What should Christian marriage be like?
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Missional Mish-mash
Recently there has been a lot of great conversation going on about the word "missional." It is a very necessary conversation as this word continues to be watered down to the point it's like my iced tea yesterday after sitting in the sun for two hours. In our culture there are many buzzwords that are birthed with a specific meaning that are then either highjacked or broadened to the point they mean nothing and then they pass away. I credit Alan Hirsch, one of the people who has popularized this term, with realizing that this was happening to the word "missional" and trying to do something about it.
Read Alan's post on this here.
From my perspective (which is the only perspective I have) one of the biggest reasons missional has become marginalized is that it is understood as a church thing rather than a people of God thing. A church is not missional because it has an outreach program--even if it's an extensive outreach program. It seems so many churches now want to highlight the ways they're reaching out to the community and then call themselves missional. Now those programs may contribute to the mission of Christ in that church, but unless the people of God in that church have apprehended a missional mind, heart, and way of living that is exhibited throughout their life (not just when they go to volunteer at the outreach event) then the church is not missional.
Somehow we have arrived at a place in Western Christianity where discipleship is outsourced to the staff and programs of a church rather than it being a part of every Christ-follower's life. All a person has to do is show up on Sunday morning and then participate in some of what the church has going on and BAM that's discipleship. But it's not. That can be a helpful part of discipleship, but being conformed to the image of Christ is not a program or something a pastor can force on you, you have to open yourself and allow Jesus to transform you. In this transformation we will become missional because we will apprehend the heart of God for the world and will seek to join him in that mission in every moment of life. As that happens churches will be missional because the people are missional.
Here are a couple other posts you should check out on this issue.
Ryan Taylor on missional and discipleship
Cory Whitehead on Alan Hirsch
Read Alan's post on this here.
From my perspective (which is the only perspective I have) one of the biggest reasons missional has become marginalized is that it is understood as a church thing rather than a people of God thing. A church is not missional because it has an outreach program--even if it's an extensive outreach program. It seems so many churches now want to highlight the ways they're reaching out to the community and then call themselves missional. Now those programs may contribute to the mission of Christ in that church, but unless the people of God in that church have apprehended a missional mind, heart, and way of living that is exhibited throughout their life (not just when they go to volunteer at the outreach event) then the church is not missional.
Somehow we have arrived at a place in Western Christianity where discipleship is outsourced to the staff and programs of a church rather than it being a part of every Christ-follower's life. All a person has to do is show up on Sunday morning and then participate in some of what the church has going on and BAM that's discipleship. But it's not. That can be a helpful part of discipleship, but being conformed to the image of Christ is not a program or something a pastor can force on you, you have to open yourself and allow Jesus to transform you. In this transformation we will become missional because we will apprehend the heart of God for the world and will seek to join him in that mission in every moment of life. As that happens churches will be missional because the people are missional.
Here are a couple other posts you should check out on this issue.
Ryan Taylor on missional and discipleship
Cory Whitehead on Alan Hirsch
Thursday, June 19, 2008
We Chose Our Adventure
Last night we were driving home from a trip to the local Target (we needed new water bottles since we recently pitched all the cancer causing #7 bottles) and I had a strange realization. I don't really know where it came from, but I think it is a good summary of what our life is like now.
"Michelle," I bellowed (I didn't really bellow, but that's a much cooler word than said), "I was just thinking that if we had moved here so I could take a job in a church, we probably wouldn't have any of the friends we have now. We'd be spending all our time with church people and church programs. I'm sure we'd have some friends, but they'd all be different."
If we had moved here and right away gone into a church, especially if I was a pastor there, I wouldn't be at Starbucks every morning (unless it was to meet with someone from church), Michelle wouldn't have started a playgroup (she'd have stuff for moms with church people), I wouldn't spend any evenings in local bars, we wouldn't be having cookouts for people in our neighborhood, and the list goes on. In many ways it's been very hard to find friends without going into a church, that's how we've always done it, but we're both really enjoying the relationships that are growing right now. We look forward to more forming from our neighborhood, coffee shops, bars, playgroups, and many other places in the coming months.
"Michelle," I bellowed (I didn't really bellow, but that's a much cooler word than said), "I was just thinking that if we had moved here so I could take a job in a church, we probably wouldn't have any of the friends we have now. We'd be spending all our time with church people and church programs. I'm sure we'd have some friends, but they'd all be different."
If we had moved here and right away gone into a church, especially if I was a pastor there, I wouldn't be at Starbucks every morning (unless it was to meet with someone from church), Michelle wouldn't have started a playgroup (she'd have stuff for moms with church people), I wouldn't spend any evenings in local bars, we wouldn't be having cookouts for people in our neighborhood, and the list goes on. In many ways it's been very hard to find friends without going into a church, that's how we've always done it, but we're both really enjoying the relationships that are growing right now. We look forward to more forming from our neighborhood, coffee shops, bars, playgroups, and many other places in the coming months.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Reclaiming the Word "Missional"
I had the opportunity to meet Alan Hirsch a couple weeks ago, which was a great honor and, of course, included captivating, thoughtful discussion.
As part of his stop at CTI, he did an interview with Leadership journal and Out of Ur. You can find the audio here.
The short clip focuses on what "missional" really means (because everyone seems to be using the word these days), and I've included a few of my notes here:
What does an attractional church do if it realizes they need to shift their posture to a more missional mindset?:
Listen to the short audio clip for more context.
As part of his stop at CTI, he did an interview with Leadership journal and Out of Ur. You can find the audio here.
The short clip focuses on what "missional" really means (because everyone seems to be using the word these days), and I've included a few of my notes here:
- A missionary stance toward the culture
- Treat neighbors as a cross-cultural environment
- Pretend you're in Papua New Guinea and have to learn all about a new culture
- There are hundreds of subcultures around us (different music tastes, hobbies, dress code, political thinking, etc)
What does an attractional church do if it realizes they need to shift their posture to a more missional mindset?:
- Win the battle of the imagination
- Dethrone Constantine (that the Church exists beyond the institution)
- Be patient because it's such a huge shift
- Everyone has to take an active role and realize they're more than consumers
- Know that people will be upset by this shift
Listen to the short audio clip for more context.
This Week in Aurora
Downtown Alive
This week one of my favorite things in Aurora started up for the summer: Downtown Alive. It's a great community gathering every Friday night, with live music, lots of food, and running into alot of people. I'm always excited to go a few times, and take new people with me.
Free Citywide Wifi
For the last couple years, Aurora has been working to add free wifi throughout the city, but has run into big problems with the installation and the company that was providing it. Unfortunately this week they finally pulled the plug on the project.
Waubonsee Community College
If you've been to downtown Aurora, you'll notice a huge crater on an entire city block. Over the next couple years, the local community college is going to be building a new downtown campus, which was just approved by the city board this week.
Operation Helping Hands
Yesterday, a local church, Ginger Creek Community Church, organized the annual Operation Helping Hands. Several local churches got together for a day of service. Over 400 volunteers landscaped, painted, and did other projects for the people of Aurora.
This week one of my favorite things in Aurora started up for the summer: Downtown Alive. It's a great community gathering every Friday night, with live music, lots of food, and running into alot of people. I'm always excited to go a few times, and take new people with me.
Free Citywide Wifi
For the last couple years, Aurora has been working to add free wifi throughout the city, but has run into big problems with the installation and the company that was providing it. Unfortunately this week they finally pulled the plug on the project.
Waubonsee Community College
If you've been to downtown Aurora, you'll notice a huge crater on an entire city block. Over the next couple years, the local community college is going to be building a new downtown campus, which was just approved by the city board this week.
Operation Helping Hands
Yesterday, a local church, Ginger Creek Community Church, organized the annual Operation Helping Hands. Several local churches got together for a day of service. Over 400 volunteers landscaped, painted, and did other projects for the people of Aurora.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Frustrating!
Throughout our process of starting Infuse we've looked for both local churches and church networks with whom we can partner. We're thankful for the few that we've found and our affiliation with them. But it is amazing how difficult it is to find any who are willing to experiment with something like Infuse!
In almost every case church planting organizations require a building to be bought or rented within a couple years, a large number of "members" to be gathered, a worship team, certain programs to be established, etc. It's not that I'm opposed to measurement or accountability, but with a missionary venture like Infuse these measurements just don't fit! In my interaction with others pursuing missional/organic church planting this is one of the biggest frustrations. We are often unable to partner with the existing church because they set up rules or procedures that just don't fit with what we're doing. This makes me all the more thankful for those who are flexible enough to work with us!
In almost every case church planting organizations require a building to be bought or rented within a couple years, a large number of "members" to be gathered, a worship team, certain programs to be established, etc. It's not that I'm opposed to measurement or accountability, but with a missionary venture like Infuse these measurements just don't fit! In my interaction with others pursuing missional/organic church planting this is one of the biggest frustrations. We are often unable to partner with the existing church because they set up rules or procedures that just don't fit with what we're doing. This makes me all the more thankful for those who are flexible enough to work with us!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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