religion of the Bible is a missionary religion

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Guy Muse quotes from The Whole Christian', "Proceedings of the International Conference of Christian Medical Students", ed. Lee Moy Ng (London: ICCMS and Christian Medical Fellowship, 1980), p. 46. to remind us...
There are the five parts of the Bible.

The God of the Old Testament is a missionary God, calling one family in order to bless all the families of the earth.

The Christ of the Gospels is a missionary Christ; he sent the church out to witness.

The Spirit of the Acts is a missionary Spirit; he drove the church out from Jerusalem to Rome.

The church of the epistles is a missionary church, a worldwide community with a worldwide vocation.

The end of the Revelation is a missionary End, a countless throng from every nation.

So I think we have to say the religion of the Bible is a missionary religion. The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable. Mission cannot be regarded as a regrettable lapse from tolerance or decency. Mission cannot be regarded as the hobby of a few fanatical eccentrics in the church. Mission lies at the heart of God and therefore at the very heart of the church.

A church without mission is no longer a church. It is contradicting an essential part of its identity. The church is mission.

Comments

J. Guy Muse said…
Can you imagine the what would happen if churches began understanding this concept? It would change everything.
January 14, 2007
John Umland said…
it involves risk. and young families aren't into risking bringing in drunks and winos into the fellowship and sitting next to them and their kids. it is easier to send money to other places and other people and if they do at least that, it's a good thing.
January 14, 2007
batgirl said…
I never looked at the Bible like that, but it's true! I'm glad to be a part of a missions-minded church.
January 15, 2007
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