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Mission and Conversion

Written by Frans Hancke | 10 August 2010

THE IMPACT OF EMERGING GLOBAL MISSIONAL PARADIGMS ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MISSION AND CONVERSION

Paper presented at International Conference on MISSION AND CONVERSION
2008

1. Introduction

If approached in a superficial way it is possible to regard Mission and Conversion as two separate, related and unvarying Theological concepts. Such a view can and probably will lead to an attitude towards the missionary task of the church that will be uncontextual, insensitive and ineffective. This statement is supported by the unwavering and mostly unsuccessful attempts of Christians to witness to post-modern and post-Christian populations in ways that are completely irrelevant and alien to modern societies. If the global church is determined to take the whole gospel to the whole world, such a rigid and inappropriate approach would blur its God-given vision.

I believe, as indicated by the subject of this paper, that we should allow for the intimate but ever-adapting relationship between mission and conversion. We should accept that the content of and relationship between mission and conversion reacts and responds continuously to the dynamic, vibrant and vigorously changing world in which and to which the church is called as God’s missionary people. This does not imply that the sound Scriptural foundation of mission and conversion should be compromised or eroded.

To substantiate this statement I need not discuss the in depth meaning of Mission and Conversion, although I will shortly have to consider the implications of various definitions. I also do not want to deliberate on the relation between these two Theological concepts, although I will have to reflect briefly on that as well. I would like to take a somewhat futuristic position in presenting this paper - I would dare to venture into the future of Ecclesiology and Missiology. I would like to attempt to stimulate you with a few thoughts and perspectives on how developing paradigms can, and probably are changing our understanding of mission and conversion.

Therefore the topic of this paper: The Impact of Emerging Global Missional Paradigms on the Perspective of the Relationship between Mission and Conversion. Let me start off by clarifying what I mean by the last part of the topic: Perspective of the Relationship between Mission and Conversion.

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