Reflecting on William Carey

Had much to think about the last couple of weeks with attending the Desiring God Pastor's Conference in Minneapolis, along with preparing for ministry to India and Bangladesh.  With the conference title of God, Manhood & Ministry, I was challenged with a few thoughts.  The concept of consistently showing fatherly pleasure in my children, as God the Father showed fatherly pleasure in His Son.  I could share some thoughts, men, of our importance to our families and the church body, wondering how rich it could be for us to be men who courageously and thoughtfully studied theology together.  Instead for now I'll simply say men, ask me about 'Systematic Thursdays' sometime.  I could simply recount some of the alarming stats of men dropping out of church and life in general, often it seems because they've lost the will to fight courageously for something.  I do pray ours will be a church full of men who are alive, with a passion to give their life to something of eternal significance!  Being able to attend this conference with Ken and Loren added to the experience, as we spoke of the things we were hearing.   

On that note, I have reflected somewhat this past week, on the biographical sketch of JC Ryle that was painted for us so wonderfully by John Piper.  It left me with a deep sense of the beauty and wonder of the gospel and of the church the Bride of Christ.  Men in particular, you might want to track it down on the Desiring God website and give it a listen.  Piper paints a rich picture of the nature of Ryle's ministry in this talk with what he called the 'masculine ministry as seen in the life of JC Ryle'.  It left me with the desire to be that courageous warrior who fights for truth in the church and my family, fights against sin in my life, fights against sin and for purity in my own family, fights for the protection of my wife and children, and the uplifting of women in our church and in this culture, would be willing to take bullets for the sake of the church and the preservation of gospel truth - joyfully preserving the body of Christ, cherishing both my own family and the church in deeper and joyful ways.

Along with those thoughts, I've been reading a biography of William Carey as I prepare to head out to India and Bangladesh in only 2 days time.  Reading this book I feel both incredibly weak and uncourageous, while at the same time finding myself struggling with aspects of Carey's life while being profoundly impacted by his love for the gospel and incredible drive to take this gospel to the country of India.  One cannot help read about his life without having the greatest of admiration for this man, as he displayed a 'single-minded determination to set his face like a flint to the task of bringing the gospel to those lost in darkness'.  This man suffered through severe trials, some of them as a result of his determined zeal to see India won for Christ.  The death of several children, a wife who sank deeper and deeper into depression, an incredible lonliness in this land that was so foreign for him and so far from from his native England at that time in history.  Combined with  experiencing very little fruit, particularly in the early years of his ministry.  His was a life of tremendous hardship and heartache, along with tremendous victories.

Yet, I wonder about our call to look after our own families - being those called worse than the unbelievers if we don't look after our own families. As I read about his drive for missions along with his wife's constant fears and hesitation about going, I wrestle with combining these two - knowing that much of this probably hinges on our understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, be prepared to even have our own families against us in this venture called our faith.  No I haven't landed anywhere particularly at this point - just filled with amazement and wonder as I read the life of this famous man - the man we call 'the father of modern missions'.

This has all certainly heightened by own excitement of going back to India and Bangladesh after a 26 year absence.  Stepping onto the very ground trod by Carey as he spoke the gospel message to this country, and the land that was the ground of my early discipleship, visiting the church that began as a result of this man's determination.  I will actually have the chance to preach at Carey Baptist Church in Calcutta - a church founded by this man - on February 26th.  Appreciate your prayers as I fly out on the 13th and spend the following 3 weeks in India and Bangladesh.