Thanks to Bill Kinnon's scathing review of a new book (ouch!), I found this quote on John Armstrong's blog.
The recently retired US President of the Navigators, Alan Andrews, recently said this:
In my opinion the time has come to do church
differently. I am convinced that we must shift our focus from highly
programmed ministry to developing Missional/Transformational
Communities that are formed as a seamless organic whole. These types of
communities are rare and difficult to visualize because we have moved
so forcefully to programmatic ministry in the last half of the previous
century. … Now the climate in America has begun to shift. Much of the
culture is beginning to look for integrity and wholeness. Many people
are coming from broken backgrounds with deep wounds in their souls.
They long for something that provides real relationships, something
that provides integration for their lives, and something that fills the
longings of their soul. In short, though they are not aware of it, they
seek the whole Gospel for their whole lives.
I just
love that quote, especially because it comes from a seasoned Christians
who has worked with an evangelistic organization for some time. Just a
quote to provoke, more than anything else. Churches and church leaders
have to start thinking less like managers of organizations and more
like instigators of missionary movements.
Hey Ben, thanks for this. You may already be on board with what I am about to say, but I am making a 2nd career of it, so I feel compelled to offer…
When Andrews says this, “Now the climate in America has begun to shift. Much of the culture is beginning to look for integrity and wholeness,” he is making the classic modern/attractional mistake – we need to change because culture is changing. This is dead wrong. Culture is shifting and Christendom is crumbling, but this is not an occasion for new methods, it’s instead an opportunity to realize the mistakes we have made, repent, and do what we can to return to a more faithful way of being the church – one not predicated on Christendom assumptions and norms.
Perhaps this sentiment is actually in Andrews’ larger thought and I am just nitpicking semantics, but based on what I am reading here and my commitment to a deep missional ecclesiology, thought I’d offer my 2 cents.
I am definitely in agreement with you, JR. I think it’s interesting that more and more people are becoming aware of what’s going on.
But if we only see this as an opportunity to adjust our strategies, we’re missing the boat. This is an opportunity to repent. That’s why even talking about “missional” church is sometimes confusing because some people are only referring to pragmatic strategies instead of theological realities.
Good thoughts, JR. Peace.
If this be true, and I think that it is pretty much spot on, then we as Christians need to get beyond our own superficial relationships among ourselves and come to understand and practice true community. It’s only then that we won’t be afraid of relationships with those outside the community and will be able to serve them.