The Red Squiggly Line
One of the hottest new words to describe churches that are on the cutting edge reaching people for Christ today is Missional. Go ahead, type it into a word document and you will see it: The Red Squiggly Line underneath telling you that what you just typed is not a word. Well, maybe it is not officially a word (although I am currently reading a book by Ed Stetzer, "Breaking the Missional Code: Your church can become a missionary to your community") - but Missional IS a concept...a very important concept for all of us in the church to "get".
What does it mean to be Missional? It literally means to think and behave like a missionary. The reason the word (and concept) are so hot is that the church in the US has been so lacking here. Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by Jack Miller sums up the core problem: we tend to focus our energy and resources inward rather than outward. We do not think or act much like missionaries and the results and been disastrous. Randy Pope gave a major address at the PCA General Assembly two years ago on this subject because while the PCA - one of the fastest growing denominations ten years prior - in 2006 had grown by less than 100 nationally! I recently read an aricle that unless something changes, the Southern Baptist Convention is expecting to be cut in half by 2030. Statistics show that 80% of the churches in North America are either stagnant or dying. What is the answer? Maybe it is not all the answer, but certainly a big part ...is that we need to become Missional...and misionally effective!
I will be writing more about this in the weeks to come but let me say this: Being Missional does not simply mean that we support foreign missions. That is important, very important...but that is not really what being Missional is all about. Being Missional does not just mean that you support missionaries...it means you view yourself as one. Do you?
Let me ask you to do a little exercise. Pretend for a few minutes that you are have been called to be a full time missionary. You ask where your assignment is and they tell you Valdosta, GA...or wherever you happen to live. Everywhere you go for the next 24 hours, think about it as a missionary would. If you do that, you will understand better what it means to be Missional.
2 comments:
I'd find a job teaching, or already have one lined up. I'd hit the salon to find out the places to hang out--Starbucks? Magpies? ABC? Glo Lounge? (The last place would just have to be prayed over.)I'd find a house with my hubby and scope out the neighbors. (We've been least effective in our neighborhood.) I'd begin by getting to know those around us, being the new person's nice, because others feel good helping you. :) Then, I'd be getting my classroom set up.
Wow, sounds easy, if it were a real mission field. Plus, there'd be people to help. Darn reality--it's hard to change my mindset. But you're right, we definitely have to.
Thanks for writing, Pastor Danger. ;)
It's so important to do this. Here in the South, most people would say that they are "Christians." However, sadly, this is not the case for all those who proclaim.
We can't just imagine ourselves with people who need us overseas. . .people need us to be a city on a hill right here.
It's really easy to forget that people have eternal and spiritual needs right here because of all the material blessings we see.
I know this is the case for me, anyway.
Good thoughts, PD.
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