The Ecumenical Basis for Mission

These chapters champion a Trinitarian basis for our relationship with one another -  both with God and inside the relationship with God.

Our relationships with one another are to reflect the relationships within the Trinity – relationships of absolute mutuality and interconnectedness – and are to be lived within the Trinity itself - “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us - so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)  

Let’s notice three things in this prayer of the Son

1.      That in our relationships with one another we imitate the relationships within God,

2.      That we are included in that relationship within God – now a fourth entrant into the relationship we have known as the Trinity – in our loving of one another and God, we belong in God.

3.      That this, our interrelatedness in God, then becomes the basis of our mission in the world. It’s who we are in God with one another that becomes the most powerful advocacy for the life-changing efficacy of the Spirit’s work within us. ‘Eternal life’ becomes seen by those who observe the strength of our in-God relating with one another. Those ‘outside’  see us and say to themselves “I want what they’ve got”.

Imagine, instead of seeking ideological conformity, we celebrated our differences, celebrating the graces we each bring, and prioritised our relating to one another within our Hahi - in open, generous, and honouring ways? At personal, local, regional, national levels?

Imagine, then moving beyond our particular sect, we extended this same grace to other Hahi?

And maybe, imagine moving in this grace even beyond other Hahi – recognising that the underpinning basis of all mission is “God so loved the World”. 

Imagine if, rather than seeking to bend others to our way of seeing, we received each other as reflections of the life and love of God - recognising that we are all equally loved by God, difficult though we might find that to believe.

The most difficult part is that it needs to start with me, with Andrew Doubleday, and with each me among us.

Just imagine …