THE MISSION OF GOD: UNLOCKING THE BIBLE’S GRAND NARRATIVE
A little later than expected but fulfilled none the less. Here is the first installment of the ongoing book review. I am currently reading a couple of books. Ministries of Mercy by Tim Keller and The Mission of God by Christopher J. H. Wright. Today’s review is over the introduction and the first two chapters of The Mission of God.
I must admit that I have been eyeing this book for a while. I received this book for Christmas. If you have friends or relatives that insist on getting you something for Christmas and you like to read, I heartily recommend the Amazon wish list. That is how this book came to my door. I have been eyeing this book for a while now because after reading the reviews, it seems to be a lot like what I am teaching my youth group. If you frequent my blog you have probably seen a couple of posts about a bible study that I am doing with my youth entitled, “One Plan”. One Plan is just a simple way of teaching through the whole bible very slowly with the understanding that God has had one plan for this universe and he is accomplishing it without exception. So, the title “The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative” arrested my attention. So here is what I have read so far…….
In the introduction, Wright remarks about teaching at All Nations Christian College in England, “I wanted them to see not just that the bible contains a number of texts which happen to provide a rationale for missionary endeavor, but that the whole bible itself is a “missional” phenomenon. The writings that now comprise our bible are themselves the product of and witness to the ultimate mission of God.”
I found this to be of great help. Have you ever thought of scripture that way? That the very word of God is a product of God’s mission. It bears witness to the fact that God has a purpose and a plan that supersedes all things. The very giving of his word is part of that plan. Everything in the Bible has been given so that we can understand what God has planned. The law was given, the prophets spoke, and letters were written all as a part of God revealing what he desires to have accomplished. Wright goes on to explain the ways in which he will use words like “mission” and “missional” so as not to be confused with some of the distortions that can accompany these terms.
The first two chapters that I have read are about searching for and shaping a missional hermeneutic. I applaud Wright’s concern for bringing a bias toward scripture that may distort the text. We have probably heard a sermon in which things have been taken out of context to suit the agenda of the speaker. Such as a sermon on John 10:10 that contain the points, 1.)The enemy comes to destroy 2.) Christ comes to give life 3.) How this pertains to infant baptism. Maybe that’s a little far fetched but you get the idea. While some “hermeneutical maps” can remove the true meaning of a text, I do not believe that coming to the scriptures with the bias that God is on his own mission removes the true meaning. In fact, God’s initiating and sovereignly working all things for his purpose is inescapable. My students are studying through Genesis right now. You have to do some major dancing around the text to deny that God is in control of all things at all times.
I am just beginning this book so there will be more to come. I will plan on posting again sometime at the end of the week. So far, so good…………..
