Thesis (D. Th.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study deals with Christian revival and specifically Christian revival in the Presbyterian
Church of Thailand. Above all, it is an in-depth ecclesiological analysis and evaluation of the
Thai revival through John Sung’s campaigns of 1938-1939. This is a first attempt to examine this
revival from a holistic point of view. Between 1900 and 1941, missionary work in Thailand was
carried on almost exclusively by missionaries of the American Presbyterian Mission (APM), and
the revival was confined to the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) with which the missionaries
were involved.
The APM missionaries’ theology of revival can be understood by surveying the theological
controversy over revival within the American Presbyterian Churches. There is a remarkable
resemblance between the problems of the Old-New Side split of 1741 in American
Presbyterianism and the Thai revival of 1938-1939. The same problems, of ministerial
qualifications, differing understandings of the nature of true revival, and the essence of faith,
reoccurred two hundred years later in Thailand.
The historical, socio-cultural, religious, and political situation in Thailand played an important
role in the reception of the gospel among the Thai, as well as in the results of John Sung’s
campaigns. This is why the fruit of his ministry was meagre compared to the results of his work
in other Southeast Asian countries, even though the campaigns resulted in the greatest revival
movement Thailand had yet experienced. John Sung (1901-1944), the greatest evangelist China
has ever known, was conservative in his theology. His theology of revival was coincident with
Old School American Presbyterianism, but some aspects of his evangelistic methods were
identical with those of the New School. Despite his errors, God used him mightily for the Thai
church.
Forerunners of the revival movement prepared the ground for John Sung’s Thai campaigns. Even
though his itinerant ministry was conducted for only six weeks in 1938 and two months in 1939,
there was a genuine spiritual revival, as is reflected in general church history, following the
phenomena of conviction of sin and repentance, with restored worship and faith in God’s Word,
and eagerness for evangelism. The revival had positive and negative results. Nevertheless, the
Thai church was prepared for the test of the nationalistic Buddhist movement of 1940-1941 and
the people were equipped for the hardships of the Second World War. By using the WestminsterConfession of Faith as a criterion for an ecclesiological evaluation of the campaigns, it is shown
that John Sung did not instigate division within the church, even though his followers tried to set
themselves apart. But his criticism of the missionaries and Thai church leaders disrupted the
work of the officers of the church.
When the Thai supporters of the campaigns, out of their hunger for God’s Word, asked for a
Bible College to be established, the leaders of the APM, due to their own limitations, rejected the
suggestion. In the end the APM and the CCT lost a golden opportunity for church growth. The
most important reason was that neither could work in close cooperation with the other. The
central issue now is whether the Thai church can learn from the lessons of the past. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie handel oor Christelike herlewing en spesifiek Christelike herlewing in die
Presbiteriaanse Kerk van Thailand. Bowenal is dit 'n grondige ekklesiologiese analise en
evaluering van die herlewing wat in Thailand deur John Sung se veldtogte in 1938 en 1939
teweeggebring is. Dit is 'n eerste poging om die herlewing vanuit 'n holistiese oogpunt te
bestudeer. Tussen 1900 en 1941 is sendingwerk in Thailand feitlik uitsluitlik deur sendelinge van
die Amerikaanse Presbiteriaanse Sending (APS) onderneem, en die herlewing was beperk tot die
Kerk van Christus in Thailand (KCT) waarin hierdie sendelinge werksaam was.
Die APS-sendelinge se herlewingsteologie is begrypbaar wanneer ons die teologiese twispunte
oor herlewing binne die Amerikaanse Presbiteriaanse Kerke bestudeer. Daar is merkwaardige
ooreenstemming tussen die skeuring van 1741 tussen die Ou en Nuwe Bedeling in Amerikaanse
Presbiterianisme en die herlewing van 1938-1939 in Thailand. Dieselfde probleme, te wete die
kwalifikasies van bedienaars, verskille in die verstaan van die aard van ware herlewing en die
wese van geloof, het twee honderd jaar later ook in Thailand opgeduik.
Die historiese, sosio-kulturele en politieke situasie in Thailand het 'n belangrike rol gespeel in die
ontvanklikheid vir die evangelie onder die Thai, sowel as in die resultate van John Sung se
veldtogte. Dit is hoekom die vrug van sy bediening skamel was in vergelyking met die resultate
van sy werk in ander Suidoos-Asiatiese lande, alhoewel die veldtogte wel gelei het tot die
grootste herlewingsbeweging wat Thailand ooit beleef het. John Sung (1901-1944), die grootste
evangelis wat China ooit geken het, het 'n konserwatiewe teologie beoefen. Sy
herlewingsteologie het saamgeval met die Ou Skool van Amerikaanse Presbiterianisme, maar
sommige aspekte van sy evangelisasiemetodes was identies aan dié van die Nuwe Skool. Ten
spyte van sy foute, het God hom kragtig gebruik in diens van die kerk in Thailand.
Voorlopers van die herlewingsbeweging het die land vir John Sung se veldtogte in Thailand
voorberei. Alhoewel sy rondreisende bediening slegs oor ses weke in 1938 en twee maande in
1939 gestrek het, was daar 'n ware geestelike herlewing soortgelyk aan wat in die algemene
kerkgeskiedenis weerspieël word, wat gevolg het op 'n oortuiging van sonde en inkeer, met
hernude aanbidding en geloof in die Woord van God en evangelisasie-ywer. Die herlewing het
positiewe sowel as negatiewe gevolge gehad. Dit het nogtans die kerk in Thailand voorberei vir
die toets van die nasionalistiese Boeddhistiese beweging van 1940-1941 en het mense toegerusvir die swaarkry van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog. Aan die hand van die Geloofsbelydenis van
Westminster as 'n kriterium vir die ekklesiologiese evaluering van John Sung se veldtogte, word
getoon dat hy nie verdeeldheid in die kerk aangespoor het nie, alhoewel sy volgelinge probeer
het om hulself af te sonder. Sy kritiek op die sendelinge en kerkleiers in die kerk het egter die
werk van die kerkbeamptes ontwrig.
Toe die Thailandse ondersteuners van die veldtogte uit hul honger na die Woord van God die
oprigting van 'n Bybelkollege versoek het, het die leiers van die APS die voorstel vanweë hul eie
tekortkominge van die hand gewys. So het die APS en die KCT 'n gulde geleentheid vir
kerkgroei verloor. Die vernaamste rede hiervoor was die onvermoë van beide om met mekaar
saam te werk. Tans is die sentrale vraagstuk of die kerk in Thailand uit die lesse van die verlede
kan leer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16071 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Son, Seung Ho |
| Contributors | Coertzen, P., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | vi, 210 leaves : map |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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