Thursday, July 13, 2006
Missions Is Dead!
As with anything in the Western church, after something has died we prop it up for a long time, stuff it if it’s dead and even try to ride it a while longer. We even try to get other people to get on our horse with us, even though its beautiful, glassy eyes don’t seem to move! We put lipstick on our dead horses, give them mechanical nahyyy’s, and even have someone vacuum their coats daily--no real horse was ever that clean! It’s the idea--that’s what we love. It’s the nostalgia of a past day when something really was good and worked.
It’s not about missions--it’s about the kingdom. Missions focused on us getting them converted and churched. It was the industrial model that Cary pioneered. Cary, however, was far more concerned about the Kingdom and society than most missionaries that followed him. It is the model on which most denominations and mission agencies still focus. It builds the apparatus to get the converts, and them get them in church. That isn’t bad, just a super short runway for people getting on their feet spiritually.
It’s not about missions--it’s about globalization. My tribe, a couple of decades ago, had this focus to get everyone engaging the world and all the goals fell way short, except the one to mobilize volunteers. That one went way over the top. It continues to go way over the top. Some in the "missions industry" think the church has become more "missions" minded. Not true. The world has become smaller and we are thinking more global, more from business and economics than anything. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are proof of this, and dozens of other philanthropist. We are going to see more of this and it’s good. The question is going to become what differentiates a Christian’s philanthropy and work?
It’s not about missions--and it’s beyond missional. Ed Stetzer has rightly concluded there is probably going to be another word. I agree. Everyone is using that word missional, but it’s defined too, too, too western. It’s also being redefined because everyone wants to be considered "missional" so, to be so, it’s redefined in their image. It must be beyond itself, outside itself, and, yet, incarnated within itself. It has to go beyond relevant communication and church planting. It, of necessity, must emerge out of a deep walk with Jesus or discipleship that leads to a radical obedience to go beyond one’s comfort zone, here or abroad.
It’s not about missions--it’s about the kingdom. Missions focused on us getting them converted and churched. It was the industrial model that Cary pioneered. Cary, however, was far more concerned about the Kingdom and society than most missionaries that followed him. It is the model on which most denominations and mission agencies still focus. It builds the apparatus to get the converts, and them get them in church. That isn’t bad, just a super short runway for people getting on their feet spiritually.
It’s not about missions--it’s about globalization. My tribe, a couple of decades ago, had this focus to get everyone engaging the world and all the goals fell way short, except the one to mobilize volunteers. That one went way over the top. It continues to go way over the top. Some in the "missions industry" think the church has become more "missions" minded. Not true. The world has become smaller and we are thinking more global, more from business and economics than anything. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are proof of this, and dozens of other philanthropist. We are going to see more of this and it’s good. The question is going to become what differentiates a Christian’s philanthropy and work?
It’s not about missions--and it’s beyond missional. Ed Stetzer has rightly concluded there is probably going to be another word. I agree. Everyone is using that word missional, but it’s defined too, too, too western. It’s also being redefined because everyone wants to be considered "missional" so, to be so, it’s redefined in their image. It must be beyond itself, outside itself, and, yet, incarnated within itself. It has to go beyond relevant communication and church planting. It, of necessity, must emerge out of a deep walk with Jesus or discipleship that leads to a radical obedience to go beyond one’s comfort zone, here or abroad.
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