Ecclesiology and Mission: Who’s in the Driver’s Seat

Abstract

What is the end goal of our missionary activity?  John Piper is oft-quoted in this regard:  “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.  Worship is ultimate, not missions . . . .”  Thus, missiology is the means to ever-expanding doxology.  The Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20 has arguably been the primary impetus of missionary activity since the time of William Carey.   While it is clear from this classic Great Commission text that our goal is to make disciples of all nations, what may not be as clear therein is the role of the church in that process.