What is the Mission of God?
By Curt Watke PhD
From the very beginning pages of the scripture, we witness the purposeful activity of God as it relates to the world. God, as the creator of the universe, is the source from which the physical and immaterial world flows. His activity, as it relates to humanity and all of creation, is the place in which the mission of God manifests itself. These activities of God in the affairs of the world, as recorded in scripture and seen in the natural world, give evidence of God's continuing mission derived from his loving will. The overarching biblical story illustrates ways in which the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) both send and are sent to accomplish that mission in the world. Thus, the source of the mission is the Triune God himself. One could say that mission is an attribute of the nature of God. God is a missional God.
Jesus was very clear that, just as he had been sent, so he has sent all who believe in him (John 20:21). Just as mission is an attribute of the nature of God, sentness is an attribute of the Christian believer. Each one of us has already been sent by God in our conversion experience to participate in the mission of God in the world. All Christian believers are to join God at work.
However, this poses some very important questions: 1) what is God doing in the world today; and 2) how do I discern where God is at work around me so I can join in with him? The diagram below illustrates seven major themes in both the Old and New Testaments. In each case we see God at work, God sending people to participate in his mission, and we see human reaction to God's work. The scripture narrative exposes us to how God continues to be at work today, how God sends people to participate in his mission and the human reactions to his work that we see all around us.
Divine Action vs. Human Reaction
God's actions in the top half of the Missio Dei Circumplex begin in the opening verses of Genesis. God speaks and the world was created. The sovereign reign of God is set forth—as the Creator of all things that exist, God demonstrates his eternality. Humanity is created in the image of God—a limited replica of God created to be in relationship with God and to reflect his nature—spiritual, social, and intellectual. After Adam and Eve rebelled against God, God walked into the Garden of Eden asking "Where are you?" This was more than a geographical question (God knew where they were). Instead, God was asking: where are you in relationship with me?
Adam understood that when he replied: "I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." Here we see the beginning of the first call to repentance—a call to recognize one's sin and to return to a right relationship. From this point in Genesis to the book of Revelation we see salvation history unfold. The story of redemption is told as we witness the impact of sin not only on humankind's eternal destiny, but also the impact of sin on the physical earth, and the cosmos, as well as physical and mental health and interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup relationships. Throughout salvation history we see God reconciling all things unto himself (Colossians 1:20), restoring people and the planet to a stage of wholeness or shalom (Joel 2:25-26), and renewing the created order—including spiritual and physical health and wellness (Psalm 104:30; Ruth 4:15; Romans 12:2). Completion of this work comes in the new heaven and the new earth as described in the book of Revelation.
Amid God's work in the world, the bible chronicles human reactions to that work which is illustrated in the bottom half of the diagram. Humankind rebels against the idea that there is a God who rules this world to whom they will give an account of their thoughts and actions (Isaiah 59:13). When confronted with the biblical claim that God is the creator, "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25). Instead they ascribe, without justification, that the origins of the natural order is outside the Creator himself (whom they deny). When confronted with their sin, humankind remains defiant, unable to see that they are in bondage as slaves of sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:6,16). For humankind estrangement is normal and expected (Psalm 58:3, Isaiah 1:4). Because they reject God they bring desolation upon themselves, their cities and countries, and the earth around them (Psalms 46:8; Leviticus 26:31, 33; 2 Chronicles 30:7; Ezekiel 5:14, 12:20, 29:9, 33:28-29, 35:9, Isaiah 10:3, 13:9, 17:9, 24:12, 51:19, 59:7; Jeremiah 4:27, 22:5, 44:22, 51:43; Job 30:3, Malachi 1:3). In direct response to human pride and arrogance comes destruction—now and in eternity (Psalms 97:2-7; Proverbs 11:2, 16:18, 17:19, 18:12; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 1:1-31; Micah 2:10).
Law & Grace vs. Brokenness & Transformation
The bottom left quadrant gives a glimpse into Human Hopelessness in its unredeemed state. The storyline of the Old Testament shows time and again ways in which humanity reaps the results of their rejection of God due to God's holiness and judgment. Human sin has personal, societal, and cosmic results—which come as the law given by God is applied. This hopelessness may be seen in the continual consequences of estrangement, desolation, and destruction within individual persons and between persons and communities. However, in the top left quadrant, God's Remedy to this hopelessness lies in human recognition of the reign of God, his role as Creator, and the need for repentance and redemption. Grace is extended to all humankind so that estrangement, desolation, and destruction can be mediated and avoided.
In the bottom right quadrant we see Human Depravity on display in reaction to God's grace extended to them. Through acts of rebellion, arrogation (claiming or seizing without justification), defiance, and enslavement, the full-orbed impact of human brokenness may be seen. However in the top right quadrant, God's Blessing is extended to humankind as reconciliation, restoration, and renewal —that only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit—brings hope to human hopelessness and brings the transformation of wholeness or shalom to people, communities, and creation who suffer under the weight sin and brokenness.
Participating in the Mission of God Today
The actions of God and the reactions of humanity continue to this day. However, Christian believers have been sent to join in the work of God rather than participate in the human lifestyle exhibited in the lower half of the diagram. Each one of us has been designed for mission, sent on assignment, and gifted for a reason to serve in the mission of God. We have the privilege to experience God in our daily lives by observing people and circumstances around us who are mired in their depravity and hopelessness and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, bring God's remedy and blessing to them through our words and our actions.
Every day we may see people who are rebelling against God, seizing a creator role that is God's alone, defiantly unrepentant, and enslaved to their sinful habits and addictions. Working together as missional teams, the people of God can join God at work in bringing salvation, reconciliation, restoration, and renewal to those around us by being missionally-focused, gospel-centered, and actively participating in redemptive care. Every day we, together, can join God in addressing the spiritual, social, cultural, ecological, public health, and justice vulnerabilities that appear in our world as a result of human reactions that oppose God's mission.