Sunday, April 26, 2020

The Great Commision or Missio Dei

Isn't it incredibly difficult though to find opportunities to make disciples, especially in our online world? This discussion goes even deeper, if you like. The question of who is the driving force in the call to make disciples to me is a big question. Some say that the call is to the Church, after all the Church was founded only a few pages/days later. Others point to the Missio Dei (Mission of God), which they believe places disciples following the divine work of the Trinity which means that the divine "mission" is given not just to the Church but also to every disciple/believer.

If we think through Jesus' words to his disciples, we see, I believe, a focus on the later. In John 5:17 we see Jesus speaking, "But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working" and he continues in verses 19-20, "So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father5 does, that the Son does likewise". It doesn't take away from the purpose of the Church, but it adds to the understanding that the Church and all disciples/believers are being more than "prompted by the Spirit" but they are following the path that God through the incarnation of Jesus walked and continues to walk with his people.  It happens as Jesus said at the beginning of John 15, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing". 

This means that what we do or create can be created with the mission of God in the forefront of what we are doing as the Church or as a disciple.  I believe though that the Church is only as strong as the disciples of God - no disciples - no Great Commission - no Missio Dei in the Church

 

                                                               

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