Abstract

In the first of these two articles we focused on the Biblical perspective of the missionary church. The focus in the second article is on the ecclesiology. It is essential to remember that the church is rooted in the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ himself and his ministry was the beginning of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). The church exists not for her own sake, but for the world for whom Jesus was crucified. This is the vantage point for a missionary church at the end of the Christendom paradigm. The missionary character of the church (the church as an apostolic church) and eschatology were not always in die focus of the theology of the reformed churches in the Western world. Of the four notes or marks of the church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, apostolic is the norm for the other three. Apostolicity is a precondition and a result for the church as a missionary church. The message of a missionary church is the only real answer in the search for meaning in this world.

Highlights

  • In the first of these two articles we focused on the Biblical perspective of the missionary church

  • Dietrich Bonhoeffer was in die Nazi-gevangenis in 1944 die argitek van die uitdrukking: “Die kerk as die kerk vir ander” (Bonhoeffer 1971:382)

  • Binne hierdie verhouding wat deur ‘n lewende geloof geanker is in Christus, lewe die gelowige in die teenwoordigheid van God

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Summary

DIE KERK DEUR NUWE OË

In die eerste artikel is gekyk na ‘n Bybels-teologiese fundering van ‘n missionêre kerk. Daar word selfs beweer dat die kerke van die reformasie ‘n konseptuele raamwerk opgebou het waarmee die Skrif geïnterpreteer word wat net so rigied soos die Rooms-Katolieke tradisie is (Burrows 1999:189). In die lig van die neiging van die kerk om altyd te institusionaliseer, moet dit voortdurend in gedagte gehou word dat dit in die geloofslewe van die kerk ten diepste gaan oor God (as die groot Subjek) wat met die mens (as die klein subjek) in ‘n (verbonds-) verhouding wil staan en in gesprek wil bly. Deur die kruis en die opstanding van Jesus Christus is daar ‘n nuwe verhouding tussen God en mens gevestig. Gebed is die kragbron van die mens se lewe in verhouding met God. Dit is die spiritualitieits-as van gesprek tussen God en mens. Binne hierdie verhouding wat deur ‘n lewende geloof geanker is in Christus, lewe die gelowige in die teenwoordigheid van God (coram Deo). Skematies kan die gesprek tussen God en mens soos volg voorgestel word

DIE KONINKRYK VAN GOD EN DIE KERK
METAMORFOSE
APOSTOLIESE KERK
DIE BEDIENING VAN DIE VERSOENING
DIE TAAK EN DIE STRYD VAN DIE KERK
DIE TAAK VAN DIE MISSIONÊRE LERAAR
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