To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson

Quick Info Title: To the Golden Shore, a biography of Adoniram Judson Author: Courtney Anderson Year Published: 1956, 1987 Category: Biography Tags: Suffering, Frontier Missions, John Piper Priority: 4 – An immensely helpful and crucial read that would be a great book to glean from. Brief Summary In 1812, at the age of 22, Adoniram Judson left America for India (eventually ending up in Burma) as one of America’s first foreign missionaries, burning in his heart to obey the command to make disciples of all the nations (Mt 28:20). During his missionary career, he suffered through chronic fever, a torture camp, depression that drove him to mysticism, frequent threat of death, and constant discouragement. The beginning of his ministry saw little fruit, and the latter part bore fruit only through immense suffering. Many of his children died early due to illness. Those that didn’t die from disease, he had to send to boarding school when they came of age. He buried two of his wives with his own hands. He saw the little band of believers that the Lord would raise up scattered over and over again. In seemingly every possible way, Satan opposed the progress of the gospel in this man’s ministry. And, by the grace of God, he soldiered on to the very end. This is his legacy: the entire Bible had been translated into Burmese. There were dozens of missionaries in Burma through the American Baptist Convention society. His gospel tracts had been distributed to tens of thousands, and only to those who asked. Because of his influence thousands had come to faith. And his influence in Burma (now called Myanmar) persist even today, through His Bible translation and church planting. But, of course, his influence is most significant in heaven. Who knows how many countless Burmese are singing the praise of the Savior because of Judson’s pioneering influence? Only the Lord, but the Lord certainly does know. To the Golden Shore is Judson’s story. It is a fresh wind of refreshment to a soul weary and downcast with the worries of the world; we would do well to know it well. Why Should You Read? I have no small fascination with Adoniram Judson. I first learned of his story from John Piper’s biographical message in the summer of 2011. I continued to fuel my interest by reading Courtney Anderson’s account of his life (this book) in the summer of 2013, and posted many quotes from the book here. This year, I finished another biography, this one written by Vance Christie. And I still want more. Why? My intrigue is certainly influenced in some way by his daring, at times impetuous, courage for the sake of the gospel. It is due in large part to the fact that he was the one of America’s first foreign missionaries. And it is deeply tied to the fact that he was the first to preach the gospel, plant the church, baptize natives, and translate the Scriptures in Burma (modern day Myanmar). All of these are significant reasons, but it wouldn’t be the primary reason. Rather, to me, the greatest appeal is this: reading Judson’s life makes me dream again. It makes me dream the “foolish” thoughts of a fresh believer, of a Christian who sees what God can do as more real than what can be seen with the eye. It makes me again dream rightly, and say with a scoff, “What is sacrifice? What is cost? What is self-denial? What is pain? In the service of my God, gain!” It makes me dream again of doing impossible things by the power of the Spirit of God, of seeing nations bow the knee to Jesus Christ, of preaching the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, of giving my life unto this singular cause, of dying with the word, “Gain!” on my lips, of entering into the presence of my Master hearing, “Well done.” It makes me dream again of being faithful to the very end. Just how does Judson’s life make me dream? By way of reminder: the God who did the grand and spine-tinglingly glorious things in the past is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The God of Abraham is the same as the God of Adoniram Judson, and is my God. Judson’s life reminds me that never, ever, will any man ever out-dream God’s ability to glorify Himself. Never will it be that I could ever pray for something great, amazing, and glorious for God’s own fame, and He respond, “Oh sorry, I can’t do that.” He “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 4:20). My Savior said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). We pray in His name — anything! — and He will do it. Do we believe it? Will we pray it? I need this reminder. And as long as the Lord tarries, I will need this reminder, for my soul is constantly forgetful and wandering from the Truth. May the Lord continue to raise up men like Judson, and through them, make His name great among the nations! Prerequisites/Cautions Anderson is shamelessly enthusiastic about Judson, and his eagerness shines throughout the entire narrative. This is perhaps the greatest strength of the writing: you can’t but be swept up into the passion. Yet, I suspect that much of Anderson’s insight into the thoughts and minds of the ‘characters’ is based upon extrapolation rather than research. For a more dispassionate (and in my opinion, much more boring) account of Judson’s life, read Christie’s biography Adoniram Judson. In addition, one should take note that in the 1800s, the Christian missionary culture was very different from modern day. In particular, it was not a scandal to send your children back to America for education, to be raised by extended family members. It was not a scandal to leave your spouse for half a year, maybe even years, at a time for the sake of the missionary endeavor. In fact, it was normative, even expected. The luxuries, or perhaps harmful, of technology like air travel and internet simply didn’t exist. These missionaries had to give up the comforts of wife and children; otherwise, the mission would fail. In addition, we would do well to refrain from naïve, ignorant criticism of so-called ‘legalistic’ missionary methods, in particular barring a new convert from begin baptized if they do not meet a certain level of commitment to Christ. History has shown that this practice, as well as others that American Christians might challenge, are for the good of the church. Readability Anyone who can read this blog post should be able to read this book with ease. I do provide a fair warning though: if read correctly, you will spend hours tearing – both definitions of the word – through this book. Quotes Since this book is a biography, and lengthier than most of the other books I’ve reviewed, it would not be very profitable to list pages upon pages of quotes from each of the chapters. Instead, I will be content to quote a few relevant Scriptures that captive the essence of Judson’s life. God’s Word is the eternally relevant Word. Matthew 10 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 19 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Philippians 1 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

This was a very powerful and influential book. I have seldom found, over the past number of years, a book which I found difficult to put down. This is one of those books. This book is very full of adventure, romance, joy, and heartache; it most certainly exhibits what a true faith in Jesus Christ can do in those who hold it dearly! The book is very thorough. Being visually impaired, this book has been a tremendous joy to me; this is one of those books which really pulls the reader in. While reading, I would most frequently feel as though I was actually there in Bro. Judson's time and place. Through the reading fo the life of Adoniram Judson, I have been convicted, enlightened, and inspired. This book has helped me to see that I do not take my faith as seriously as I should, though I am a rather serious individual by nature. I cannot fully describe the immense encouragement which this book has afforded me. It has most certainly given me the strength and the conviction to push forward for the cause of Christ, despite all odds which would be against me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. If you are not a Christian, this book will demonstrate to you the true Power of God; it will also show you that Christians are not perfect, but through the Saving knowledge of Jesus Christ we strive to hold to God's standards of Love and Holiness. We cannot achieve it in and of ourselves, however; it only takes place when we allow God to mold us into what He would want us to be. If you are a Christian, this book will most definitely be convicting and encouraging; if you could leave this book without being changed, I would kindly and sincerely advise that you ask the Lord to break up the fallowed ground in your heart.

We'd call them a bunch of kids today. The youngest was 18, the oldest in his early 20s. Full of faith, they left their moms, dads, homes, security and everything they knew. Their destination was certain danger and misery, possible torture and death. Most never returned. Little visible progress, illness, obstacles, death of friends, co-workers and their own children, illness, antagonists, indifference, illness, financial concerns, war, illness, discomfort, loneliness, depression, persecution and cultural and language barriers plagued them. The first few years seemed to yield no progress. The missionaries were discouraged. They contemplated giving up. Some actually did leave. Then things got worse. But the Judsons and others were so convinced of their faith and so confident that their obedience to God's will would produce fruit that they never gave up. And eventually their work yielded fruit. First, one convert. Then a couple other converts and a lot of people who were seriously interested started showing up at their door. On some occasions people literally begged to hear about Jesus and for copies of the gospel tract that Adoniram Judson had printed in the Burmese language. The rest is history. It's an inspirational book, and one can appreciate the work of God throughout the book from Judson's infancy to the Karen people who eagerly accepted the gospel. In addition to Adoniram, the respective characters of his wives were discussed in depth. One can't help but admire with amazement the determination, courage, godliness and fervency of all of these women. This book is impeccably researched. Names, dates, events and details are abundant throughout the book's 500+ pages. The author has done extensive research. The author has also left a comprehensive bibliography and laments that some of Judson's letters home were destroyed (at his request) after the death of his first wife.

Great book

The writing itself kept my interest and was well done, but the book had so many typos parts were almost unreadable.

At the dawn of the Regency era when George, the Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent, many in London’s aristocracy enjoyed the pleasures afforded them. But in America, a brilliant young man named Adoniram Judson was preparing for a very different life. In 1811, at the age of 23, Judson decided to become a missionary—at a time when America had yet to send anyone to the foreign mission field—and he set his eyes on India. And Judson would soon take a wife. Judson had met the beautiful Ann Hasseltine (who most people called “Nancy”) in 1810 at a dinner in her parents’ Massachusetts home. At 21, Ann was the youngest of four children (three girls and a boy) and the pet of the family. Judson was so taken by the beautiful vivacious girl he was struck speechless and spent most of the dinner staring at his plate. Ann was not impressed. Where was the brilliant young man she had heard so much about? On February 5, 1812, Adoniram and Ann were married in the very room in which they had first met. Seven days later, they set sail from Salem, Massachusetts for India. However, God had another destination in mind--Burma. When Adoniram and Ann arrived in Burma, there was not one known Christian in that land of millions. It was to be six, long heart-breaking years before they would see the first convert to Christ. This is their story and so much more. I highly recommend it. Well written, exciting, often poignant. You will not regret getting this book.

He could have been a secular academic, turning out endless volumes for schoolchildren and fellow professionals. He could have been a highly esteemed playwright, a kind of Shakespeare for the nineteenth century. A politician who could debate with the best of his generation. Or, he could have fulfilled his father's dream by becoming the assistant pastor of Boston's prestigious Park Street Church. The above options may be God's calling for some. Yet, what Adoniram Judson needed most of all to do was to follow the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. Like many young men, he went through a period of rebellion in which he sought to disassociate himself from his father's legacy. However, through his parents' prayers and tears, the troubling, too-near death of his best friend, and encounters with godly mentors, the first American missionary eventually answered a very unique call to an unfamiliar place. Submitting himself wholly to God did have its costs. Adoniram Judson experienced the deaths of two wives and several children while away from home. He endured great sickness, financial insecurity, persecution, the loss of many personal possessions, slander, depression, and forced separations from those he loved most. Yet, those who have encountered him, whether in person or through the printed page, cannot help but be affected in one way or another by this man of God. Even during his life, scores answered the call to missionary service due to being inspired in one way or another by the stories of Adoniram and Nancy Judson. The translation of the Bible into Burmese, still in active use today, came about after he'd travailed over twenty years in modern Myanmar. Further, a Burmese church was founded by him that continues to flourish today. There is so much I could write about To the Golden Shore. It's a book that will challenge assumptions about missionary life and give perspective on how much more difficult it was to answer the "Call" some 200 years ago than is now the case. Hopefully, more than anything, this biography will drive you to your knees to seek to know and imitate the One who said the greatest is the one who serves (Luke 22:26). Like Judson, He has the best plan for your life and will show you the way if you have ears to listen and a heart to obey.

There are already several great reviews on here that outline the thrust of the book, the ministry of Judson, his relevance to missions, and his impact on readers. I say amen to all of that. Instead of rewording what has been said so well already, I will try to paint more intimate view of the man Adoniram Judson, what made him tick, and why God used him. I agree with John Piper that Adoniram was a living example of the John 12:24-25 principle: "24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Adoniram's full life is one marked by continually dying to his desires and all he held dear. I tell you the suffering and loss this man experienced is in ways hard to comprehend. From being born in the year that marked the beginning of the coldest 20 year span of history at that time to dying alone at sea, hardship abounded. He listened to his best friend from college die in a room beside his; he lost the 3 children from his first wife before losing her; he lost three of eight children from his second wife before she died on a trip back to America (where they had to bury her in South Africa and continue the journey); he spent 2 years imprisoned in a Burmese death prison where he nearly starved to death and slept with his feet tied to an elevated bar so that only his shoulders rested on the ground. And this was all in a day when correspondence to friends, family, and overseers back home could take years to go back and forth and the best medicine of the day was salivation with mercury coupled with 3 to 6 month voyages in sea air away from spouse and mission house. On and on tragedy abounds (see the review by D. MILLS)...BUT he pressed on fueled by the belief that: 1. God is sovereign and in complete control of all things and 2. God is good. These 2 pillars kept Adoniram going through hardship and fervent on seeing the glory of God displayed through a church established in Burma. He knew God was working His divine will through this suffering and knew it had to be for his own good. "He knew there must be a just Plan and loving Planner in all that was happening. Everything was doubtless for God's good purpose (p. 349)." This blew me away throughout the book. At times, I wept with heartache over the extreme loss this man endured, as he fought to see Burma converted, a Bible translated, and his wife loved with all he had. Here are some other gems I uncovered as I poured over these precious pages: [Upon choosing missions over an American pastorate position] "...in what other career could he both defy his father and obey him; be like him, but unlike; follow, yet surpass?" p. 54 The great missionary William Carey of India joined the voices of others by telling Judson, Burma mission soil was too hard and it would be better to "forget Burma." p.133 [While wrestling with the doctrine of baptism as a Congregationalist, being sent from a Congregationalist mission board, as America's first foreign missionary...feel the magnitude :)] "He...said he felt it his duty to examine closely a subject on which he felt so many doubts," and "...determined to read candidly and prayerfully, and to hold fast, or embrace the truth, however mortifying, however great the sacrifice." p.143 "Funds, location of a mission, support, organization---all these hung in the air. But Adoniram never concerned himself with such matters. He was satisfied that Baptism was the only correct creed. He had a burning determination to convert the heathen himself. For the rest, let others worry." p. 146 "The poor Burmans are entirely destitute of those consolations and joys which constitute our happiness; and why should we be willing to part with a few fleeting, inconsiderable comforts, for the sake of making them sharers with us in joys exalted as heaven, durable as eternity! We cannot expect to do much, in such a rough, uncultivated field; yet, if we may be instrumental in removing some of the rubbish, and preparing the way for others, it will be a sufficient reward. I have been accustomed to view this field of labor, with dread and terror; but now I feel perfectly willing to make it my home the rest of my life." p.166 "It was the unhappiest evening they had ever spent. At last they had arrived at the destination Adoniram had aimed at for three years, the place he had dreamed of, the goal of his ambition; and they had never regretted anything more in their lives." p. 169 [Upon the death of their second son, first wife Nancy reflected] "Our hearts were bound up with this child; we felt he was our earthly all, our only source of innocent recreation in this heathen land. But God saw it was necessary to remind us of our error, and to strip us of our only little all. O, may it not be vain that he has done it. May we so improve it that he will stay his hand and say 'It is enough.'" p. 193 "No one that really knows Him can help loving Him." p. 241 "We live only for the promotion of the cause of Christ among the Burmans." p. 260 "Though government difficulties are before us, hell is also before us, and those who are really afraid of hell cannot help embracing Christ." p.261 "He had learned to pray in prison." p. 333 [To Adoniram from inquiring natives as the Gospel began to go forth] "Are you Jesus Christ's man?" p. 399 "Take the bitter cup in both hands...you will soon learn a secret, that there is sweetness at the bottom..." p. 401 "The motto of every missionary, whether preacher, printer, or schoolmaster, out to be `devoted for life.'" p. 409 [Sick in the throat, near death, and in much difficulty to speak] "And why should I wish to live any longer? I am unable to preach." p. 424 [A Burmese woman recalling his ministering] His talk came "through his lips as though it was the voice of God." p. 427 All in all, this book is most worthy of being read. Mr. Judson's testimony and life rank among those nearest my heart in all of Christendom. Please read it, be inspired, and then follow him as he followed Christ by becoming a seed, dying, and bearing much fruit. Today 3,700 Baptist churches find direct origins from his ministry and his Bible translation is still hailed as the finest in the Burmese language.

A great history of a man God chose

Long read, but excellent and inspiring. The sufferings and many trials Judson went through seem to be beyond what a human being could bare. He is a powerful testimony of what God can do through one man who is willing to pay the price.

I read this book over the holidays, sick in bed. It was a real source of encouragement as I learned of the challenges, difficulties and suffering Adoniram and his family went through to bring Christ to the people of Burma. There are some typos but I was not hindered from understanding what I was reading. Highly recommended.

This is probably one of the best missionary biographies ever written, certainly the best I have ever read (narrowly edging out John Paton's autobiography from the number 1 spot). It's an absolutely incredible, almost unbelievable) story of perseverance and faithful endurance under almost unimaginable suffering and hardship. Anyone who has an idealised picture of missionary life will soon have that view taken from them as they read about the horrific sufferings that Judson had to endure for decades before seeing real lasting results. And modern readers know that today there are well over a million baptists in Burma as a result of his perseverance. A very inspiring and moving book; if nothing else it will make you realise that your life with all its problems actually isn't that bad. One thing I will say about the kindle version, it's clearly just an uncorrected OCR of the printed edition, as it is full of spelling and punctuation errors, including entire words missing from sentences. 99% of the time it is clear what is meant (eg. 'Bumma' is obviously meant to be Burma) so the meaning of the story isn't lost, it's just distracting and annoying to find in a text that I paid money for. Still heartily recommended, but might be worth getting the paperback version instead.

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY LIBRARY IN MY LOCAL CHURCH THE REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH IN INVERNESS I HOPE TO BUY MANY MORE LIKE THIS