The Perspectives course also provides readings from Tim Dearborn's book ("Beyond Duty" - which I ordered this morning by the way). Here's what he had to say:
"Mission must never have first place in the Church’s life. The Church is to have but one Lord—one passion—the One in whom all the fullness of God dwells, who has reconciled all things to himself (Col 1:19-20). If the Church today is in need of a conversion, it is always and only to Jesus Christ. We must say an emphatic, “No!” to lesser gods who clamor for our allegiance, and a living and joyous, “Yes!” to the One in whom all creation is summed up.
It is insufficient to proclaim that the Church of God has a mission in the world. Rather, the God of mission has a Church in the world. Grasp this inversion of subject and object, and participation in God’s mission will become a joyous, life-giving privilege. Miss it, and mission involvement will eventually degenerate into a wearisome, overwhelming duty.
If the Church is faithful to the gospel, then its focus, passion and delight are always and only Jesus Christ. Once our hearts beat in time with that of our Lord, we can experience a joyously passionate engagement in mission."
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it,s the power of God unto salvation. Enough said!
ReplyDeleteThe Perspectives course also provides readings from Tim Dearborn's book ("Beyond Duty" - which I ordered this morning by the way). Here's what he had to say:
ReplyDelete"Mission must never have first place in the Church’s life. The Church is to have but one Lord—one passion—the One in whom all the fullness of God dwells, who has reconciled all things to himself (Col 1:19-20). If the Church today is in need of a conversion, it is always and only to Jesus Christ. We must say an emphatic, “No!” to lesser gods who clamor for our allegiance, and a living and joyous, “Yes!” to the One in whom all creation is summed up.
It is insufficient to proclaim that the Church of God has a mission in the world. Rather, the God of mission has a Church in the world. Grasp this inversion of subject and object, and participation in God’s mission will become a joyous, life-giving privilege. Miss it, and mission involvement will eventually degenerate into a wearisome, overwhelming duty.
If the Church is faithful to the gospel, then its focus, passion and delight are always and only Jesus Christ. Once our hearts beat in time with that of our Lord, we can experience a joyously passionate engagement in mission."