The Church-Centered Mission | Part 5

The Church | The Center of Missions

Missions begins in the Church, flows out into the world, and brings the world back into the Church. God is the One who sends, is sent, and sends His Church. Like Abraham, the Church is “called out” of the world to be a holy people, and given the promise of everlasting life through saving faith in Jesus Christ by the grace of God. The Christian Church stands as part of Israel (Eph 2:12), as grafted in branches to the original root and tree (Rom 11:11-24). Though the Church always is, human eyes and wisdom cannot perceive it as God does. So we distinguish between what our eyes can see, and what God sees. The Church visible and the Church invisible. The invisible Church consists of all the elect of all times and places that are gathered unto Christ (WCF 25.1). This is the true Church which only God fully knows. The visible Church consists of all who profess Christ, together with their children, and is the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the household and family of God (Matt 13:47; Isa 9:7; Eph 2:19; Eph 3:15; see also WCF 25.2).

The Church, both invisible and visible, is more than a collection of individuals. The Church does not derive its authority or power from its members, rather the members derive their identity from the Church, because the Church belongs to God, and Christ is her Head (Col 1:18; Eph 5:22-33). Paul tells Timothy that the Church is the household of the living God, led by people who exhibit right conduct, and is a pillar and protector of the truth (1 Tim 3:14-16). As part of the common confession of the church led by wise people who conduct themselves according to the gospel, Paul says Christ is “proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory” (1 Tim 3:16). Like the Great Commission commands to make disciples of all the nations (Matt 28:19), so the Church’s righteous conduct results in gospel proclamation and belief throughout the world. “To transform the city of man, the church only needs to do what she does, to be what she is. She needs only to teach, preach, sing, pray, break bread. Within the ark of Christendom, she need only keep the customs of the apostles, and all will be changed” ( Leithart, Theopolitan Mission, 96).

The mission of God’s People is to be a people that bears witness to Him. Not just in theology, but in life and conduct. In order to rightly preach the Gospel, the church must live the gospel. The Church is a pillar and support of the truth. We are a pillar and support of the truth, a protector of the gospel. As we are faithful to this calling, Christ is proclaimed to the nations. If we can’t be the church here, we won’t be able to spread it elsewhere.

Let’s make this practical. The 10/40 window is a well known concept in global missions. It denotes the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. This area is widely considered the most resistant to Christianity and includes the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. For the last 50 years, this has been the focus of the majority of the visible Church’s world missions.

To complement this in our own day, I am advocating for a second 10/40 window. A local 10/40 window of concentric circles surrounding a local church, approximately 10 miles to 40 miles outward from which the household of God can have the greatest impact and is charged with the greatest responsibility. Christ left the Church the task of being His witnesses beginning where they are and stretching to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). If a church cannot lead its own backyard well, how will it lead the world (1 Tim 3:5)?

The need of the day is a faithful church in every neighborhood, village, town, and city, that the Church would be faithful in her call to the ends of the earth. Making disciples of all the nations begins by making disciples in our backyard, and in our pews. Missions begins on Sunday morning, flows out into the world, and brings the world back into the Church. This is the Church-centered mission.