Here’s a thought-provoking quote from Richard Bauckham’s 2003 book, Bible and Mission (Paternoster Press):
The gospel does not come to each person only in terms of some abstracted generality of human nature, but in the realities and differences of their social and economic situations. It engages with the injustices of the world on its way to the kingdom of God. This means that as well as the outward movement of the church’s mission in geographical extension and numerical increase, there must also be this (in the Bible’s imagery) downward movement of solidarity with the people at the bottom of the social scale of importance and wealth. It is to these – the poorest, those with no power or influence, the wretched, the neglected – to whom God has given priority in the kingdom, not only for their own sake, but also for all the rest of us who can enter the kingdom only alongside them. (pp.53-54)
What do you think?
Centre for the Study of Bible & Mission 
Hi,
Thank you for having this web site. It is really well-done!
The quote from Bauckham is quite thought-provoking. I’m still processing it in fact. Definitely something to ponder as I look around our culture of materialism and possessions.
Thank you again for this site. The internet can be such a great resource for we Christians.
God’s Peace,
Greg
http://gottb.com/?p=3950