+Anastnsios
ArchbishopofTirana,DunesandallAlbania
ProfessorEmeritusofthe UniversityofAthensHonoraryMemberoftheAcademyof Athens
TheologicalUnderstandingofMission(Variationsonatheme)
The theologicalunderstandingofMissionisnecessarynotsolelyfortheologiansandtheclergybutisdecisivelyimportanttotheentireChurch.EveryChristianmustlearnandrealizethatMissionaryactivitydoesnotconstituteasupplementora branch of ourecclesiasticalactivitiesbutisafundamentalexpressionofourfaith.Inaddition, thefaithfulChristianmustrealizethatMissiondoesnotmeanleavingourgeographicalor socialenvironmenttowardother,unknown,andexoticcountries,butthefirmorientationtoward thecentreofChristianexperience,aswellastheessenceofourChristianfaith,hope,loveandChristianexpectations,sothatwecanunderstandthemysteryofsalvationinChristinitsglobalandeschatologicalperspective.
Inorderforusto maintain the missionary vision alive,anditsrelatedcomprehensionvibrant,itisnecessary forustoponder againandagainthetheologicalconceptsinrelationtoMission.Here,weshall li1nitourselvestoonlythreefundamentaltheologicalpoints.
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1. TheTrinitarianDimension
ThecontentofourfaithandthecentreofourlifeisGod-astheHolyTrinity,asLove.Thestarting pointoftheunderstandingof ChristianMissionispreciselyinthemysteryoftheTriuneGod.God, beinglove,extends Hislovetotheentirehumanrace,totheentirecreation. Thestartingpointof anyApostolic activityremainstherisenLord'spromise andcommandin theirTriuneperspective“AstheFatherhassentme I amsending you … Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22) TheFather'sloveisexpressedbytheMissionoftheSon:"ForGodsolovedtheworldthathegavehisoneandonlySon."John3:16)TheSon,subsequently,givesthecommandofmissiontoHisdisciples,"...forthe scattered children ofGod, to bringthemtogether..."(John11:52)toHisKingdom. All human beings,whohavebeencreatedintheimageofGod,arecalledtoreturntothefreedomoflove,topartakeinthelife-of-loveoftheHolyTrinity.ThegloryofGod,whichradiatesover,andgives lifetocreation, musttransformeverything,"tobeexaltedovertheentireearthandtheheavens."
TheSon'smissionconstitutes thestartingpointanddefinesmorespecificallyChristianMission.TheworkofChristisnotsimplyanannouncementbutafact,thedefinitivefactofworldhistory,whichopensthewayfortheeschaton,thefinalcompletionoftheevolutionofthecosmos.Itconcernsthereceptionofhumannature,anditsre-creation withinthelife-of-loveoftheHolyTrinity.Thisreception,whichismadeinlove,thiscontinuousconveyingofthelife-of-love,thisre-creationofeverythinginthelightofGod'sglory,continuesintimeandspacethroughtheChurch'sMissionactivity.
DecisiveforOrthodoxMissionremainstheconjunction"as"(kathos)inJohn20:21. Itisinmyfootstepsthatyou all oughttobefollowing,andmyexampleyoushouldbeemulating,emphasizesChrist.TheChristological doctrinedefinesthewayofthe Triune God'sMissionwhichisbeing continuedbythefaithful. WhatisessentialinMissionisnotthatwhichone announcesbutthatwhichonelives, that whichoneishim/herself. Theheartof Mission is"beinginChrist." And,Man "becomes" only byremaining in Christ. Only this kindofhumanbeingbearsfruit: “… If youremaininmeandIinyou,youwillbear much fruit;apartfrommeyou candonothing."(John15:5)
TheHolySpiritparticipatesfromthebeginningintheSon'sMission.TheIncarnationismadecomplete,asweconfessinour Creed, “…oftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary."TheHolySpiritworkstogetherwithwhatisbestinthehumanrace:theAll-HolyVirginwho,unreservedlyandhappilysubmitstotheWillofGodtheFather,fortherealizationoftheSon'smission.
TheSpirit,intheappearanceofadove,sealsthestartoftheSon'spublicministry. Furthermore,intheappearanceoffieryflamesandviolentwind,theSpiritconstitutestheChurch,transformingthefearfuldisciplesintoheroicApostles,fullofdivineillumination,knowledgeandpower.TheSpiritcreatestheChurch, transformingindividualsintoacommunityofpersons-anopensocietywithglobalresponsibilities.TheSpiritceaselesslygiveslifetotheChurchandtoeachoftheChurch'smembers,transformingthemintolivingcellsofthemysticalbodyofChrist,enablingittopartakeinHiscontinuingmissionforthesalvationoftheentirecosmos.
TheenergiesoftheTriuneGodarealwayspersonal:fromtheFather,throughtheSon,intheSpirit.Trinitarianfaithandthoughtisatthecoreofourthoughtsandactions.
Mission,likeeverythingelseintheOrthodoxlife,isdone"inthenameoftheFather,andtheSon,andtheHolySpirit." Itispartakingofthelifeofthe HolyTrinity,anessentialexpressionofOrthodoxself-awareness--aloudshoutthroughaction-forthecompletionoftheWillofGodonearth,"onearthasitisinheaven."TheTrinitarianfaithmustalwaysbepresentinthecoreofourmissionarythoughtsandactions.
2.TheEcclesiasticalDimension.
ThedevelopmentofanOrthodoxmissionary conscience contributestothedeeper understanding of orthodox ecclesiology.Thereverseisalsotrue:adeeperunderstandingof OrthodoxecclesiologystrengthensOrthodoxmissionaryconscience. Duringanerawhenthereexistedsomanydefiningtermsforvariousreligiouscommunitiesandgroups,thefirstChristians,inordertodefinetheirownself-awareness,choosetheterm"ecclesia"whichdeclaredtheassemblyoftheentiredemos(city-state).Inthenewreality,intheneweschatologicalcitywhichwasbuiltonthecrossandthevacanttomboftherisenLord,Godistheonewhoissuestheassemblycall,andtheentireworldisthedemos. Thisisaboutthecatholic"EcclesiaofGod." Whenthatnewcommunity,whichwascalledtoassemblybytheTriuneGod,waschoosing"ecclesia"asitsself-definingterm-especiallyinanerawhenemperorsandkingsruled– it wasunderliningallofitsmembers'responsibleparticipationforitslife,directionandevolution.
Webelongtothe"catholicChurch"whichembraceseverything,allOrthodoxMission,whetherdomesticorforeign,isbynatureecclesiastic.Itcannotbethoughtofasanindividualor groupactivity whilebeingcutofffromtheBodyofChrist.WhoeverservesintheChurch,itistheChurchheorsheserves,itistheChurchheorsherepresents;itisthe Churchlifeheorshetransplants.Nooneissavedonhisorherown;nooneoffersbyhisorherownselfthesalvationwhichisinChrist.ApersonissavedintheChurch,actswithintheChurch,and,whateversuchapersondisseminatesdoessointhenameoftheChurch.
3.Globaleschatologicalperspective.
Takingpartinmission,weparticipateinadivineplanwhichisinprogressandhasglobaldimensions.Wearealready moving towardtheeschata.With thedescent of the HolySpiritand theestablishmentoftheChurch,withHispouringoutandintotheworld,with His continuous presencein the world, a new movementofre-creation of thecosmoswasinaugurated amovementwhichexaltshumanityandtransformsthe universe.Missionconstitutesaprerequisitefortheadventof the Kingdom: “Andthisgospel of thekingdomwillbepreached inthewholeworld …and thentheendwillcome."(Matthew24:14)However,thefinalJudgmentisalsoaglobalevent:“AllthenationswillbegatheredbeforeHim..."(Matthew25:32)Everything, in theeschatological epoch,pertainstotheentireoecumene. At thesametime,surpriseand the shattering ofcommonlyacceptedthings remainafundamental elementoftheJudgment.Thosewho"did good"aswell asthose who "practicedevil" had never predicted that the criterion and the basis for the decisionoftheJudgewouldbeChrist'sidentifyingofhimselfwiththehumble andpersecuted oftheearth:“TrulyItellyou,whateveryoudidforoneoftheleastofthesebrothersandsistersofmine,youdidforme" (Matthew 25:40) Our support toward the poor and theafflicted oftheentireearthisessentially aunionwiththeLord whowasafflictedforus.This aspect makeseschatologyceaselesslyrevolutionary,missionary, andrelevant.
NotonlytroubledhumanitybutalsotheentirecreationtakespartintheChristianMissionfortherestorationwhichwasrealizedbytheredeemingworkofChristandfindsagainitspurpose(sincecreationcontainswithinitthehumanrace),glorifyingGod. According to orthodoxthought,theentireworldisledtowardtransformation.Theentireuniversehasbeencalledto enterthe Church,tobecomeChrist'sChurch,sothatsubsequently,attheendoftheages,itmaybecomeGod'sheavenlyKingdom.TheChurchisthecentreoftheentirecosmos,thespaceinwhichitsdestinyisdecisivelydetermined. EverythingtheChurchpossesses,She possesses itforthebenefitof theentirecosmos.Sheradiatesitandoffersit,transformingeverything.Theentirecosmos-notonlyhumanitybutalsotheentireuniverse,takespartintherestorationwhichhasbeencompletedbytheredeemingworkofChrist,and rediscoversitsdestinywhile glorifyingGod.
Thereisaconcept,mainlydevelopedbytheGreekFathers,accordingtowhichtheperson,inits(theperson's)exaltationtowardthepersonalGod,hastheobligationtoincludewithittheentireworld.Definedthroughthisconceptisthespecialrespectnotonlytoeachhumanperson buttothewholeofcreation.EverythingistobebroughtunderHim(Ephesians1:10).Allthings"inheavenandon earth"willfindtheirpurposewhichisChrist.ItisinthismysteryofGodthatweareparticipatingwhenweareworkinginamissionarycapacity.Thisvisionliberatesusfromanyclosed,individualistic pietyandgivestoMissionaglobal,eschatologicalperspective.
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WhatabouttheinternalproblemsoftheChurch?
Andwhatwillhappenwith"theinternalproblemsofourChurch," thosewhichwedetectallaroundus,inourcountry,andgenerallyinthetraditionallyChristiancountries,inEuropeaswellasinAmerica?Weshalllimitourselvestotwoclarifications,explainingsynopticallyhowweconceiveGlobalOrthodoxMissioninourtimes.
1. Wedonotclaimaromanticallyconceived"externalMission"butwerefertotheChurch'sself-awareness,universality,andfullness.TothevariousobjectionsandargumentsregardingtheprioritiesofeachparticularlocalChurch,thebestandfinalansweristhelastcommandmentoftheLord,thatwhichHeleftbehindbeforehisdeparturefromtheearth,asitwasconveyedtousbyStLuke(Acts1:18)."...andyouwillbemywitnessesinJerusalem,andinallJudeaand Samaria, and to the ends of theearth.” The commandment coversthelocalandtheglobal.Inreality,thereisnodilemma,therearenocorrelativeconjunctions"either...or". Botharenecessary,"boththisandthat,"bothinternalandexternalMission.
Wedonothavetherighttoconfineourselvestoourinternalproblems.Weareobligatedtoextendourvisionandourinteresttowardtheglobalcommunitywhichisbeingborninourtimes.Nooneismorerealisticthanthosewho carefullyobservethehuman problemsandchallenges-thehumandestiny-andwhoareworkingforfreedom,dignity,andthesearchfortruth,withaglobalperspectiveintheirthoughtandlove.TheChurchinitsentiretyisobligatedtospreadtheGospeltotheentireworld,tothosewhoarenearandthosewhoarefar,andtomanifestinterestintheentirehumanity,ineveryexpressionofhuman life.
ItistimeforustolearntofunctionwithintheframeworkofourlocalChurchwhilemaintaininga global and eschatologicalperspective.
2.EachandeverylocalChurchcommunity,aslongasitparticipatesinthecatholicityoftheChurch,isobligatedtoparticipateinthepainandstrugglesofthewholeChurch,inallthelongitudesandlatitudesoftheearth.Ofcourse,aparticularlocalChurchpresentsitsowncharacteristics;anditiswiththesespecialcharacteristicsthatsheiscalledtoglorifyGodandtogiveherwitness.Atthe"'sametime,however,itisanecessityandadutyofeveryprovinceandcongregationtoexperiencetheglobalaswellasthelocalaspectoftheChurch.
Inordertobeauthentically"catholic,"everylocalChurch,isobligatedtoworkandpray forthemoredeprivedcountries,fortheregionswherepeoplearehungryforthewordofGod,whereChristianpresenceisverylittledetectableoraltogethernon-existent.TherearestillmillionsofpeoplewhoarewaitingtoheartheGospel.
EmphasizingthateverycountryisaplaceforMission,wearecorrecttoincludealsoourownhomecountry.Nevertheless,thethoughtthatthereisnolongeranyneedfor"externalMission,"thatthelocalChurchisresponsibleonlyforitsownjurisdiction,isverydangerous.Wheneveradioceseoracongregationisabsorbedexclusivelybyitsowninterests,spiritualwitheringfollows. Thosewhobecomeconfinedinto,themselvesisolatethemselvesandlosethemselves.Thishastodowithaspirituallawwhichisvalidforthelifeof theindividual,of thecommunity,butalsoforthelargerorsmallergroups,whethertheyarenationorethnicgroupsoranythingelse.
ThecareandtheexerciseofMissionisaninternalnecessityforthefaithfulandtheChurch.Ifwerefuseit,wearenotmerelyrefusingaresponsibilitybutourveryownself,ouridentity.
WithMission,theloveoftheTriuneGodisceaselessly extendedbymobilizingtheloveofHisownpeople,andhasasitsscopethetransformationoftheentireworld.
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Asfar asthefutureisconcerned,Ibelievethatwemustavoidboththeeuphoriaofover -optimismandunwarranteddisappointment.Ourresponsibilityforthedevelopmentofthemodemworldisalltheclearer,andrapprochementandcollaborationamongChristiansmoreimperative.GodhasopenednewhorizonsforthecommonactionofChristians,suchastheissuesofworldpeace,justice,andthesustainmentofthecreation.
Supportedbytheprofoundassurance ofthefaithinHimWhois,indeed,the “ΌντωςΩν”,theTrueBeing,bythetruthandlovewhichHerevealedtousintheirplenitude,vveChristiansdaretohope.Andinthisnewphaseofglobalhistory,inthemidstofpressingproblems,weproclaim withboldness:“Thereishope"inoureffortsforunity.Thereishopeinthecommonbattleforpeaceandjustice;when weinsisttogetherontheobligationofsolidaritybetweenpeopleandpeoples;whenweintensifyourcommoneffortsforunfailingrespectforthecreation.Intheend,throughthepowerofthecrucifiedandrisenLordChrist,toWhomhasbeengiven"allauthorityinheavenandonearth"(Matt.28:18),truth,justiceandlovewillprevail.Letusnotbetroubledoverthefuture.ThefuturebelongstoChrist.HeistheOne,"whoisandwhowasandwhoistocome,theAlmighty"(Rev.1:8).AndHeiscomingagain;fromthefuture!
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