Missio Politica

Packed with practical wisdom gained from the author’s in-depth experience of social and political engagement from the grassroots level upwards. The result is a challenging and inspiring call to radical discipleship that is as academically rigorous as it is practical. It is a must-read for anyone wanting to grow in their understanding of what it means to be a faithful disciple of Jesus and servant of the King of Kings.

Mark Galpin, PhD
Tutor and Lecturer,
All Nations Christian College

This book by Johannes Reimer provides in-depth theological reflection as well as practical guidelines for Christian mission that understands the transformation of communities to be the comprehensive reversal of the effects of sin over all of life and all the earth that alienated men and women from God, from self, from others and from the environment. The author makes it clear that God’s intention for his church is to be his instrument in restoring human beings to be full bearers of his image and bring back his order to creation.

Professor P. J. (Flip) Buys, ThD
International Director,
World Reformed Fellowship

The great value of this book is its wide-ranging practicality. Johannes Reimer draws on his experience of mission in communist Eastern and capitalist Western Europe, as well as his studies in South Africa during that country's apartheid era, to challenge Christians everywhere to an authentic, contextual and biblically-shaped engagement with the powers of this age.

Dr Vinoth Ramachandra, PhD
International Secretary for Dialogue & Social Engagement,
IFES, Sri Lanka

Drawing us into the biblical narratives, from God’s calling of a people Israel to the scattering after Pentecost, Reimer carefully examines the ways in which God’s people engage in the political world and how our participation in the Triune God’s mission entails being part of the struggles for justice, peace and reconciliation. In a world that longs to hear and see the good news of the gospel, this book reminds all Christians of our call to be and to share that good news in the world today.

C. Rosalee Velloso Ewell, PhD
Executive Director,
Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance

Missio Politica: The Mission of the Church and Politics meets a crying need in the Christian church today on knowing why and how followers of Christ should be meaningfully involved in politics as mission. It is essential reading for missional congregations – thorough, comprehensive, and Word-centered.

Rev CB Samuel
Advisor for Micah GlobalFormer CEO of the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR)Itinerant Theologian and Bible Teacher

1. Foreword
2. Abbreviations
3. 1 – Introduction
1. 1.1. A personal search
2. 1.2. You Can’t Sit at Home and Wait
3. 1.3. Theological Perspectives Given
4. 1.4. Ecumenical Movement: A Red Flag
5. 1.5. The Question at Stake
6. 1.6. The Perspective Matters
4. 2 – God and His Mission in the Old Testament
1. 2.1. God – the Source and Foundation
2. 2.2. God Created the World with a Purpose
3. 2.3. Humans Are Set toFulfill God’s Plan
4. 2.4. God Reveals Himself in History
5. 2.5. God Seeks to Heal His Creation
6. 2.6. Israel – Example and Paradigm
7. 2.7. A Holy Nation among the Nations
8. 2.8. The Messiah Comes from Israel
5. 3 – Mission and Politics in the Old Testament
1. 3.1. Creation and the Cultural Mandate
2. 3.2. Blessed to Be a Blessing for the Nations
3. 3.3. The God Who Saves and Restores
4. 3.4. Mission to All Nations
5. 3.5. The Messiah of Israel
6. 3.6. The Mission of God and Politics in the Old Testament
6. 4 – Mission in the New Testament
1. 4.1. The God of the New Testament
2. 4.2. Missio Patri –Laying Foundations
3. 4.3. Missio Christi – God’s Way of Transformation
4. 4.4. Missio Spiritus – God’s Praxis of Transformation
5. 4.5. The Mission of the Triune God
6. 4.6. Is God’s Mission Political?
7. 5 – The Nature and Mission of the Church of Christ
1. 5.1. Called to Be Responsible
2. 5.2. Sent to Be Light of the World
8. 6 – The Political Task of the Church
1. 6.1. Politically Responsible Institution
2. 6.2. A Communal Priest
3. 6.3. A Royal Servant
4. 6.4. A Prophetic Witness
5. 6.5. The Place of Political Involvement
6. 6.6. The Alternative Society
9. 7 – Missio Politica – a Mission of Peace
1. 7.1. Men and Women of Peace
2. 7.2. Mission, Violence, and Peace
3. 7.3. A Person of Peace Promotes Peace
4. 7.4. Peacemaking – the Heart of God’s Mission
5. 7.5. Peacemaking in Context
10. 8 – The Politics of the Church – Moving into the Public Square
1. 8.1. The Point of Departure
2. 8.2. God in the World – Join Him
3. 8.3. People of the World – Partner with Them
4. 8.4. Strongholds of Darkness – Fight against Them
11. 9 – The Politics of the Church – A Practice Model
1. 9.1. The Need of a Praxis Theory
2. 9.2. Praxis Cycle – Towards a Contextual Theology of Political Involvement
3. 9.3. Acting with the People – Towards Participatory Involvement
12. 10 – Christian Community Development (CCD)
1. 10.1. What Is Community Development?
2. 10.2. Christian Community Development – History and Development
3. 10.3. In Community for the Community
4. 10.4. The Cycle of Christian Community Development
5. 10.5. Examples from the Praxis
13. 11 – Community Centred Church – a Question of Leadership?
1. 11.1. Community-Minded Leadership
2. 11.2. Theologically Adequate Eldership
3. 11.3. Strategic Competence
4. 11.4. Spiritual Competence
5. 11.5. Communication Competence
6. 11.6. Mentoring Competence
7. 11.7. Theological Competence
8. 11.8. Less Is Fatal
14. 12 – At Home as Well as Abroad
1. 12.1. Local Roots and Global Wings
2. 12.2. Globalization – Structures and Powers of Injustice
3. 12.3. Seeing and Praying
15. Bibliography
16. Index