Part Two (see below for previous article).
Just the other day I overhead CJ, my son, talking to my wife.
“Racoons hug ladybugs which turn into butterflies,” he said.
What?!
Then he continued, “That’s what Dad told me.”
That’s what Dad told me?! Wait a minute. What I said was, “Caterpillars go into cocoons and then they come out as butterflies.”
Long pause……………”oh, yeah, that’s what he said.”
Ever had trouble communicating? You are not alone. Communication is important. It is vitally important in all aspects of life, including church life. This missional journey we are on involves a significant amount of communication. Part of the process involves establishing a common vocabulary so we are talking the “same language” and understanding the same concepts. This new word ‘missional’ is being introduced and intentionally used for that purpose. I suppose the jury is still out about how effective it is for us. I hope it is, or at least will be, as we gain more understanding about what it means for us. Beginning in last month’s NFConnection, I have wanted to address some FAQ about this whole missional conversation. “Neighborhood” was the word I tried to help define and describe in March.
Starting this month I want to explore the term “missional.” Another FAQ continues to be, “What is missional anyway?!” A good question, and an opportunity to try and come to a common understanding. I don’t know if we can fully come to this understanding in a few NFConnection articles, but I want to take the next few months to address the concept and definition of “missional” in some bite size pieces. I am hoping that we can continue to grow toward healthy and effective communication. Be aware though, that this endeavor is like answering the question “What is the Gospel?” or “What is love?” or “Why do people live in Fresno during the summer anyway?!” A big concept with many dynamics.
Let’s start with the history of the word. Where did the term missional come from?
In the mid 1970’s, Lesslie Newbigin, missionary to India, returned to England to encounter the fact that the Christian culture he had left some thirty years earlier had all but disappeared. Newbigin recognized that the greatest challenge to Christian mission was now within the very nations that had once sent missionaries out around the world. The peoples of Europe, shaped by the Western tradition, had all but lost their identity as Christian.
A conversation of theologians, missiologists, historians and pastors began in Europe and soon came to North America too. The face of church and spirituality and Christianity had drastically changed over the past few decades. The challenge facing the Western churches was the re-conversion of its own people.
The term “missional” emerged out of these conversations and this context—the context of God’s people trying to be faithful in a drastically changed culture. No longer was missions across the seas but in our own backyard. What would it mean for the church to be missional in its own culture?
In 1998, a small network completed writing the book Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. The network eventually became The Gospel in Our Culture Network (gocn.org). This word and the surrounding vocabulary went viral, so to speak, since that time. Christians, churches, institutions, and denominations have entered the conversation and found life and meaning in dealing with present realities and trying to lead God’s people faithfully into the future.
Over the next few months I will use this space to explore what missional really is, and also what it isn’t.
You don’t have to wait though. The source of the history information in this article is from Alan Roxburgh’s article “What is Missional Church?” published on April 1, 2008 at www.allelon.org. It contains much more additional information. Also, when we began this journey about a year ago we pulled together some resources and linked them to our website at www.northfresnochurch.org. Click on ‘The Missional Conversation’ and you will find many helpful resources. Take a look and give me call or email. I would love to get together and listen to your thoughts and questions. Or talk to any of our pastors or leaders. We would love the opportunity to hear your thoughts and talk about church and culture and God’s calling on our lives together.
Sincerely In Christ,
Pastor James
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