Mere Missions

74 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

spiritually feed and protect the flock under their care. When planting in communities of poverty, it requires wisdom as to what that credentialing process looks like. It must not compromise the responsibility of the calling to defend what the Church has believed everywhere, always and by all and at the same time does not place a burden on the individual that is impossible for them to accomplish. 3. Theology . The foundational doctrines of the Church, our Great Tradition, are firmly established. The doctrinal issues and challenges were all settled by the early Church Fathers and were consolidated into the Creeds. These Creeds were easily memorized by the illiterate masses within the Church so that all believers could understand and defend what the apostles taught. Today we call it a Statement of Faith. The Word is being taught. From its inception and throughout history, the Church has devoted itself to the apostles teaching (Acts 2:42). Our New Testament is the recognized culmination of writings from the Apostles of the Lord Jesus. Spiritual growth and guidance for living within the Community of Believers as well as our interactions in the world, are fully and completely, without error (inerrancy), found in their writings. 4. Witness . The God of missions, who, “in these last days has spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1.2), now enlists His people to action. Since the Day of Pentecost, we are now in the Church Age, and God Almighty is accomplishing His eternal purpose to establish His Kingdom through her. Through our witness in word and deed of God’s reconciling work through Jesus Christ, we move forward in order to expand and advance His rule and reign.