Redefining Mission

Redefining Mission (From Religion to Relationship)

In the traditional conservative church mission was viewed in very religious terms. The use of formulas such as “the sinners prayer” abounded and being born again seemed to be equal to arriving at a point of intellectual assent about the person of God. Knowledge and intellectual commitment was central.

I would like to redefine mission within the context of the local church by challenging the modern paradigm and instead beginning with the premise that the gospel does not fit into the category of religion. Whilst intellectual commitment to the gospel is essential, it is not enough >> and by itself misses the point entirely (it is very easy to believe in God...even the demons do)

If we begin with the statement “God is not static” we may in simple terms begin engaging with the reality that God is a dynamic and relational God. Religious rites and formulas whilst they may be helpful are somewhat inadequate in coming to grips with a God who is not static.

In some ways the conservative tradition may have taught us to idolize religion, or dare I say even idolize God. Is it possible to idolize God, if God is in fact God after all?

To answer that I would like to draw on the book of Hosea. In 2v16 of Hosea, God speaks of a day that is coming when his people will call him “husband” and not “master”. In Hosea’s context the people were familiar with an inclined to idol worship or Baal worship; there were several “Baal” gods. Interestingly enough the same word which our English translations use for “master” is in Hebrew “Baal”. Perhaps it may be that Israel were so comfortable amidst the practice of Baal worship that they had seen Yahweh as yet another Baal.

I would also like to visit Genesis 22, the famous story in which Abraham is requested by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. Whilst there are many lessons to draw from the story, its context is also interesting. The message God had given to Abraham was to leave his father’s household. While we may see household as just family, in the context the father was the one who traditionally passed on the knowledge and wisdom of the gods…perhaps God’s request to Abraham was not only to leave, but to become totally reoriented in his idea and practice of spirituality. Returning to the actual story in Genesis 22, it was not far fetched to sacrifice a son in those days, as many other gods required similar sacrifices…perhaps Abraham had pondered to himself whether this God is just the same as the others. Yet the story has an interesting turning point >> God himself provides the sacrifice. (This part borrowed from Rob Bell)

Where all the other gods had required religious devotion and sacrifice, here this God had desired only obedience and intimacy, he himself provided the sacrifice. Interesting also to not is that there is a shift in the words which refer to God from beginning to end in the passage. We begin with the very general “Elohim” and end with a very personal “Yahweh”

If then from these stories we can see that God takes a lot of effort to get this message across that “I’m not another idol” and “I want intimacy and relationship” perhaps our approach to mission ought also to be redefined.

As opposed to pressuring people to make commitments, whether directly or indirectly. The approach could be changed to an invitational one. God is not angry, God values you, desires to have an intimate relationship with you and has made it possible through his son Jesus the Christ. God has already issued the invitation to his “great banquet” (see parable)…it is for us to decide whether we will participate in it.


Having redefined mission through the lens of a dynamic and relational God, who is not an angry idol I would like to suggest that the end-focus of ministry be not simply to train folks to be better people, religiously attending church or offering help to the sick and the poor as a sacrifice to a God who is viewed simply as “God” >> but to have as the end focus showing people how to nurture an intimate relationship with God who is not static, who has already issued an invitation to “come and join the party”.