Touchstone #1

The mission we are called to is God's mission, not ours. Our God is a missionary (sending) God, actively working in the world to redeem all. Since God is already out there working in the world, it is the responsibility of the faithful to find ways to participate in God's redeeming work, but it is not our job to initiate the work. Christian mission is a theological reality, something rooted in the nature of God. When we are involved in mission, we are representing God to the world. Faithful people are led by their theology and not by cultural norms, personal desires, or tradition.

a. Christian mission is as great as the redemptive work of God for the world, which means that Christian mission is much bigger than we humans can ever really understand. But we don't wait until we completely understand things before we move forward in mission. Redemption, by the way, is a good word. It involves the overall work of God to bring back to perfection—literally to redeem or buy back—God's creation. This mission is extensive (all of creation) and intensive (to the roots and the marrow). All of creation longs for the re-creation of the world.

b. This is not OUR mission. Neither the church, the leaders in the church, the denomination, or any people in the church control God's mission. We are invited to participate in what God is already doing. God is the redeemer. God transforms, heals and liberates. We are invited to be involved in the greatest story of the cosmos: God's story.