“God created all things ‘not to increase his glory, but to show it forth and to communicate it,’ for God has no other reason for creating than his love and goodness.” Bonaventure.
God's glory does not spread to places where it is not (Isaiah 6:3). Rather God's glory shines, it becomes visible, it becomes known (Habakkuk 2:14). To spread would mean it is not yet there which could not be true of our omnipresent God.But to shine means God's glory is not yet seen, not yet known, not yet experienced. World evangelism then is not the spreading of the Good News as if we need to bring God with us because he is not already there. Rather the task is the showing forth of the glory that is already there - for "Christ is all, and IS in all." (Colossians 3:11). The reason then that we make disciples is not to spread the Gospel as if it is not already there for Christ is everywhere. No, the missionary task is to bring forth, release, and make known what is already in every human soul - the divine spark of creation. "Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved." (Psalm 80:3).
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