T he church faces a daunting missionary task in today's world where idols such as money, consumer goods, TV, pop and sports stars abound. We, no less than St Augustine 1400 years ago, need to learn how to be missionaries, inheritors of the great commission to go forth and make all nations disciples. This could really be described as the Mission Statement of the church as it nears the new millennium. We pursue Kingdom values and our God is the God of all creation, not a tribal God. M oral values are central to what it means to be human.
Love is central to morality.
It isn't a sentimental love but a love which engenders respect, concern and compassion. Without love, our morality becomes critical. We are all casualties of a consumer society where what we have is obsolete and we are taught to be never satisfied with the present. Consumerist values try to teach us to shop around for happiness. But our faith in God is hopeful and charged with the grandeur of the eternal God who remains the God of faithfulness.