1. David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission

2. J. Andrew Kirk, What is Mission? Theological Explorations

3. Wendy Robins and Gillian Hawney, The Scandal of the Cross, Evangelism and Mission Today, London USPG, 1992.

4. T V Philip, Edinburgh to Salvador: Twentieth Century Ecumenical Missiology ISPCK,1999.

Mission

• Sending of Missionaries to a particular place (Ohm 1962)

• Activities by Missionaries• The geographical area where missionaries work• Propagation of the gospel (Muller 1987)• Expansion of the reign of God• Conversion of the heathen• Founding of the New Church

Reflecting on Mission• Mission as ? The word Mission is found in the

New Testament only once in Acts 12:25• Evangelion – to announce the good news

(evangelism)• Martyria - to bear witness (IMC 1952)• Oikumene – to become one in/with Christ

(ecumenism) – Koinonia (fellowship) (IMC 1947)• Kerygma – to preach (IMC 1947)• Didache – to teach (IMC 1947) • Diakonia – to serve (1967 Hoekendijk)

Foundation for Mission• Warnack (1834-1910) Supernatural and A

Natural foundation for Mission• Supernatural foundations – scripture,

monotheistic nature of Christian faith• Natural – Absoluteness; Superiority of

Christianity over others; the acceptability and adaptability of Christianity to all people and conditions; Christianity is stronger than other religions; superior achievements of Christian missions

Theological Motives of Mission

• The motive of conversion (decision and commitment) – saved souls

• Eschatological motive (reign of God as a future reality without present realities)

• Plantatio ecclesial (church planting) – need for gathering a community

• The philanthropic – issues of justice and improved society (Freytage)

Traditional understanding of mission as Expansionism

• Mission was seen as colonial expansion (Kirk, 1999)– Western mission as business operation

• Occupation of the fields – Cyprian: Salus extra ecclesiass non est (E73:21) – No salvation outside the church (Cardoze 2002)

Carlos F Cardoze, Orlandi – Mission an Essential Guide. Nashville: Abington Press 2002

• The conquest of other religions (Rutti 1972) – Conquistadores Portuguese and Spanish (Kirk) – Roman emperor and Pope integration as God’s reign

• Authority with the sender (church or sponsoring institutions) – Apostolate (Roman Catholic traditions – Kirk)

Crisis – Danger and Opportunity

• Church in Crisis – as a sign being spoken against - Kraemer

• Crisis is the combination of danger and opportunity - Koyama

• What is this Crisis? What mission has to do with this crisis? -

a. The advance of science, technology and secularization

b. Dechristianization of the West

c. Migration of people of many faiths – devotees of other faith becomes missionaries and aggressive mission

d. Subjugation of people of colour, caste and race

e. Divided World –Rich and Poor – Anger and frustration - reluctance

f. Western ecclesial ways, theologies and practices were no more predominant and normative.

Mission in India

• Sword and forced religion (Goa)• S(X)aviour and liberated Catholics (South)• Bread and Mass Conversion (North and

South)• Tribal leaders and masses (North East)• Indigenous missions (North)• New Means and Confusions(Confusion called Conversion – Sunder raj)

Four Impure Motives of Mission

• Cultural (Transfer of Superior Culture)• Romantic Motive (Tour to exotic countries)• Imperialist (colonial authorities)• Ecclesiastical Colonialism (to export

Churches’ own confession and order to other territories)

• Verkuyl (1978)

Mission Lunatic??!

• Schultz – In our missionary outreach we resemble a lunatic who carries the harvest into his burning barn (1930) – many do not proclaim the Gospel rather individualism and the values of the West – ‘Intra-muros’ – the outcome of the mission is determined by what happens inside the church not outside in the mission field.

Critique of these definitionsCritique of these definitions If everything is mission, nothing is If everything is mission, nothing is

mission (Neill 1959)mission (Neill 1959) The Specture of Panmissionism The Specture of Panmissionism

(Freytag 1961)(Freytag 1961)

Mission according to BoschMission according to Bosch Christian faith is intrinsically Missionary – Universal Christian faith is intrinsically Missionary – Universal

Impact – Ultimate Truth (Stackhouse 1988)Impact – Ultimate Truth (Stackhouse 1988) Looking at the World from a Christian Perspective –Looking at the World from a Christian Perspective –

reforms, analysis and appraisalreforms, analysis and appraisal Dynamic relationship between God and the World – Dynamic relationship between God and the World –

God’s self communication in Jesus God’s self communication in Jesus Recognition of the tension between Divine Recognition of the tension between Divine

providence and human Confusionprovidence and human Confusion Church as Missionary existence – Universal Gospel Church as Missionary existence – Universal Gospel

with Universal Proclamationwith Universal Proclamation Church as sacrament and sign – mediation and Church as sacrament and sign – mediation and

pointerpointer

Contd…• No division between foreign mission and Home

Mission• Difference between Mission and Missions• The whole church bringing the whole gospel to

the whole world• Participating in the struggles of people – God’s

yes• Evangelism• God’s No to the world –not merely a political

religion

Sugirtharajah• Conversion to Reorientation

Evangelising the Evangelizer and conversion within the tradition

• Revival to Revitalising Recovering some forgotten aspects – compassionate God

• Sharing to distribution – of wealth

Critical remark on Sugirtharajah – inward looking alone is not holistic mission – witnessing an aspect of mission

Mission - signposts

• Incarnation – solidarity with victims• Cross – Kenosis – self emptying • Resurrection – message of joy, hope and

victory – Crucified and risen (theosis)• Ascension – inaugurated eschatology –

living between ascension and parousia• Pentecost –spiritual community• Parousia – triumph of God in the retun of

Christ

For me Mission means

Being and Becoming a Christian –

Gandhi: If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.

1. Reconciling people with God and with each others Bishop Tutu In his oration at the funeral of activist leader Steve Biko, who died in 1977 of head injuries suffered while in police detention, Tutu urged the crowd to pray for their oppressors in hopes they would realize that non-whites were also human beings, all children of the same God. He related a similar theme at another funeral: “Do not hate. Let us choose the peaceful way to freedom.”

• Against his background Tutu brings a theology that "seeks to restore the oppressor's humanity by releasing and enabling the oppressed to see their oppressors as peers under God." This is his ubuntu theology, so named after an African idea of community. Tutu shows that human beings are defined not by their race but by their createdness in God's image, which brings value and dignity to all people. That imago Dei thus breaks down racial barriers. Tutu declares "we can be human only in ... community, in koinonia, in peace."

Engaging with people in search (meanings) for God, for life and for neighbours through Christ

-Vivekananda: You are all Sons of God, immortal spirit. "Know", he declared, "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you." "I and my Father are one." Dare you stand up and say, not only that "I am the Son of God", but I shall also find in my heart of hearts that "I and my Father are one"? That was what Jesus of Nazareth said. He never talks of this world and of this life.