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You’ve got to start somewhere and little steps can achieve great things. But can we achieve God’s mission? Is it a project we are ‘tasked’ to finish? What if God’s mission was eternal? How would that alter our perspective? Step by step we are called to obey and follow, but not necessarily to accomplish God’s mission.
It can be easy to use slick ‘visionary’ hype to motivate people and resources toward achieving a goal. Often a well defined method accompanies the emotional appeal as the means to achieve the goal. Proverbs 19:2 warns that zeal without accompanying knowledge, applying a method without understanding, can lead to sin.
Some traditional missions concepts, methods or strategies are requiring increasing resources but their impact is decreasing or even harmful. The turn of the year is an ideal time for considering what former things to discard so that we can embrace the new things God is doing… if we can perceive them (Isaiah 43:18-19).
One of the persisting myths in theology and missiology over the past century & a half resides in an assumed belief that indigenous ways of knowing are rooted in a construct called “animism”. For the sake of the gospel it’s time to put that to rest.
Following on from last month’s post, we have more instances of extremist violence and pushback on some local Christian oratory in the public space. Here, I reflect on reactions to imposing our beliefs on others.
March 15, 2019 rocked New Zealand stronger than a earthquake. The nation’s response clarified our values and challenged hidden assumptions. Mana was at stake. How does this influence mission?
Missions is hard work, but sometimes we make it harder than it needs to be. As we face persistent challenging times we would do well to consider where we need to “sharpen our axe”.
The world will only know the Father lovingly sent the Son when the Son’s disciples show the world supernatural (read: intercultural) unity. While we struggle for influence we will struggle for unity.
Our world today is fascinated by the idea of freedom. It is an aspiration of individualist societies, but it is often misunderstood. Freedom is intimately connected to accountability. Without it we’re doomed.
John Chau has left the global evangelical missions community with a gift, at great personal sacrifice. In dramatic fashion he closes a chapter on a bygone era in mission. We need to listen to the conversation he has created.
In an era of unprecedented divisive opinion, where pessimistic tribalism is polarising the people of God, we need a new narrative on which to base our unity. The sooner we recognise God’s grace in one another, the more effective we will be in mission.
Regardless how well maintained, relationships can break and need to be repaired. It is a rare gift to be able to forgive easily, but it is a gift nonetheless. Forgiveness requires one to ‘forget’ the offence. It is a big ask, but it forms the heart of mission.