What is “Missional”?
Missional is a word that describes an incarnational approach to Christian life and ministry. Modern Christianity is very attractional- it focuses on inviting people to church, inviting them to faith. A lot of effort is put into making Christianity attractive. Megachurches with lots of programs are designed to attract people to maturity in Christ.
Attractional is the opposite of missional.
There’s an alternative to attractional Christianity. It’s a little more difficult than the attractional kind, but it will change your life. Being missional means engaging people where they are in redeeming personal relationships. Instead of inviting people to hang out with us Christians in the “safe” places we construct. Missional believers hang out with people on their turf, even if it means that we might be exposed to ungodliness. It means living among the people in our communities and looking for relevant ways to live out our faith.
In short, being missional is applying biblical missiology to our everyday existence.
definition taken from Contexting
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Just wanted to say that I’ve found working as a volunteer on the streets with the homeless, alcohlics and drug addicts very fulfilling and a great place to find “real” people.
I decided to try this after 34 years of “respectable work” in Government Service, half a lifetime in an “ivory tower” and remote from real need. If you want to stretch your boundaries and find a way to live out Jesus’ commands, then try the streets. You will be blessed!
Grady,
Here is a teaching moment for you. I have read your blogs and you have my attention. I have also read your replies to myself and others and am impressed by the grace and care in which you reply. With all that said, I feel safe in asking some real questions about being “missional” without fear of being written off. If you don’t mind, teach me here for a minute.
I read your “what is missional”, I love it! Here is what I am concerned about. Is missional being taken over as the new emergent? What I mean by that is I am hearing some “missional” minds talking about “conversation”, which brings to mind sitting in a bar, having some brews with the boys, discussing theology without a bible, just to say they are being culturally relevant? What is the “conversation” part of missional? Is the bible present, or at least part of the conversation, or is it seen as too controversial and divisive? I have heard Ed Stetzer speak on missional, I am in 100% agreement with him and others that I know are theologically conservative. Is Ed Stetzer and the like considered mainstream missional or are they considered the fringe? Is Rob Bell, McLaren, etc. held as missional leaders?
Here is the reason I am asking these questions. I don’t see missional as a movement, it’s the biblically correct way we are to be doing ministry. I am just reluctant to hang my hat on terms that may come back to burn me later because of those who’s hats are hung beside mine. Thanks for your time and all that you do for the Kingdom.
Chuck
Chuck,
Excellent questions. The problem with labels is that there is always a few who rise up who…bring the label into question. To me Ed Stetzer and Alan Hirsch are the mainstream missional. I still consider Bell and McClaren emerging…although the lines are sometimes blurry between the two movements.
First let me say I agree with you. Missional isn’t a new movement but more of a return to New Testament living. The reason for a label is to distinguish it from attractional ministry which also claims to be NT living. At it does require a change in mentality…it requires us to live more of our lives off-campus, connecting in authentic ways.
As far as the conversation goes…I define this in a few ways. The way I used to share my faith was I would go out on visitation, share through a tract or presentation. Whether they responded or not usually I moved on afterwards. These weren’t my friends…they were simply people I shared with. When I think of entering into conversation with someone I think of developing a true relationship with someone. And like any relationship the subjects of focus often change. With my work here I am a photographer. I have developed relationships with local artists and we’re in conversation. We share life, we talk about love, culture, family…I talk they listen…they talk I listen. It’s not a monologue but a dialogue. I share my faith through stories, testimonies…usually in smaller relevant pieces. It’s usually in a coffee shop or on a shoot. Context is everything. In the UK it may be a Pub, in Europe a bar (both of which don’t mean the same thing as they do in the US)…in the US it may be a coffee shop, enjoying a mutual hobby or neighborhood get togethers.
I also speak of the conversation from an overseas/US perspective. I’m overseas as a missionary….usually this means I’m disconnected with whatever is happening in the US church…in other words I’m not a part of the conversation. I want to be…I want to learn from and be influenced by those in church leadership and I want to be able to speak into them as well. I think the best way to advance in missions is to to see the vast divide between overseas/US diminish. We both have a lot we can learn from each other. In many ways the two “conversations” are connected. The old way is more surface with limited contact. The new way to connect in both evangelism and with the US church is through developing natural, real relationships.
Thanks for asking these questions. I’m truly glad you’re a part of the conversation.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! What you have said really makes sense.
Hi Grady
Charl from South Africa, I love this. Throught books by Len Sweet I learn the ACP vs MRI why and I believe that we need to be more MRI and less ACP. We need to go and be.
bless you
charl
Hi Grady
Charl from South Africa, I love this. Throught books by Len Sweet I learn the ACP vs MRI why and I believe that we need to be more MRI and less ACP. We need to go and be.
bless you
charl