Unpacking the Mission of God and Christian Witness
God’s Grand Plan of Redemption
The triune God has a plan to save sinners, and it’s a mission that’s been unfolding since the beginning of time. This divine plan, often referred to as “missio,” involves God the Father sending His Son to accomplish redemption, and then God the Father and Son sending the Holy Spirit to apply that redemption to humanity. This is the core of God’s mission, and it’s what drives His activity in the world today.
The Church’s Role in God’s Mission
While God’s mission is His own work, Christian witness is how we, as believers, participate in what God is doing. It’s the church commissioned by Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and sent out to speak about God’s truth and salvation in Christ alone. Christian witness encompasses various forms, including evangelism, apologetics, international partnerships, cultural engagement, biblical counseling, humanitarian ministries, and hospitality. At its core, Christian witness is about participating in God’s mission to save sinners.
Understanding the Distinction
It’s essential to keep God’s mission and Christian witness distinct, yet interconnected. God’s mission is what He is doing in the world, while Christian witness is how we participate in that mission. By recognizing this distinction, we can better understand our role in God’s grand plan of redemption.
The Power of Shared Witness
The church’s shared witness has the power to transform lives and communities worldwide. When believers come together to proclaim God’s truth, remarkable things happen. We see this in the stories of church-planting teams, international partnerships, and local community outreach initiatives.
Motivating Our Churches for Gospel Witness
Every believer and every church is called to bear witness about Christ. However, our public witness often falls short without the motivation of the Holy Spirit. By embracing our role in God’s mission and relying on the Spirit’s empowerment, we can overcome our weaknesses and become a powerful force for gospel witness.
Resources for Deeper Exploration
For those seeking to dive deeper into the theology of Christian witness, resources like “You Will Be My Witnesses: Theology for God’s Church Serving in God’s Mission” by Brian A. DeVries provide valuable insights. Additionally, podcasts and articles from thought leaders like Rosaria Butterfield, J. Mack Stiles, Andrew Wilson, and Brian A. DeVries offer practical guidance for living out our Christian witness in a rapidly changing world.
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