An Inkling
“Missional.” It’s a major buzzword around the church these days. And yet, judging from the many ways I hear it used, its precise meaning is not really very precise.
I’ve attached a two minute You Tube video that should help firm up the term. (You might watch it now…)
Welcome back. Two minutes hardly does justice to the kinds of paradigm shifts that are necessary as the church is “dis-established” in our culture. But you get the idea. Instead of assuming that our mission will become more effective as we’re increasingly clever about attracting people into the church house, the missional model affirms that effectiveness comes primarily with an outward focus – getting Christian people engaged in everyday settings and relationships. Imagine that!
Actually, there is nothing new about an outward focus – see Jesus, “Go therefore and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19) But what is new is the realization that more and more people in our culture no longer assume that they really should get around to finding a church. Indeed, many view the church with great suspicion. So if we’re to connect with them with the love of Christ, it will have to be through our friendships and mutual interests in the settings where they live and work. That sounds a lot more fun than running a public relations campaign for the church.
It’s not as if we no longer need to gather for worship, study, fellowship, etc. In fact, there is a pretty good scriptural precedent for that as well in the vibrant early days of the church: “They gave themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) Gathered to be scattered, to be gathered to be scattered,…
Here, there, and everywhere,
Keith
