Solidarity in Global Mission – 2

Nothing in history happens by chance. Every geographical move of every human being who ever lived happens within the overall will and sovereignty of God. The fact that God created nations (Gen 25:23; Ps 86:9-10), languages/cultures (Gen 11:1, 6, 7, 9), and determined the place (space) and the timing (time) of our habitation. Acts 17:26-29 implies that He not only uses the nations, but designs and employs the nations for His own glory.

Every person and people group has a place and a role to play in God’s redemptive history.

The embedding of Christianity into new cultures is derived from the central event of our faith, the Word becoming flesh and taking us residence among us (John 1:14). Crossing cultural boundaries has been the lifeblood of historic Christianity. Moreover, Christians around the world share two things in common: our humanity and the biblical text. However, both our humanity and the Bible are immersed in our own cultural particularity. At its core, Christianity is revealed as an act of translation. That is, Christ taking human form (Phil 2:6-11).

The locality of faith often creates a tension that often results in territorialism and division among the world’s churches. This is unwarranted because the tension that exists between our own particularity and the universal scope of God’s mission is grounded in the narrative of Scripture itself. Genesis ten and eleven focus on the nations of humanity and their scattering. So it is only fitting that when one nation is chosen in Genesis twelve, all nations are the beneficiaries of that choice (Genesis 12:1-3).

The call of Abraham is the beginning of God’s answer to the evil of human hearts, the strife of nations, and the groaning of brokenness of his whole creation. This call included the promise that his descendents would be a blessing to the nations. Ultimately, God purposed Israel’s divine election for the sake of the nations.

Therefore, God’s sovereign election of Israel may not be defined merely in terms of privilege. Election has a purpose. This is why we may not regard Israel’s function as an isolated entity separated from the world. Rather Israel and their election should be viewed as a people through whom God acts on behalf of the world.

Moreover, mission to the nations is deeply rooted in the calling of this particular people and how they saw themselves in that story. So, throughout the Old Testament their story is told as a defense against idolatry (Deut 4:9-40), as a motivation for obedience (Deut 6:20-25), as corporate rebuke (Ps 105-106; Mic 6:1-8; Amos 2:9-11), and as an anchor for hope (Jer 32:17-25) to assure that “all flesh would see the glory of God” (Is 40:5).

Any reader of the Old Testament narrative could easily conclude that it is wrapped up in Israel’s celebration of God’s mission. One particular nation has been chosen so that they may be a universal blessing to all nations. Fortunately the story does not end here. Rather, Israel is subsequently represented by one man, Jesus, through whom God’s redemptive plan would indeed be made available to all. Following the resurrection of Jesus, no longer is Israel to be encapsulated in the midst of the nations. Instead, they are to face outward to the nations, proclaiming the presence of the Kingdom of God and issue the call the repentance and belief in the gospel to all. The focus is no longer centripetal in nature, but centrifugal. We are to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19) not by suppressing our diversity and particularity, but by sanctifying it so that all nations may bring glory to God in their own unique ways.

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