Ge.1:26 God said “let us” make man in our image but “let them” have dominion. – the mandata to subdue and have dominion over the earth became a law when God spoke those words. the reason why God didnt interfere in what happened in the garden is Gen 1:26. he cannot interfere as a Spirit thatsy why satan used a serpent and thats why gen 3:15, the promise of God .

MB

Good responses.

In chapter 7 FV writes directly to “mission” and God’s purpose. Here’s an excerpt which is just long enough to be a teaser and short enough to not violate copyright (I hope. Frank or Jeanette, correct me if I’m wrong in this; Grace, remove it if you think I’ve stepped over the line.);

As I write this book, there’s a great deal of talk about the Missio Dei (God’s Mission) in Christian circles. I think this can be a healthy emphasis. But exactly what is God’s mission? I suggest that it’s nothing other than God’s eternal purpose.

As long as I’ve been a Christian, I have made this simple observation: Our modern gospel is entirely centered on human needs. The plotline of that gospel is one of a benevolent God whose main purpose is blessing and healing a fallen world. Thus our gospel is centered on saving man’s spirit/soul (evangelism) and/or saving his body (healing the sick, delivering the captives, helping the poor, standing with the oppressed, caring for the earth, etc.). In short, the gospel that’s commonly preached today is “human centered.” It’s focused on the needs of humanity, be they spiritual or physical.

But there is a purpose in God that is for God. That purpose was formed in Christ before the fall ever occurred. The meeting of human needs is a by-product, a spontaneous outflow, of that purpose. It’s not the prime product.

Tellingly, God didn’t create humans in need of salvation. Go back to the creation project in Genesis 1 and 2, and you will discover that God’s purpose preceded the fall. That should lead us to ask a very incisive question: What was God going to do with human beings if they had never fallen?

Frank Viola, Reimaginging Chruch

I suspect that “discipleship” will be discussed in various ways through chapters 11-12.

Tom

On a couple of issues raised here I would comment:

David, I understand your desire for real examples and Viola does provide some. However, I think the point is that there are some very basic concepts that flow from scripture and much else has to be worked out in each gathering of followers of Jesus. A part of the problem we face today with institutions is that it has become formulaic.

Jonathan Brink: In my view when we are the church as Father intended then discipleship happens at its best, people see what God’s coming Kingdom is, and by our very lives we are missional. In my view we are still too much about focusing on these things as independent of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in assembly (ekklesia) with other followers. When the church is the church this all happens naturally. When we try to focus on the component parts as ends in themselves then we end up where we are today in most expressions of church in North America….