The Mission of God

A Word on Missions

Salvation requires mission. This is true of every story ever told, either by ancient scroll or by the light of the silver screen. If there is salvation to be had, there is a mission to traverse. This is no different in the instance of God bringing salvation for the world. The mission of God will bring salvation, and the people of God are called to a concern for the mission of God.

But all of this leaves us with some questions:

1) What exactly is salvation?

2) What is the mission of God?

3) How do we take part in this mission?

What is Salvation?

Salvation, in the Bible, is never just one thing. It addresses the wide range of human need, from the physical to the emotional, and even the spiritual. Marcus Borg, in his book, The Heart of Christianity, speaks to the question of salvation:

“Each [instance of salvation] speaks of our problem and the remedy.

Salvation as: Light in our darkness: Jesus is the light of the world.
The satisfaction of our hunger: Jesus is the bread of life.
The quenching of our thirst: Jesus is living water.
Finding the way: Jesus is the way, the door.
Connection to the source of life: Jesus is the vine.
Being born again: Jesus is the path of dying and rising.
New life out of death: Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Healing: Jesus is the one who makes us whole.
Entry into God’s presence: Jesus is the new temple, even as he is also the sacrifice.

All of these, the stories and the images, are metaphors of salvation. Put most simply, salvation means to be saved from our predicament. But these images put it more richly, suggesting the multiple nuances of this multilayered affirmation of the transformation of our lives in this world.”

For several generations, the salvation of God was spoken of as only for the afterlife. It offered no hope that this life could be made right. I spoke not to the slave, the addict, the victim of abuse, the depressed, the lonely, the lost, the empty, and the sick. It worked as a spiritual insurance policy to help the human sleep better knowing that, even if his life was lived in misery, the next one would be better. But Mr. Borg reminds us that the salvation of God is not merely spiritual in nature, it is holistic. It is all-encompassing. It is a reversal of all of the ways that sin and darkness, in all it’s forms. It is a setting things to rights again.

What is the Mission of God?

The best place to learn about the mission of God is from the apostles. Those who either knew Jesus from following him for years, or those (like Paul) who met him and were trained in Christ by the eleven remaining apostles. Paul, when speaking of Gods mission, says this:

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Co 5:18–19).

Paul is quite clear that the work of God, his mission, is reconciliation. It is the reuniting of those who are separated. Mending what is torn, healing what is broken, bringing in those who have been thrown out. It is the same thing that Marcus Borg was getting at. God came to set things right, and the way that we set things right is reconciliation. So the mission of God is reconciliation. Therefore, both the mission of Jesus and the mission of the church was and is reconciliation between God, humanity, and all of creation. If the salvation is holistic, then so is the reconciliation of God.

How do we take part in this mission?

The answers to questions of how we engage with the mission of God are not so straightforward or easy to come by because they are inherently wrapped up in culture, education, religious tradition, and even geography. But it is always true that the church's primary function is to ask “what does it look like to participate in the mission of God in our time, in our place?” and to respond accordingly.

At Watermark, we use a model developed by Dr. David Fitch called The Three Circles. The circles represent the ways that we God is present with us in the church, and how we are set-apart, discipled, and integrated into the work of God in this world. The Sunday gathering is represented by a fully closed circle, representing the gathering of believers for the sacraments, worship, and listening to the teachings of the Apostles. Our HouseChurch gatherings are represented by the dotted circle. This is where we make the kingdom of God visible in our neighborhoods by gathering from house to house, sharing a meal, and discerning life together.

Our topic of discussion here pertains to missions, which is represented by what we call the half-circle. It is a half-circle because it represents how we take part in God’s ministry of reconciliation. It is a way described in Luke 10:

I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
(Luke 10:3-9)

The big message that we are to notice in how Jesus sent them out is centered on power and how we wield it in the kingdom of God. Namely, that they go without any kind of earthly power. They do not choose their target of ministry, rather, they rely on God to reveal it to them. They go in pursuit of peace and rely on strangers' hospitality. They have no money to fall back on, and no preferences as to who, where, or what they are called to do. Instead, they believe that God is already there, working. They do not assume that their religious gatherings are the center of God’s work, rather, he is present wherever there are people pursuing peace, feeding the hungry, in need of healing, etc. We point it out to them when we see it: “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” “How can you say?” “Because the kingdom of God brings peace, hospitality, healing, bread for the poor, and home for the homeless. When you do this for us, you do it for God.”

The goal is not to make converts. Rather, it is to bring awareness that God is near, that God is at work, and that God is calling us into all of it. Also, we are reminded that we do not go as those in power, as those who have the answers they need. We do not throw money around as a solution, instead, we assume that any solution will look like Jesus, which is to say it starts with incarnation and nearness. We draw near in humility, becoming familiar, building relationships, and asking questions. We do not go with judgment or condemnation, but curiosity, as we look intently for the presence and work of God in that place. We ask how we can be a part of what god is doing here. What is the true need? And how do I learn it and meet it? Instead, we go as the presence of God.

In the Close Circle (Sunday Gatherings), we learn about who is at work in this world. God, revealed through Jesus, so that we can worship rightly.

In the Dotted Circle (House-Church gatherings), we learn about how God works. God works through the body of Christ, led by the Spirit, so that we can discern wisdom and Christlikeness apart from law.

In the Half-Circle (Missions), we learn about where God is at work so that we can take part in the reconciliation of all things to God in Christ.

Sidebar

To be in Christ, is to be in the church. So the reconciliation of all things is addressed most effectively by a church that makes space at the table for our enemy. If the goal is reconciliation of all people, then we must understand that God is making space for all people at his table. This is the beginning of reconciliation.

Discussion Questions:

1) What is your personal understanding of salvation? How has it evolved over time, and has this evolution affected your view of mission?

2) The sermon mentions that salvation is holistic, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. How do you see these aspects interconnected in your life and in the mission of God?

3) According to Marcus Borg, salvation is described through various metaphors, such as light in darkness, bread of life, and living water. Which metaphor resonates with you the most, and why?

4) Historically, salvation was often seen as something reserved for the afterlife. How does a holistic understanding of salvation impact the way we live and engage in the world today?

5) How can we cultivate a posture of humility and curiosity rather than judgment or condemnation, when engaging in missions?

6) In the sidebar, it's mentioned that to be in Christ is to be in the church, and reconciliation is best addressed by a church that makes space for enemies. What challenges and opportunities do you see in making space for those who might be considered enemies in the context of reconciliation?

7) How can your understanding of the mission of God and your role in it affect your daily interactions, decisions, and priorities?