Mission

As far as the mission is concerned it is important to have two thoughts in ones head simultaneously, even if we can say that all Christian work is basically mission work.

However, it is a fact that we Christians sometimes fall into two "ditches". One is domestic mission which is oriented towards people who live in the same country as oneself. The other is foreign mission which is orientated towards people living in countries in which oneself does reside in. And if all the work one does is concentrated either on domestic or foreign mission, then one must admit that the focus is not in accordance with what Jesus had initially thought, hence, one as landed in a "ditch". When Jesus commands us to go out to the whole world, we know that our own homeland is also included in that, so it is important that we do not rationalize this away by focusing on "just" one of these areas. An organisation that wants to be credible as the follower of Jesus and His teaching should therefore view the commandment to evangelize as one single task which Jesus gave us. M2818, which is established on the basis of the commandment to evangelize wishes therefore to have focus on good stories that reflect both domestic, as well as, foreign mission.

Realizing that domestic and foreign mission work does not have a future if other Christians do not care, we wish to contribute to creating a fervour beyond ourselves. Being a Christian is all about seeing others. One of the things the Bible teaches us pertains to bearing one another's burdens. In Gal 6:2 St. Paul writes; "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." St. Paul builds on what Jesus says regarding how to treat your neighbour. In St. Math 7:12 Jesus says; "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Thereby, we are seeing another aspect of the commandment to teach and baptise. Christians have often been so eager to go out that they have forgotten systematic learning. An aspect of the commandment to evangelize just as important as "going out" is, then, seeking God and learning to teach others.

Jesus tells us, as Christians, to go out and teach all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded us. But, what is "all things"? To answer that, wisdom and insight is needed.

M2818 wishes therefore to to be a resource where Christians actively help each other to fulfil that which God has laid down in us through Jesus Christ. We do not have all the answers, but through a discussion forum and articles we seek to wake a mission fervour within all Christians, so that also the next generation can come to know the Gospel of God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ, both within and as well as outside of one's own country.

Dag Frode Vaagsnes, Editor M2818