missio Dei on the Periphery of Society

“If [mission] starts on the periphery of society [i.e. among the marginalized, the forgotten, the trampled under foot, and the excluded], if it works from the bottom up, the good news of God’s kingdom visibly demonstrated and credibly announced as a message of liberating love, justice, and… [Shalom].

When the gospel makes “somebody” out of the “nobodies” of society, when it restores the self-worth of the marginalized, when it enables the oppressed to have reason for hope, when it empowers the poor to struggle and suffer for justice and peace, then it is truly good news of a new order of life – the saving power of God (Rom. 1:16).”

Orlando Costas (quote by Mark Gornik in his book, To Live in Peace, p.63-64)

“For Costas, this requires evangelizing communities of faith, born of the Spirit and from among the ‘marginalized and rejected, the sick and the uneducated, little children and alienated women, publicans and sinners, who will be transformed by the saving power of the gospel into a prophetic witnessing movement.’ We speak of a community of believers whose very existence is a confrontation with the powers (Eph. 3:10-11)…”

I was reminded of this book as I read a recent post by Arlen regarding his visit to Washington D.C. and his participation in the Servant Leadership School run by Church of the Savior. Thanks Arlen.

In many ways Costas / Gornik provide the context for my imagining of so-called “new monastic” communities (see my post here, and an earlier one). Whilst I’m more leaning toward a ‘lay religious order’ or ‘friary’ than a monastery (more on this another time) the context is the same; the motivation is the same - gospel embodiment, particularly in light Scriptural priority of the poor etc; the underlying “Christian Spirituality” (“life in the Spirit”) is contemplation and cruciform love expressed within and without (i.e. 'outside of') intentional Christian community.

Comments

[Caroline Ramsey]

The other day I had a conversation with my vicar. We were talking following a meeting to discuss new ways of doing church. What was emerging for both of us was the realisation that church was going to become increasingly fragmented, diverse and transitory. In the midst of this, it seemed to Clive that we had to get centred on Christ, we have to attend ever more carefully to our walk with Him so that our actions emerge out of His love and power.

For both Clive and myself this turned us back to the monastic rhythm of prayer and rule of life. In the midst of hectic work, in the midst of forms of church coming to birth and dying as we seek to relate with our transitory world we need an anchor of such a rule and such an anchor.

I'm walking alongside you in terms of the 'friary' approach. Take a look at the Northumbria Community if you haven't already. well worth a look.

I'm thrilled to find more and more people scratching their heads about monasticism in the same way as me! :-)

[Gordon]

what a fabulous quote - thanks. I'm a first time visitor - !! I'll be back - thanks