The Missional Church has been on my mind in a large way since 2002! When I began my Doctoral work, it was centered on the subject of the missional church. There was actually not a lot writing about the missional church in 2002. Since then, the subject has exploded.
As I continue to read and study, I offer up these observations.
People seem to get confused over what the church is! Too many people simply see the church as "the place we attend," or "an address" or "an activity in which we participate!" Our language demonstrates this. "We attended 'church" today!" "We have 'church' today!" "I have to go to 'church" today!" This point of view gives rise to the "add-on" nature of the church to many. "Church" is just another activity - like soccer, softball, cheer, work, and church! We see all that is related to "church" happening "AT" church!
The Missional Church sees it differently - and biblically. The body of Christ is the church - wherever they are. We are the church scattered - and at times we are the church gathered - but we - the redeemed are the church! There is a HUGE difference in "attending" the church and "being" the church. This understanding of church doesn't see it as an "add-on" - it is seen as our identity - who we are and what we do! We are "the church!"
When I "attend" or "go" to church, it is reduced to a meeting! There may be some worthy things that happen at the meeting - but there is not much that is going to result from the meeting! Nothing much can happen because meeting's don't change people that much. When I recognize that I am the church, then I recognize the power of Christ and His desire to use me beyond a corporate gathering. We see His daily empowering, His daily equipping, and His daily ministry among the masses.
When I "attend" or "go" to church, the tendency will be to make that gathering and institution the object of my worship! Don't believe it? Suggest a major change in schedule - or music - or seating - or even paint color! See what happens. I am not suggesting that every single person in a church sees it that way - but I can prove the majority do. All one has to do is look at the preponderance of plateaued and declining churches to know we have a major problem.
In the missional church, Christ is the object of worship and we see our role as exalting Him - 24/7. In the missional church, more thought and effort is made into "BEING" the church in the marketplace. The Gospel is present in the people of God wherever we go! There is great energy through the Spirit of God working through the body out into the world!
We had an interesting discussion on the missional church yesterday among our staff. One thing that stuck with me was the question, "If the way we are "doing church" is not right, then why has God blessed it through the years?" Well, I can't deny that there have been blessings - but I think they are more from God's mercy than His active blessing. The church as we mostly know it is anemic, but God is not anemic. He is power. He is also merciful. He led the children of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years. This was hardly the best outcome for them. But He still loved them and provided their basic needs for 40 years.
To me, the missional church is a corrective to what the church has become - and the more "we act as the church" and "live in a Kingdom focus" the more we will be a blessing to the unchurched world and the more we will see a powerful move of the Spirit of God!
I am pledging to QUIT attending church! Instead, I am going to fulfill the God-given role of "being the church!" If we all do that, when we do gather together corporately, we will truly have an EXPLOSION of praise for what God is doing daily THROUGH His church! My prayer is that we will not box God in at our church address - but rather discover that He is loose and carrying out His purposes in the world. Let's join Him and be the church.
Comments