Out of the following ten, which one(s) do you think is mission?
(1) go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
(2) to clothe the naked?
(3) to feed the hungry?
(4) to set at liberty those who are oppressed?
(5) to see and name the injustice of the world?
(6) to work to change the conditions that perpetuate poverty and oppression?
(7) to reach out to the hurting in loving compassion?
(8) offering what you have in service to others?
(9) to engage in dialogue with persons of faith wherever they may be and join together in making the world a better place for all of God’s children?
(10) joining with Christians around the world in global partnership and mutual cooperation to do the work of God?
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
What Is Mission?
My life purpose is to coach women toward their life purpose.
I am also passionate about inspiring, encouraging and facilitating entrepreneurs to transform and grow rich in life's major areas: spiritual life, relationship, personal development, health and finance.
I'm living and loving LIFE! I am a child of God, daughter, wife, sister and friend!
I own an Unfranchise Business through Market Australia SHOP.COM
www.kittycheng.com
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29 comments:
(1) go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
I think it is number one BUT it involves elements of all of the above.
A mission is that particular assignment you're on at the moment. It can be any of those. You can decide the mission for yourself.
As long as it is an "act of love" and falls within the law of love, then it is a mission which draws us closer to Christ.
Be on the watch out for meglomania.
Hi Kitty,
Do you know about the work of moral rearmament?
Best Regards,
Bruce
i think it's all of the above. whatever God puts in our hearts to do, that's our mission.
I think it's all the above.
Just be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives :)
Matthew, is that the only one, do you think 2-10 has any connection to mission at all?
Amanda, Pia and Audrey, I agree with you all :)
Bruce, your definition of mission is insightful. You can right! It's the particular assignment which involves "act of love", and I think it always draws us cloer to Christ.
What is your point about meglomania? And no, I don't know about the work of moral reamament. Can you tell me more please.
(11) To live your life according to God's word and will and hence be an example and testimony to everyone.
This includes all the points you stated in your post:-)
God's Grace.
I understand 4,5 and 6 to be the work of government according to the scripture. I want to be clear that in point 6 it is the condition that perpetuates poverty that govenment should address as opposed to insuring that no individual live in poverty. The one who will not work is not to eat according to scripture and this has a bearing on item 3 as well. Item 8 I might quibble with but still I agree in spirit. The rest I consider to be the "mission" of the Church. ;-)
Only as they contribute to no.1.
You must not confuse descriptions with definitions.
God Bless
Matthew
Good Morning, Kitty :)
Please have a very beautiful and blessed day ahead ;)
Hi Kitty,
Moral Rearmament is now called Initiatives of Change .
They have a big mansion in Toorak that is worth visiting.Frank Buchman's biography is a good read too.
Kim Beazley senior and jnr were involved with it.
I'd suggest that the main focus of mission is evangelistic activity, but all of these things also have their place.
good question. potentially all of them, but as freestanding statements the first 7 are closest to my sense of mission.
Corry that's so true!
Kc, you got me thinking there. Just a question, with points 4-6 as the work of government, does that mean the Church shouldn't engage in it?
Matthew, the big picture of what is mission (as in definition) is certainly is point no. 1, and I think that all dimensions of no. 2-10 (including Corry's no. 11), brought under Christ's Lordship,contribute toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission (no.1).
Thanks Audrey. You too my dear sis :)
Bruce, I had a skim through the sites you sent me...seems very interesting! Are you involved with it yourself?
Ross, how would you define 'evangelistic activity'? Do you think any of the points are considered evangelistic activity?
Fair enough Fernando...I guess all of us are called in various aspects of them.
It was just a general remark Kitty- not directed at you Dear.
There are two ways our authentic sense of self may go. One is a kind of crushing false humility which results in pathogenic self doubt. The other is meglomania. Meglomania is quite a common malady in those who enter a spiritual path. We have wonderful books such as "The Imitation of Christ" which are of great assistance in this..
Also one must be aware of the subtle difference between doing God's work and trying to be God:0). Unfortunately those terrorists around the world today have not participated in this truth.
We willingly submit to the Will of God, our ego dwells within the Ego of God. We offer ourself to God.
If we are 'doing God's work', as regards our mission, we do not become God on behalf of God, nor even representative. We willingly submit to God's Will.
I am not part of MRA, but have visited there. I have visited Keswick too, where Frank had a revelation that changed his life.
Heartily,
Bruce
Thanks for your clarification. I was seriously doing some deep soul-searching last night and was wondering if I have shown 'signs' for meglomania. So what is the book "The Imitation of Christ" about?
I agree that we do not become God on behalf of God, but why do you think we do not become representative of God? Didn't Paul tell us to be ambassadors of God?
Frank's story is quite interesting, but really contorversial. On one hand, he was said to have been used to bring many people under the transforming power of Christ, yet on the other hand, he was accuased of 'megalomaniacal self-confidence'. So Bruce what do you think of Frank?
This is a reply I offered previously that expresses my understanding on these things.
I find three areas of responsibility toward God with each being assigned authority by Him necessary to accomplish the task for which He holds them accountable. These responsibilities relate to the Church, the government and the individual. The individual is responsible for following the Commandments of love and God has given each of us the authority to judge our own heart to determine if we are acting by faith. To the Church He assigned the responsibility of the Gospel and ordinances of Christ and He authorized her to publish it and perform them throughout the world. He mandates that government be a terror to evil “doers” and grants it authority to make determinations on the “actions” of other men. Accountability for each of these is to God alone.
Problems arise when a particular responsibility and/or authority is usurped or neglected. For example when the Church usurps the governments authority to judge the actions of men or when the government determines doctrine for the Church or when an individual makes a determination on the personal responsibility or rejects the personal authority of another. None of these unfortunate events justify retaliation nor do they relieve the responsibility. As an individual we must love our enemy. The Church must proclaim the Gospel in spite of persecution and government must resist the pressure to legislate religion and popular opinion.
As always I am open to a better understanding. ;-)
Hi Kitty,
> So what is the book "The Imitation of >Christ" about?
It was once considered one of the most important books in all Christendom.
There are plenty of versions online.
>we do not become representative of God? >Didn't Paul tell us to be ambassadors >of God?
Ambassadors of Christ- yes. But looking it up, I see it is derived from the Goth andbahts meaning servant. Whereas a representative is one who stands in place of. Of course, with Paul we remember "Not I but Christ in me".
When Paul was sick he prayed for healing, but only with the proviso "but nevertheless Thy Will be done".
My point is to wear the warm cloak of humility.
> 'megalomaniacal self-confidence'. So >Bruce what do you think of Frank?
I'd like to meet him!
He was quite unnerving to meet. He could see right through people, and knew all about their lives, their sins etc.
When he got sick, he said it was God reminding him that it was not he, Frank, who was doing the work, but God through him.
Godly Blessings,
Bruce
Kc, very wise and thought-provoking comments!
Bruce, surely we ought to wear the warm cloak of humility. And Frank sounds like a very interesting character indeed!
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