Kotahitanga and koinonia in shalom as the objective of the mission of God

Abstract

AbstractEvangelical theology and the missions that flowed from it was born in an era of high colonialism, shaped by enlightenment dualism and scientific method, under the influence of industrialization. As evangelical Christianity’s centre of gravity shifted south, global North dominance over its theology and missiology persisted, translated into new tongues. This paper, sensing a tipping point in evangelical thought as we emerge out of global pandemic disruption, proposes an alternative framing of church and missions from the collectivist perspective shared by those less affected by the influence of Western industrialization and individualism. It proposes that both the means and the objective of the mission of God should be common unity in‐Christ. It shifts focus from the Great Commission to the Great Commitment, which emphasizes being one and holding fast to that unity for the joy that awaits those who persevere in mutuality. Along the way, the demonstration of whole‐of‐life covenantal community in‐Christ serves as our witness to the world, which provides those of us in‐Christ with an opportunity to explain the hope that we have and invite others to join us in the experience of God’s shalom goodness.