We had a great discussion tonight that ended up being directed towards the topic of "what is missional?" We talked about what mission trips look like, and how people in the church see mission trips as special trips. People in the church usually say "it's good to take at least one mission trip a year" or whatever. We also come up with special events like a "day of evangelism". Nothing about those things are wrong, but those are usually the things that come to mind when we hear the word "mission" in the church. We appoint missionaries to go out and tell the people of America and the rest of the world about Jesus. We take time during the holidays to go serve at a soup kitchen for the day, or take presents to kids less unfortunate. Again, nothing wrong with that at all...and that's what is characterized as missions....right?
I would say all those things are "missions" and when you do those things, I would say that you are being missional, or missions minded. However, why is it that we plan special events to carry this out? Or even more so, why do we see these tasks or deeds as something that's different from the normal routine?...Have we perversed the real meaning of being missional?
I started reading a book awhile back called "They like Jesus, but not the Church." Honestly, I haven't gotten that far, but what I have read has been very interesting. In one chapter the author has a list of things that he defines as missional. It's a good bit of stuff, but I promise you'll want to read through it....
-Being missional means that the church sees itself as being missionaries rather than having a missions department, and we see ourselves as being missionaries right where we live.
-Being missional means that we see ourselves as representative of Jesus "sent" into our communities, and that the church aligns everything it does with the missio dei (mission of God).
-Being missional means we see the church not as a place we go only on Sunday, but as something we ARE throughout the week.
-Being missional means that we understand we don't "bring Jesus" to people but that we realize Jesus is active in culture and we join Him in what He is doing.
-Being missional means we are very much in the world and engaged in culture but are not conforming to the world.
-Being missional means we serve our communities, and that we build relationships with the people in them, rather than seeing them as evangelistic targets.
-Being missional means being all the more dependent on Jesus and the Spirit through prayer, the Scriptures, and each other in community.
So missions isn't about special events or things you do every now and then, but rather missions is about a lifestyle. It's something you are doing everyday, all day. It's about being INTENTIONAL with what you do in your day. Norm quoted someone earlier this evening and the quote was "You have three "8's" in your day. 8 to work, 8 to sleep, and 8 to do whatever with. What you choose to do with the third "8" shows what kind of person you are." I would even go as far as to say that the "8" you spend working is included in what kind of person you are. So...how do you spend your time? How am I spending my time, and who is that time for?
My challenge to you and myself is this: maybe missions should be apart of our lives and who we are, not something we simply do. maybe, just maybe, when Jesus gave the disciples "the great commission" He wasn't just talking to them....maybe, just maybe, He was talking to all who follow Him...and I mean ALL, not just those who are "called into the ministry".
So....Are we on mission?
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Good stuff! We have made progress in diagnosing the problem and even defining what ought to be normal rather than exceptional. Now the question is: How do you move people to be on mission? We can't simply talk about the need and rally people to the cause with persuasive, passionate oratory. This may stir the emotions for a time, but doesn't effect lasting change.
ReplyDeleteThe heart of the matter is the heart. Only passion moves people to be both worshipers and missionaries. When a person is caught up in the beauty or greatness of an object, he can't help but praise it and recommend it to others. This means that every person is a missionary at some time or another.
C.S. Lewis said it well in his Reflections on the Psalms: "I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise...The world rings with praise - lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game." He goes on to say, "I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: "Isn't she lovely? Wasn't it glorious? Don't you think that magnificent?" The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about...I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation."
Please forgive me for the long quotation, but I think Lewis is right on target. Missional living is a matter of what we love. The formula is: 1. Prize; 2. Praise; 3. Propagate. We will not propagate what we do not praise and we will not praise what we do not love.
So the task of the church is not to tell men what to do or to give them new and better tools. The task is to change hearts. It is to see people overwhelmed with awe and wonder at the beauty, majesty, love, and mercy of God as displayed in Jesus Christ.
The problem is that this is an impossible task for us. Only God can give this kind of heart change. Only he can reveal himself to a sinful heart so that it recognizes his worth and responds in worship. This is why the church must pursue its work with the means that God himself has given: the Bible and prayer.
Anyway, I'm sure that I've rambled enough. I'm glad that your are here with us this summer!
I'm glad I'm here this summer too! I really appreciate what you had to say. I'm in total agreement with what you're saying about it being a condition of the heart, and how only God can change the heart. That's a lesson I've learned quite recently and am still growing in how that affects the way I live.
ReplyDeleteWe were also talking about that last night. How can we move people to be on mission? My thought on that is living your life in a real true way. Most Christians in my generation that grew up in a Christian home came to a sold out faith once they had an encounter with someone who lived out their faith in a real true way. I'm not saying that the revelation of God is dependent on humans, but I do think that it can be revealed through someone with the light of Christ shining in their lives. I liked the quote you pointed out about how we praise the things that move our heart or stir our passion. I also think that when things stir our heart and we praise it, it leads others to do the same. They see the beauty that we see through our adoration and praise, and that compels them to be drawn to what we find so glorious. I think maybe that's why I'm compelled to write what's running in my mind. No, I can't change hearts, but can't God use the words of passion He's placed in my heart to change others' hearts?
I guess our role in moving others to be on mission is simply loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
You're right. God can, and does, use people to change the hearts of others. In fact, that's what he does most of the time. He used people to write the Bible. He uses people to preach to gospel. He uses people to minister and serve and love.
ReplyDeleteIt is when the people of God are passionate about his glory, and that passion is evident in everything they do, that others take notice. This has been true especially when this passion (or hope!) sustains a Christian in the face of suffering or persecution. Those who are unbelievers, or are perhaps weak in their faith, begin to see more of God when they interact with someone who is enthralled by God.
In leadership circles (not to steal Norm's thunder) it is often said that vision is caught, not taught. This isn't entirely true because the vision needs to be taught. There is little chance, however, that the vision will be learned and embraced unless they see the vision having an impact in the teacher.