Jesus began his public ministry in Luke 4 by sharing his personal mission statement. That mission statement was based upon a reading of Isaiah 61:1-2a. By that reading, Jesus declared his mission to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, that is, a new age of salvation through receiving Christ for both Jews and Gentiles.
Of course, Jesus’ personal mission statement is the primary mission statement for all of us. God “decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son” (Romans 8:29 MSG). If our lives are going to be shaped along the same lines as the life of Christ, then we are called to embrace the mission that shaped the life of Christ.
Therefore, just like Christ, we are commissioned to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Those ministry activities lie at the heart of soul care. Soul care can be defined as a Spirit-empowered ministry devoted to supporting and restoring the well-being of persons, in the midst of their circumstances, in such a way that their inner life becomes more like the inner life of Christ himself (inspired by David Benner and Dallas Willard).
The calling that arises from imitating the life of Christ is the “Soul Care Commission.” The Soul Care Commission is the Biblical mandate, based on Jesus’ personal mission statement, which calls Christ followers to provide the ministry of soul care—that is, to support and restore the well-being of persons, in the midst of their circumstances, in such a way that they are increasingly formed into the likeness of Christ.
Much is made of “The Great Commission” in Matthew 28: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….” The Great Commission certainly lies at the heart of the gospel mission. Less emphasis is given to the Soul Care Commission, which, as Jesus’ personal mission statement, also lies at the heart of the gospel mission—perhaps at an even deeper level. This is because the Great Commission cannot be fulfilled without fulfilling the Soul Care Commission. It is not possible to make disciples without the ministry of soul care. Therefore, regardless of any arguments regarding which calling is primary, the Great Commission and the Soul Care Commission must go hand in hand.
Jesus’ personal mission and, therefore, the mission of the church, and of each of us individually, is described by the Soul Care Commission—the calling to provide soul care ministry which binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, and proclaims the year of the Lord’s favor.
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