with Rev Dr Chris Walker
God’s Mission and Human Mission
I was impressed by this quote from German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. He says of God’s mission, “The sending of the Son into the world and the fulfilment of his mission by his death is God’s way of actualising his rule in the world without oppression and with respect for the independence of creatures, even on the part of God himself” (Systematic Theology Vol 2, p394). Go.d’s mission as revealed in Jesus Christ is very different to how humans, especially political and military rulers carry out their human mission. I will explore this difference.
Human mission, as carried out by those in power, typically involves seeking to dominate others and impose one’s own view of the desirable order of society. This is seen especially in dictatorial and authoritarian leaders. Human agents are involved such as armed forces and the military. Gaining the support of rich and influential people also enables such leaders to emerge and obtain power. Adolf Hitler had his vision of the third Reich for Germany in which Germany would become the dominant nation. This necessitated the persecution of Jews and others regarded as undermining the re-emergence of Germany as Nazi Germany. Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong had their visions of Communist rule for Russia and China respectively and imposed this on their people. Millions were killed and imprisoned in doing so. Such visions inevitably favoured some and greatly disadvantaged many. They also set up an ‘us-them’ mentality with those who did not support the vision regarded as enemies.
Liberal democracies seek to have people elected who win the popular support of the people. The leaders put forward their vision and hope to gain sufficient support of the people in order to gain power and implement the vision. In nations such as the USA, the UK and Australia there tend to be two major parties with either more liberal or more conservative approaches. Again, there is something of an ‘us-them’ mentality. The leaders, however, cannot push too hard in their direction lest they lose sufficient support and are voted out of office.
Whether it is the vision of a third Reich, a Communist state, or a liberal Democratic one, the expectation is that it is up to humans to bring about the ‘hoped for’ order of society. While the rhetoric might sound desirable, generally the reality is that the outcome falls far short of the expectations. Some leaders refuse to pay attention to their critics other than to find fault with them and perhaps to imprison them. A better approach is to listen to criticisms in order to address the concerns and move toward a better society. Democratic societies tolerate such criticism better than other forms of government. People who criticize those in power are often treated badly. The recent protests in Myanmar, Hong Kong, Thailand and Russia show how the respective governments are unwilling to receive and respond to criticism. Whistle blowers such as Julian Assange have paid a heavy price.
This is not to say that society cannot become better and that the vision for greater justice is bound to go unrealised. While we need to be realistic, that does not mean that positive change cannot come about leading to societies with a greater degree of care and justice. We need to do so seeking to cooperate with God’s intentions not imposing our own desires. If, as the Christian understanding of God holds, God is the Creator of all and wants his kingdom to come about on earth as in heaven but without coercion, then what does this entail? This is where the quote from Pannenberg is helpful.
It begins with God sending his Son into the world. God did send prophets prior to this but the sending of Jesus Christ the Son of God was decisive. As Paul puts it in his letter to the Philippians Jesus did not regard sonship with God as something to be exploited. Instead, he emptied himself “taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).
Next, Pannenberg says the fulfilment of Jesus’s mission was his death. Jesus proclaimed and enacted the kingdom of God. In word and action, he demonstrated what God’s rule was like. His parables and sayings gave clear indications of the nature of God’s reign. It was a reign of love and justice, of peace and reconciliation. His healings and miracles demonstrated that God was at work in Jesus. Jesus’ criticism of the powers of the day and actions such as the cleansing of the temple and saying the temple would be destroyed along with his popularity among the common people led to him being opposed by those in power. They saw him as a threat and plotted to get rid of him. Jesus was aware that he was courting death but continued anyway. This led inevitably to his arrest and death. His death was not the unfortunate ending of his mission but its climax. He gave himself fully for God’s cause and was prepared to die for it. He did not die after taking up arms and becoming involved in a violent overthrow. Instead, he willingly went to his death believing God would use it. And indeed, God did and raised him from death to become the risen Lord.
Pannenberg says that by Jesus taking this action of self-giving even to the point of death on a cross, God was actualising his rule in the world without oppression and with respect for the independence of creatures. God did not impose his rule but calls people to freely respond to Jesus’s call to follow him and his way. People’s independence is respected. They need to surrender their pride and freely come under God’s reign. In doing so they will find true life and can join in God’s desire for all people to be reconciled and live with one another with justice and compassion in peace.
Chris Walker
Chris is currently serving the Assembly of the Uniting Church as the National Consultant for Theology and Discipleship.
He has served in a range of positions and places in the Uniting Church including local church ministry in three congregations in NSW, as a regional education and mission officer, and consultant for evangelism and discipleship, in Queensland, as principal of Parkin-Wesley College in SA, and as a mission resource officer for Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery.
He has a passion for theology, mission and discipleship. His interest in writing has resulted in various publications including five books, most recently Peace Like A Diamond: facets of peace (Spectrum, 2009) and Living Life to the Full: Spirituality for today’s baby boomers (Openbook, 2005).