That certain religions or faiths are on mission is not to be doubted, but whether or not their mission is valid may be questioned. Loyalty to one’s faith, custom, creed and culture seems natural enough, and one’s mission to extend these elements into the wider society may seem commendable.
But the elements we mention are common to all societies— even if somewhat different in themselves—and may be presented as ideologies. Ideologies are meant to transform society and are dynamical, but at the same time quite dangerous. Once a religion or culture becomes an ideology, it then becomes a mission and becomes perilous to human society. It may make converts but it mainly makes proselytes, and develops sectarianism and fundamentalism. So mission per se is not valid. It may represent danger to society.
But the elements we mention are common to all societies— even if somewhat different in themselves—and may be presented as ideologies. Ideologies are meant to transform society and are dynamical, but at the same time quite dangerous. Once a religion or culture becomes an ideology, it then becomes a mission and becomes perilous to human society. It may make converts but it mainly makes proselytes, and develops sectarianism and fundamentalism. So mission per se is not valid. It may represent danger to society.
That mission represents a threat is clear from the history of the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims. Devotees of these three religions see the danger in each other’s mission, judging other missions as unacceptable ideologies. When we realise that a culture derives from the cultus or worship system of a society, then we see the reason for incompatibility in cultures and their missions. The history of every culture somehow links with the gods and lords of that particular community.
This can be seen in Israel and surrounding peoples and their worship. It was always a battle for Israel not to share in the exotic worship of surrounding nations. In some sense, all the idols have their missions in the total societies of humanity. Throughout this book, we rarely speak of the widest issue—God and Satan. However, we recognise that idolatry does not spring from itself but from creatures both celestial and terrestrial.
This can be seen in Israel and surrounding peoples and their worship. It was always a battle for Israel not to share in the exotic worship of surrounding nations. In some sense, all the idols have their missions in the total societies of humanity. Throughout this book, we rarely speak of the widest issue—God and Satan. However, we recognise that idolatry does not spring from itself but from creatures both celestial and terrestrial.
from "God and Man in the Mission of the Kingdom", by Geoffrey C. Bingham, Redeemer Baptist Press: North Parramatta, 2003, pp.4-5
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It is some what disconcerting to my confidence and comfort, to continually discover that the nicest and most comfortable cultures are possibly those that are most ingrained in idolatry by the work of Satan. I have discovered since becoming a Christian that idolatry is hard to discover because it is so close to our hearts and enshrined there that we are blinded within our own culture. And to have our eyes opened to our idolatry is a somewhat 'vomitous' and gut wrenching experience- not to mention upsetting to or 'friend' the devil. Thanks for telling me again that culture is largely born out of our worship (cult) - if that's is what is being said. The question I have been asking myself and God is, "Where are we today?" It is easy to get lost in mission and have that as your god- it seems so reasonable when disguised by good intensions. I recently spoke on creation (Gen.1:1-25) and was blessed to find that God, our God and Father of Jesus Christ- is both the Creator and redeemer of the whole earth, and that this was His plan and goal from the beginning. Our mission therefore, is not save the world but to preach Christ and have Him dwell in us richly!
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