Zambia Hunt

As Christian leaders, we must make our plans for doing missions based on theological presuppositions.  Missiological decisions must be rooted theologically.  Theology provides “the purpose, the focus, and the life of missiology.”

Missiologist Neal Cushman pointed out that long before the turn of the 21st century, a significant movement arose within evangelical missions circles that sought to “complete” the Great Commission by the year 2000. Numerous mission agencies, teachers, and mobilizers promoted ambitious AD 2000 initiatives, some even framing the effort as a way to hasten Christ’s return by ensuring every people group had a gospel witness. While the zeal and global concern behind these plans were commendable, Cushman noted that they were ultimately rooted in a flawed interpretation of Matthew 24. The assumption that human effort could trigger the timing of Christ’s return reveals how even well-intentioned mission strategies can drift when enthusiasm is not governed by careful exegesis and sound theology. The passion for the mission must always be anchored in faithful biblical interpretation.

Theology, and specifically the theology of missions, provides us the message of missions, the motivation for missions, and also shapes the methods we use in carrying out the mission.  We begin with theology as the grid through which we evaluate human cultures to determine strategy.

The mission pragmatist begins with the question, “Does it work?”  When theology forms the foundation of our strategy, we will begin by asking questions like: 

• “How does God desire that we minister within this cultural context?
• “Do these plans and strategies enact the rule of God and challenge ungodly allegiances?”
• “Do these strategies reflect the nature of God?”

We are to make decisions and formulate strategies in missions based upon Biblical presuppositions.  “Strategy must be a servant, never a master, to the mission of God.”