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Key to the Missionary Problem

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In 1901, New York City was the site of a large and important Christain Missions Conference. No less than revivalists and missionary luminaries, Dwight Moody, Smith Wigglesworth and Hudson Taylor tried to persuade Andrew Murray of South Africa to minister wtih them. Andrew Murray declined - twice. The Missions Conference sessions were transcribed in their entirity and the manuscript sent to Murray. The Key to the Missionary Problem is his discerning and insightful response. He outlines in brief what he understood the other participants to say before launching an answer that hits a bullseye not even targeted by the others. A highligt from Chapter three gives a brilliant history of the Moravians (the present-day Brethren Congregationalists), the most successful missionary sending church since the days of Pentecost. Chapter six sets out a description of the evidence of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life that should delight and challenge even todays believers. The Key to the Missionary Problem is a "must read" for all of us who hold dear the ideal of a personal walk with Jesus Christ.

Andrew Murray's book is one of the best books I've read in my Doctor of Ministries program. The postmodern culture in which we live has made personal evangelism a subject of derision and scorn. Many churches have even relegated individual soul winning as an archaic practice. Murray repeatedly makes the case that the reason soul winning is no longer fashionable is due to the lack of love we have for Jesus Christ Himself. Murray's book is like a breath of fresh air in an age when we focus on 'political correctness' and 'pluralism' and 'tolerance' to the exclusion of upholding the Biblical standard and obedience to the directive to go and make disciples of all peoples. If we claim to be Christian we cannot ignore Jesus' command to be His witnesses in the world to bring people to faith in Him. The Key to the Missionary Problem is a powerful, inspirational, work that should be read by every person who claims the title 'Christian'. The key to the problem is definitely a personal one; the solution to which is renewed love for Jesus and renewed love for those without faith in Jesus; enough love to share the message of salvation in Jesus Christ with them.

To start I would like to note that I love Andrew Murray's books. They are always so Christ focused, accept the Scripture as the final authority and promote genuine holiness.

Key to the Missionary Problem is no different. As a missionary, I concur with Andrew Murray that the vast majority of problems in promoting and carrying out missions is a lack of zeal and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. As I have travelled to many missions conferences, pastors conventions and churches in preparing to enter full time missionary service, I noticed that much of the emphasis in such conferences is on side issues rather than obeying the Great Commission out of pure love for Christ. We must love GOD above all else and MEN secondly. Any theology that promotes loving men over that of loving God is idolatrous.

Andrew Murray does not only present the problem but offers the solution. He gives pastors, missionaries and other Christian leaders the key to understanding the failure of the Church to complete the Great Commission after 2,000 years as well as the key to solving it.

This book also contains excellent information about great missions movements in the past, particularly the Moravians.

This book placed me under such conviction that it put me to the carpet in seeking God for personal revival. I shed tears, shouted, jumped with joy and couldn't wait to tell my wife and friends what great things I was reading.

A++ as usual for Andrew Murray

I requested a copy of this book through a promotion with Mission Frontiers and was not sure what to expect from a book written so long ago, but it is a testament to Christ's continuing heart for all nations and the Holy Spirit's continued working today that I felt this book could have been written just last week. Easily read in one day, this book should be shared with everyone you know - whether they know they have a heart for missions or not!

Murray hits head on the problem in our churches today with respect to how we treat the important task of missions especially to the unreached...the only problem is that Murray is not our contemporary and this book was written for the church in the early 1900s! My heart lept and wept with the turn of each page at how relevent his message still is and we as the body of Christ are still so far from our one true call to draw others to Christ! Murray does more though than just point out the shortcomings of the Church, he points the reader to the fundamentals necessary to overcome our sin - prayer, love, a pentecostal church and leaders focused on these. Whether you are a pastor, a church leader, a missionary or just one in the body, this book is a must read! Murray challenges believers to be more than just good Christians and calls us to return to our first love, Christ, who leads us all to missions!

This seems like the question that would be in the forefront of most people's minds when offered the opportunity to read a book written by someone as a response to a now obscure set of meetings that took place over a hundred years ago. And it was a question that also occurred to me when I selected this book to review through a promotion in Missions Frontiers magazine (a publication of the U.S. Center of World Mission).

Two factors led to my interest in this book. I recently reread some other books by Andrew Murray and found that they spoke to me in powerful and fresh ways. And I had personally been wrestling with what could be done to motivate more young people to make the Great Commission (Jesus' last instructions to His followers before His ascension) a priority in choosing their life work. The Key to the Missionary Problem seemed like it might be just the book I needed to give me fresh insight.

After prayerfully reading this book, I can say wholeheartedly that it exceeded my expectation. I loved the way that Murray looked at all the "good" solutions proposed at the conference and gently led the reader away from human effort and deeper into the heart of God. Murray taught by example by examining the source of spiritual vitality in the Moravians, one of the most successful sending bodies in Christian history, and in the life of Hudson Taylor, one of the most successful pioneer missionaries in modern history who lead breakthrough work in inland China and encouraging others to follow this vision.

After looking carefully at these two success stories, Murray follows by examining the principles that provided the source of the power behind them, focusing on passionate, prevailing prayer. Such prayer cannot be attained through encouragement, instruction, or compulsion, but only happens when a person or group of people fall deeply in love with Jesus and their hearts become aligned with His priorities.

Lack of success, Murray claims, is a result of worldliness and lack of prayer. Murray's focus on the inner life is especially timely in light of the growing reliance of many churches on worldly principles of management and promotion to attract followers. I found what he had to say very relevant to many of the issues facing congregations today: do we initiate more programs, more training, better curriculum, more professional teachers? All of these can have their place, but they won't solve the real problem of a cold heart.

Here is the essence of Murray's message: "As we seek to find out why, with such millions of Christians, the real army of God that is fighting the hosts of darkness is so small, the only answer is--lack of heart. The enthusiasm of the Kingdom is missing. And this is because there is so little enthusiasm for the King."

And the answer? "It is simply a matter of being near enough to Jesus to hear His voice and so devoted to Him and His love as to be ready to do all His will."

What was simple for Murray (staying close to Jesus), is a challenge for most of us. I hope this wonderful book will encourage you to pursue the King with the same intensity as Andrew Murray in order to walk in the similar blessings of obedience. I know it has encouraged me.

I received this book through a promotion from Mission Frontiers. And, I'll start by saying I'm a fan of Andrew Murray.

That said, this book took me quite a while to read. I am active in missions, both going and sending. I thought this book would encourage me in the direction the Lord has been moving me. Instead, the book challenged me deeply.

By example, Murray looked at the Moravians, one of the most successful sending bodies in Christian history, as well as Hudson Taylor, an "swim against the flow" missionary to China.

Murray does an amazing job leading us to take our eyes off of ourselves, off of men, and put them squarely on the Lord (where they belong). Our "key" to "solving" the missionary problem, according to Murray, is passionate prayer. We must be in fellowship with Jesus, fixing our eyes on Him, being conformed into His image. Looking to the ways of the world is not what the Lord would have us do - am I doing this?

In closing, "It is simply a matter of being near enough to Jesus to hear His voice and so devoted to Him and His love as to be ready to do all His will."

Murray, as always, draws his readers closer to the heart of God. It's an excellent book.

Problem: The church is failing to reach the lost on a wide scale. Why? Andrew Murray treats this question with skill, sensitivity, and humility in this book. He first lists some of the reasons others have proposed: The pastors aren't leading the way, the missionary publications aren't good enough, the youth aren't as on fire as they should be. Then he masterfully argues that instead, the missionary problem is a personal one, stating, "There is a need of a great revival of spiritual life, of truly fervent devotion to our Lord Jesus, of entire consecration to His service."

He goes on to describe how that problem might be solved, listing solutions that might sound cliché from any lesser pen than Murray's. Love Christ; Deepen your Spiritual life; Pray (the two chapters he devoted to prayer were both gems); Be filled with the Holy Spirit; Exercise good leadership. As Murray draws on Scripture, true life examples, and clear, persuasive reasoning, he succeeds in convincing one that the missionary problem cannot be solved in any other way.

Though written more than a century ago, Murray's book contains such an accurate perception of the need facing the church that it is as fresh and current as if it were written today. The book is not difficult to read once you get past the first chapter. I requested and received it for free as part of a book review program with Mission Frontiers, and I consider it as classic and timeless as any of Murray's writings.

Favorite quote of the book, which also illustrates its flavor throughout: "The only answer to that question--the key to the whole situation--appears to be the simple truth: The missionary problem is a personal one. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Author and Leader of Missions. Whoever stands right with Him, and abides in Him, will be ready to know and do His will. It is simply a matter of being near enough to Him to hear His voice, and so devoted to Him and His love as to be ready to do all His will."