Justice, Mercy and Humility

Justice, Mercy and Humility: Integral Mission and the Poor
by Tim Chester
Paternoster Press (2002)

Integral mission has been an important aspect of the Overture II experience in Latin America, and this book pulls together many different angles on that topic. The book starts out with a general introduction of the meaning of integral mission, which is “the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel.” (2) The essays focus on three broad categories that are relevant to the modern context of integral mission. They are: globalization, the poor and the church of the poor, and advocacy. Context is provided to the discussion by introducing historical features and timelines of integral mission, including an overview of a document called Transformation: The Church in Response to Human Need, which Rene Padilla describes as “the strongest evangelical affirmation of commitment to integral mission in the last quarter of the twentieth century.” (55) The principles of integral mission have changed the face of global missions over the course of the past several decades.

I agree that a bottom-up approach to missions, characterized by the concept of “with” and not “for,” is needed for the complex and pluralistic environment of the human condition in our modern world. Saul and Pilar Cruz noted that the old missionary model of the 1950s “became the detachment of thought and compassion, of eyes and hearts and of hearts and hands.” (92) The shift to integral mission should be welcomed by the world with open arms. On the other hand, Gary A. Haugen made a rather strong statement by saying, “The church’s response to the call to advocacy is threatened by two opposite hindrances to obedience – paralyzing ignorance and paralyzing sophistication.” (188) I would push back on this statement because most of the Christians I know who are paralyzed with inaction in missional activity do so because they are too busy and distracted. Many have the heart to serve, but they are held back by the physical restraints of time and resources. I am not saying that I believe that these are acceptable excuses for failing to act when God calls. I am simply pointing out that Haugen’s generalization of the church has many more layers of people stuck in a cycle of activity not related to integral mission.

Since reading this book, and seeing how these concepts were modeled for us in Latin America, I have worked hard to continue to generate an integral lens for LAMP and the other local outreach efforts that I am involved in leading in Pittsburgh. The general overarching approach that I have been using involves the question, “Is our church doing this project with the people in need or for the people in need?” I have also been energized to keep up the work of mobilizing our often busy church community into relationships with those who live in some of the darkest and most violent places of our city. Peter Kuzmic wrote, “People need a message of hope and life for situations of despair and death. We have learned that there is no authentic mission from a safe distance. Mission with integrity does not take place in antiseptic conditions." (157) I honestly believe that God has uniquely placed me in this position at this church so that I can help the people at North Way Christian Community to bring the message of hope and life to people living in situations of despair and death in the city of Pittsburgh.