SULLIVAN: Power of Holy Spirit, human believer drives the theology of missions

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FORT MYERS (FBC)-"When you speak of the theology of missions, you do not do so from a text," said John Sullivan during the 145th annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention, "but from the textbook. The Bible is the missions manual."

Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, continued what has become an annual convention tradition of bringing a message on Southern Baptist doctrine as requested by the FBSC Committee on Order of Business.

During the Tuesday afternoon session of the meeting at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Sullivan cited Acts 1:6-8 as a backdrop for a "Theology of Missions."

Sullivan defined the doctrine of missions as "the power of the Holy Spirit capturing the heart of the human believer awakening him to the fact that world evangelization is still the priority of God."

The doctrine begins with the Bible, he said, the "ever-expanding story of God's redemptive grace and love perpetuated from one person to another."

"The single purpose of the people of God is to introduce the Good News of redemption where it is the news. When this fails to happen, there is a crisis in the Body of Christ-the church. It is a crisis in delivery and theology."

For the church to confront the world realistically, Sullivan said, a theology of concept and purpose must be developed, and not just a theory of tactics and techniques.

Sullivan said two strategic questions will shape theology and methodology:

"Can the church, as found in the New Testament, impact the multi-faceted and complex culture of our day as it did in the beginning?" he asked. And, "What will be the relationship of our evangelistic/missionary enterprise with the many religions of the world that do not recognize Jesus as Savior and Lord?"

The apostles, Sullivan reminded, did not come to accommodate but to change, citing Paul's sermon to the Athenians. "My fear for Baptists is that our doctrine of missions will be relegated, not abdicated."

"If we do not recapture the theology of missions and make God's passion our passion, we will continue to shoot the target and then draw the bull's eye," Sullivan said.

"Strategy is necessary but theology is essential," Sullivan explained, adding that strategy utilizes methods and theology kindles passion.

Passion pleases and blesses the heart of God, Sullivan noted, "The Holy Spirit is never more pleased with us than when we are on mission. Jesus is never more pleased than when we are on mission. Your church will never maximize influence until you are on mission."

Sullivan said two basic elements exist in the doctrine of missions-the Holy Spirit, which defies intimidation and gives moral courage and confidence even in death, and the human element seen in the lives of Christians propagating the Gospel message.

Saying there is no New Testament theology of missions without the theology of the Holy Spirit and power of God, Sullivan said the Holy Spirit assumed leadership of the missionary movement from the very first. "He is not available to us as much as we are available to Him."

The human element can be seen in the lives of Jeremiah, Stephen, Simon Peter, Paul and Matthew, Sullivan said, for the true believer is best represented in a life changed by the Holy Spirit and a voice that cannot be quieted.