Edification and Mission Again
Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” has written a very good post called “Edification Necessarily Leads to Mission.”
His post reminds me of a post I wrote a few months ago called “Which is important for the church: edification or mission?”
Edification, as part of the process of helping people follow Jesus, should lead to many things, including (as Eric says) proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to others.
Eric writes:
If edification has its intended outcome, we will all mature in Christ. Part of that maturation is desiring for others to know the Jesus who is transforming us. As Christian maturity goes up, a desire for others to come to Christ ought to naturally rise as well.
The author of Hebrews tells us in 10:24, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Edification leads directly to love and good works. What more loving work can there be than proclaiming the life-giving news of Christ crucified and resurrected?
I think the intended outcome of edification is a group of people who are maturing in Jesus Christ. Maturity will certainly include a propensity toward proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What do you think?
Thanks Alan!