What Is Mission : Theological Explorations

This book fills the need for a single-volume introduction to the concept of Christian mission and the complex theological and practical issues revolving around it. Part one addresses foundational and methodological questions; part two presents the seven major missiological themes (evangelism, gospel and culture, justice, religious pluralism, violence and peacemaking, ecology, ecumenism); and part three addresses the nature of the relationship between the organized church and the missio dei (mission of God). Although Christologically grounded, it works from within a Trinitarian understanding of the missio dei and recognizes the mutuality of the local/global dynamics of Christian mission. Discussions of evangelism and social justice issues, as well as questions of religious pluralism, environmental issues, war and peace issues are included. Each chapter ends with study questions, making the text useful in congregational study group settings and in the classroom.