Page 258 - tesis

b. Wider perception of mission\u000AThey maintain the emphasis in the spiritual dimension, but they connect mission with concrete aspects of the social reality. According to another informant, the mission of the church is \u2018to restore those that are without Christ\u2019, in order \u2018to restore the government institutions to doing God\u2019s will in order to create a nation that is saved and free of corruption\u2019(L2ICV). He does not limit the mission to just the spiritual and personal orders. Rather he links the mission of salvation with the rescue of the State institutions. For a business man, the preaching of \u2018the gospel must reach all nations,\u2019 and must \u2018lead to a country which has socio-political and economic balance\u2019\u2019 (L3ICV). The notion of a \u2018balanced society\u2019 points to a critical issue of Guatemalan society, social and economic inequality. In a similar direction, another informant commented that the mission \u2018to make disciples implies that the church has some work at the social level and as well as helping the poor\u2019 (L1IFD). According to this opinion discipleship includes concern for those in need.\u000AA lady of one the churches considers that conversion in mission has to do with \u2018the change of attitudes in line with the word of God and the beginning of working laboriously and walking positively in society\u2019 (L1ESH). She adds here a component on work ethics and social reponsability. From a similar perspective another informant notes that church\u2019s mission has to do with \u2018the preaching of the gospel which is connected to society because the evangelized person has a better style of life and a healthy mind\u2019 (L2FCG).\u000AThese opinions showing an interest in the here and now reflect a change from traditional eschatology. Without leaving to one side some dispensationalist beliefs such as the doctrine that emphasizes that the church is waiting for the rapture, the arrival of the great tribulation and the millennial kingdom of Christ, they assume without much elaboration, a post-millennial perspective, emphasizing the present kingdom of Christ. This eschatological vision helps them to be more open to \u2018the things of the world\u2019, and at the same time, it exposes them to the present world\u2019s ideologies.\u000A245\u000A