Mere Missions

I ntroduction • 21

religion, family, commerce, politics, law, education, habitat, health, environment – have now been corrupted by the cancerous effects of sinful humanity. If left unchecked, humanity would annihilate each other, completely strip, and pollute all that is beautiful on this planet and seek their own worship and fame rather than their Creator. God, whose love (agape) knows no bounds, would not let this go unchecked. In Christ Jesus, He brought reconciliation and restoration, and began to reverse the effects of sin. A foretaste of the Kingdom of God was initiated with its completion taking place with the return of the Son of God. It is then that there will be unhindered fellowship and worship with our God; genuine love between all nations, tribes and people; and a new heaven and earth in which to dwell (Rev. 21.1). Until this return of the King, God has not absolved humanity from this mandate, and we continue to strive towards a wholesome world in which to live and survive. Mandate number two is given by the Lord Jesus to His disciples. Its focus is directed towards those inside the Kingdom Society, His sisters and brothers, and not to all of humanity. It’s the new commandment from the Lord when He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 15.12). When we demonstrate this love in action within the Kingdom Society through addressing racism (neither Jew nor Gentile) sexism (male nor female), classism (rich nor poor), Jesus said the world would know we are His followers (Acts 2.42-47; Acts 6; Gal. 2.11-14; 1 John 3.23). If we are to be a witness to the unbelieving lost in the world, we must begin with our love for one another. If an “outsider” is looking “inside” the Church and sees racism, sexism, classism, and division rather than unity (John 17.21-23), or minimally, the intentional effort of those claiming to be a disciple of Jesus working together to genuinely address these issues, then why would the “outsider” want to come “inside?” They already see and experience this in the world