Missional Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church Today - Case Study Example

MISSIONAL ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH TODAY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY RELIGION AND THEOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER Introduction If the average Christian was asked of any biblical guidelines and basis where one can find the task of mission, the likely answer to get is that a person should look into the book of Acts. It is a common knowledge to many Christians why this answer is right. The book of acts cannot be read without impressing it to the evangelistic zeal and rapid expansion of the early church. Moreover, it is exceptionally clear that this zeal and expansion did not just erupt from the blues, but it was explicitly as a result of the command Jesus gave at the book’s beginning. “You will receive of power when the Holy Ghost comes to you; you will be my witness in Jewish pilgrimage center, in Judea, and ancient Palestinian district, and to the world’s end.” (Acts 1:8) In a nutshell, it is impossible to comprehend the book of acts without the call to the mission and how the church responded to the call. (Tyra, 2011, p. 129)1 The book of Acts has a clear picture of the early church involved in mission. However one may ask, what are the notable differences comparing the early church in Acts and the present church in relation to Missional role? How can we interpret the book of Acts and apply it in the 21st century considering the church’s mission mandate at the beginning and the present time? In understanding the answers to these questions, then the present church will have a Missional role that must be similar to that of the early church based on the provision of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts sets a baseline for the formation of detailed blueprint for the church’s mission. It is obviously at the end of the spectrum to selecting a number of ‘Missions slogans’, which come out as paramount functions of the Holy Spirit to guide the church even the present generation in the entire book. This point of view is immensely crucial in understanding Acts in relation to modern missionary work. Every single state has to be applied to the present times; not only in mission motivation but also in providing precept by precept strategy of effective Holy Spirit oriented mission. (Gelder, 2007, p. 317)2 The book of Acts consists of minor principles. These principles touch on command visa vie description, the entire New Testament reinforcement and non-contradictional statements. It also has a vital principle that is conveyed throughout the book. This principle emphasizes on central theological points that was to be conveyed by Luke. This principle when analyzed in the way it is applied to the mission preaching in Acts, it depicts the Missional role of the Church that is in-line with the works of the Holy Spirit. However, it must be clear from the onset that even scholars using the same understanding and guidelines always resolve to different conclusions. This is expected since everyone brings his own subjective understanding and personal background to the passage. The acknowledgement of this fact does not in any way place Acts’ interpretation to be exceedingly difficult. Moreover, there are exceptionally clear mission properties that can be seen through evidently within the texts. In the understanding of the works of the Holy Spirit being assistance to the main mission given by Jesus; It is therefore, prudent to realized that the Missional work of the Holy Spirit must in all way be in tandem with Christ’s mission to the church. The main mission emphases that are clear in the book of Acts reflect the main forcible push of obedience to the Missional call. These areas will be helpful in finding the mission of the church today in relation to the mission of the Holy Spirit. (Dreier, 2013, p. 117)3 The first mission that can be derived from the book of Acts is that the church must be empowered, initiated and directed by the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts is entirely filled with the acts of the Holy Spirit considering the way the church’s outward mission is portrayed in the book. In the beginning chapter of the book, it is evident that the mission of the church would be impossible without the functions of the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 1 verses 8, Jesus instructs the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit because they will receive power when the spirit descends to them. It is only after the ascension of the Holy Spirit that the disciples become extremely vocal and become witnesses of Christ in the proper sense. Therefore, the mission of the church then just as it is today, was tailored to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Peterson, 2013, pp. 88 - 105)4 The involvement of the Holy Spirit does not culminate with the formal admission of the missionary work. It also directs and empowers the church to the missionaries that have been set aside as stated in the book of Acts chapter 13: verses 1 to 3. It also directs missionaries to the place where they should go for the mission work as stipulated in Acts chapter 16 and verses 7. As the missionaries move on to the stated work, it is He who gives the boldness and ability to witness to the resurrection truth fearlessly as stated in Acts chapter 4 verses 8. It is essential to remember the primary role of the Holy Spirit in the church’s mission. This can serve as the most required corrective to missionary conceptions in the current world. Today, mission is depicted as a fundamental human activity in the likening of the nation’s salvation being solely dependent of society’s activities. (Addison, 2009, p. 236)5 This can result to despondency or activities filled with extreme excitement as the church attempts to the burden of the earth. It is of immense significance to comprehend that the Christian community cannot carry the burdens of the world acknowledging that the church is just a junior partner in the entire enterprise. The second emphasized Missional role in the calling to be resurrected Christ’s Witnesses. The book of Acts has one word that clearly describes the missionary work. This is the word “witnesses” This word is heard in the beginning of Acts and encountered twelve times in the entire book. The word is used in two ways by Luke. First, it is used to refer to the actual witnesses of the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. However, the term is also applied to other Christians because they are sent into the world. (Woodward, 2012, p. 342)6 The best examples are Paul in Acts chapter 22 verse 15 and Stephen in Acts chapter 22 verse 20. Reading through the account of the early church and the way they responded to the witness call, it is evident that the focal point of their witnessing through evangelism was: Jesus who was raised as state in Acts chapter 2 verses 32 and chapter 5 verses 30 among other verses. The Third mission that can be found in Acts is preaching the good news to the entire world. The main point of contention in the book is the knowledge of how far the church takes the gospel message. Most of the early believers were on the Jewish lineage hence would have no difficulty in spreading the gospel amongst themselves. This is the exact happening in the first few chapters of Acts. However, some of the disciples and members of the early church had difficulties in taking the gospel message to their neighborhood, which consisted of gentiles. In the book of Acts chapter 10 verses 9 to 23, the story of the early church develops through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Goheen, 2011, p. 231)7 It becomes evident that those who had the idea that the gospel mission was for the Jews alone, had not taken the full implications of Christ’s gospel. It is repeatedly accentuated that the message of risen Christ should be proclaimed to everybody. This includes all the people who had earlier lived their lives outside the community’s covenant. In Acts chapter, 17 verses 16 to 34, the scripture entails that the gospel message should be presented in a manner which is understandable and that everyone can understand it. Those who accepted the gospel should be enthusiastically accepted as part of the church family. The Forth Missional role of the church is to be a departure point and destination oriented mission. One of the main activities of the Holy Spirit in Acts is to fetch the church into the state of existing. This is an essential priority that strongly emphasizes the integral part that the church plays in God’s plan of salvation in the entire world. From the chapter 2 and verses 42 to 47 of the book of Acts, new believers are grouped into fellowships in which they can come together and preach the gospel, worship and encourage each other. Therefore, the church acts as a stepping stone from where evangelistic efforts of the church are taken up for performance. These dynamics is emphasized more evidently in Acts chapter 13 verses 1 to 3. In this text, the Holy Spirit calls upon the early church in Antioch to position Barnabas and Silas for the Gentile mission. (Green, 2010, p. 213)8 The fifth Missional role is the requirement of Courage and Faith in the midst of Adversity by the Church. One thing that strikes out in the study of Acts is the quick spreading of the gospel and the Church. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the rapid spread does not exclude resistance to the gospel mission. The account of events of the gospel is triggered by persecution fire. The book of Acts narrates the story of the first martyr in Christianity, in chapter 6 and verses 8 with chapter 7 and verses 60. These verses show Christians fleeing for their lives in fear of murderous authorities. The book also has narration of sermons with riot ending as depicted in Acts chapter 17 verses 5. The establishment of the early church was not a plain sailing. However, wherever persecution comes, there was a response in steadfast faith, in God, perseverance and prayers in those circumstances as stated in Acts chapter 4 verses 23 to 31 and chapter 16 verses 25. The church today should draw strength and inspiration from the working of the Holy Spirit in the Missional work of the early church. (Wright, 2006, p. 114)9 Conclusion There are many Missional duties that relate to the duty of the Holy Spirit in the church today as found it Acts. However, I am convinced that the ones discussed above are the extremely influential roles that come out clearly in the entire book. Understanding and responding to the roles are truly essential towards restoring the mission to its primeval role in the church’s life. This is in line with the respond needed to God’s call in sharing the gospel to the entire world. (Tennent, 2010, p. 311)10 There is ardent need to work with the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish the mission of the church. References Addison, S. Movements that Change the World: Five Keys to Spreading the gospel. Print ed. United States: inter Vasity Press, 2009, P. 236. Dreier, M. S. D. Created and Led by the Spirit: Planting Missional Congregations. Print ed. United States: Wm. B. Erdmans Publishing Co., 2013, p. 117. Gelder, C. V.The Missional Church in Context: Helping Congregations Develop Contextual setting. Print ed. Cambirdge: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. , 2007, p. 317. Goheen, M. W. A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story. 1st ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011, p. 231. Green, J. B. Reading Scripture as Wesleyans. 1st ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010, p. 213. Peterson, C. M. Who is the Church? : An Ecclesiology for the Twent-first Century. Print ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2013, p. 88-105. Tennent, T. C. Invitation to World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology for the twent-First Century. 1st ed. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 2010, p. 311. Tyra, G. The Holy Spirit in Mission: Prophetic Speech and Action in Christian Witness. Print ed. United States: Inter Vasity Press, 2011, p. 129. Woodward, J. Creating a Missional Culture: Equiping the Church for the Sake of the World. 1st ed. United States: Inter Vasity Press, 2012, p. 342. Wright, C. J. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bibles Grand Narrative. 1st ed. United States: Inter Vasity Press, 2006, p. 114. Read More