Keeping the Mission in Focus

Responding to Society

Keeping the Mission in Focus

Being mindful of our mission

Titus 3:8: This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

What is Paul referring to that is good and profitable for all men?

Lets look at 2 Corinthians 5 where we see an outline of our mission.

2 Cor 5:18-21
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Our mission is not to impact our culture by changing their moral values, or by legislative or judicial process. Our mission is to be an ambassador through whom God can reconcile men and women to Himself.

The Bible doesn’t mandate that we are to impact our culture so that it becomes Christianized. To embrace this view will blur our priorities and weaken our allegiance. Our priority is the gospel and our allegiance is to Jesus Christ and to Him alone. Our calling is not to change society but to reach out to it with compassion with the ultimate objective being that people would be drawn to Christ.

We are called upon to confront society but we are called upon to do it in a manner that is persuasive not one that is combative.

2 Corinthians 5:11: Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men….

For the Believer, the issue of personal convictions, as well as our stewardship responsibility to God, must be key aspects of this discussion. Although this study is not intended to go into detail on these two key components of our walk with God, it seems important to touch on them in order to avoid the possibility of misunderstanding.

As Believers we are instructed to have personal convictions on a wide range of issues. It is a very important part of our personal witness and testimony as well as an important example for our children, grandchildren, friends and acquaintances. As followers of Christ we have embraced God’s value system and, as such, our personal convictions and actions should reflect that commitment.

Stewardship is a vital part of our walk with God and is taught throughout the Scriptures. It is a key part of the accountability that we will give to God. Much of our application in the area of stewardship is subjective and leaves us with the need to walk by faith, not knowing for sure if we have done the right thing. It is one aspect of keeping us dependent on God. I would suggest that much of the time, application in the area of the topic with which we have been dealing, falls into this category. We must live by faith as we seek to apply the teachings of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit to these areas. Not for a minute would I want to minimize the enormous responsibility of stewardship in our walk with God. But, I would suggest for consideration, that when our stewardship application comes into conflict with the call to our true mission, that stewardship, as important as it is, must be subordinate to our mission. In my opinion, this a key take away from the Titus passage that we have studied.

Our mission is simple and it is clear in Scripture. It is E2 – Evangelism and Edification. It is eternal in nature, and it is centered on people. If society is going to be changed at all it is going to be the result of people having been changed by the power of God. If we really want to participate in the changing of society, then we must participate in the mission to which we have been entrusted by God.

John 20:21: So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.

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