Saturday, November 1, 2008

MISSIO DEI part deux

So a few weeks ago I asked for 5 words or less what the Mission of God was in the world. It seems that either the readers don't know, don't care or are theologically timid. Paul was the only one to offer any possibilities. You can read the post here.

I think the answer is pretty simple, but I hadn't really thought about it before.

Some may have posed that it was Salvation. God came to seek and to save the lost. That is his mission. I think this is a byproduct of a larger mission.

Some may say that it is to make Disciples of all Nations. I think again that this is a byproduct of a larger mission. Missions and Evangelism are important...but not God's ultimate mission.

The reason I hesitate to say that either of those are the ultimate aim of God, or even the redemptive movement at the cross, is that they center on us humans. We are the created creatures...not the Creator.

So, my proposal for the ultimate Missio Dei is that He would be magnified and lifted high by his creation. WORSHIP is the ultimate aim. It's the people of God reflecting their creator. There is a reason that the scriptures allude to every knee bowing and every tongue confessing...because Worship is the ultimate aim. Worship is the only proper response of those who have been saved (salvation) and Missions and Evangelism are most appropriate and effective when they are done out of the overflow of worshipping God. Worship fuels missions. And things like missions and evangelism are secondary in nature because they will not be around forever. Indeed, the only thing that we can participate in now that will last for eternity is Worship.

So...1) Do you agree with this? 2) Does your worship (individually and corporately) reflect this most essential divine truth?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I AGREE! The purpose of everything is to Worship God and to make him more famous! It all starts and ends there.

Anonymous said...

I knew you would! lol. But what makes Him more famous, someone who comes to this mindset/lifestyle because they have been predestined by God to end up that way or by a created person coming by their own volition to worship the Most High Creator?

Anonymous said...

Brother, I am in 100% agreement with you on this. It's there in the beginning and the end. God didn't need to create man, but he did. Why, what did they do? They spent time together in the garden. He allowed man to name all of the creations...all of God's creations. Sounds like honoring the creator...maybe even - worshiping?

And at the end what does John tell us he sees? WORSHIP! What does the angel say to John when John falls at his feet to worship the angel? "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!"

When we worship God we can't help but do what it is that is pleasing and good in God's sight. We want to be his hands and feet! We want to do what ever we can so that when our time comes we will hear him say, "Well done good and faithful servant." I love the word servant there!

Makes sense to me!

father michael said...

I should have checked out your blog sooner.

Anyway, I agree that worship is huge. However, I would have said "Love."

We know that God doesn't need us. He could have just gone on existing "by himself" - but He's not by himself, because God is a relationship between the Father, Son and Spirit.
It's a relationship of love. His whole existence is love.

So, God creates us to let us take part in that pure bliss of existence. Of course, we turn towards ourselves and screw that up, but then He comes Himself and shows us what total love is. On the cross, with His arms spread, Jesus is the sign of total self-giving love.

He calls us to be the same way - totally abandoning ourselves to the love of God. Worship is definitely a part of that, but I think that it's more than just making Him known to the world (though that is important).