Adrian's Blog: Mark Driscoll Defines Reformission
Adrian Warnock links to this good quote from Mark Driscoll on defining missional.
"...a radical call to reform the church's traditionally flawed view of missions as something carried out in foreign lands, and to focus instead on the urgent need in our own neighborhoods, which are filled with diverse cultures of Americans who desperately need the Gospel of Jesus and life in his Church"
Here is what puzzles me about all of this.
So many respond to Driscoll's words as if they are completely novel. In my own experience, I have always been a part of churches that are very active in pursuing the lost souls around them and around the globe. I am sure every one of those churches would say they see ways in which they could do both of those things better, but to suggest that they were unconcerned or oblivious to the diverse cultures around them would be silly.
It is in that sense that I don't see much that is "radical" or in need of "reform." I understand that many churches in broader evangelicalism may find befriending ones neighbour with the express purpose of preaching Christ to them as novel. And I suppose that is to whom Driscoll is directing his comments. But I think he makes the error that so many make within the emergent camp also - a form of backlash against their own experience. The trouble with reacting like this is that it writes off whole sections of the church that have been "missional" for centuries.
If there was less painting up of this stuff as the "newest and best thing since sliced bread..."
Less "do this or you are not in...."
More careful research into groups and sub-groups within evangelicalism that are essentially missional even if they have never heard that word....
More reflection on historical churches and denominations that practiced local and worldwide evangelism....
I think the whole concept would gain a wider audience and have more effect for good.
We don't need new ideas, we need the practice of Biblical ones.
I think the challenge is to make our churches into such Bible-saturated places that no one would ever think the idea of evangelism is novel.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that so many people come from bad churches, so the stuff that is biblical seems novel and they think the stuff that is from their bad church is somehow because of 'sola scriptura.' The result is people who see 'new things' in the Bible with a desire to reject 'sola scriptura.'
And because they haven't been exposed to good Bible teaching (and biblical living), Brian McLaren seems wonderful! It ends up being like draining blood to rid someone of their cold...
Great post, Paul.
ReplyDelete"We don't need new ideas, we need the practice of Biblical ones."
You nailed it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteRob,
ReplyDeleteI think you're off, though our experiences are obviously different. The Christians I know seem well adept at befriending nonchristians, but knowing how to articulate bridge comments that might lead to an articulation of the gospel, or at least part of it, is the challenge. I'm not sure God calls us to befriend with no sense of mission and no gospel "agenda." Further, in our culture I think opportunities for conversations of eternal significance are proportional to the prayerfully planned friendship that answers the big questions of life. I disagree that agendaless Christianity is better.
isn't the term missional just replacing the term evangelism? - "to focus on the urgent need in our own neighborhoods, which are filled with diverse cultures of Americans who desperately need the Gospel of Jesus and life in his Church."
ReplyDeleteIsn't that evangelism?
rob,
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your two questions:
1. I joyfully disciple them!
2. I joyfully continue to evangelize them!
As for befriending people... most Christians I know are the friendliest people on their street. As Trish said, the challenge is for them to move past mere friendship into meaningful talks of Christ Jesus - the only Saviour the world will ever know.
trish,
ReplyDeleteI think we agree with each other!
rainer,
ReplyDeleteThat works for me!