Missional is a buzz word I'm trying not to misuse. I'm afraid that's something we do a lot of in church circles. We especially like words that are not easy to define because we can then use them and attach our own definitions to them. I have a love/hate relationship with missional but even that is probably due to definitions.
On the one hand, I believe that being missional is an all or nothing proposition. I cringe when people say they're missional and point out some program they are involved with to prove the point. They see being missional as just one aspect of being a Christ follower among many. They don't see it as an overriding objective covering all aspects of the Christian life.
On the other hand, I don't like the seemingly lack of emphasis on aspects like worship. "Worship is okay as long as it is supporting the cause of the mission." That seems to reduce our worship of All Mighty God to almost an afterthought. God is great and we ought not to forget it.
Maybe I make it too complicated. Maybe aspects like worship weren't meant to be analyzed like that and are supposed to become instinctive, like breathing. Or maybe I need to view it like I would going on a mission to the post office. Walking down there is of vital importance to the mission but I don't think about the walking, I just do it. I only think of it when it becomes a hindrance to the mission. If there was a stone in my shoe I would stop and take it out before continuing on. I'm still on mission but at that point in time my focus would be getting the stone out.
Perhaps I get too frustrated with my humanness. Last week we reformatted our Wednesday night prayer meeting. I use Lectio Divina for a self-guided time of spiritual formation. (Maybe I should say Spirit-guided.) It hasn't caught on with too many people yet. Some people love it but I think it has to grow on others. It actually requires discipline for them until it become natural like breathing. I must confess at times it is more of a discipline than a joy for me too.
I suppose that's the way it is with me. I have a idealistic view of what a missional church, and missional people, should be. When we don't live up to that I get frustrated because it seems we aren't spiritual enough.
Enough rambling for now. The road gets bumpy at times but we are still traveling.
Missing the Missional Meaning
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9:39 PM
I'd be interested in your thoughts, I'm working on similar stuff as well in my church.
2:30 PM
We think one of the big problems is this dualistic mindset that is used to separate church life from "real" life. When we give people "ministry" in the church they have the sense that they have done their duty and they can go back to their "real" life.
We will try and take care of things in the church as efficiently and with as few people as possible so we can free up people to do things outside the church. It has been helpful to think in terms of major and minor ministries for each person. They can have minor ministries in the church but we want the majority of our people to have their major ministry outside of the church.
We have also found that a lot of people are already in situations that, again because of that dualistic mindset, they have not seen as opportunities to bear witness of the gospel. We aren't saying we want them to start clobbering people over the head with a Bible but we think it will make a difference if they see those situations as opportunities to be salt and light. Until it naturally flows out of us we need some intentionality.
10:20 PM
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