WACC North America Webinar

Rev. Dr. Samuel Wilson Meshack

Principal, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College

Chairperson, WACC-Asia

sammeshack@gmail.com

Christian Mission & Christian Communication

Christianity is pre-eminently a religion of communication placing emphasis on Divine-self-revelation – the incarnation.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

The Church is commissioned to continually re-incarnate this Word through its communicative symbols and experiences.

The Great Commission … The Risen Christ’s mandate to his disciples:

“Go into all the world, proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation” Mk. 16:15

If the centrality of Christian Mission is concerned with proclamation of Good News to the people, then, there is no Mission without communication.

Communication …

Christian message -- missionary or apostolic obligation or mission of the church.

Communication of the Gospel is not a ‘cause for glorification’ but a ‘divine command’ laid upon the church.

Jesus said: As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

It is God’s mission, the church is called to communicate.

Communication is participation in God’s mission.

Christian Mission…

The event of Jesus Christ integrates the history of God's communication with peoples and nations with God's decisive act of “Immanuel” and “Incarnation”, encompassing the whole story of God's communication among the people.

This is the New Covenant with the people in Jesus the Messiah of the people.

This is called covenant solidarity among the people.

In Jesus Christ, the barrier between God and the rebellious people has been decisively broken;

Christ is the bridging Gap – the Communication of God between people and God.

This is the mission of God to the Church – a Communication

The mission of the church is to be the bearer of this message of love and healing. That your way may be known upon earth, your

saving power (health) among all nations (Ps. 67:2)

This message must be communicated. The church exists for the sake of the world,

and not for its own sake. It is called to witness to this prophetic

consciousness. The communication of this message of divine

power and healing to the world is the mission for which the church exists.

“Communication is at the heart of what the Church is all about. The Church exists to bring men (and women) into communion with each other.” Avery Dulles

Communication is the process in which relationships are established, maintained, modified, or terminated through the increase or reduction of meaning – William Fore

Communication is both conveying messages and creating community - Derek Weber We develop as unique persons, we relate to

others, and we cooperate with others through communication.

Our quality of life depends upon our communication.

Communication achieves its real purpose when it becomes an ‘encounter with the other, a meeting from eye to eye and from heart to heart.

Communication – a channel of liberation/transformation

Christians testify to the fact of the good news that Christ came to set us free.

The good news is for every person, regardless of location or station in life.

For Christians, a primary role of communication therefore is to aid in the process of liberation/ transformation.

The content of Christian faith is "nothing other than the development of the dialogical principle itself," and "the relationship to God is not simply communication. It is rather that which makes communication possible.“ (Johannes Henrichs, 1981: 3-9.)

Theology must at all times take into account the meanings present in common human experience

the aim of communication is to help to interpret their existence in the light of what God has done for them as manifest in Jesus Christ.

Theology of Communication

the important challenge the Church is concerned with proclaiming Christ will face is to find fresh ways to ensure that the good seed is not cast about in a haphazard manner.

The challenge for the Church of the 21st century is to continue the unending quest for discovering newer forms of expression for that timeless message.

The Church must understand the signs of the times to respond to the new challenges.

The women in a male dominated Church want a new interpretation of theology, a more gender neutral portrayal of God and faith content.

The youth wants the Church and religion more realistic, leaders with understanding than condemnatory – liturgy more creative, dynamic and participatory, etc.,

Ethnic groups and communities are searching for a new identity.

The Churches like good evangelizer, or a good farmer, must be in continuous contact with the soil as it ploughs and as it sows.

The seeds may be a high yielding variety, but that alone will not ensure a good harvest.

a Theology of Communication is based on Communion, expressing commonality in our identity as confessional fellowship and our ecumenical witness.

The task of ecumenism is to bring also cultures together.

The Theology of Communication is a ‘Theology of communion’.

Promote Communicative communion Openness

Inclusiveness

Sharing

We have no communion unless we can listen to each other and speak to each other, and live and witness in equal partnership, mutual sharing and caring.

A Theology of Communication focuses on the ‘right to communicate’, ‘right to privacy’

Raises prophetic consciousness to denounce falsehood, and affirm truth and human dignity.

Upholds Kingdom values over against the media values.

‘Communication builds communion’ ‘Communication makes us human’ Hence A Theology of communication will

transform Communications in Churches