Transformation, Mission, Reconciliation, and Unity

Abstract

This article argues that for Christ’s love to be reflected in the Christian call to mission, it should be seen from the perspective of the cross: self-emptying and selfless love that seeks the good of the other just as the self. It argues that mission is critical for transformation, unity, and reconciliation. There cannot be full realization of unity and of reconciliation without the cross. Mission starts from within before it can reach out to others if it is to bring about human dignity and transformation. Christian mission has been on a pilgrimage of love, justice, peace, and unity for decades. The self-emptying and a selfless love of the cross is a love that sees the other through the self and brings humanity close to reconciliation, love, and unity. Because the church has been searching for reconciliation and unity for many decades, history shows that there cannot be reconciliation – at least for Christianity – without reference to the cross. At the cross, the love of Christ, the love of God, was shared. This was a love that saw need in the other and was willing to reach from deep within the self out and share this love and bring reconciliation and unity to humanity. The cross symbolizes a love so deep it was willing to die so that the other could have life in full. It was a love that saw the other as equally important and needed to be reconciled.