What are the most significant gaps or remaining opportunities toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20)?
We in turn received input from 25 global leaders on this question especially as it relates to business as mission. Four main themes emerged as leaders answered this question, which we will share in four blog posts through November.
The first theme was the need to continually break down the sacred-secular divide and affirm the high and holy calling of business. This is, as it turns out, is also foundational to all the other themes and consistently comes up in lists of priority issues for business as mission. To learn more about what the sacred-secular divide is and why and how we work to break it down, please read this introductory blog by Mike Baer.
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Theme 1: The High and Holy Calling of Business and Breaking Down the Sacred-Secular Divide
Specifically in the context of BAM, I see a couple challenges that I believe we can address in the near future. One is the continued lack of the global church embracing the high and holy calling of business. This lack restricts the enlistment of disciple makers in business as mission, limits the equipping for this work by the church to church-centric training, and prevents the next generation from seeing the potential of working in business as a venue for global evangelism.
MB
From the perspective of the church, a huge gap remains the theological marginalisation of work as a sacred act of worship in the understanding and behaviour of Christians in their everyday context. Ministry still remains largely defined in “church-type” terms, and “ministers” still remain largely a professional “class” in the minds of most avowed Christians. This must continue to be addressed.
CS
The biggest opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission is in the marketplace. It’s the Body of Christ in the workplace. The Church in the workplace. We need to change the view of church away from Sunday and towards the business week.
DAS
In order to quicken the pace to realize the vision of Matt 28:18-20, it is imperative to mobilize all believers to participate in the effort intentionally. “The Church” should practice for real the “priesthood of all believers” and no longer just rely on the clergies and the “professional staff” in ministry. ALL believers need to be mobilized to share the good news and to become disciple-makers from day one when they themselves become Christians. They need to be told that their own testimonies plus the power of the Word, together with the power of prayer would be sufficient, and they are already given the power and authority to do so through the Holy Spirit. With such a conviction, we would have “priesthood” Kingdom workers in all walks of life already pre-positioned to spread the good news and bring transformation.
FT
