Is the Great Commission correctly used as foundational to the theology of missions?
Our guest, Kristen Johnson is Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, where she holds the G.W. and Edna Haworth chair for Education, Ministry, and Leadership.
Kristen has done extensive research on Matthew 28:16-20. This week we discover answers to questions we never dreamt of asking! When did the church begin to use this text to describe and underwrite the mission of the church? The early church did not use this text to motivate its mission mandate. In the 1500’s a new impetus to mission activity arose in the church. However, it is not until several centuries later that this text becomes foundational to a theology of mission. The Heidelberg Catechism references this text several times, but never connected to a missionary mandate.
Bill and Winston interview Kristen with various questions in relation to her research:
1. Has the contemporary church made a mistake by using this text as foundational to a theology of missions?
2. Has Tyrannus Hall erred in using the tagline that "our mission is to make the Great Commission every church’s mission and every Christian’s passion”?
3. Looking at this text, what is the relationship between mission and discipleship?
4. Should Christians bear guilt for not actively engaging in bringing the gospel to our neighbours?
5. What does Eugene Peterson say about the missionary mandate of Christians?
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