5. “Is our representation of Christ not part of the mission?” This final question aptly summarizes the biggest criticism we’ve seen to our book (we”ll say more about this concern tomorrow). Trevin probably speaks for others when he says, “DeYoung and Gilbert believe we must represent Christ, but it seems like they connect this representation so tightly to verbal proclamation of the gospel that little room is left for representing Christ through love and good deeds.” Later he concludes, “Christ-likeness is a part of the mission, and we cannot and should not separate proclamation of Christ from the representation of Christ we offer through our acts of service.” Let us reiterate: we believe with all our hearts and preach it from our pulpits with passion that Christians must live lives of love and good deeds. Holiness (in all its public and private expressions) is irrefutably, indispensably, and irreducibly part of being a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s one of the reasons God chose us and saved us (Eph. 1:4).

But what does it mean to say our good deeds “represent” Christ? We aren’t sure if Trevin is saying: we demonstrate what it means to have Christ in us, or that we re-present Christ in the world, or both. We agree with the first option, but don’t see in the New Testament that we are supposed to be incarnations of Christ’s presence in the world (again, we aren’t sure that’s what Trevin is suggesting). More to the point, we wonder what it means that “Christ-likeness is a part of the [church’s] mission.” If this means our good works adorn the gospel and win a hearing for the gospel then we totally agree. But we do not think Jesus sends the church as church into the world to adopt schools, remedy unemployment, make a contribution to the arts, or plant trees (which is not what Trevin says here, but what we have heard others say and are arguing against in our book). We have many good things to do as Christians and many good things we could do, but everything good does not equal the mission of the church.

via Some Answers to Some Nagging Questions | 9Marks.

I’m completely sympathetic to asking the question “what does it mean to say our good deeds ‘represent’ Christ?”–but there is no question that an answer must be sought because the Bible unambiguously supports Trevin’s position.

First, lets point out that representation is tightly related to being an image-bearer. That puts us back at creation: humanity is created in the image of God and humanity’s progressive dominion is representative of God himself.

Second, that image-bearing is restored in Christ who is the image and representative of the Father.

Third, we thus have the Church as the light doing her mission simply by being light:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

The exposure here is not any kind of mission to reveal what evil is (Paul rules that out as “shameful”) but rather simply a life that transforms the world because it represents God and is used by Christ to end darkness.

I think asking “what kind of works” should be done or encouraged in the Church is a worthwhile discussion. Maybe some strategies are problematic. But the simple claim that our good works represent Christ and are part of the Church’s kingdom-building mission should not be controversial.

Note: as much as I appreciate Ed Stetzer’s link, my last post was not a review of any book but an interaction with blog posts. Same here.