Missional God, Missional Church: Hope for Re-evangelizing the West

by Ross Hastings

"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). With the reality of broad-scale secularization in the West and the attendant cloud of insignificance hanging over the church, is there any hope for the re-evangelization of the West? In this comprehensive theology of mission, Ross Hastings directs the fretful gaze of the church to the trinitarian commission of John 20. There we find Jesus granting peace to his disciples by breathing his Spirit on them. He formed them into his community of shalom, the new humanity. Leaving their locked room, these "sent ones" went out to participate in God's own ongoing mission to the world. Hastings tackles the dual challenges of isolation from and accommodation to the surrounding culture. Building on the works of David Bosch, Lesslie Newbigin, Christopher Wright and Darrell Guder, the author offers a particularly theological defence of the missional church. He corrects numerous dichotomies that hinder the church. He is particularly concerned to emphasize that the missional church is as gathered, both  the deep church, deep in its eucharistic, liturgical, preaching, and communal life, and as scattered, it is the wide church, in which the whole people of God are missional in fulfilling not just the Great Commission and Great Commandment, but through their work and domestic lives, the cultural mandate, the bringing in of the new creation. This comprehensive theology of mission opens possibilities for renewal of faithful effort as we join in Christ's mission to the world.

Genres: Theology, Church

355 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2012

About the author

Ross Hastings, a Zimbabwean Scot, holds PhDs in organometallic chemistry (Queen’s University, Kingston) and theology (University of St Andrews, Scotland). His teaching interests include Trinitarian theology, pastoral theology, theology and spirituality of mission, ethics, and the interface between science and theology.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems the term "missional" is one of those current buzzwords in Christian circles. But as buzzwords go, it is a good one. So would Ross Hastings contend. What Hastings writes is not one more handbook or narrative recipe for creating "the missional church". Rather, he writes a missional theology in the truest sense, rooting missionality in the missionality of God. Furthermore, he contends that this flows out of the church's participation in the life of the triune missional God. Hence the title: missional God, missional church.

The book is developed around the text of John 21:19-23, which Hastings calls the greatest commission. Four introductory chapters present the outline of the book, call us into inculturation and out of enculturation, and most of all outline a theology of the missional triune God. The remaining two parts of the book explore the shalom Jesus calls the disciples into and bids them to disseminate.

The great value of the book is that Hastings demonstrates that missional hardly equals shallow and that the missional church and the "deep" church needn't be opposed to one another. Rather Hastings calls for a church that is deep and wide. What I regret is that the style of writing and the depth of the approach will likely consign this book to be read primarily by other missiologists. The language is academic and includes significant excurses into matters such as the current discussions of trinitarian theology. This is regrettable because it seems that a discussion along the lines of this book could be quite significant for the leadership of local congregations--grounding mission not simply in desires for growth or technique, but rather in the greatness of our missional God. It would be a great gift if Hastings would write a sequel focused not toward the academy but toward church leadership.

[Parker Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to be a better Christian.

Nearly every page is dripping with Trinitarian theology, and with the information is a constant invitation to participate in the life of God.

I read it for class, so I moved through it pretty quickly, but a definite re-read in due time.

10/10

[Justin Yeung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very stimulating thesis, that the church must be missional, being made in God’s image and participating in the life of the trinity, because God is missional in all his ad extra works. Thus as believers are brought into participation with the triune God, we live into the inherent missional identity.

Hastings is unfortunately (in my opinion) a social trinitarian. Though his relational insights between persons are helpful, I believe his lack of mention of divine simplicity in both eastern and western views of the trinity is unhelpful. Furthermore, his reliance on 20th century trinitarian theologians seems pit east and west against each other more than necessary.

His careful exposition of John 20 is so helpful and convincing, and will serve to be a catalyst to live out “the greatest commission”.

[Roby Anstett · Rating 4 out of 5]

As comprehensive as the title in relating to church history and development of theology into the modern era. Hastings argues for an essential character of God which is "missional," in other words, as one who is sent and is the sender. If Jesus is paragon of the Jewish God then what we know most about God is that he is first sent into the world, to save it, and then sends his people to continue the work. This book fortifies a foundation for the church as one that goes deep as it goes wide. A more to diversified bibliography would earn this book 5 stars.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read! God is missional, therefore his people are missional, this is the gist of what this text is about. Hastings gets into how this should call God's people into areas of social justice and respect cultural differences and experiences, in order to be Jesus' hands and feet here in our communities. Loved it!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent theology book that explains why our belief in a loving triune God should mobilize us toward service.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a amazing book. Even though some of the theological terms and concepts are more familiar for those in seminary and academic settings, the book overall is accessible. Hastings's main argument of how having a truly trinitarian understanding (the unique relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and how that should be reflected within the Christian community) of the Christian faith is necessary to become a transformative church that is both deep and wide, which the author termed as missional. I highly recommend it.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a deep and rich meditation on God, mission and the church in the 21st century context providing theological depth for missional activists.