What is Mission

Trying to understand Mission

Session 1

Joshva

Amy Carmichael

"I know not what to say about the mission. I feel as a farmer does about his crop; sometimes I think the seed is springing, and then I hope; a little time blasts all, and my hopes are gone like a cloud. ...I preach every day to the natives, and twice on the Lord's Day constantly, besides other itinerant labours; and I try to speak of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and of Him alone; but my soul is often dejected to see no fruit."

Go to the ReferencesGo to the References

• Mission - An act of sending, especially to perform some function; a flight with specific purpose such as bombing and so on – Page 951 of The Chambers Dictionary.

Critique of these definitionsCritique of these definitions

If everything is mission, nothing is If everything is mission, nothing is mission (Neill 1959)mission (Neill 1959)

The Specture of Panmissionism The Specture of Panmissionism (Freytag 1961)(Freytag 1961)

Mission was defined asMission was defined as

Sending of Missionaries to a particular Sending of Missionaries to a particular place (Ohm 1962)place (Ohm 1962)

Activities by MissionariesActivities by Missionaries The geographical area where missionaries The geographical area where missionaries

workwork Propagation of the gospel (Muller 1987)Propagation of the gospel (Muller 1987) Expansion of the reign of GodExpansion of the reign of God Conversion of the heathenConversion of the heathen Founding of the New Church Founding of the New Church

Traditional understanding of Traditional understanding of mission as Expansionism mission as Expansionism

Mission was seen as colonial Mission was seen as colonial expansion (Kirk, 1999)– Western expansion (Kirk, 1999)– Western mission as business operation mission as business operation

Occupation of the fields – Occupation of the fields – Cyprian: Salus extra ecclesiass Cyprian: Salus extra ecclesiass non est (E73:21) – No salvation non est (E73:21) – No salvation outside the church (Cardoze outside the church (Cardoze 2002)2002)

Carlos F Cardoze, Orlandi – Mission an Essential Guide. Nashville: Abington Press 2002

Colonial agenda in MissionColonial agenda in Mission The conquest of other religions The conquest of other religions

(Rutti 1972) – Conquistadores (Rutti 1972) – Conquistadores Portuguese and Spanish (Kirk) Portuguese and Spanish (Kirk) – Roman emperor and Pope – Roman emperor and Pope integration as God’s reignintegration as God’s reign

Authority with the sender Authority with the sender (church or sponsoring (church or sponsoring institutions) – Apostolate institutions) – Apostolate (Roman Catholic traditions – (Roman Catholic traditions – Kirk) Kirk)

Four Impure Motives of Four Impure Motives of MissionMission

Cultural (Transfer of Superior Culture)Cultural (Transfer of Superior Culture) Romantic Motive (Tour to exotic Romantic Motive (Tour to exotic

countries)countries) Imperialist (colonial authorities)Imperialist (colonial authorities) Ecclesiastical Colonialism (to export Ecclesiastical Colonialism (to export

Churches’ own confession and order Churches’ own confession and order to other territories) to other territories)

Verkuyl (1978)Verkuyl (1978)

Theological Motives of Theological Motives of MissionMission

The motive of conversion (decision The motive of conversion (decision and commitment) – saved soulsand commitment) – saved souls

Eschatological motive (reign of God as Eschatological motive (reign of God as a future reality without present a future reality without present realities)realities)

Plantatio ecclesial (church planting) – Plantatio ecclesial (church planting) – need for gathering a communityneed for gathering a community

The philanthropic – issues of justice The philanthropic – issues of justice and improved society (Freytage)and improved society (Freytage)

Mission Lunatic??!Mission Lunatic??!

Schultz – In our missionary outreach Schultz – In our missionary outreach we resemble a lunatic who carries the we resemble a lunatic who carries the harvest into his burning barn (1930) – harvest into his burning barn (1930) – many do not proclaim the Gospel many do not proclaim the Gospel rather individualism and the values of rather individualism and the values of the West – ‘Intra-muros’ – the the West – ‘Intra-muros’ – the outcome of the mission is determined outcome of the mission is determined by what happens inside the church by what happens inside the church not outside in the mission field. not outside in the mission field.

Instrumental perspective on Mission

God

church

Pocketpc.ico

MeansPeople

Missionary----Gospel ----- Proclamation ----- People ---- Conversion

Reflecting on MissionReflecting on Mission Mission as ? The word Mission is found in the Mission as ? The word Mission is found in the

New Testament only once in Acts 12:25New Testament only once in Acts 12:25 Evangelion – to announce the good news Evangelion – to announce the good news

(evangelism)(evangelism) Martyria - to bear witness (IMC 1952)Martyria - to bear witness (IMC 1952) Oikumene – to become one in/with Christ Oikumene – to become one in/with Christ

(ecumenism) – Koinonia (fellowship) (IMC (ecumenism) – Koinonia (fellowship) (IMC 1947)1947)

Kerygma – to preach (IMC 1947)Kerygma – to preach (IMC 1947) Didache – to teach (IMC 1947) Didache – to teach (IMC 1947) Diakonia – to serve (1967 Hoekendijk)Diakonia – to serve (1967 Hoekendijk)

Mission in Different ContextsMission in Different Contexts

Mission companion/partners

personal context - Divided, taking sides, listening…

Context of the people local and nationalContext of the people local and national

Global ContextNeo-Liberal values, Economic disparity, concentration of wealth

Nationalism, fundamentalism, terrorism

In Mission – Am I Making Sense to different age groups?

YouthChildrenAdults

Women

Outsider

Crisis – Danger and Crisis – Danger and OpportunityOpportunity

Church in Crisis – as a sign being Church in Crisis – as a sign being spoken against - Kraemerspoken against - Kraemer

Crisis is the combination of danger Crisis is the combination of danger and opportunity - Koyamaand opportunity - Koyama

What is this Crisis? What mission What is this Crisis? What mission has to do with this crisis? -has to do with this crisis? -

a.a. The advance of science, technology The advance of science, technology and secularizationand secularization

b.b. Dechristianization of the WestDechristianization of the West

c. Migration of people of many faiths – c. Migration of people of many faiths – devotees of other faith becomes devotees of other faith becomes missionaries and aggressive missionmissionaries and aggressive mission

d. Subjugation of people of colour, d. Subjugation of people of colour, caste and racecaste and race

e. Divided World –Rich and Poor – e. Divided World –Rich and Poor – Anger and frustration - reluctanceAnger and frustration - reluctance

f. Western ecclesial ways, theologies f. Western ecclesial ways, theologies and practices were no more and practices were no more predominant and normative.predominant and normative.

Mission according to BoschMission according to Bosch Christian faith is intrinsically Missionary – Universal Christian faith is intrinsically Missionary – Universal

Impact – Ultimate Truth (Stackhouse 1988)Impact – Ultimate Truth (Stackhouse 1988) Looking at the World from a Christian Perspective –Looking at the World from a Christian Perspective –

reforms, analysis and appraisalreforms, analysis and appraisal Dynamic relationship between God and the World – Dynamic relationship between God and the World –

God’s self communication in Jesus God’s self communication in Jesus Recognition of the tension between Divine Recognition of the tension between Divine

providence and human Confusionprovidence and human Confusion Church as Missionary existence – Universal Gospel Church as Missionary existence – Universal Gospel

with Universal Proclamationwith Universal Proclamation Church as sacrament and sign – mediation and Church as sacrament and sign – mediation and

pointerpointer

Contd…Contd…

No division between foreign mission and No division between foreign mission and Home MissionHome Mission

Difference between Mission and MissionsDifference between Mission and Missions The whole church bringing the whole The whole church bringing the whole

gospel to the whole worldgospel to the whole world Participating in the struggles of people – Participating in the struggles of people –

God’s yesGod’s yes EvangelismEvangelism God’s No to the world –not merely a God’s No to the world –not merely a

political religion political religion

Mission Creative Tension

Church with others missio Dei

Mediating Salvation

Quest for Justice

Evangelism

LiberationCommon Witness

Ministry by (Whole) People of God

Witness to people of Other Living Faiths

Action in Hope

Theology

David Bosch’s Transforming Mission

Additions by Norman E Thomas to Bosch – Contextualization, and Inculturation, dialogue in Classic Texts

Holistic Mission

Plurality of Mission

Prophetic Liberative

Nourishes

Culture

Building Communities

Proclamation

Development-oriented

ParticipatoryDialogic and interactive

Developed from WCC’s Statements 1980 -2005

You are the light of the world Unity

Five Marks of Mission – Five Marks of Mission – Anglican understandingAnglican understanding

►To Proclaim the Good News of the KingdomTo Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom►To teach, baptise and nurture new believersTo teach, baptise and nurture new believers►To respond to human need by loving serviceTo respond to human need by loving service►To seek to transform unjust structures of To seek to transform unjust structures of

societysociety►To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation

and sustain and renew the life of the earth. and sustain and renew the life of the earth. ----Andrew Walls and Cathy Ross Mission in the 21----Andrew Walls and Cathy Ross Mission in the 21stst Century. Century.

Nine statements of Mission – Nine statements of Mission – Methodist UnderstandingMethodist Understanding

►Telling the good news of Jesus ChristTelling the good news of Jesus Christ►Calling people to faith in Jesus Christ and Calling people to faith in Jesus Christ and

Christian discipleship Christian discipleship ►Building partnerships with other churches Building partnerships with other churches

and groups who share some of our and groups who share some of our mission aims.mission aims.

►Caring for individual people and Caring for individual people and communitiescommunities

►Caring for the earthCaring for the earth

►Sharing the task of education; social Sharing the task of education; social and spiritual developmentand spiritual development

►Struggling for a just worldStruggling for a just world►Being alongside the poorBeing alongside the poor►Becoming friends with people of Becoming friends with people of

different cultures and faithsdifferent cultures and faiths

Prophetic

Liberative

Nourishes

Culture

Building Communities

Development-oriented

Dialogic

Plurality of Mission

Plurality of Mission

Evangelization

conversion

SugirtharajahSugirtharajah

Conversion to Reorientation Conversion to Reorientation Evangelising the Evangelizer and Evangelising the Evangelizer and conversion within the traditionconversion within the tradition

Revival to Revitalising Revival to Revitalising Recovering some forgotten aspects – Recovering some forgotten aspects – compassionate God compassionate God

Sharing to distribution – of wealthSharing to distribution – of wealth

Critical remark on Sugirtharajah – inward looking alone is not holistic mission – witnessing an aspect of mission

For me Mission meansFor me Mission means

Being and Becoming a Christian – Being and Becoming a Christian –

Gandhi: If Christians would really Gandhi: If Christians would really live according to the teachings of live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today. India would be Christian today.

UbuntuUbuntu Against his background Tutu brings a Against his background Tutu brings a

theology that "seeks to restore the theology that "seeks to restore the oppressor's humanity by releasing and oppressor's humanity by releasing and enabling the oppressed to see their enabling the oppressed to see their oppressors as peers under God." This is his oppressors as peers under God." This is his ubuntu theology, so named after an African ubuntu theology, so named after an African idea of community. Tutu shows that human idea of community. Tutu shows that human beings are defined not by their race but by beings are defined not by their race but by their createdness in God's image, which their createdness in God's image, which brings value and dignity to all people. That brings value and dignity to all people. That imago Dei thus breaks down racial barriers. imago Dei thus breaks down racial barriers. Tutu declares "we can be human only in ... Tutu declares "we can be human only in ... community, in koinonia, in peace." community, in koinonia, in peace."

Engaging with people in search (meanings) for Engaging with people in search (meanings) for God, for life and for neighbours through Christ God, for life and for neighbours through Christ

-Vivekananda: You are all Sons of God, -Vivekananda: You are all Sons of God, immortal spirit. "Know", he declared, "the immortal spirit. "Know", he declared, "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you." "I and Kingdom of Heaven is within you." "I and my Father are one." Dare you stand up my Father are one." Dare you stand up and say, not only that "I am the Son of and say, not only that "I am the Son of God", but I shall also find in my heart of God", but I shall also find in my heart of hearts that "I and my Father are one"? hearts that "I and my Father are one"? That was what Jesus of Nazareth said. He That was what Jesus of Nazareth said. He never talks of this world and of this life. never talks of this world and of this life.

Words related to MissionWords related to Mission SendingSending CommissioningCommissioning ProclaimingProclaiming ConvertingConverting Building Building SponsoringSponsoring SupportingSupporting PersuadingPersuading PromotingPromoting

BeingParticipatingLiberatingListeningHumanisingSharingWitnessing AcceptingReceiving

Mission includesMission includes An Action of emptyingAn Action of emptying A Process of learning and A Process of learning and

listeninglistening Content – good newsContent – good news Effect – transformed livesEffect – transformed lives People – all no barriersPeople – all no barriers Place – any wherePlace – any where Culture – dignity restoredCulture – dignity restored Method – prophetic, dialogicMethod – prophetic, dialogic Means – community basedMeans – community based Reflection – critical Reflection – critical

improvementimprovement Institution - supportiveInstitution - supportive Relationship – reign of GodRelationship – reign of God

Does not include

Fixed doctrines

Rejection

Ethno-centric attitude

Superiority complex

Denominationalism

Fundamentalism

Exclusive dualism

Allurement

Monetary persuasion

Offensive words

Proselytising

Mission - signpostsMission - signposts

Incarnation – solidarity with victimsIncarnation – solidarity with victims Cross – Kenosis – self emptying Cross – Kenosis – self emptying Resurrection – message of joy, hope and Resurrection – message of joy, hope and

victory – Crucified and risen (theosis)victory – Crucified and risen (theosis) Ascension – inaugurated eschatology – Ascension – inaugurated eschatology –

living between ascension and parousialiving between ascension and parousia Pentecost –spiritual communityPentecost –spiritual community Parousia – triumph of God in the retun of Parousia – triumph of God in the retun of

ChristChrist

1. David J. Bosch, 1. David J. Bosch, Transforming Transforming Mission Paradigm Shifts in Theology Mission Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Missionof Mission

2. J. Andrew Kirk, 2. J. Andrew Kirk, What is Mission? What is Mission? Theological ExplorationsTheological Explorations

3. Wendy Robins and Gillian Hawney, 3. Wendy Robins and Gillian Hawney, The Scandal of the Cross, Evangelism The Scandal of the Cross, Evangelism and Mission Today,and Mission Today, London USPG, London USPG, 1992.1992.

4. T V Philip, Edinburgh to Salvador: 4. T V Philip, Edinburgh to Salvador: Twentieth Century Ecumenical Twentieth Century Ecumenical Missiology ISPCK,1999.Missiology ISPCK,1999.