Missional is a lifestyle, NOT a program
I’ve attended a few Church (big ‘C’) growth conferences and strategy sessions in the last couple of months. There were experts from across the theological divide. Everyone referenced the same statistics about the ever shrinking American Church. They all mused the changes in the culture. There were speaker presentations and breakout discussions on the effects of technology, changing demographics, economic division, the rise of other religions and even why the good news of Jesus is largely ignored by the majority of the next generation.
While the pessimists bemoaned the future, the optimists exclaimed there was never a greater time to be a commissioned Christian. After all, every great awakening was preceded by a time desperation which bred innovation. The general consensus is the ‘Church’ will be different in the future. The pessimists and the optimists both used the term ‘missional’ to explain a program or a future possibility. One presenter went so far as to suggest we are post-missional because the missional program has proven it will never fill our churches (read buildings).
Let me be clear: Missional is not a program. It is an idea born out of an increasing sense that the American church is not a representation of what’s described in scripture. Professor and Author David Fitch was one of the first to write in The Great Giveaway that the Church (big ‘C’) gave away its mission, and maybe its soul, when it stopped focusing on those activities that demonstrate the grace and love of Christ. I believe the current crisis is directly related to that moment in history. It was the beginning of the excommunication of the apostolic, prophetic and evangelistic leadership of the church. It was the point in which the building caged the shepherd and a bible wielding Christian Pharisee in a battle royal for control. Neither realizing the evil one had already sealed their fate because of their own arrogance. Believing the Church could ever outsource any of the five fold aspects described by Paul in Ephesians 4:1-12 was unrestrained pride. Missional is the understanding we are all the sent ones of God and for the ‘church’ to be its best it needs all five leadership perspectives held in tension.
Missional is a call to individuals and groups be Christ and embrace rhythms with the hope of partnering with the triune God to advance the Kingdom. It's call to recognize Christ’s coming and presence of the Holy Spirit through efforts that create a foretaste of heaven as we await Jesus final return. Michael Frost in his book, Surprise the World, offers a few simple rhythms to help the average person begin their journey. He highlights these beginning rhythms with a simple acronym: B.E.L.L.S. The acronym stands for:
Blessing - Be Generous
Eat - Be Hospitable
Listen - Be Holy Spirit Led
Learn - Know Christ and His Word
Sent - Be Motivated to reach the ‘none, done and undone’ all around us
These simple rhythms create a foundation to unleash the core missional values of engaging our context, connecting our neighbors, experiencing God’s leading, understanding His teachings and crystalizing the framework for being a domestic missionary sent to the places we live, work and play. Please note these missional habits are not benchmarks for what is missional. They only provide a framework for living an alternative lifestyle to the average American. They drive us outward, beyond ourselves, into the lives of others providing opportunities to bring Christ’s love, hope, joy and peace to the forefront of everything we are involved with.
Let me repeat: Missional is not a program. It’s a lifestyle change of those willing to forsake all other idols and live as emissaries for Christ. Come join the movement.