MISSION: A MARK OF THE CHURCH? TOWARD A MISSIONAL ECCLESIOLOGY By Robinson W. Mitchell An Integrative Thesis Submitted to the faculty Of Reformed Theological Seminary In fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Religion APPROVED: Thesis Advisor: ________________________________________ The Rev. Derek W. H. Thomas, Ph.D. RTS Virtual President: ___________________________________ Andrew J.Peterson, Ph.D. August 2008 ii ABSTRACT Mission: A Mark of the Church? Toward a Missional Ecclesiology Robinson W. Mitchell This thesis proceeds from a conviction that ecclesiology and mission, often considered as distinct concepts and disciplines, are in fact integral to each other. The study attempts to show that mission is inherent in the nature of the triune God, his relationship to creation, and the redemptive agency of the church. The need for this study is particularly urgent in view of cultural changes that have ended the influence, prestige and privilege the church enjoyed for more than a millennium of Christendom. The church must be more self- aware if it would seek to fulfill its kingdom potential in the increased pluralism of the West. The study comprises eight chapters: Chapter 1 introduces the study and makes a case for why the study is timely today. Chapter 2 examines the concept of the Mission of God and attempts to set forth a working definition and semantic taxonomy to inform the discussion that follows. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 look at the Mission of God from the perspectives of biblical studies, systematic theology, and church history, respectively. Scriptural focus is on the missional aspects of the blessing formulas in the OT and the commissioning texts of the NT 1. The theological study examines missional aspects of the Trinity and expresses a perichoretic- missional ecclesiology that proceeds directly from the union of the church with Christ in his 1 All Scripture references are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted. iii missional activity. The historical study reviews several salient periods of missions history where the missional nature of the church was manifested successfully. Chapter 6 considers the Nicene marks of the church as manifested in three major ecclesiologies and also considers contemporary developments. The arguments come together in Chapter 7, where the evidence is brought together to show that mission is indeed a mark of the church. Chapter 8 expresses the significance of missional ecclesiology for today, setting forth some practical concepts and cautions toward implementing a missional ecclesiology. iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my loving and longsuffering wife Miłka, for patience, kindness, and support that made this work possible To you, my love, for your forbearance through years of study, through long nights I spent at the computer instead of with you ~ And to my children Kasia, Kaelin, and Elijah, for letting Daddy work so many times when you would have preferred me to play with you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 PART 1–WHY THIS STUDY ?................................................................................................. 1 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 2 PART 2–EXAMINING ASSUMPTIONS .................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2–THE MEANING OF MISSION ...................................................................... 11 TERMINOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 11 THE NEED TO DEFINE MISSION ........................................................................................... 14 TOWARD A WORKING DEFINITION OF THE MISSION OF GOD .............................................. 16 THE SUBJECT OF THE MISSION OF GOD ............................................................................. 17 THE ACT OF MISSION ........................................................................................................ 17 THE DIRECT OBJECT , AGENT OR INSTRUMENT OF MISSION ................................................ 18 THE INDIRECT OBJECTS OR RECIPIENTS OF MISSION .......................................................... 18 THE MOTIVE AND GOAL OF THE MISSION OF GOD ............................................................. 19 THE MISSION OF GOD RESTATED ...................................................................................... 19 THE MEANING OF MISSIONAL ............................................................................................ 20 CHAPTER 3 - THE PEOPLE OF GOD AND MISSION IN THE BIBLE ........................... 24 FOCUS OF THE SCRIPTURAL STUDY ................................................................................... 24 NT TEXTS THAT INTEGRATE THE OT ................................................................................ 26 THE MISSIONAL COVENANT IN GENESIS ........................................................................... 27 NEW TESTAMENT CLAIMS ON THE OLD TESTAMENT COVENANT ...................................... 31 A WORD STUDY OF “SENDING ” IN JOHN ’S GOSPEL ............................................................ 33 A BRIEF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF SEND AND SENT IN JOHN ’S GOSPEL ............................ 34 JOHN ’S USAGE OF SEND ..................................................................................................... 34 vi THEMATIC STUDY ............................................................................................................. 35 TRINITARIAN SENDING ..................................................................................................... 37 OBEDIENCE TO THE SENDER ............................................................................................. 38 COMMISSIONING FORMULAS IN MATTHEW AND LUKE -ACTS ............................................ 39 MISSIONAL IDENTITY ........................................................................................................ 42 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 42 CHAPTER 4–THEOLOGY-SHAPED MISSION ................................................................. 44 A MISSIONARY GOD ......................................................................................................... 44 THE DIVINE DANCE .......................................................................................................... 44 THE MISSION OF ONTOLOGICAL MEDIATORSHIP ................................................................ 46 PERICHORESIS AND MISSION ............................................................................................ 49 PERICHORETIC -MISSIONAL ECCLESIOLOGY ....................................................................... 52 THE MISSION OF REDEMPTIVE MEDIATORSHIP ................................................................... 52 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 55 CHAPTER 5–MISSION IN HISTORY ................................................................................. 57 THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS ........................................................ 57 THE MISSION TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE .............................................................................. 59 ULFILAS AND THE MISSION TO THE GOTHS ....................................................................... 65 PATRICK AND CELTIC CHRISTIANITY ................................................................................ 66 KYRIL AND METHODIUS AND THE SLAVIC MISSION ......................................................... 69 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 71 CHAPTER 6–THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH.................................................................. 73 WHAT IS THE CHURCH ?..................................................................................................... 73 BIBLICAL IMAGES OF THE CHURCH ................................................................................... 74 PRE -NICENE ECCLESIOLOGY ............................................................................................. 78 ONE HOLY , CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH ............................................................. 80 vii THE EASTERN CHURCH : EUCHARISTIC ECCLESIOLOGY ................................................... 82 THE CHURCH OF ROME : MAGISTERIAL ECCLESIOLOGY ................................................... 84 THE PROTESTANTS : CONFESSIONAL ECCLESIOLOGY ........................................................ 86 CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS ..................................................................................... 91 CHAPTER 7–MISSION: A MARK OF THE CHURCH?..................................................... 93 THE OBJECT OF THE EXERCISE ........................................................................................... 93 ASSEMBLING THE ARGUMENTS ......................................................................................... 94 WITNESSES FOR THE AFFIRMATIVE ..................................................................................