The Mission of the Church

Today’s reading:
Isaiah 45:1-6
Psalm 96:1-10
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
Matthew 22:15-21

But there is also another question: what is the definition of mission? Today, authorities in our Church are engaged in many activities and ministries, but not necessarily the one essential mission of proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus. Further, Modernism has crept into our Church, obscuring the one true mission given us by Jesus. What are aspects of this Modernism?

First, there are those who say that all religions are valid, willed by God, and lead to a “divine” encounter. That we are just to be good people. Thus a Muslim should strive to be a good Muslim; a Hindu should strive to be a good Hindu. So it does not really matter what religion you profess, as long as you are a good person. Thus, even Freemasons, who have also infiltrated our Church, look to the Great Architect of the Universe, who can be any of the gods of the different religions. But God Himself says, “I am the Lord, there is no other, there is no God besides me.” (Is 45:5a).

Among all the gods that people worshiped in the world, God revealed Himself to His chosen people, Israel. And God revealed Himself to the pagan King Cyrus, “that you may know I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.” (Is 45:3b). And of course we, as the new Israel, recognize the three Persons in one God. Only true Christians do so. Muslims and cults do not recognize Jesus as God. “For the gods of the nations are idols” (Ps 96:5a).

Second, there are those in our Church who, in looking to the validity of all religions, do not want us to proselytize, that is, to make converts. But this is precisely the very commission of Jesus to his disciples. They are to go forth to the ends of the earth and to “declare among the nations: The Lord is king.” (Ps 96:10a). There is no other name than Jesus by which people are to be saved,1 and thus in Jesus, “the world will surely stand fast, never to be shaken.” (Ps 96:10b).

Third, there are those Modernists in our Church who focus more on man rather than God, who look to the well-being of man even though neglecting the righteousness of God. While we are to look to the good of our neighbor, while we are to give preferential option for the poor, we must know what is properly man’s and what is properly God’s. Jesus said as much, when he addressed the question of paying taxes to the Emperor, looking to the image of Caesar on a Roman coin. He said to the Pharisees, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Mt 22:21). Thus, while we reach out to all sinners and accept them, we do not neglect their sin that affronts God. Thus, while we help the poor, we do not bundle material help with contraceptives and promotion of abortion and LGBT, which are serious offenses against God.

Fourth, there are those in our Church who look only to the work of man, emphasizing how we are to accept, welcome, embrace and not judge others including sinners, and to just speak words of assurance and affection, never being offensive. But the work of mission is God’s very own work, entrusted to humans. “For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the holy Spirit and with much conviction.” (1 Thes 1:5a). The gospel convicts. The gospel is intended to bring sinners to repentance. The gospel offends the offender. The gospel is proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so, we belong to a missionary Church, and we ourselves as MFC are Families on Mission. Ours is a “work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father” (1 Thes 1:3). Our work is about faith in Jesus, only in Jesus, and never in any other faith. Our work is about love, authentic love and not false mercy.2 Our work is about hope, the eternal hope of heaven, to which we have access only in Christ and not through false religions.

Our Church must once again understand what is authentic mission. It is proclaiming Christ, the name above all names, to the ends of the earth, until all will confess that Jesus is Lord.3 “Give to the Lord, you families of nations, give to the Lord glory and might; give to the Lord the glory due his name!” (Ps 96:7-8a).