imagining how the church can reorient around mission

Do you wear skinny jeans or pleated pants?

Kind of a funny question, but those are the metaphors theologian Scot McKnight uses to describe two prevailing and popular views of the Kingdom of God in his book, Kingdom Conspiracy. The first view, skinny jeans, predictably represents a more current approach that frontloads public sector social justice activism, while often times bypassing the church. He writes, “Kingdom means good deeds done by good people (Christian or not) in the public sector for the common good.” (p.4) The second picture is, again predictably, a perspective that is more represented in “traditional” Christianity. He describes this group’s view by saying, “…the Kingdom is both present and future, and the kingdom is both a rule and reign.” (p. 9) read more

Here is an interview I did for an organization called, The Aqueduct Project.  I am answering questions about the challenges of mission work in western culture.  There is a part 2 coming, but thought this first installment might prove helpful for many of you.

For the interview click here: Mission Work in Western Culture

In Psalm 102:14 it says, “For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.”

Do you love your city? read more

When we talk about the idea of being "missional" we have to include the entire story of God. That means the narrative from Genesis to Revelation. The story obviously begins at creation and it ends at the new creation. In the middle God chooses to use a people. The headwaters of that story are found in Abraham. The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1–3) The charge to Abram was to be a blessing. In Christopher Wright's book The Mission of God's People he writes,

“The last phrase of Genesis 12:2 is actually an imperative in Hebrew – ‘Be a blessing!’, though it is most often translated simply as a consequential statement from the preceding phrases, ‘so that you will be a blessing.’ My own exegetical understanding of the structure of Genesis 12:1–3 sees it as two fundamental commands, each followed by three subordinate or explanatory clauses, climaxing in the last line of verse 3. The skeleton message of Genesis 12:1–3 is this: read more

Here is a clip featuring one of CA's churches in Brussels as they mobilize to bring true Shalom to their city.  The pastor is Carlton Deal explaining how it came about.

"Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact?" says Lesslie Newbigin in his book, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society.

As we near the end of our Missional Church class, these words are ones that seem to sum up what I’ve learned; or, rather, what’s been rekindled in me. Missionality is something I have always longed for, without knowing the words for it. As I think and hope most Christians do, I find the story of Jesus intoxicating. That being said, I have always felt this frustration, not knowing where to begin communicating that. read more

There was resounding applause today as Chris Wright issued an unequivocal call for a second reformation in the world church.

via www.christiantoday.com read more

Here's a little bit more from Barth for you (from the book, “The Witness of God”):

“Must not the faithful, the most convinced missionary think seriously about the fact that the concept ‘missio’ in the ancient church was a term from the doctrine of the Trinity, the designation of the divine self sending, the sending of Son and Holy Spirit into the world?” p. 108