The Mandate

The Mandate refers to the biblical command given by God to humanity to exercise dominion over the earth, often encapsulated in the Great Commission and the cultural mandate found in Genesis.

The cultural mandate in Genesis was given in the context of creation, where humanity was created in God's image and tasked with stewardship over the earth. The Great Commission was given after Jesus' resurrection, marking the beginning of the church's mission in a post-resurrection world.

• Creation and Stewardship
• Evangelism and Discipleship
• Authority and Responsibility

1. Genesis 1:26Highlights the creation of humanity in God's image and the initial command to exercise dominion.
2. Matthew 28:19-20Jesus' directive to His followers to go and make disciples, fulfilling the Mandate in a spiritual context.

1. Genesis 1:26-28God's command to humanity to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over the earth, establishing the cultural mandate.
2. Matthew 28:18-20The Great Commission where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations, emphasizing evangelism and teaching.

• Engage in environmental stewardship as a reflection of the cultural mandate.
• Participate actively in evangelism and discipleship within the community.
• Recognize the authority and responsibility given to believers to influence the world for Christ.

• Affirms the inherent value of human life created in the image of God.
• Establishes the responsibility of believers to engage in both creation care and evangelism.
• Connects the Old Testament understanding of stewardship with the New Testament mission of the church.

• Creation

  The Mandate is rooted in the creation narrative, highlighting humanity's role as caretakers of God's creation.

• Discipleship

  The Great Commission emphasizes the importance of making disciples, which is a direct application of the Mandate in the New Testament context.