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June 11, 2001
By Bishop LUCIANO MONTES Chapter 6: Know Your Mission As A Believer
The matter of the Church's mission has resurfaced as a new subject for our times, but in reality, there is nothing new about it. Today we will consider the matter from a purely practical point of view. Doctor Donald McGraven defines the mission of the church in the following manner: "The mission of the church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to persuade men to convert and become His disciples and responsible members of His Church". William Kratzing defines it as having four objectives: A. To proclaim the message of the Gospel to the whole world; B. To give service to, or be a servant of mankind; C. To create conditions which allow communion between all men; and D. the exorcism or liberation of the world from the yoke of demons which subjugate mankind in all areas. In this lesson we will summarize the mission of the Church as having five objectives, which are:
1. Proclamation
We find, beginning in chapter 2 of Acts, that the Church does not stand still; it does not rest. In a very short time they inundate Jerusalem with the doctrine, and when they are obstructed by the Jewish authorities, believers with no ministerial or leadership standing go throughout the provinces proclaiming the Gospel. This resulted in the almost immediate appearance of new groups of believers. The reason for success of the early Church is undoubtedly because they received power to testify (Acts1:8) and that they followed the Lord's instruction to begin first in Jerusalem, then all of Judea, Samaria, and even to the remote parts of the earth. From the early Church, we have learned the following: A. The charge to witness first in Jerusalem teaches us that every local church should be responsible for evangelizing first within it's own community,and every believer within his own family circle. B. Evangelism of the non converts should not take place, for the most part, out on the streets, inasmuch as Jesus said "Go ye." From the early Church we also learn the manner in which we should communicate the message of the gospel. In the book of Acts we find different terms which illustrate the manner in which they evangelized:
2. To Make Disciples
Over and beyond the proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord, the mission moves into a new and more profound dimension - what the writers of the New Testament call " To make disciples". We should see that, joined to the mission of proclamation, is the mediate charge "To make disciples" of the new believers. This suggest a new experience for the believer. It is the process of going from childhood to being an adult in Christ. It is the process of growing to maturity. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus Christ told a couple fisherman, "... Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." From that moment on, they were beginning a life of commitment. This implies the unconditional surrender of one's life, along with it's desires, ambitions, etc., to a new disciple, and as adjustment to a new way of life. Christian life is made up of two steps: the first is to accept Jesus christ as savior, and the second is to accept Him as Lord. 3. To Teach
In order for the Church to accomplish God's mission in the world, it is necessary that it receive instruction that edifies, that permits each "lively stone" (1 Peter 2:5) to occupy it's appropriate place in the spiritual edifice which is the Church. It is through good teaching that the Church can grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and become a mature body, able to stand firm and do battle, and be fruitful. It is good instruction that facilitates the growth of the believers from childhood toward maturity. This instruction should be given to the whole body of Christ, but in different levels of depth and content. First to be taught would be the basic rudiments of the doctrine, which is the spiritual milk, and afterwards would come the solid food for those whose senses are already more skilled in the discernment of the word. According to Ephesians 4:11-16, the function of pastors and teachers is to teach other believers the procedures and knowledge necessary in pastoral work, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry ..." (v.12). The teaching imparted by the pastor/teacher should result in men and women who can give pastoral attention to others. Through this continuous chain of teacher/disciple, teacher/disciple, the teaching ministry is developed. 4. Worship
We conceptualize worship as an attitude of the mind, of the spirit, and of the body, which is directed toward God. This attitude acknowledges the holiness of God, His goodness and love, and, in reverence, confesses it before Him. We should add that worship arises from the accomplishment of the mission, which is also the result of redemption, and that it can be done privately as well as collectively. According to Hebrews 9:14 [NIV], worship holds Jesus Christ as the object of Worship. He will "...cleanse our conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" The verb used in Acts 24:14 [NAS]. Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8, mean to render service. In His battle with satan, Jesus christ said "...Thou shalt worship the lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" Hebrews 10:19-22, uses Jewish religious rituals in context, with the difference being that the writer is addressing the Church, "Having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (v.19). In this verse , the Holiest is not the place in the Jewish tabernacle which is spoken of in the Old Testament,but rather the writer is talking about a believer's spiritual intimacy with Jesus Christ. This intimacy can be achieved through spiritual worship: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (v.22). In Romans12:1, Paul presents spiritual sacrifice of our bodies, we present a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 5. Social Action
Social action as a mission of the Church has its roots in the scriptures. We can say that social action is love in action, or that the gospel is demonstrated through actions and in works of service towards others. Social action as a mission can be identified as the opening of a door to assist the forsaken, the unprotected, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned. Social action, then is the same as salvation, redemption and liberation. It is a ministry of the Church for the Church. We can see from the Old Testament what God's concept is with regard to salvation. Exodus 3:8 says, "And I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey..." Therefore, the concept of liberation is a synonym of salvation. We know that, apart from the moral suffering which is implied due to their slavery, that Israel's situation was aggravated by the harsh treatment they received prior to leaving Egypt. Their situation is revealed in Exodus 3:7, which says, "...I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrow." Thus, liberation did only not consist of geographically locating them in another place, but also in putting and end to their affliction, their cries, and their sorrows. For God, salvation also includes the body. This idea is repeated throughout the Old Testament, though, sadly, the people of Israel failed in that they did not fulfill the conditions necessary to maintain their freedom. However, God himself never failed. In the New Testament, salvation as liberation, in the context of social action, has been newly rediscovered. All of Jesus' message is a message of liberty. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18, 19). This liberty that Jesus brings is also for the present time. The Department of Social Assistance of our Church endeavors to conscientiously promote this aspect of its mission. The Biblical foundations which we have presented should motivate a greater emphasis in this regard. Each church should look for ways to carry out the mission of social action, the need for which each day becomes more urgent.
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