In Depth:  Natalie Tunbridge

Raymond woke from his broken sleep with a dull ache in the pit of his stomach and an overpowering sense of fear that made his heart beat loudly in his chest. Today was the day he was to voyage to the northern shores of Africa. His passage on board the vessel had been secured for weeks, and his missionary articles were stowed ready. The vessel only waited upon him.

From the open window, the town of Genoa seemed to buzz with public anticipation of his bold ambitions to share Jesus Christ with those of the faith that Europe fought in the on-going Crusades. Picking up his quill pen, he wrote. ‘I am overwhelmed with terror at the thought of what might befall me in the country whither I am going. . .’ The quill shook uncontrollably in his hand. ‘. . . The idea of enduring torture or lifelong imprisonment presents itself with such force that I cannot control my emotions.’

The missionary life of Henry Martyn is one of single-minded perseverance to obey the call of God, laborious allegiance to the Word of God, and most importantly, a passionate love for Jesus Christ the Son of God, such that constrained a life of boasting in the cross.

A Cambridge graduate who was a protege of Charles Simeon and the Clapham Sect, and later a colleague in India to the father of modern missions, William Carey — Henry Martyn — ought to be a household name.

As Christians in Britain seek to reach out with the gospel to those of other faiths, including Muslims, it is vital that we ask ourselves what place we are giving to the Lord Jesus Christ in that witness.

Is it possible, for example, that the controversy between Islam and Christianity about who Jesus Christ really is and what he came into the world to do has made us uncomfortable in speaking boldly of the true glory of the God-man? We have been encouraged by some Christians that in speaking to Muslims we may need to avoid referring to Christ as the Son of God, lest we reinforce Muslim misunderstandings about Christian doctrine. Yet can we avoid the Bible’s high designations of Christ without being unfaithful?