I like the image of a ‘journey’ when thinking of my life as a follower of Jesus. Of course it’s not the perfect image, nor the only one –but it pictures for me an ongoing walk with the Savior. There’s ‘movement,’ as there is with the word ‘missional.’
That word: "missional" has become an important part of my vocabulary, especially as I think about my life as well as my responsibility within the Kingdom of God. But what does it mean? Is it just another ‘fad’ word? Maybe, for some. For me it is all about passion, purpose, and intentionality in faith; it struggles against stagnancy, lack of vision, and myopic faith. I found a helpful explanation of this word ‘missional’ on the Christianity Today website this week, in an article that describes the emerging church. One can be:
"…missional by participating, with God, in the redemptive work of God in this world. In essence, it joins with the apostle Paul in saying that God has given us "the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18)."
"…missional by participating in the community where God’s redemptive work occurs. The church is the community through which God works and in which God manifests the credibility of the gospel."
"…missional (by) participating in the holistic redemptive work of God in this world. The Spirit groans, the creation groans, and we groan for the redemption of God (see Rom. 8:18-27). This holistic emphasis finds perfect expression in the ministry of Jesus, who went about doing good to bodies, spirits, families, and societies. He picked the marginalized up from the floor and put them back in their seats at the table; he attracted harlots and tax collectors; he made the lame walk and opened the ears of the deaf. He cared, in other words, not just about lost souls, but also about whole persons and whole societies."
I also personally understand ‘missional’ in terms of ‘presence’ and ’sentness.’ As I cultivate an awareness of being in Jesus’ presence, I also become aware of His heartbeat for my neighbors, for the community, for the city, for the world … and gain a compelling desire to do something in response.
On the ‘missional’ path …. Eric