Today in class, we discussed the kingdom mission of the church – what the church is supposed to do. And at its core, the church is called to bear witness to the kingdom of God. This is the good news Jesus proclaimed (Mark 1:14-15), and it is the Pentecost charge to the church (Acts 1:8). So what does bearing witness to God’s kingdom mean?
Three missionary activities are at the core of God’s kingdom charge. The first is evangelism – proclaiming the good news in the world. From the Greek euangelion, or Gospel, evangelism just means telling the good news. This is a crucial piece of the call to bear witness – telling the story of God’s love and redemptive action. It is a story to tell as it intersects with our lives – to share the mighty works of God and how God, in NT Wright’s words, is “setting the world to rights.” As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to share that story…but not just our responsibility. It also should excite us and be a natural part of our lives. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15)
The second missionary activity of the church is God’s call to social concern or action. As James teaches, “faith without works is dead”(2:26), so we are called to live out our faith in action. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”(James 1:22). Obedience to Christ’s commands is another way we bear witness to God’s goodness and the Gospel. And what are Christ’s commands? “Love one another.” (John 15:12) Feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner. (Matthew 25:35-36) In short, love God and love neighbor. (Mark 12:29-31) Our obedience and faithfulness to God, and our care and advocacy for others, especially the poor, oppressed, and marginalized – these are actions that bear witness to the Gospel and the kingdom.
The third missionary activity of the church is the ministry of reconciliation. This is the hard work of overcoming distrust, misunderstanding, bitterness, and even hatred between people in the power of the Gospel. This is what Christ did, reconciling us to God (Rom. 5:10), and it is the ministry entrusted to the church (2 Cor. 5:18-19). What does this mean? That the church, as God’s ambassador and Christ’s body, seeks to bring together in love all who are estranged, like rich and poor, black and white and Hispanic and Asian, men and women, broken family relationships, and many more. In this working through of issues, and quest for repentance, forgiveness, and mutual understanding, we the church bear witness to what kingdom life looks like.
Jesus’ first sermon in Mark was short: the time has come and the kingdom is near (Mark 1:14-15). God’s desire for life is open to us. That’s good news! And as the church, our job, our mission, our holy task is to bear witness to it. Will we do the work of the church, bearing witness to the kingdom of God?
In Christ,
Adam
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