The Tokyo Health Spa, A Place to Grow, and The God Who Sees - Part 2

The entire Tokyo Health Spa incident got me thinking.

In effect, the church is in a unique position of having to faithfully uphold Scripture’s two central commissions.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 needs little commentary. It is an imperative to invest into others, to share the good news of Christ, and to train people to be passionately loyal to the Great King.

The Adamic Commission (or Cultural Mandate)

Genesis 1:26-31 spells out what I like to call the “Leave The Place Better Than When You Found It” Commission but I’m told that’s a bit wordy.

As God’s vice regent, or image-bearer, Adam was to live in obedient communion with God and to subdue the earth. The first man was to exercise authority over God’s creation and manage it in accordance to His character and will. In short; humankind, by shaping culture, was to make God’s rule visible. 

To be sure, the Fall made Adam’s commission more challenging but it did not cancel out God’s original intent. Noah received the same charge at the onset of the post-flood, “re-creation” (Genesis 9:1-17). Accordingly, Noah, and all who would come after him, was under the same cultural imperative.

In the words of popular OT scholar and author Bruce Waltke,

“The role of Adam and Eve is inescapable…the issue is not whether human beings will develop culture; the only issue is what kind? Will it be godly or ungodly? Will it be motivated by agape (God’s love) or eros (self love)?” (An Old Testament Theology, 220)

Balancing these commissions necessitates that neither be elevated over the other but that they be seen as concurrent, complementary aims of biblical Christianity. Each calling us into active engagement of our world; each calling us to get our hands dirty.

Under the Adamic Commission those seeking to live faithfully in this age will cultivate righteousness and human flourishing as far as God will allow their influence to span.

In line with Genesis 1, we keep a watchful eye over various aspects of our society. Eyeing policies and practices that demean mankind’s inherent dignity as image bearers of the divine (Genesis 1:27). Eyeing gaps that prey upon the weak. Eyeing entry points for influence. Where possible, we use every means afforded to us through both our faith and our land to uphold by word and deed God’s righteous intent for creation. We leave our corner of this garden better than when we found it, tending it, guarding it, and toiling for its wellbeing.

Under the Great Commission those seeking to live faithfully in this age will pray for, be open to, and invest themselves into the faithful proclamation of Christ Jesus as both Lord and Savior of this world. There is a clear and concise message to be communicated, and they will not hear unless the faithful invest themselves into sharing this Good News (Romans 10:14-15). Beyond communication, the faithful understand that disciple making means the consistent one-on-one process of walking with people into the life of holiness. Make no mistake, Matthew 28:18-20 is a messy endeavor.

Your hands will get dirty.