Our Mission
- Jeff Cloeter
- Aug 25, 2008
- Series: Call to Mission
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Early in the formation of Reliant, we began meeting for worship in the Cloeter's backyard. Between the house and the garage is a flowering dogwood tree, that looks similar to the Reliant logo. This tree provided shade to a regular group of about 15 worshipers who endured St. Louis heat and humidity. The tree imagery has been an important part of our mission from the beginning.
In spring, the flowering dogwood sprouts gorgeous white flowers tipped with a hint of pink. While the spring blossoms are the most noticeable component of the tree, they are only the outcome of an expansive system of roots and branches. From the roots come the nutrients and water necessary to add rings to the trunk, to sprout photosynthesizing leaves, and to blossom white flowers tipped with a hint of pink.
Our mission statement reflects the Biblical foundations of gospel, church, and mission. Just as roots feed the tree and the tree produces fruit, so the gospel feeds the church, and the church produces the fruit of the mission. When truth takes root, life is renewed in community, and the world is reformed.
Reveal Truth: A Message Defined By the Gospel.
One of the most common notions in our culture today is that that there is no such thing as exclusive truth. Or, if there is such a thing as truth, you can define it for yourself. We adamantly reject this misconception of reality. Contrary to this popular undercurrent in 21st century America, we believe Truth exists only in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Jesus called himself Truth (John 14:6). His life, death, and resurrection from the dead for the salvation of the world forms the foundation of the gospel (Acts 10:34-43; I Cor. 15:3-11). The gospel, or "good news," is that Jesus' sacrificial work on the cross is declared and applied to you. The truth of the matter is that there are debilitating things about you that are unacceptable to God. But the truth of the gospel is that God redeems you in spite of those things (Rom. 5:8). This simple piece of truth is the foundation by which God is putting the whole world back together again in Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19-20).
We use the term "reveal" because it reflects our passive posture in this divine arrangement. Truth is revealed by God, it is not discovered or created by man. Any program, spirituality, or religion attempting to attain God is a vain attempt at self-fulfillment. Rather than trying to attain the divine, the heart of the gospel is that the Divine has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ. He has come to put things back together again, restoring us to a right relationship with God. God is the active subject. Humanity is the passive object.
The truth of this gospel is the fundamental basis for everything Reliant does. It forms our identity, offers security, and gives us meaning. Like a tree is sustained by the nutrient source of an extensive root system, so the gospel is the lifeblood of our being. We aim to speak this truth clearly, faithfully, and passionately in our worship, community groups, and in everyday life.
Renew Life: A Community Centered in Christ
The gospel is like the root system from which all water and nutrients move to supply the tree life and growth. This new existence into which we are placed is called the Christian life. In this Christian life, we are not left to an individualistic spirituality played out in isolation. Instead, we are placed into a community of faith called the church. The church is simply a community of people gathered around Jesus (I Cor. 12:27; Col 1:18).
The church is often perceived as a business, a club, a building, or a social/cultural institution. The church can also be seen as selfish, vain, hypocritical, and deceptive. While these may often appear to be accurate observations, they don't get to the heart the church's identity. Church is not a "what," but a "who." The "who" are sinners - often selfish, vain, hypocritical, and deceptive. But they are also redeemed, cleansed, forgiven, and made new. The church is made up of broken people incorporated into the perfect life of Jesus Christ. Covered in his righteousness, the church doesn't not claim perfection, but redemption.
Reliant simply seeks to be the church - living this life together in Christian community. We live renewed lives, tracing the image of our Lord. We strive for unity of faith. We bear with each other and build one another up. We seek to love, serve, and grow in grace and the knowledge of truth.
Reform the World: A Mission Transforming Lives.
A tree is not meant for maintenance, simply to remain its current size and shape. The tree is meant to grow, produce fruit, and replicate itself. The gospel places us into a new life within the church. The church does not exist for herself. She is made for the world. Like the roots, the gospel continues to supply us with the impetus not just to maintain, but to grow and multiply, love and serve (Matt. 12:33).
Jesus did not leave his disciples so that they could "eat, drink, and be merry." He left them with a mission: to replicate themselves (Matthew 28:19-20), to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and to be his witnesses throughout the whole world (Acts. 1:8). The life-changing nature of the gospel emanates from us to transform the world around us.
We use the word reform because God is "re-forming" the world in Christ. He is working to "unite all things" in Jesus (Eph. 1:10), putting them back the way he intended them to be when he created them. As the church we are his agents for this mission. One way to think of this is that we are the gospel "earthed." In other words, people will know God through us. We the church provide the flesh and substance for God's gospel message to the world. This is a great responsibility that we take seriously.
Re-forming the world has two facets: 1.) First, we seek the salvation of all people (I Cor. 9:22). We don't want people simply to know Jesus. We desire that people know Jesus as the Son of God, crucified on a cross and risen from the dead for them. 2.) Second, we seek to live out the gospel in acts of love toward neighbor. Through acts of service and mercy, we reform the world around us, loving and caring for it as Jesus does (I John 4:19; Matt 22:37-39). Whether working in our jobs, helping a neighbor, or feeding the homeless, we are "re-forming" the world. Both in speech and in deed, we "earth" the gospel, making it evident to the world around us. Reliant seeks to love and serve our neighbors, communities, and city as tangible expressions of the gospel which so animates our lives.
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When we call people to our mission of revealing truth, renewing life, and reforming the world, we are calling them to this gospel, this church, and this mission. The gospel is what we believe. The church is who we are. The mission is where we're going. Evaluate this mission statement. Can you align yourself with it? What are its implications for your life? Can you be united on the mission with this community called Reliant?