ZINZENDORF

ZINZENDORF
"In 1722 Count Nicholaus von Zinzendorf of Saxony founded a colony of pietist ("holy person who devoutly fulfills religious obligations¹") believers called "herrnhut," later known as Moravians. He also traveled to America and set up communities that began to send out missionaries, first to Greenland, then to the West Indies, then beyond. By the time Zinzendorf died in 1760 some 300 missionaries, all laypersons, had gone out from the various colonies. In 1738 when some of the challenges of missionary life had become clear, Zinzendorf wrote his famous instructions, many of which sound strangely modern, despite their 18th century language. It is better to send people into the wide world than to send no one. But you should be warned about the following temptations." (I share 1-10 of 20) 1. To have even the slightest dealings with clergymen.
2. To think about your purpose in the land only when you get there.
* What is your purpose in the land?
3. To test your vocation on the heathen once you are among them.
4. To give up because something doesn't work immediately.
* Are you ready to give up? Don't!
5. To begin to make your home too comfortable, forgetting that you are really a traveler, a pilgrim among the nations.
* Ouch! Have we become too comfortable in this land of blessing?
6. To be prejudiced against the heathen because they are neither efficient nor pious, and to be irritated by how badly they run things.
* This is a big one for all us Christians, especially those of us who are in ministry. What are the areas we prejudge with little to no information?
7. To seek even the slightest advantage at the expense of your brothers.
* Another big one. One of the ways it shows up in our lives is gossip. Y'all know what I'm talking about!
8. To fill up whole diaries with descriptions of difficulties but write little or nothing about the ways in which our Savior has helped you.
* Let us never ever forget or grow weary of praising God in all our circumstances.
9. To forget that one can do far more with a believing heart than with many words.
10. To judge your colleagues, and particularly your superiors, according to their personalities and then allow your relationship to be influenced by whether or not you approve of them.
* Come on now! We all know about this one. Repent and be set free from a critical spirit!
Tune in tomorrow for 11-20.
Stephanie