My Take on Missional

Okay, so I got a friendly reminder today that I haven't blogged lately and with the divorce rate among bloggers as high as it is I thought it wise to say something before I became the next victim of unlinking..... Thanks Julie. And just remember, It would never cross my mind to unlink someone.

On to the real stuff. Although the first paragraph will probably get more comments than what I type below....

I have slowly been trying to digest the whole missional and emergent thing. Actually I should clarify that statement by saying I haven't made it passed the missional stance until now I think. The emergents will have to wait for the time being.

As many know I'm not into a lot of fancy catch phrases and or tag lines. I don't really care if I'm in style or out of style, jeans/shorts and a button down shirt untucked always seem to work well. I see it like this, if I keep my current style long enough before long I will be back in style. I don't keep up with the latest trends in culture either. I drank my first Mocha Latte, ummm, about 1 year ago maybe a year and a half. I think it's about time to try something else but I feel foolish ordering some of these things I can hardly pronounce, carmel mach-ee-ah-toe?? I'll stick with mocha latte for now. I guess some would call me boring which I'm okay with but I prefer no frills or no nonesene. Nor do I want the church infiltrated with gimmicks and programs that try and put a spin on the church to make it seem not so churchy. Or bringing the worlds way's in the church to make people feel better. You know, get them in the door however you can then try to slip in some Bible here and there without trying to offend anyone.

For a while now, 3+ years, I have been hearing words like missional, community, seeker friendly, emergent etc.. all of which placed a huge knot in my stomach every time I would hear them. Of course coming out of the FIMBC, Fundamental Independent Missionary Baptist Church, I thought I was going to hell when I took off my tie and switched to the NKJV. If I walked in the local FIMBC today with my new NET Bible I would probably be stoned.

Anyway, I have been trying to better understand what this actually means. Today I have been reading a book that can be downloaded for free on the web and it has really given me a clear definition of what missional is.

My understanding of missional today is that missional is not something you decide to be. I decided to be FIMB, but missional should be a natural progression to what God wants you to be. Missional is obedience to the commands of Christ in order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Spirit is in turn required for living out God’s mission task in and through the church. Obeying God produces godliness, and godliness leads to further obedience. As our relationship with Christ grows through obedient godliness, we are transformed in the inner man to the point where we desire more and more to experientially identify with the
missionary character of Christ in all circumstances of our lives.

So missional in my mind is nothing more than being like Christ, growing in godliness and holiness. This made perfect sense to me as did what I posted below. Keep reading.

Many missionalist writers consistently use the word missional to basically claim that missional and biblical are synonymous terms. In truth, missional is simply an English word that needs qualification to be of value to the local church. Recognizing the grammatical function of the word missional is pivotal to our discussion on being a missional church. Grammatically, the function of the word missional is clear. Missional is the adjectival form of the word mission. According to the common rules of English grammar, the suffix al converts a noun into an adjective. Mission + al = missional. Adjectives function “to restrict, qualify or limit the meaning of other words or word groups.” Missional then, no matter what noun it is modifying, must qualify the meaning of that noun by referencing God’s mission as defined by Scripture. More specifically, missional limits any noun that it modifies to the temporary mission task of the Church to make disciples of all ta ethne (all peoples) for God’s glory and worship. If the word missional is used in a way that does not reflect the biblical meaning of God’s mission, then it fails to communicate the purpose of God’s mission to form one people for His glory and worship from among all peoples. Therefore,a local church is missional when it intentionally pursues God’s mission for His glory among all peoples by following His patterns and His ways of expanding His kingdom.

Scripture is not a linear, step-by-step plan for doing God’s mission. Instead, Scripture over road spans of time comprehensively reveals patterns and practices that, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, lead churches to be God’s mission force in their community.

The Bible reveals God’s ways and patterns for His people to proclaim His message to non- Christian groups of people so that new, reproducing groups of believers multiply into many new churches. These patterns reflect different, but integrated practices of God’s mission. When followed, they provide local churches the best opportunities to fully experience God’s mission in His way.

Am I missional?? Is missional Biblical? In light of the definition I have posted I would have to say I haven't finished the book yet. Stay tuned.

Taken from the book Pursuing the Mission of God. Downloaded for free from

www.churchplantingvillage.net/atf/cf/%7B087EF6B4-D6E5-4BBF-BED1-7983D360F394%7D/Missional%20BookMaster_FINAL%203_07.pdf