by Dean Flemming
Abingdon Press, 2015
—Reviewed by Marcus Dean, associate professor and chair, Department of Intercultural Studies, Houghton College; former missionary in Colombia and Puerto Rico
In Why Mission? Dean Flemming models a missional hermeneutic for the New Testament. He starts with the premise that a “missional interpretation consciously reads scripture as a witness to the gracious mission of the triune God…” (p. xix). Flemming adds that the big picture of God’s mission is “to redeem and reclaim a rebellious and sinful world…” (p. xix).
This is his starting point for looking at the various writings of the New Testament (and the Old Testament) for how that mission is supported. Flemming adds that the New Testament is addressed to “Christian communities that were engaged in God’s mission” (p. xxi).
Using these concepts, Flemming looks at selected New Testament books to demonstrate their application and explore the answer to the question, “Why mission?” His focus is on how the New Testament shows us God’s mission and how it is calling and equipping Christian communities both then and now to participate in God’s mission.
Flemming begins with Matthew as a bridge or continuation of God’s mission via Israel to what he is doing now for and through all nations. Jesus’ ministry demonstrates what God’s kingdom should look like now. The Great Commission is treated as the culmination of the gospel story and as the basis for the outcome of discipleship/mission for the Church today.
Luke-Acts is treated as one story of the breadth of mission (the whole person and all peoples) empowered by the Holy Spirit. Again, what God began through Israel he continues through Jesus and then the Church—as the Spirit-filled community—so that all might be holistically saved (Acts 10:35, 43, 28:28). The Gospel of John is based on the Father sending—first the Son and then through the Son, he sends the Church. The Church that is sent is characterized by its relationship to Jesus. Identification with Jesus and contextualization with human culture are essential to being sent in God’s mission.
Three other books are chosen as they represent Christian communities in mission. First, Flemming shows how Paul’s challenge to the church in Philippi calls the Church today to live out the gospel in our own context. Second, Peter’s challenge also calls the Church to live out its identity in difficult situations so as to embody “God’s mission in an unfriendly world” (p. 89). Third, Flemming’s treatment of the book of Revelation focuses on the fulfillment of the missio Dei. The Church is called to faithfully “participate in God’s redeeming purpose for his creation” (p. 126).
Flemming ends with a brief Epilogue that sets the stage for the reader to continue to study the New Testament and live out the answer to “Why mission?”
This is a clear and concise study that is not about proof-texting either mission and/or cross-cultural missions, but instead seeing that the sentness of the Church is the core of who we are. From this foundation, we can reach out in local and cross-cultural contexts. This is a great resource for pastors and the college classroom.
Other titles
Guder, Darrell L. 2015. Called to Witness: Doing Missional Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Kaiser, Walter C. Jr. 2012. Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic.
Wright, Christopher J. H. 2010. The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan.
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