Reclaiming Mission as Constructive Theology: Missional Church and World Christianity by Chung Paul S

Author:Chung, Paul S. [Chung, Paul S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cascade Books
Published: 2012-03-09T00:00:00+00:00

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Missional Church as Public Vocation

In our understanding of church as the community of vocation, the Reformation teaching on justification and public discipleship is central. It leads to the development of an integrative model of vocation based on Abraham and Paul in light of the universality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sacramental life in the celebration of Word and Eucharist is inseparably connected with church as community of vocation, witness, and stewardship. Here a theology of vocation and congregational mission needs to be developed in regard to stewardship, spiritual formation, and missional leadership.

Theology of Vocation and Mission

Paul claimed that he was called by God for a particular vocation (Gal 1 :15 –16 ). His vocation is reminiscent of Jeremiah’s confession of calling (Jer 1 :5 ) which is also compared to the prophets (Isa 46 :1 –6 ). God revealed God’s Son to Paul calling him to be an apostle to the nations of the Gentile world (Rom 11 :13 ), not simply to individuals of non-Jewish origin. In terms of his call, Paul’s theology assumes a missional character, proclaiming the gospel and establishing congregations as the first fruits of the new creation. Paul proclaimed the gospel to various ethnicities, including those in Syria, Cilicia, central and western Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and perhaps even in Arabia. His ambition was to preach the gospel to the nations in places where it had never been preached before (Rom 15 :20 ; cf. 2 Cor 10 :15 –16 ). 1

In Paul’s experience and understanding of Jesus Christ, the God of Israel is seen in light of God in Christ. This God has reconciled the world to God’s self and commissioned us to be God’s ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor 5 :18 –20 ). Paul was a child of Abraham, a Benjaminite (Phil 3 :5 ), an heir of the traditions and heritage of Israel. God is living and active in the history of Israel, manifesting God’s redemptive work of mission in sending Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. God’s righteousness and God’s saving deeds become obvious in the deliverance of God’s people (Ps 98 :2 ) from their enemies and oppressors (1 Sam 12 :7 ; Dan 9 :15 –16 ; Mic 6 :5 ). In the history of Israel, Yahweh was celebrated as the one who bestowed on God’s people the all-embracing and saving gift of God’s righteousness. 2

Jesus Christ is sent to us as God’s mission in service, conveying and communicating God’s grace of righteousness and salvation for all. Given this fact, Paul’s theology of justification can be understood in two contexts. All humanity is justified through Christ’s act of righteousness (Rom 5 :8 )—this is known only through the gospel, which entails theocentric and cosmic dimensions. This realized justification becomes possible through believers’ faith in the grace of God. 3 The theology of justification by faith is developed in the story of Abraham and in God’s promise that all the nations will be blessed in him (Gen 12 :3 ).

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