Shalom and the Possibilities of Being “Mission-Shaped”

Prodigal Kiwi: Shalom and the Possibilities of Being “Mission-Shaped” (Emphasis in the original.)

I’ve been long inclined to place shalom near the very ‘heart’ of God’s mission, and thus to locate it at the centre of what it means for us to join in on God’s mission – we are bearers of shalom. How do I understand shalom? I understand shalom (root shalem (verb) as having to do with: completeness, fullness, wholeness, harmony, aliveness, and fulfillment. It has to do with restored relationship. It’s the result of God’s activity. So, for me, mission is to be concerned about more than say, evangelism (though that is a subset of “mission”). It is to creatively and imaginatively join in on God’s shalom-activity (Lk 10:1-12). It is to be for shalom and the myriad of ways and contexts within which we can serve God’s continuing work of creating. An understanding of mission as being centered on shalom seems to me to have both significant implications and creative possibilities… Somehow it enriches and deepens the sense of joining in on what God is doing, both in the lives of individuals (e.g. through life-coaching, spiritual direction, anger-management, relationship-counseling, therapy etc). The gospel as “shalom” for the sake of the world and what God wants to do (the eschatological dimension) ...

I think this is right on. Shalom is the central concept behind the New Creation.

Comments

[Peggy]

Michael,

I have been processing covenant as primary context, hesed (faithful covenant-keeping) as primary response, and shalom as the resulting primary reality.

(Along with this re-emphasis on understanding hesed in the NT, I am also processing the value of seeing fully devoted disciples of Christ as the Christian Hasidim--not in a legalistic or fundamentalist sense, but as vibrant, faithful covenant-keepers, saints, and Royal priests rather than non-descript "members of the Church"...what does that do for groups that do not have formal "membership"? Hmmm....)

I have adopted this covenant formulary (from M. Smith's work on covenant) for understanding how Eikons are to participate in the missio dei:

In Christ + Like Christ = With Christ

and that seems to square with these three concepts:

Joining Christ's New Covenant + faithful hesed = Christ's Shalom

I know that is a little challenging to drop without unpacking, but this has been an important bit of processing...and I'm grateful to your hospitality as I process out loud! More to come at "home", but thanks for the inspiration!

The concept of shalom seems to be the ideal description of what it truly means to be "with Christ"...with all its already/not yet characteristics!

[Michael W. Kruse]

Interesting stuff! I see shalom as including whole relationships between God and us, between each other, and have shalom within ourselves.

What does the "M" in M. Smith stand for?

[Peggy]

Exactly...that is why it fits the whole "with Christ" sum of the equation. Hesed is not just something that God extends toward us, but it is to be the very nature of our relationship with him and with each other...which results in shalom within ourselves.

Dr. Smith's first name is Mont. His book is currently out of print, so web-based finds are pretty spendy...but you could e-mail me if you were really interested in finding out how to get a copy....

[Paul Fromont]

Thanks Michael. I'm pleased you found it useful. Have a good weekend.

[Michael W. Kruse]

You are welcome Paul. I appreciate you blog.