1. cultural callings
The church “must equip its
members for active and
informed participation in the
public life of society in such
a way that the Christian
faith shapes that
participation”
(Newbigin Truth to Tell)
key questions:
How does this make you feel?
Do you agree with Newbigin - why or why not?
What could you do to respond to the call (assuming you
agree with it!)
How can we find God’s creational intent for the different
areas of life?
What tools/ resources would you need to do it?
What could we do as church to facilitate this?
Bishop Lesslie Newbigin's understanding of mission
Mission: all of life bears witness to the It is: will only be by movements that begin
gospel. Jn 20:21 with the local congregation in which
• Living out God's creational the reality of the new creation is
God's people are a sent people - we intent for those areas of present, known, and experienced, and
can distinguish certain aspects creational life from which men and women will go
It's the primary witness, but it is the into every sector of public life to claim
• Evangelism as words most neglected. It is also one of the it for Christ, to unmask the illusions
• Deeds, mercy and justice hardest things to put into effect. which have remained hidden and to
• Missions expose all areas of public life to the
• Various callings in culture illumination of the gospel. But that
The latter he saw as the primary will only happen as and when local
witness. congregations renounce an introverted
concern for their own life, and
It's not (just) If the gospel is to challenge the public
recognize that they exist for the sake of
life of our society, if Christians are to
those who are not members, as sign,
• Evangelism at work occupy the “high ground” which they
instrument, and foretaste of God’s
• Personal ethics - don't steal vacated in the noon time of
redeeming grace for the whole life of
rubber bands; don't cheat on “modernity,” it will not be by forming
society.
taxes; don't commit adultery a Christian political party, or by
The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
with your secretary etc. aggressive propaganda campaigns. ... It
". . . a farmer who farms his land but neglects to say his prayers will be
Newbigin 1952 “The certainly condemned by Christians as failing in his duty. But a farmer
Christian Layman in the who says his prayers, and allows weeds, bad drainage, or soil erosion to
world and in the Church” spoil his land, is failing in his primary duty as a churchman. His
primary ministry in the total life of the body of Christ is to care rightly
for the land entrusted to him. If he fails there, he fails in his primary
Christian task"