THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS

Theology of Missions

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1

THE BASIS FOR MISSION THEOLOGY ............................................................................... 1

MISSION .................................................................................................................................... 3

MISSION RELATES TO THEOLOGY .................................................................................... 3

THEOLOGY OF MISSION THEMES ...................................................................................... 4

MOTIFS IN MISSION THEOLOGY ........................................................................................ 4

RELATION OF MISSION THEOLOGY TO PEOPLE ............................................................ 6

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 6

WORKS CITED ......................................................................................................................... 8

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 Theology of Missions

THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS

Because of mankind’s sinfulness and need for salvation, God provided his son, Jesus

Christ, as their redeemer. Mission is critical to that salvation, for how else would the good news

be made known to mankind. A theology of missions provides guidance in why and how that

work may be accomplished.

Introduction

God loves his children and wants them to have everlasting life with him. He sent man

out during the Old Testament times to make known his great love and his plan of redemption.

He sent his Son to save his children from the sin and show them the path of salvation. His son

commissioned believers to share the good news of salvation.

The apostle Paul took the word to the Gentiles and it spread among many nations.

Today, missionaries are scattered throughout the globe sharing the good news and ministering to

others. How do they know what to do? Mission is a constantly evolving field. The theology of

missions is the plan that guides what people do. It also provides reasons for the way Christians

minister to others.1

The Basis for Mission Theology

The nature of God is powerful, unchanging, and loving. In Genesis we are told God

created a perfect world and it was good. He created Adam and Eve in his image which gave

1
Scott A. Moreau, Gary R. Corwin, and Gary B. McGee, Introducing World Missions: A
Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004), 71.

1
 Theology of Missions 2

them certain responsibilities. Every human is significant in God’s eyes because God made

them.2 As a result of being made in God’s image man has responsibilities which include

glorifying God and following the cultural mandate.3 Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin

entered the world, separating mankind from a perfect and holy God. In spite of the sin, God

pursued His people and so begins the story of mission.4

In Genesis 12:1-3, often referred to as the Old Testament version of the Great

Commission,5 God reached out to his people through Abraham in Genesis and promised to make

him into a great nation, give him a new name and make him a blessing to all peoples on earth.

This is significant in that it is an indication that God intends all races to be brought to him, not

just the Jews. It also reveals that from the very beginning, God cared that mankind needed

salvation. Again in Isaiah 49:6 God was using His prophet to be a light for the Gentiles to bring

salvation to all, not just a chosen few. Isaiah also foretells God’s plan for a savior and adds

motivation for mission.

The story of mission continues in the New Testament with the arrival of the Messiah. In

John 3:16-17 God’s great love for all people in the world caused Him to send His Son to save the

world. He provided that they shall be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The authority

of the Messiah is validated in Matthew 28:16-20 and he tells God’s children exactly what they

must do. They are to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey all

things Jesus has taught. From scripture, it is obvious God had a plan to redeem His people from

2
Ibid., 71.
3
Ibid., 28.
4
Ibid.,30.
5
Ibid., 32.
 Theology of Missions 3

the beginning. God sent Jesus and Jesus sends all believers to share the good news of God’s love

and redemption. They are to proclaim the glory of God to all nations.6

Mission

Mission has several forms and there are several key terms used concerning mission work.

Their relevance lies in the themes selected for mission. “Missio dei” is a Latin term for “the

sending of God” and is a relatively new term popularized in 1963. It covers all the work God is

doing to build the kingdom. “Mission” is a subset of missio dei and denotes all the redemptive

purpose work the church does for God in the world. That may include social justice issues,

political issues, or interfaith issues, to name a few.7

“Missions” is used to describe the activity of entities and people in making disciples and

planting churches among all the nations. “Missions” is a subset of mission. Often the terms are

used interchangeably and one must look to the context to determine which word is appropriate.

“Missiology” is the formal academic study of mission incorporating biblical and theological

studies and social sciences which help Christians chart the way to improve their work as

missionaries.8

Mission Theology Relates to Theology

“Mission theology is anchored in the Bible.”9 Mission is at the center of what Christians

are and determines what the church is to be and do. Mission will necessarily include

6
Ehud Marques Garcia, "Redeeming the Unreleased Toward A Redemptive Theology of
Mission" (PhD diss., Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, 2001), 7.
7
Moreau, 73.
8
Ibid.,74.
9
Garcia, "Redeeming the Unreleased Toward A Redemptive Theology of Mission" , 21.
 Theology of Missions 4

Christology, explaining how the divine and human can both be in the Christ. It will include

soteriology, explaining how God reconciles his people to him and removes the separation caused

by sin. Mission includes pneumatology, explaining the work of the Holy Spirit, as well as

eschatology. It serves as the “anchor for the rest of the theological house.”10

Theology of Mission Themes

The ultimate goal of the church is worship, but because it does not exist as it should,

missions exist until judgment day.11 The purpose of a theme is to guide the project. Missio dei

as a theme would include everything God is doing in the world to manifest his rule or reign.12

The theme of mission would be everything the church does for God in the world. Missions as a

theme would be more specific in the mission but would include reflecting God’s glory through

worship, engage in evangelism and church planting, discipling and salt and light living.13

Motifs in Mission Theology

“A motif is an idea that reinforces the central themes.”14 The key motifs of mission

theology are the kingdom of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, shalom, and the return of

Jesus. The kingdom of God belongs to the poor and persecuted and is a reflection of putting God

first in all Christians do. The kingdom grows through church planting and is “linked to acts of

10
Moreau, 76.
11
Ibid.,78.
12
Ibid.,77.
13
Ibid.,79.
14
Ibid.
 Theology of Missions 5

justice performed in the name of Christ…”15 The motif of Jesus reflects his call and concern for

all peoples as well as his instruction to make disciples, and his example of salt and light living.16

The motif of the Holy Spirit is one of empowerment.17 He convicts people of sin, calls

them to Christ, empowers the church to witness, creates changes from within the soul, and guides

Christians along God’s path.18 Examples of the boldness of the Spirit at work in Acts 5:32.19

The church motif applies to the universal church, not a particular denomination. The motif

includes the church’s relationship to God, itself, and the world. Its emphasis is on its

relationship to the world. It is to praise and glorify God, edify and purify the saints, and “call the

peoples of the world to repentance by proclaiming the kingdom.”20

Shalom is indicative of peace though out person and community as well as wholeness.

The shalom motif is related to the fact that Christians have been set free and are to set others

free. Lastly is the motif of the return of Jesus (eschatology). It motivates Christians to be

preservers, provides them with hope and perseverance, and spurs them in their efforts save others

from the darkness of the world.21

15
Ibid.,81.
16
Ibid.,82.
17
Garcia, "Redeeming the Unreleased Toward A Redemptive Theology of Mission" , 14.
18
Moreau, 83.
19
Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: William B. Eardmans
Publishing, 1995), 619.
20
Moreau, 84.
21
Ibid., 85.
 Theology of Missions 6

The Relation of Mission Theology to People

Mission theology is relevant to all Christians. Every believer is a minister, has a spiritual

gift and is able to share Christ with the world in some manner. The missionary, perhaps, studies

more in depth the “ologies” and has responded to a call to focus on mission work. To the

missionary the theme and consequently the mission may be more focused. The mission is a

sodality. The church leaders probably focus more on what the church does for God in the world.

Mission Theology gives them an idea of what needs to be done and what it must include. As a

modality they would send out people to accomplish God’s work.

For the lay person mission theology might be assimilated in generalities rather than

specifics. A lay person is able to set up small groups in their home or apartment complex to

share the word. Meetings in the home do not have to be on a Sunday, nor are there cultural

barriers to cross. Personal contact and an invitation into the home will often be warmly received

whereas an invitation to church might not.

Conclusion

Many wonder why it is necessary to study mission and if it is really necessary. The

Bible, the foundation of mission theology, assures Christians that it is. Mission exists because of

mankind’s failure to glorify God and its separation from God due to sin. The creator of the

universe loved his creation so much that he provided a way back to him through his Son and in

God’s time the Son is to return again. Until his return the church is to share the good news of

salvation with all nations. Mission is not a call to put something into effect but to respond
 Theology of Missions 7

faithfully to what has already been put into effect.22 Mission theology provides Christians with

the reasons for mission and guidance on how that work can be accomplished to glorify God.

22
David J. Bosch, "An Emerging Paradigm for Mission," Missiology 20, no. 4 (1983):
508.
 Theology of Missions

WORKS CITED

Bosch, David J. 1983. "An Emerging Paradigm for Mission." Missiology 11, no. 4: 485-510.
ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed September 4, 2008).

Garcia, Ehud Marques. "Redeeming the Unreleased Toward A Redemptive Theology of