Missio Dei
We are entering the time of year where the word “missions” begins to be heard a little bit more. As we enter waning months of the year and begin preparations for holidays that emphasize goodwill and thankfulness, so do our efforts in living out goodwill and thankfulness. We begin to gather food and supplies for those in need, collect offerings for the needy, pack little shoeboxes for children across the world that may never receive a gift otherwise. All these things are an outpouring of love from the God of the universe that first loved us.
So let’s dive into this word “mission” which comes from a Latin word I can’t pronounce, but means “to send.” Theologians have even coined a fancier word for it called “Missio Dei” or the “mission of God.” However, a more accurate translation would be “the sending of God.” This is the doctrine that emphasizes God as the initiator of His mission to redeem a special people for Himself from all the peoples of the world through the Church. He sent His Son for this purpose, and He sends the Church into the world with the message of the Gospel for the same purpose.
“Missions” is about constant movement; the sending forth from God those who would accomplish His mission in the world. There are many occasions when we fall into the trap of thinking about missions as something temporary. It has become something we do on occasion, like a footnote on our Christian walk. Avery T. Willis, Jr., former author and senior vice president of the SBC’s International Mission Board defined mission in this way:
By mission, I mean the total redemptive purpose of God to establish his kingdom. Missions, on the other hand, is the activity of God’s people, the church, [being sent]to proclaim and to demonstrate the kingdom of God to the world.
When it comes to missions, we should not have a shallow view of God’s redemptive purpose. Missions encompasses all of the church’s activity to preach the gospel; whether that’s in Navarre, South Florida, or Uganda. Acts 1:8 reminds of this truth as well:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus told the disciples that their work would encompass being witnesses locally, regionally, and globally. This is a good reminder that no matter where we are we can carry out God’s mission. It’s for all people in all regions of the world. And we will not be alone on this venture. Jesus said we would receive power from the Holy Spirit to help us. The Greek word for power here is “dunamis” which is where we get our word for dynamite. That’s the kind of strength we have living in us to carry out God’s mission for the world.
As we enter the season giving and goodwill, let us be reminded that it’s not just about the big “mission” events we do during this time of the year. Missions also includes helping out at the Thrift Store, it includes inviting someone that is hurting to lunch or coffee, it includes packing shoeboxes for kids in another country, it includes bringing someone to a small group, it includes being kind to someone the world isn’t kind to. May we continue to understand that we are always on mission and the Spirit is constantly moving us to accomplish His mission in the world.