Mission is a new thing?

Over the past few months I have been in conversations regarding the vision and mission of the church and specifically what the congregation I serve is discerning. Additionally I have just registered for a two-year cohort bit called, "Missional Leaders for a Missional Church" and have been talking with several folks about this.

But here's the interesting piece. In conversations inside and outside of my congregation I have heard the following statement, "This new mission focus in the church is great."

New!?! Really?

I wonder what the meaning of mission is? Some people hear "mission statement", some people hear service work, some people hear call of a community.

But mission is not a new thing - in fact mission has been (and should have continued to be) central in our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus' mission here on earth was to proclaim and fully reveal God's love, grace, and forgiveness to a fallen, broken, and sinful people. This same mission was passed on to the first disciples and the early Christian community. This same mission has been passed on since.

I don't know, maybe we received the mission and put in on the shelf with all the other administrative, and at times, distracting things - budgets, sexuality, church structure debates, council minutes, and reports, etc... Maybe we have "reclaimed" this mission or are in the process of realigning ourselves and our lives with this mission. But mission is not something new to the faithful of God.

Let it be known that our mission as disciples, and the Church of Jesus Christ isn't a new thing. But I thank God that we have rediscovered it and are diligently endeavoring to dive into this mission - to proclaim and live the love, grace, and forgiveness of God in the world - the whole world, all of God's creation.