Die liggaam-van-Christus-metafoor: instrument vir die effektiewe uitvoering van die missionale opdrag

Abstract

The body-of-Christ-metaphor: instrument for the effective execution of the missional commission
Practice suggests that many AFM pastors are possibly so busy with numerous tasks and responsibilities that they are unable to effectively mobilise their assembly members to actively partici- pate in voluntary acts of service (cf. Eph. 4:12). The conse- quence is that such assemblies are often unable to function effectively in the carrying out of the missional commission (according to Matt. 28:19). Pastors are unsuccessful in working more effectively through the mobilisation of their members as part-time voluntary workers in the carrying out of the missional commission, according to the advice Moses’ father-in-law gave him (cf. Ex. 18). The mobilisation of members takes place through the empower- ing of members to discover and develop their gifts and allowing their involvement in voluntary acts of service. The emphasis of this article lies in what Hendriks (2004:11) calls “congregational theology”. According to Hendriks (2004:25) congregational theology is a theology being practised by body-of-Christ-meta- phor assemblies (cf. Eph. 4:11-16). The metaphor of assem- blies choosing to function as the body-of-Christ where the importance of the voluntary acts of service of members is emphasised enjoys further development in this article.