Stop Using That Word!

OK, so as I make the rounds to various church leaders in the area and talk with them about strategic planning needs, one thing is becoming tragically clear. Most of these guys use the word "Missional" often, either in describing their church or what they don't want to be, but few of them actually know what the word means. Most often, they tend to fill the word with their own meaning. Supporting missionaries does not make your church missional. Neither does having small groups. Neither does encouraging your people to ask neighbors, friends and co-workers to come to church on Sunday morning. In fact, if you refer to the building where your congregation gathers on Sunday (or Saturday) as "the church" then you probably don't get it.

Church is something we are, not a place we go. And church is a gathering, a collective term. One person is not the church. I would argue that even one family is not the church, since you were gathered by biology, not the Spirit of God. The church is the presence of the Lord Jesus Himself in the world. We are the body of Christ. And we are to be doing the things that He did while He was in the world. He even commanded it before He left us nearly 2000 years ago.

So, let's discuss this command for a moment. Where is the Great Commission for the church? Let's start with Matthew 28:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

But it doesn't end with Matthew. If you believe the extended version of Mark is Scripture (I don't, but let's look at it anyway):

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16

And in John:

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:21-23

And finally, Luke/Acts:

He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:46-49

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:7-8

OK. It was important enough to be stated 4-5 times. Do you think we should take the Mission of the church seriously? If you say "Yes" then you have to take a serious look at how resources (financial and human) are allocated toward that end. And there can be no sacred cows. The Mission is everything and only that which advances the Mission should be preserved.

Take a look at this short video about being on mission and then let's talk...