“Missional” is just another spin at Christian-ese.
A new generation of ultra-hip, establishment-abortionists with their mac computers and iPhones has come up with a new “catch-phrase” to label their definition of what they think church should be. Why “missional?” Can’t we just say we are biblical?
This is what I used to think when I heard of the word “Missional” being tossed around a few years ago. Fortunately, my own personal journey of following Christ has allowed me the opportunity to see beyond my own stubborn paradigms. So when I received this book in the mail, I was open and excited to explore a movement that defines many Christ-followers, who I have judged before even taking the time to understand.
The first thing I realized when I started reading this book was that what I thought the term “MISSIONAL” meant – was wrong. Being Missional isn’t some trite or redesigned way to describe a people who are evangelistic or believers who like to drink at bars (though being at a bar may be an intentional strategy to fulfilling God’s desire for biblical living).
I will be honest and say that I am still processing a lot of this information. Right off the bat, I found some things I was saying, “YEAH!! RIGHT ON!” Then there were things I was saying, “REALLY? THAT‘s biblical?” But overall, I found that nothing heretical in nature was found. In fact, I am starting to believe that the “Missional Mindset” may, in fact, truly be a renaissance of sorts in the organization of the people of God – the church. With that said, here are some things that stuck out to me, ranging from things I totally agree about to the things I need to break open my bible and talk with God about.
- We must change our ideas of what it means to develop a disciple, shifting the emphasis from studying Jesus and all things spiritual in an environment protected from the world to following Jesus into the world to join Him in His redemptive mission.
- …study after study continues to reveal that active church members do not reflect a different value set than the culture at large.
- Missional followers of Jesus don’t belong to a church. They are the church.
- Our job is not to “do church” well but to be the people of God in an unmistakable way in the world.
- The missional follower of Jesus cannot conceive of their spiritual identity outside of being in accountable and encouraging relationships with other Jesus followers.
- …substituting religions activity for helping people doesn’t cut it with God.
- People deserve to be blessed simply because they are people, not just so we can “witness” to them.
- When the church thinks it’s the destination, it also confuses the scorecard.
- Substituting church activity as the preferred life expression is as weird as believing that airports are more interesting than the destination they serve.
- The missional church, as you might guess, has an allergic reaction to the reach-and-assimilate social engineering of people.
- People will accept help in shaping their spiritual path…especially from people they respect and trust, who seem to have their best interests at heart.
- …if the [YMCA] operated like the church, it’d bring people in once a week, feed them coffee and donuts, and let them watch Jason [the club personal trainer] work out!
- Maturation is messy. It takes time. It doesn’t occur linearly. Maturation occurs in an atmosphere where accountability is expected and practiced.
- Giving people information without providing means for application and accountability for their behaviors turn them into knowledgeable but disobedient people.
- …the New Testament discussion about gifts and ministry occurred in a world where acts of ministry were primarily done in the marketplace, not “at church.” They were being the church in the world.
- …missional leaders…believe [they] are on a mission in the world and are partnering with God in blessing the people in [their] sphere of influence.
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