Mission, Solidarity and Christology

When Christians think about the mission and ministry of Christ, visions of charity and service tend to float to the surface. ‘Good news to the poor’ (Matt 11:5; Luke 4:18) appears to be a matter of service to the poor, feeding them, clothing them, and perhaps providing housing for them. Centuries of Christian mission have been informed by this mentality as well. Commonly identified next steps after charity, influenced by other visions of the ministry of Christ, include advocacy and capacity building. This article argues not only that some of these approaches are more problematic than is often realised, but that there are other, more profound, ways to understand the mission and ministry of Christ and more appropriate ways to live a Christ-like life. The notion of deep solidarity opens new horizons as it aims at reshaping relationships not only among human beings, but also with the divine.