Mission, simply refers to an important assignment given to a person or group of people. If any believer is asked the meaning of ‘church’ he or she will most likely say ‘a gathering of believers, the bride of Christ or the body of Christ’. At this junction I must reiterate the truth that there is ONE CHURCH, ONE BODY under Christ.
There may be different locations across different nations just like in the new testament (The Corinthian church, the Galatian church e.t.c.), different denominations however there is one church. The body is one under Christ (1 Corinth 12:20) Even Jesus said I will build MY CHURCH and the gate of hell will not prevail against it.
Going back to the verse used above (i.e Mathew 16:18), this was the first time the word Church was used in the Bible, used by Jesus. The translation is Ekklesia, a Greek word which means the ‘called-out one’. It was used to refer to an arm of government (during the Roman Empire) that helped the governor administer the policies of Rome.
The job of these people was to assist to ensure that the policies and decrees of Rome passed down to them through the governor were acted upon throughout the region of their jurisdiction.
And glory be to God that Jesus made the distinction clear between HIS CHURCH and the Ekklesia of those days- ‘On this rock will I BUILD MYYYY CHURCH’.
Similarly the assignment of the church is not farfetched from that of the Roman ekklesia but the Commander-in-Chief is Christ and the policies and ideologies are different. We are to exact his will, principles on earth just as Jesus prayed in Mathew 6- Your Kingdom come just as it is in heaven. And what is the will of God? RECONCILIATION, that men be saved!!!
2nd Corinthians 5:18
…and all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given us ‘THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION’
Just like Apostle Paul stated, as people who have being reconciled to God through Christ, who have been purchased by blood (Acts 20:28), as people who now have sweet communion and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we have been given the word of reconciliation- that men be reconciled back to God, that fellowship be restored, that belief system, way of life be renewed after the new man in Christ.
And how do we reconcile people to him!!-Mathew 28:18-20. Our Job is to GO (to the market places, the places of influence, the villages, the mission fields, the uncomfortable places) and teach that gospel of the Kingdom. His word has not changed, the mission remains the same, the approach maybe different, the style may be different but it is Jesus that we preach. We-the Church must not get carried away neither should we be distracted.
Mathew 28:18-20
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the world.
‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?’
Romans 10:14
Indeed, we must ask ourselves how far we’ve gone in this mission. We must ask ourselves has the church been distracted or are we still on track.
The mission of the Church is indeed missions!!!
– Written by Sis Oluwaseun Ogundare (Team Watchmen)