about transformission
- Date: Dec 6,2008
What is transformission?
Transformission is an amalgamation of the words “transform” and “mission.” In short, transformission reflects the both /and of the transformation that results from proclamation and acceptance of the Gospel and the presence of a transformed Jesus follower in culture, working for the renovation of society through acts of mercy and justice.
The logic of transformission…
Mission finds its impetus in the classic Trinitarian doctrine of the missio Dei – God the Father sending the Son, and God the Father and the Son sending the Spirit. The missio Dei institutes the missiones ecclesiae (the church) as a “sign,” “witness,” and “instrument,” “sent” into the world by participating in the “Gospel-sending” of God. The missio Dei is a movement from God, through the church, to the world, bringing God’s redemptive work in Christ to bear on every dimension of life.
The comprehensive vocation of the church is centered on God’s salvific mission for the world, both in word and deed, beginning with individual conversion, resulting in societal conversion. The goal of mission is not the church, but rather mission is the essential disposition of the church. The church is the “sent” people of God, not a building.
North American society is immersed in a generally post-Christendom, postmodern culture; generally, because not all of culture is exclusively post-Christendom but trending in that direction. Because of this tangible reality, there is consensus that there must be a different approach to church than has been deemed “successful” in the past; principally, the church must assume a “missionary” posture to culture, recognizing its place in society as marginalized and reevaluating its Gospel “expressions” to reach that very culture. The missional postures of the church should be both incarnational – entering into culture – and contextual –“speaking” in a language culture understands – in the way it “shapes” its Gospel expressions of ministry, evangelism, and social justice.
“In the initial thrust of His earthly ministry, Jesus announced, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). That same Jesus, just a few chapters later, explained, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). If we are going to follow Jesus in His mission, we must see the biblical Jesus in both Luke 4 and Luke 19:10. When Jesus broke into history, He said He would serve the hurting. But He also came to seek and save the lost. If we are not serving the hurting, we are missing out on the Jesus of the Bible. If we are not sharing the Gospel with our lips, we are missing out on the Jesus of the Bible. Imagine the difference we could make in our communities if we not only told people that they must repent and be saved, but also loved them–talking about Jesus and acting in justice. That would be joining Jesus on His mission.”
-Ed Stetzer from “Speaking of Jesus and Justice,” reprinted from Outreach Magazine; available from http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/11/speaking-of-jesus-and-justice.html; Internet.
For further reading:
David Bosch: Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission
Lesslie Newbigin: The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission
Charles Van Engen: God’s Missionary People: Rethinking the Purpose of the Local Church
Darrell Guder, ed.: The Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the North American Church
