Chapter 5: Encountering Mission Theology Theology of Mission

Chapter Outline Introduction Laying the Groundwork A Theological Approach to Mission Putting It Together Conclusion

Laying the Groundwork: Key Terms Missions: the specific task of making disciples of all nations Mission: everything the church does that points toward the kingdom of God Missio Dei: a comprehensive term encompassing everything God does in relation to the kingdom and everything the church is sent to do on earth (McIntosh 2000) Missiology: the formal, academic study of mission (Moreau 2001a)

Mission and Missions Mission: What the Church Does for God in the World Missions: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Planting

Missions, Mission and Missio Dei Missio Dei: All That God Does to Build the Kingdom Mission: What the Church Does for God in the World Missions: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Planting

A Theological Approach to Mission Question 1: How Does Mission Theology Fit into Theology as a Whole? Question 2: What is the Foundation for Our Theology of Mission? Question 3: What Guiding Theme Provides the Orientation to Our Mission Theology? Question 4: What Motifs Are Important to Mission Theology?

Question 1: How Does Mission Theology Fit into Theology as a Whole? Theology of God Creation/ Sustaining Work Bible Church Salvation Theology of Created Theology of Humanity Order Fall/Sin Creation Mandate

The Fit of Mission Theology Theology of God Creation/ Sustaining Work Bible Church Salvation Mission Theology of Created Theology of Humanity Order Fall/Sin Creation Mandate

Question 2: What is the Foundation for Our Theology of Mission? The Bible alone contains God’s self-revelation. It alone has the authority to guide us through the complex questions that face each new generation. It alone provides the general principles on which a theology of mission must be built and the specific instructions given to the church by God that inform our view of mission today.

Question 3: What Guiding Theme Provides the Orientation to Our Mission Theology? God’s glory and our reflection of his glory through worship are the guiding themes for our mission theology. Those themes find their focus in the tasks that the church is commissioned by God to perform. Being sent by God, we are to call people to be reconciled to and come worship the King of kings while at the same time growing in our own ability to worship him by living lives that best reflect his glory.

Guiding Theme: Three Concentric Elements Calling those who do not know Christ through the activities of evangelism and church planting Growing in our capacity to live God-glorifying lives through the processes of discipleship and church growth Reflecting God’s glory to a needy world through living lives of salt and light

Guiding Theme Illustrated Salt-and-Light Living Discipleship and Church Growth Evangelism and Church Planting Reflecting God’s Glory through Worship Biblical Revelation

Motifs in Mission Theology (Bosch 1991) Resurrection Ascension Cross Pentecost Incarnation Parousia Theology of Mission Theology of Mission

Motifs in Mission Theology (Shenk 1999) Church Holy Spirit Jesus World Reign of God Eschaton Theology of Mission

Question 4: What Motifs Are Important to Mission Theology? Motif One: The Kingdom of God Motif Two: Jesus Motif Three: The Holy Spirit Motif Four: The Church Motif Five: Shalom Motif Six: The Return of Jesus

Motifs in Mission Theology Salt-and-Light Living Discipleship and Church Growth Church Holy Spirit Jesus Shalom Evangelism and Church Planting Return of Jesus Kingdom of God Reflecting God’s Glory through Worship Biblical Revelation

Motif: The Kingdom of God Paradoxes that describe the kingdom: It is in the world but not of it (John 18:36). It belongs to the little ones, but those in it are greater than the greatest ones (Matt. 11:11; 18:1–4). It comes as a free gift but demands all we have (Luke 12:30–33), and only the truly righteous will enter it (Matt. 5:20). It is God's very reign but works in hidden ways (Matt. 13:33). It is already present (Luke 17:21) yet still coming in the future (Matt. 6:10). It does not consist of talk (1 Cor. 4:20), but it must be proclaimed (Luke 4:43).

Motif: The Kingdom of God (cont.) Mission and kingdom are inextricably intertwined. The paradoxes of the kingdom are the paradoxes of mission as well. Mission is successful when God’s rules are followed, which can appear topsy-turvy even to the missionaries themselves. Enemies of the kingdom are not conquered by force, but by loving concern. Mission, starting small, has become a large force in today’s world. Mission is the empowerment of the weak for tasks impossible even for the strong. It will make its ultimate mark on the world even if people refuse to respond to the call of Christ. It belongs to the poor and the persecuted.

Motif: Jesus The Creator of the world has indeed presented the complete solution to the human predicament. As such it is supreme; it is unique; and it is absolute. So we have the audacity in this pluralistic age to say that Jesus as He is portrayed in the Bible is not only unique but also supreme. He is our message to the world. A Hindu once asked Dr. E. Stanley Jones, “What has Christianity to offer that our religion has not?” He replied, “Jesus Christ.” (Fernando 1995, 262)

Motif: Jesus (cont.) Jesus permeates all three levels of our missional foundation: It is he who both calls people to himself and enjoins them to go and make disciples. Discipleship and growth, both individual and corporate, come through obeying all that he taught and through teaching others to do likewise. His example of salt-and-light living inspires Christians to keep their focus Godward as they live lives that cause people to glorify the King of kings.

Motif: The Holy Spirit He is the agent who empowers Christians for mission and makes mission work possible for the church (see Luke 24:45–49 and Acts 1:8). He reverses Babel at Pentecost, confirming Jesus’ teaching that the kingdom of God is not limited by language or ethnicity (Acts 2:1–11). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8–11). He ripens fields for harvest (Peters 1972, 80), convicting those who do not know Christ and wooing them to commit themselves into his care (Rev. 22:17).

Motif: The Holy Spirit (cont.) He guides the church in all truth (John 16:13) and in its missionary labors (e.g., Acts 16:7). He works inside the human heart, empowering Christians for witness (Acts 1:8), motivating them to witness and giving them words to say (Matt. 10:17–20). The Spirit also gifts the church for the purpose of growth both in numbers (Acts 2:14–41) and in maturity toward Christlikeness (Eph. 4:7–13).

Motif: The Holy Spirit (cont.) He convicts those in the world of sin and woos them to come to Christ. He empowers Christ’s followers to witness and acts as the change agent in the lives of those who have committed themselves to following Jesus. He prays for Christians with groanings too deep for words, guiding them in making wise decisions about the best way to live salty lives that shine the light of God into dark situations.

Motif: The Church A local church is a group of gathered believers (e.g., Acts 5:11; 11:26; 1 Cor. 11:18; 14:19, 28, 35). The universal church is the whole body of believers, including those still in the world (1 Cor. 10:32; 11:22; 12:28; Eph. 4:11–16), and those in heaven (Eph. 1:22–23; 3:10, 21; 5:23–25, 27, 32; Col. 1:18, 24).

Motif: The Church (cont.) Submits to Christ in three relationships: In relation to God, the church is to send forth praise and glory to God for his merciful dealings with people (Eph. 3:20–21) and to make his wisdom known even in the heavenly realms (Eph. 3:10–11).

Motif: The Church (cont.) 2. In relation to itself, Edification: God gifts and appoints people in the church (1 Cor. 12:28). They lead the church in its responsibilities to build up the saints (1 Cor. 14:12, 26; Heb. 10:24), equip them for service (Eph. 4:11–16), and care for its own who are in need (Acts 12:5; James 1:27; 1 Tim. 5:1–16). Purification: The church is to allow Christ to cleanse it so as to be a spotless bride (Eph. 5:25b–27), morally (1 Cor. 5; Matt. 18:15–18) and doctrinally (Acts 15:22–29; 2 Tim. 2:16–18).

Motif: The Church (cont.) 3. In relation to the world, the church is to call the peoples of the world to repentance by proclaiming the kingdom (Matt. 28:16–20).

Motif: Shalom Shalom involves these dimensions of community and individual peace: Spiritual (salvation) Physical (healing) Psychological (wholeness) Social (justice and freedom from war)

Motif: Shalom (cont.) Shalom is not dependent on circumstances; we can be peaceful even when all around us is not. Shalom is seen clearly in spiritual warfare: Christians have been set free and are called to participate in the kingdom conflict of setting others free through calling them to bond to Christ (Matt. 28:18–20; John 8:31–37).

Motif: The Return of Jesus Eschatology relates on each core level of mission thinking. Evangelism is God’s response to the fact that people apart from Christ are destined to spend eternity separated from God in hell. The Christian’s personal involvement in evangelism is an indication that he or she takes seriously both God’s concern for humankind as well as the predicament of people separated from Christ.

Motif: The Return of Jesus (cont.) The certainty of Christ’s return provides Christians with hope, enabling them to persevere in their own growth as followers of Christ; spurs the church on, providing security in the knowledge that it is the bride of Christ and the wedding awaits; motivates Christians to expose the world’s darkness; and motivates Christians to be preservers in a lost world.