book and I commend Burns for his excellent work. I could only find a few matters with which to quibble. At points I couldn’t relate with Burns’ examples of heavy-handed churches that boss their missionaries around. My experience is just the opposite–either churches that are warm and balanced in their oversight or just plain disinterested.

I disagree with Burns on page 130 where he argues that the sending church should eventually hand off the missionary to the indigenous church for accountability. If you do this too early, the indigenous church will not be mature enough to oversee the missionary. If you do this too late, the missionary should have moved on by then.

One final point, which may be more an issue with the publisher than with the author. Why is it that nearly every book (and conference) I read on missions receives no endorsements (or keynote speakers) from missionaries? This book boasts twelve endorsements, mostly by pastors and none my missionaries. Imagine a book on dentistry without a single endorsement from anyone that has pulled teeth. You say: “But we need names people know. We need to sell books.” Here’s an endorsment that would look great on the back of a missions book:

“I highly recommend this book.” — Joe Forgotten, for 30 years Joe and his family have lived on a houseboat among a remote Amazon tribe where they have translated the Bible into their language.

Quotables

• “Usually those cultures that we initially profess to love and feel specifically called to reach are often very fun, polite, interesting, and hospitable; and for those cultures that rub us wrongly, ironically very few of us profess an equal enthusiasm.” (p. 60)
• “Missionaries need to remember that they usually have a very stubborn, ambitious, driven personality that God uses in the struggles of international service.” (p. 139)
• “The history of missions is the history of good intentions, failed attempts, unnoticed triumphs, haunting silence, ordinary obedience, quite contentment, and late-night sobs all through which God powerfully works for His glory and our eternal gladness in Him.” (141)