King helps to rediscover the beloved community as the telos of Christian mission. If Martin Kähler’s assertion that “mission is ‘the mother of theology’ ” is true,36 then for King, his search for the beloved community was the source and inspiration of his mission. I think King’s claim is biblically faithful: the idea of community (associated with the people of God) is central to God’s mission. God’s reign is not individualistic but communal, ultimately encompassing the entire creation for the fulfillment of shalom. Whenever God’s reign takes place (that is, whenever missio Dei happens), God
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