Biblical Theology of Mission

Dr. Byron Klaus

Day One

A Changing Conversation

• A discussion about strategies that clarify purpose of the Church in the light of changing times and contexts.

• A continuing discussion in the light of a changing context by recapturing the ethos and practices of the early church and bringing those to bear on post-modern culture.

The Inter-relationship Between Three Affirmations

• The Church is—the church’s nature provides the framework and foundation for understanding the essential character of the church.

• The Church does what it is—The nature of the church established the foundation for understanding the purpose of the church and its ministry determines their direction and scope.

• The Church organizes what it does—It develops strategies through leadership and organization through the initiative and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

• The mission of God is participated in by a Spirit-led Church that is a signpost of God’s redemptive kingdom rule in the present and a preview of what redemption is like and a vehicle to carry that mission of God to the ends of the earth.

• If God is the prime mover in this redemptive saga—then, the task of the Church and its leaders is to discern and respond to the initiative of the Spirit which is guiding and empowering God’s redemptive mission.

“A deep appreciation for the marvelous and mysterious creation of God called the Church is a crucial foundation for any aspiring church leader. God’s eternal plan to have a community of people who express in particular contexts the reconciliatory purposes of His redemptive character is central to any church leader’s reason for being.

These communities, called and empowered by the very presence of God, give visible testimony to God’s reconciliatory mission (II Cor. 5:17-20). To serve as a leader gifted to facilitate that mission (Eph. 4:11ff) requires a deep appreciation and understanding for the eternal significance of the church.

That understanding must be enfleshed in a world that is best unimpressed and may be, in many cases, antagonistic to the eternal redemptive purposes of this community of the King called the Church.

Such a world requires aspiring church leaders to have a firm grasp of God’s eternal purposes for the church as biblically defined and a growing capability to discern fad from the genuine in church ministry.”

“How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it.”

Newbegin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

HISTORICAL ATTEMPTS AT UNDERSTANDING THE

CHURCH AND IT’S MISSION

REFORMED PERSPECTIVE

A. Confession of Augsburg 1530

B. Westminster Confession 1630

C. Synthesis of these confessions would see emphasis on right belief, right teaching, and right order.

ANABAPTIST PERSPECTIVE17-18TH CENTURY

A. Rejection of Church-State model

B. Church is viewed as distinct and separate society

C. Community life is central

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHPre-Vatican II

A. The Church is the perfect society

B. Contained within the Church are all powers necessary to issue and promote its existence

C. Hierarchical authority controls--brings meaning

POST VATICAN II

A. Images change to people of God on a pilgrimage in service to the world

B. Hierarchy is not repudiated but community is enhances as a theme

C. People of God, is an emerging image

WESLEYAN PERSPECTIVE

A. The Church is a community of God’s grace

B. It’s unity is the koinonia of the SpiritC. Pursuit of maturing Christian lives—

sustained by grace is crucialD. Key terms--community, grace,

holiness

CONTEMPORARY PICTURESPeter Savage

A. Lecture Hall—where the Bible is expounded

B. Theatre—where the faithful assemble to witness the drama of the sacrament enacted

C. Corporation—where the professional team markets religion to the masses

D. Social Club—where people come to get needs met

LAUSANNE COVENANT 1974

A. The church is at the center of God’s cosmic purpose and is His appointed means of spreading the Gospel.

B. The Church is the community of God’s people rather than an institution and must not be identified with any particular culture, social or political system or human ideology.

“How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it.”

Newbegin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

When we encounter the church, we move into spiritual territory that occupies earthly terrain. We encounter the living God in the midst of our humanity. We encounter the Spirit of God dwelling in the midst of people who are created and formed into a unique community.

Van Gelder, p. 14-15

– The church is a people of God who are created by the Spirit to live as a missionary community.

– The church is God’s personal presence in the world through the Spirit.

Van Gelder—pp. 24-25

We must consider the nature of the church before proceeding to define its ministry and organization.

WORLD hears

CHURCH carries

HOLY SPIRIT Gives power

JESUS CHRIST enacted

GOD Originated the mission

The mission

To the mission

The mission

The mission

The Flow of the Mission of God

• Church and mission are not two distinct entities. They are the same realities.

• A missionary church participates fully in the Savior’s redemptive work as the Spirit creates, leads, and teaches the church to live as a distinctive people.

Gospel Biblical

Church Historical

Context Contextual

Culture

Visible Church

GOD

The Visible Church in the World in Relation to Biblical, Historical, and Contextual Realities

The Spirit is the experienced, empowering realities of God’s own personal presence in and among us, who enables us to live as a radically eschatological people, in the present world while we await consummation.

Gordon Fee—Paul, The Spirit and the People of God

The work of the Spirit is our key resource in the ongoing development of the church. The church can experience this constant renewal only by developing discipline in discerning the leading of the Spirit.