The Imperative of Mission in Orthodox Theology!

8/12/2019 The Imperative of Mission in Orthodox Theology!

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THE IMPERATIVE OF MISSION IN ORTHODOX THEOLOGYJames John Stamoolis

The Orthoo! "h#r$h has %een a missionar& $h#r$h 'rom her ori(in in Jer#salem) Thehistor& o' Orthoo! missionar& *or+ $ontin#es *itho#t isr#,tion to this a&)- The *or+ o' theAr$hio$esan Missions .oar $arries on in the traition o' the earliest missionar& e!,ansion o'the Gos,el)

/hile the a$ti0it& o' the "h#r$h in mission $an %e easil& emonstrate1 it is not eno#(hto s,ea+ o' missionar& *or+ in the ,ast1 nor to %e satis'ie *ith onl& a ,art o' the "h#r$hintereste an in0ol0e in mission $on$erns) The $#rrent sit#ation emans that more1 anieall& all1 o' the "h#r$h %e in0ol0e in missionar& a$ti0it&) Fa$e *ith a *orl ,o,#lation o' 2%illion an a total "hristian ,o,#lation o' -)2 %illion 3an o' these1 onl& - %illion are a$ti0e1,ra$ti$in( "hristians41 the nee 'or missionar& *or+ is a,,arent i' *e reall& %elie0e that *e ha0ere$ei0e the e$isi0e re0elation 'rom Go)

Mission has %een a $on$ern o' the "h#r$h 'rom her 'o#nin() The ,ro%lem is thatmissionar& *or+1 *hi$h is a nat#ral an lo(i$al $onse5#en$e o' o#r ser0i$e to Go1 *as not ane!,li$it theolo(i$al 'o#nation %& earlier (enerations) In o#r a&1 s#$h a 'o#nation $o#l

stren(then missionar& s#,,ort %& the "h#r$h as a *hole) /e nee to emonstrate $learl& *hatthe an$ients too+ as a!iomati$) It is not eno#(h to raise missionar& s#,,ort on the %asis o'emotion1 tho#(h emotion has its ,la$e) I' one $laims to %e tr#l& Orthoo!1 the ne$essit& to %emissionar&6mine m#st %e set %e'ore the entire "h#r$h)

There'ore1 *hile it is ,ossi%le to ma+e s#$$ess'#l a,,eals 'or missionar& '#ns on the%asis o' emonstrate nees an ,erha,s e0en ,ersonal (#ilt1 it oes not la& the 'o#nation 'or$orre$t thin+in( a%o#t o#r o%li(ation) This o%li(ation lai #,on #s is to %e synergoi1 'ello*6*or+ers1 *ith Go)7

The *or+ Go $alls #s to 8oin him in is the ,ro$lamation o' the (os,el o' eternal li'ethro#(h the se$on ,erson o' the Trinit&1 Jes#s "hrist1 *ho %e$ame man so that *e mi(ht%e$ome (o)9/h& o *e ,raise the tri#ne Go: It is ,re$isel& the a$tions o' the Gohea on

%ehal' o' a 'allen h#manit& that $a#se #s to *orshi, an aore the Trinit&)The Orthoo! "h#r$h #nerstans that her tas+ is to o''er orthodoxia1 ri(ht ,raise1 to

the li0in( Go) The entire Orthoo! "h#r$h1 %isho,s1 $ler(& an lait&1 sho#l also #nerstanthat her tas+ is to *or+ *ith Go in e!tenin( that *orshi, to the ens o' the earth) I' *e sa&*e *orshi, Go $orre$tl& an o not see+ to s,rea the ne*s o' Go;s re0elation to this *orl1is o#r ,ro'ession reall& $rei%le: an lo1 I am *ith &o# al*a&s1 e0en to the en o' the a(e 3Mt 7C=-674)

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The a,ostles are $ommane to s,rea the ne*s to all the *orl) The ori(inal (ro#,'#l'ille its $ommission an hane on the a#thorit& an res,onsi%ilit& to its s#$$essors) I' thea#thorit& remains1 oes not also the res,onsi%ilit& 'or s,reain( the Gos,el:

"ertainl& some Orthoo! %elie0e the res,onsi%ilit& remains) The 'irst *ors o' 0erse -1@porefthendes,"*as the title o' a 8o#rnal an the name o' a missionar& st#& $enter in Athense0ote to Orthoo! missionar& *or+)B The $enter ne0er #s#r,e the $anoni$al a#thorit& o' the%isho,s1 %#t i ser0e to remin those in a#thorit& o' the e0an(elisti$ res,onsi%ilit& that is ,arto' the a,ostoli$ traition)

The $onne$tion %et*een ,o*er an *itness is mae e0en more $lear in the$ommissionin( as re$ore %& L#+e in the A$ts o' the A,ostles -=C1 @.#t &o# shall re$ei0e,o*er *hen the Hol& S,irit has $ome #,on &o#> an &o# shall %e m& *itnesses %oth inJer#salem1 an in all J#ea an Samaria1 an e0en to the remotest ,art o' the earth)@

The e0ien$e that the ,o*er ha %een re$ei0e %& the A,ostles *as their s#$$ess'#le0an(elisti$ *or+ in A$ts) The (os,el ,ro$lamation a$$om,anie %& the ,o*er o' Go res#ltein the $on0ersion o' 91 ,eo,le on the a& o' Pente$ost) Thro#(ho#t the .oo+ o' A$ts *esee ,eo,le $on0erte %e$a#se the& ha0e $ome into $onta$t *ith the ,o*er o' Go) Saint Pa#l

$an later *rite that this ,o*er is the Gos,el1 @the ,o*er o' Go 'or sal0ation to e0er& one *ho%elie0es)@ 3Rom -=-4)

One #se'#l o#tline o' A$ts is to see L#+e ,i$+in( #, ea$h (eo(ra,hi$ theme mentione in0erse C as a heain() A$ts is th#s o#tline= the *itness in Jer#salem1 A$ts -6B> the *itness in allJ#ea an Samaria1 A$ts C6-7> the *itness in the #ttermost ,art o' the earth1 A$ts -967C)C

/e are still $ontem,oraries o' those in A$ts sin$e *e ha0e not &et rea$he the #ttermost,arts o' the earth) It is tr#e that there *ere ,erios *hen men tho#(ht this $ommission ha %een'#l'ille) .#t Go $ontin#e to ,#sh o,en ne* 'rontiers *here the name o' Jes#s ha not %een+no*n) E0en toa& there are areas *here the Gos,el has not ,enetrate) Onl& %& i(norin( the'a$ts $an *e el#e o#rsel0es into thin+in( that the Gos,el has ,enetrate to the ens o' theearth)

It is a nat#ral tenen$& to iolie ,re0io#s a(es) /e o it in o#r o*n li0es *hen *e har+%a$+ to o#r a(e o' inno$en$e an %liss as $hilren1 'or(ettin( ho* i''i$#lt $hilhoo *as an is)/e o it *hen *e loo+ %a$+ to ,re0io#s (enerations *hi$h e!,erien$e ,ros,erit& an ,ea$e1'or(ettin( the ,ain an s#''erin( relie0e %& moern mei$ine an te$hnolo(&) /e o it *hen*e thin+ %a$+ to the ieal e!,erien$e o' the earl& "h#r$h1 'or(ettin( the sins an ,ro%lems%esettin( those in $onta$t *ith the a,ostles an *ho ma& ha0e e0en seen the Lor) "onsier the$ase o' Ananias an Sa,,hira *ho *ithhel a ,ortion o' the sellin( ,ri$e o' some lan %#t$laime to (i0e all to a,,ear to %e ,io#s %e'ore the $h#r$h 3A$ts 2=-6--4) Ho* moern it allso#ns) Other e!am,les are easil& (i0en= the #n%elie' o' those at the ,ra&er ser0i$e 'or Peterthat he ha a$t#all& %een release %& the ,o*er o' Go 3A$ts -7)-6-B4> an the ,ro%lems o'immoralit& 'a$e %& the "orinthian $h#r$h) In these a&s1 the Ne* Testament s,ea+s more too#r sit#ation than *e ima(ine)

I' *e $an see ho* rele0ant the ethi$al1 s,irit#al1 o$trinal an lit#r(i$al se$tions o' theNe* Testament are1 then *e m#st also $on'ess that the missionar& im,erati0es ha0e not %eenremo0e %#t still nee to %e '#l'ille)

The *hole .i%le is a missionar& %oo+) The element o' *itness is $learl& ,resent in theOl Testament) /e thin+ o' Jonah as an e!am,le o' a 'orei(n missionar& sent %& Go to ,rea$hto Nine0eh) .#t the *hole histor& o' Israel re0ol0es aro#n their ele$tion to %e *itnesses toGo;s re0elation in the *orl) E0en in the $all to A%raham1 the ,romise is to %less all the

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'amilies o' the earth 3Gen -7=94) There is no hint o' Go $onsierin( himsel' a tri%al eit& in theOl Testament) It is al*a&s the nations that are in 0ie*) /e are #n'ort#natel& li+e the Israelitesin thin+in( that Go is o#r eit&1 reser0e 'or ,eo,le o' o#r lan(#a(e an ra$e)

In man& ,la$es the intent o' Go is istin$tl& state) @So the Lordsai ) ) ) ;as I li0e1 allthe earth *ill %e 'ille *ith the (lor& o' theLord); @ 3N#m -


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*ill %rin( ha,,iness1 ,ea$e an $ontentment: /hat is the *isom that e$ries the re0elation o'Go an s*ee,s all %e'ore it in o#r ,#%li$ e#$ational instit#tions: Is not this a(e ass#,erstitio#s as an& other an more so than man& ,ast (enerations: Is not o#r sit#ation moreli+e that es$ri%e %& Athanasios than *e $are to amit: /hat is the antiote 'or this:

.#t sin$e the /or o' Go has %een mani'este in a %o&1 an has mae +no*n to #s hiso*n Father1 the 'ra# o' emons is sto,,e an mae to isa,,ear> an men1 t#rnin(their e&es to the tr#e Go1 /or o' the Father1 'orsa+e the iols an $ome to +no* thistr#e Go)--

These are s#$h ,ositi0e *ors) I' *e i not +no* %etter1 *e *o#l thin+ that the& ha %een*ritten in a time o' (reat missionar& a0an$e) .#t *e o +no* %etter) Athanasios a(ainst the*orl is his e,ita,h) Po,#larit& *as not his (oal) His (oal *as to %e 'aith'#l to the re0elation o'Go) He stoo 'or the tr#th %e$a#se onl& in the tr#th o' Go *as sal0ation 'o#n) This is the%asis 'or mission) This is *h& *e #nerta+e missionar& *or+) .e$a#se Go %e$ame man thatman+in mi(ht ha0e the tr#th o' Go)

A moern *riter1 ") S) Le*is1 ma+es this $omment on Athanasios=He stoo 'or the trinitarian o$trine1 @*hole an #ne'ile1@ *hen it loo+e as i' all the

$i0ilie *orl *as sli,,in( %a$+ 'rom "hristianit& into the reli(ion o' Arios into one o'those @sensi%le@ s&ntheti$ reli(ions *hi$h are so stron(l& re$ommene toa& an1*hi$h1 then as no*1 in$l#e amon( their e0otees man& hi(hl& $#lti0ate $ler(&men) -7

The same tem,tation is o#rs toa&) /e are %esie(e on all sies to %e reasona%le1 to %emoern1 to %e a$$e,tin(1 an a%o0e all1 to %e sensi%le) /itho#t the (i't o' Go in (i0in( the"h#r$h an Athanasios1 *e *o#l %e o0er*helme toa&) .#t in loo+in( 'or ire$tion an amissionar& 0oi$e1 *e $an t#rn to his *ritin(s an %elie0e the same Lor *ho %anishe the 'ra#o' emons in Athanasios; a& *ill ,er'orm the same tas+ in o#r a&)

T#rnin( to Gre(or& o' N&ssa1 *e 'in in The Great Catechisma ,roo' o' the In$arnationin the #ni0ersal a,,earan$e o' "hristian ,la$es o' *orshi,)

For those *ho are not so 0ehementl& anta(onisti$ to the tr#th there e!ists no sli(ht ,roo'o' the Deit& ha0in( so8o#rne here ))) thro#(ho#t the *hole *orl there ha0e arisen inthe name o' Jes#s tem,les an altars an a hol& an #n%loo& ,riesthoo an a s#%lime,hiloso,h&1 *hi$h tea$hes1 %& ee an e!am,le more than %& *or1 a isre(ar o' this%oil& li'e an a $ontem,t o' eath )))-9

Here *e ha0e a $l#e as to *h& *hat *e *o#l $all mission is not more ,rominentl& is,la&e inthe Fathers) Gre(or& o' N&ssa $an s,ea+ o' a *orl*ie is,ersion o' the Gos,el) "an *e: I'a ,roo' o' the i0ine so8o#rn is to %e 'o#n in the *orl*ie ,raise 'or Jes#s1 then are *e notremiss 'or not oin( more to ,ro0ie the material e0ien$e 'or that ,roo') Is not the la$+ o'*orl*ie ,raise in the name o' Jes#s a $onemnation to those *ho $laim to hol the $orre$t#nerstanin( o' that ,raise:

Do *e $on'ess one thin( *ith o#r li,s &et 'ail to li0e in a$$oran$e *ith o#r $ree: Onee0ien$e is the s,rea o' the Faith in e0er& ,la$e) Another e0ien$e *as the li'est&le o' the"hristians) I' the e0ien$e o' the In$arnation *as the isre(ar o' %oil& li'e an a $ontem,t o'eath1 *hat o o#r a$tions (i0e e0ien$e o':

I mentione a%o0e the $l#e to the la$+ o' ,rominen$e o' mission in the Fathers %ein( thethen *orl*ie is,ersion o' the Gos,el) .#t noti$e at *hat $ost it *as is,erse) A(ain *e'in the im,erati0e 'or *hi$h *e see+1 that o' ma+in( +no*n the Gos,el o' the In$arnation at all

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$ost1 e0en o' li'e itsel') Is this o#r attit#e toa&: I' it is not1 $an *e $all o#rsel0es +ee,ers o'the Traition as 'o#n in the Fathers:

/e m#st not easil& ismiss the nee 'or the *hole *orl to +no* the name o' Jes#s anto $on'ess him as their Go) For Saint "&ril o' Jer#salem $an sa&=

This name $a#(ht the *orl in its (ras,= 'or Je*s are onl& in a $ertain re(ion o' the*orl1 %#t "hristians rea$h to the ens o' the *orl> 'or it is the name o' the onl&6%e(otten Son o' Go that is ,ro$laime)- some ha0e e0en%#ilt small ho#ses) More nee to %e $hallen(e %& these *ors o' "hr&sostom to ma+e a%e(innin() An 'or the %e(innin( alrea& mae1 more m#st 8oin in the *or+)

/e ha0e means1 *e ha0e '#ns1 *e ha0e time1 %#t *e $hoose to s,en it on other thin(san in other ,#rs#its) In this *e sho* o#r la$+ o' a,,re$iation 'or Go an his (ooness)"hr&sostom has an antiote 'or this in another o' his homilies=

A'ter a$+no*le(in( to him o#r (eneral o%li(ations))) let ea$h one o' #s re$+on ))) the%ene'its o' Go))) i' *e $all to min1 an ma+e ili(ent en5#ir& o' these t*o ,oints1 *hat


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sins *e ha0e $ommitte a(ainst Go1 an *hat (oo he has one to #s1 shall th#s %e%oth than+'#l1 an (i0e him 'reel& all that is o#rs)-B

Is it ,ossi%le to ra* the $orollar& that i' *e are not than+'#l an o not 'reel& (i0e1 then *eha0e not taste the (ooness o' Go:

For one *ho has taste the (ooness o' Go an re$ei0e %ene'its 'rom his han1 nosa$ri'i$e is too (reat to emonstrate that lo0e) As "hr&sostom sai to his $on(re(ation in"onstantino,le=

There is nothin( I lo0e more than &o#1 no1 not e0en li(ht itsel' I *o#l (lal& ha0e m&e&es ,#t o#t ten tho#san times o0er1 i' it *ere ,ossi%le %& this means to $on0ert &o#rso#ls> so m#$h is &o#r sal0ation earer to me than li(ht itsel') -C

Mar0el not then that the s,ea+er o' these *ors is $onsiere a o$tor o' the "h#r$h) /ho*o#l not %e attene %& s#$h a ,h&si$ian: Here is 'o#n an im,erati0e 'or mission *or+1 thelo0e o' others that $om,els the missionar& to see+ the sal0ation o' their so#ls) An s#$h lo0e is#nerstoo an %& Go;s (ra$e %ears 'r#it in mission *or+ an $on(re(ational *or+ as *ell)For *e all +no* that it is ,ossi%le to (o thro#(h the $orre$t motions1 %#t not ha0e o#r hearers;

sal0ation at heart) I' *e *o#l %e heirs o' the Fathers1 then *e m#st as+ Go 'or the lo0e 'orthose o#tsie the 'aith that the& ha)

Listen a(ain to "hr&sostom=Nothin( is more 'ri(i than a "hristian *ho $ares not 'or the sal0ation o' others) Tho#$anst not ,lea ,o0ert&= 'or she that $ast o*n the t*o mites shall %e thine a$$#ser 3L+7-=-4) An Peter sai1 @Sil0er an (ol I ha0e none@ 3A$ts 9=4)))) Tho# $anst not ,lealo*ness o' %irth= 'or the& too *ere i(no%le men1 an o' i(no%le ,arents) Tho# $anst notalle(e *ant o' e#$ation= 'or the& too *ere @#nlearne men@ 3A$ts


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Here is o#r mission im,erati0e= *e m#st see+ the sal0ation o' others) /e nee notmira$les1 %#t ,#re li0es) /e nee not e!traorinar& in$omes1 %#t the *io*;s mite in that thereso#r$es (i0en to Go a$$om,lish his ,#r,ose) .#t *e hie not %ehin the mite1 *hen it is ino#r ,o*er to (i0e more) @/here &o#r treas#re is1 there *ill %e &o#r heart also@ 3L+ -7=9


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,arta+e o' 3tho#(h1 'or the most ,art1 in're5#entl&4 an not 'or o#tsiers) A$t#all&1 as those*ho ,ress 'or lit#r(i$al rene*al *o#l maintain1 it oes not e0en seem to %e ,er'orme 'or lait&1or at least not 'or their instr#$tion)

In the sear$h 'or an im,erati0e o' mission1 *e m#st not i(nore the ,#r,ose o' theE#$harist) The ,riest $on'esses in his ,ra&ers that the Lor o''ere himsel' 'or the *hole *orlan the sa$ri'i$e the ,riest is o''erin( is also 'or the *hole *orl) There'ore1 the e!tent o' themission o' the "h#r$h is $on'esse at e0er& e#$haristi$ ser0i$e)

Are *e #lle %& the 'amiliar: Do *e nee to loo+ a(ain at the 0er& $on'ession *ema+e an the ,ra&ers *e sa&1 an then as+ h#m%l& 'or Go;s 'or(i0eness: The im,erati0e 'ormission is ,reser0e in the lit#r(i$al 'orm#lae) Ma& this im,erati0e %#rn *ithin #s e0er& time *eo''er these ,ra&ers in *orshi,)

ConclusionIt is interestin( to see that *hen *e o not ,lan 'or mission1 the tri#ne Go mo0es his

"h#r$h o#t) Is it an a$$ient o' histor& that Orthoo!& e!ists on si! $ontinents: I thin+ not)The so0erei(n Go mo0e his "h#r$h o#t an into ,osition) The 5#estion is1 *hat a0anta(e*ill the "h#r$h ma+e o' the ,la$es *here Go has esta%lishe it: @.ehol1 I ha0e set %e'ore &o#

an o,en oor1 *hi$h no one is a%le to sh#t> I +no* that &o# ha0e %#t little ,o*er1 an &et &o#ha0e +e,t m& *or an ha0e not enie m& name@ 3Re0) 9)C4)

The oors are o,en> o,ene %& Go himsel') /ill *e #se the o,,ort#nit& to (o thro#(hthem 'or the sa+e o' the Lor Jes#s: I' *e o1 onl& then $an it %e sai o' #s that *e +e,t his*or an i not en& his name)


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-/hile this ma& seem too %ol a statement1 i' one $onsiers the e!,ansion o' the "h#r$h in the earl& $ent#ries1 the *or+o' the .&antine "h#r$h1 the R#ssian missionar& e!,ansion *hi$h $arrie on #rin( the T#r+ish o,,ression o' the Gree+"h#r$h1 an the Orthoo! ias,ora in the t*entieth $ent#r&1 then the is,ersion o' the Gos,el has $ontin#e #na%atee0en i' some o' the e!,ansion 3in ,arti$#lar1 the ias,ora4 *as not $ons$io#sl& ,lanne as missionar& e!,ansion)

7- "or 9=> $') 7 "or =-)

9For re'eren$es to this ,atristi$ ,hrase1 see Vlaimir Loss+&1In the Image and Lieness of God3"rest*oo1 NY)1 -B


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77 I%i) ,) 99)

79 In ,arti$#lar1 one $an $ons#lt Ion .ria1 e ' Go Forth in Peace0 &rthodox Perspecties on $ission 3Gene0a1 -C41Ale!aner S$hmemann1 Church, World, $ission3"rest*oo1 NY)1 -B4> Iem1For the Life of the World3"rest*oo1

NY)1 -BB4> an James Stamoolis1%astern &rthodox $ission Theology Today1 es,e$iall& ,,) C6-7)

7< I am #sin( as m& so#r$e the oler te!t o' the Gree+ Orthoo! Ar$hio$ese as 'o#n in The &rthodox Liturgy3Gar*oo1NJ1 -B4) It is interestin( to note that t*o *ors are #se 'or *orl in the Gree+) The 'irst1 the %i%li$al term1 cosmos1

$an $arr& some element o' am%i(#it& in the .i%le sin$e the cosmos$an mean the *orl s&stem to %e o,,ose %& Go;s,eo,le) .#t the meanin( is $lear) "hrist ie 'or the cosmos1 e0en the cosmosthat hate him) The .&antine *or1oioumenes1 more $learl& relates to the inha%ite *orl) .oth $learl& testi'& to the e!tent o' the mission im,erati0e)

72 Some o' this is$#ssion $an %e 'o#n in the se$tion %& Ni$on D) Patrina$os in The &rthodox Liturgy) See also Stanle&S) Hara+as1Liing the Liturgy3Minnea,olis1 -B

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The Imperative of Mission in Orthodox Theology!