Thoughts Along The Journey

I recently read an article that appeared on the Missio Nexus website (in 2021) with the title: “Deconstructing the Great Commission”.   

“Today there is an almost constant call for a re-envisioning of missions. Authors like  … have written books critical of contemporary mission. These three books critique missionary agencies, missionary structure and the use of the term “mission” in any way. One author called for a reframing of how we understand the message of Christ and how we share it both locally and globally.”

This same call for ‘deconstruction’ had occurred in the 1930s in North America when the Hocking Report was published. This report actually called for a moratorium on missions and on sending cross cultural workers. An insightful rebuttal to this report was written by Hendrik Kraemer in his book, The Christian Message in a Non-Christian World.

There is nothing wrong with rightfully questioning the “way” we carry out mission in the world in which we live.  However, it should never come at the expense of putting into question the central message of the Bible and of our faith, nor of our calling to share that message with those around us. This was the thrust of Kramer’s argument in 1938.

Jesus Christ gave Himself to redeem us, to grant us the honour of being part of His family, and to put the Holy Spirit in our hearts who seeks to testify to the person and work of our Saviour.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

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Some of us have already begun talking about the Christmas season!  That season of the year when our hearts turn to thinking in particular about the birth of our Lord and Savior; a time when individually and collectively as a community of believers we reflect on the deep meaning of the incarnation.

However, that ‘time of renewal’ should not be limited to just one season of the year, and particularly for us a movement of workers committed to seeing disciples and new communities of believers raised up and multiplied.

Read the quote below from Tim K and his book, Center Church, and simply replace the word ‘church’ by World Team.  Then reflect on what it might mean for us as an agency, as a movement of committed workers to Christ:

“A practical key to maintaining an organized organism is experiencing a season of renewal in the church or organization that parallels the way an individual person is spiritually renewed.  There must be times for what the Bible calls “covenant renewal.” Israel was brought into its original covenant relationship with God at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-20, and the nation was formed as God’s people and called to live in a particular way in the world.  Whenever Israel faced a major new chapter in their journey, however, they were led through a season of covenant renewal – in Joshua 24, before they entered the promised land; in 1 Samuel12, before they received a king; and in Nehemiah 8-9, as they returned from the Babylonian exile.  These times of covenant renewal always had three parts: (1) the people returned to biblical texts in order to remember the things God had called them to do and be; (2) they looked forward to the next chapter; to the new challenges facing them; and (3) they rededicated their lives and resources to God for the next stage of the journey.  This renewal must happened frequently in any church for it to remain an organized organism.  It also prepares the church to be an active and generous participant in the movement dynamics in its city.”

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