God's mission in the world has something to do with sin. Only the most ardent liberal could deny that. One of the questions therefore is 'what is sin?'. Another would be 'how exactly does God's mission tackle sin?' Our perception of sin is clearly going to affect our view of mission, and our understanding of God's solution to sin is going to shape our practice of mission from the roots up.
Personally, I need to learn to think more deeply about basic things and not be satisfied with primary school level answers, but at the same time if something is simple, we need to not over-complicate it.
I'm wondering if that's the case with Chris Wright's treatment of sin, where in chapter 13 he explains his thoughts on structural or societal sin. I really do not want to fall into the over-atomistic trap of many and simply say we should be talking about getting individuals to pray the sinner's prayer, as if that is the be all and end all of mission. But what shall we make of this quote?
'So if our mission is bringing good news into every area of human life, then it calls for some research and analysis as to what exactly constitutes the bad news, horizontally in the structures of a given society and vertically in its history. Many factors will be uncovered in the process. But only as they are uncovered can the cleansing, healing and reconciling power of the gospel undo their dismal effects.' (p. 432)
The thing is, do we see anything like this approach anywhere in the Bible? Not that the careful thinking about the breadth and depth of sin isn't a good idea. I'm sure it is. But as an approach to mission - well, I need some more help to see that approach in the way the apostles took the full revelation of the good news around the Jewish and Roman Mediterranean lands.
Do we know what the good news is? Yes I think so. Do we know what the bad news is? Again, yes. And the bringing of that good news to bear against the bad news is, I think, less complex than this chapter suggests.
Personally, I need to learn to think more deeply about basic things and not be satisfied with primary school level answers, but at the same time if something is simple, we need to not over-complicate it.
I'm wondering if that's the case with Chris Wright's treatment of sin, where in chapter 13 he explains his thoughts on structural or societal sin. I really do not want to fall into the over-atomistic trap of many and simply say we should be talking about getting individuals to pray the sinner's prayer, as if that is the be all and end all of mission. But what shall we make of this quote?
'So if our mission is bringing good news into every area of human life, then it calls for some research and analysis as to what exactly constitutes the bad news, horizontally in the structures of a given society and vertically in its history. Many factors will be uncovered in the process. But only as they are uncovered can the cleansing, healing and reconciling power of the gospel undo their dismal effects.' (p. 432)
The thing is, do we see anything like this approach anywhere in the Bible? Not that the careful thinking about the breadth and depth of sin isn't a good idea. I'm sure it is. But as an approach to mission - well, I need some more help to see that approach in the way the apostles took the full revelation of the good news around the Jewish and Roman Mediterranean lands.
Do we know what the good news is? Yes I think so. Do we know what the bad news is? Again, yes. And the bringing of that good news to bear against the bad news is, I think, less complex than this chapter suggests.
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