THE MISSION OF GOD’S PEOPLE: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE CHURCH’S MISSION by CHRISTOPHER J. H. WRIGHT
INTRODUCTION
What can the entire Bible, including both testaments, teach us about the purpose of God’s people, who they are, and what they are to be and accomplish in the world? This is the topic that The Mission of God’s People seeks to address. (17). Therefore, when Wright uses the term “mission,” he refers to the overarching goal that unifies all that God’s people are called to be and do in this world. So, when he writes, “I am thinking of all that God is doing in his great purpose for the whole of creation and all that he calls us to do in cooperation with that purpose,” he is thinking of both what God is doing and what he is calling us to do. (25)
The focus of the book’s first half is focused on the kind of individuals God is calling us to be. People who identify as Christians ought to be “People Who Know the Story They Are Part of” (ch. 2), “People Who Care for Creation” (ch. 3), “People Who Walk in God’s Way” (ch. 5), and “People Who Represent God to the World” (ch. 7). Wright shifts his attention in the second half to the particular duties God’s mission calls us to after laying this theological and ethical framework. He calls us to be, in particular, “People Who Bear Witness to the Living God”, “People Who Proclaim the Gospel of Christ” (chapters 10 and 11), and “People Who Live and Work in the Public Square” (chapters 13).
MAIN IDEAS
The mission of God is what unites the Bible from creation to new creation, according to Wright, who advocated for a “missional hermeneutic of the whole Bible.” Building on that basis, Mission of God’s People responds to the “so what” question; “If the Bible renders to us the grand mission of God through all generations of history, what does it tell us about the mission of God’s people in each generation, including our own? What is our mission?” (17).
The Exodus serves as the primary Old Testament example of God acting as a Redeemer, according to Wright. This is what God’s redemptive work looks like. (41). He claims once more that “God’s idea of redemption is exodus-shaped” (96). By this, Wright argues that just as the Exodus had political, economic, social, and spiritual dimensions, so too does God’s ultimate act of atonement, the Cross of Christ, have the same range. Wright contends that the biblical concept of redemption not only draws inspiration from the exodus but also “matches” the exodus at every significant point (103). The application of this viewpoint in practice is described as follows by Wright:
The exodus has been seen as the biblical foundation par excellence for theologies of mission that emphasize the importance of social, political, and economic concern alongside the spiritual dimensions of personal forgiveness. Or rather, and with greater biblical faithfulness, it is the biblical basis for the integration of all these dimensions within the comprehensive good news of the biblical gospel. Such holistic, or integral, understandings of mission point to the totality of what God accomplished for Israel in the paradigmatic redemptive event—the exodus. And I believe they are right to do so. (109)
The book makes apparent Wright’s well-known emphasis on holistic mission: “We need a holistic gospel because the world is in a holistic mess” (p. 110). He states unequivocally that evangelical proclamation is always necessary in order to carry out the mission of God because ministries to meet human needs are never sufficient on their own. The goal of God’s people, in page 179, is to spread good news in a world where bad news is depressingly common.
Wright very cautiously maintains that the spreading of the gospel has “a certain priority” in the church’s mission, following the Lausanne covenant of 1974 and the “Grand Rapids Report” of 1982. Nevertheless, he quickly asserts that “in missional practice, the distinction is hardly, if ever, a real one” (276) even then. As with prayer and Bible reading in a Christian’s devotional life, Wright argues that evangelism and social action should be so entwined in our practice that it is essentially irrelevant to ask which is more important (277).
Wright responds to the idea that “‘centrality’ as opposed to ‘primacy’ might be a better word for evangelism within mission” (278). He interprets the concept of evangelism’s “centrality” in a way that implies complete interdependence between evangelism and social action without supporting or dismissing this terminology: “If evangelism is like the hub, connected to the engine of the gospel power of God, then it also takes the living demonstration of the gospel in Christians’ engagement with the world to give the hub connection and traction with the context—the road” (278).
My View of this Book
In addition to offering motivation and guidance for carrying out the cultural mission, Wright’s insights on ministry in the public sphere elevate the frequently disregarded work and ministry of lay people in the public sphere. His chapter on mission as sending and receiving is a shining example of depth, breadth, and heartrending summary in biblical theology, and it will leave thoughtful readers reflecting for days after they have read it.
On occasion, Wright utilizes language that unnecessarily merges the identity of the church with that of Israel. In the current dispensation, the church effectively fills much of Israel’s role in carrying out God’s mission and serving as God’s ambassador to the outside world, and he is correct in this. However, in the New Testament era, national Israel still has its own identity. It would have been beneficial to draw a clearer difference between the extent to which the church accepts Israel’s uniqueness and its limitations.
Wright discusses texts from the New Testament that support and expand on ideas that are founded in the Old Testament after discussing the Old Testament principles that provide the basis for missional thinking and behavior in the majority of these chapters. Wright has not given enough emphasis to these important New Testament passages on mission, which leads to less consideration of normally highlighted New Testament texts, such as the different New Testament passages about the Great Commission.
CONCLUSION
The importance of missions is widely acknowledged among Christians, yet many are unsure of its full scope. Is it packing up your belongings and leaving your nation of residence? A theology degree, is that it? Is it giving sermons on the street? The ultimate goal of God’s people is His glory, even though their missions may also involve such things. And the main way that God is honored by His people is by seeing them put the truths they have accepted from the gospel of Christ into practice. It also means that, Christians “have a mission that is as broad as the earth, for which we are commanded to care” (p. 265). Everything a Christian is, says, and does should be missional in its deliberate involvement in the mission of God in God’s world.
George Bundred, DL. For public service in Merseyside.
Only Fans Leaks Free Download
This time the Assistant Comptroller advised the lawyer that the railroad misplaced $172,168 from January-March 1936.
We put on the whole armor of God.
S4279616 Flight Sergeant Peter Marriott-Lodge.
Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
The market helped buyers purchase seasonal candles, keepsake mugs and different holiday favorites on-line within the safety of their own houses.
Only Fans Leaks Free Download
I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Genesis Mia Lopez OnlyFans Mega Link Download
Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering
your situation; we have created some nice procedures and we are looking to swap strategies with others, please shoot me an email if interested.
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your
articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything.
But imagine if you added some great photos or videos
to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent
but with pics and video clips, this blog could certainly be one of the very best in its field.
Great blog!
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¦ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What a great web-site.
TheRealRebeccaJ OnlyFans Mega Link Download
However, it’s a typical behavior that may be addressed with the suitable solutions.
Thanks for every other informative web site. The place else may I get that type of information written in such an ideal means?
I’ve a mission that I’m just now working on, and I have been on the
look out for such information.
Hey there! I’ve been reading your web site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the great job!
you could have a great weblog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my weblog?
Jenise Hart OnlyFans Mega Link Download
Wonderful web site. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you on your effort!
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
Caaart OnlyFans Mega Link Download
I like it when individuals get together and share opinions.
Great site, continue the good work!
But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style. “Treat the other man’s faith gently it is all he has to believe with.” by Athenus.
Daalischus Rose OnlyFans Mega Link Download
Spot on with this write-up, I really think this web site wants way more consideration. I’ll probably be once more to read rather more, thanks for that info.
TheRealRebeccaJ OnlyFans Mega Link Download
Its Lunar Liv OnlyFans Mega Link Download
Bulma XO OnlyFans Mega Link Download
I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
Whats up this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again!
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently.
I’m quite certain I will learn lots of new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Keep up the excellent piece of work, I read few content on this internet site and I believe that your weblog is really interesting and holds bands of good info .