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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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A healthychurch transforminglife...
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Strategic directions5. Missionary discipleshipThe Great Commission in Matthew 28:18f-20 tells us that as disciples commit themselves to mission, so Jesus commits himself to them. Jesus promises that as they make disciples, baptise and teach, he will be with them always. Christian discipleship is missionary discipleship. 'For Matthew, then, being a disciple means living out the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels. It is unthinkable to divorce the Christian life of love and justice from being a disciple. Discipleship involves a commitment to God's reign, to justice and love, and obedience to the entire will of God. Mission is not narrowed down to an activity of making individuals new creatures, of providing them with 'blessed assurance' so that, come what may, they will be 'eternally saved'. Mission involves, from the beginning and as a matter of course, making new believers sensitive to the needs of others, opening their eyes and hearts to recognize injustice, suffering and oppression, and the plight of those who have fallen by the wayside.' (David J Bosch 2001:81) Missionary disciples engage in rigorous enquiry in order to bring a biblical perspective to dominant societal issues. The value and dignity of every person, our human sexuality, multi-faith community, moral integrity, environmental sustainability, globalisation, social and economic polarization are among those issues with which we must engage. transformingLIFE means a commitment to missionary discipleship. |
