Is the mission of the church to proclaim law and gospel in order to give people a leg up in this life, or is it to do so in order to prepare them for the world to come?
Of course, the Bible has much to say about how we are to live in this world, but thinking about that in the context of the redemptive work of Christ is crucial. We live in this world as people who belong to the next. That is not to say that we are to take on a mentality of escapism, but it does mean that the verities that we live by in this life while inhabiting the kingdoms of this world reflect the reality that we hold a dual citizenship as emissaries of the kingdom of God's dear son.
Further, we should distinguish between the work of individual Christians and the mission of the church. While Christians will use their individual gifts and interests in pursuit of a whole range of vocations and hobbies, the church's focus is on proclamation of the mission of Christ.
Thus, while the Bible has much to say about living in this world, we should not take that as a means for finding our best life now or increasing our attachment with what is passing away, nor should we engage in a bait and switch with unbelievers by acting as though the keys we offer relate to a dying kingdom. The church's message is much too practical to stay focused on a world that is passing away. We speak of law and gospel, sin and grace, guilt and forgiveness, in order to deal with matters of ultimate, eternal importance.
Table of Contents for the Reformation Project
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