So again, it has been a while since I wrote anything, but Its been a cool few months with all that God has been doing I could talk for ever but don't worry I won't, but I will talk...haha. Anyways, Over the past year I have been part of what is commonly called a "missional church" to which most think its another passing fad in the Church but I see it as God bringing His people back to living in a manner in which Jesus desires and calls His sheep to live like.
We (Americans) live in an interesting culture. One that is counter productive to what has always been. About 200 years ago many people came to america wanting religious freedom from the church of England and the powers at be. They came with the desire to not be constrained by these powers towards there personal desires for religion and God. Previous to this the church was integrated into everyday life for a few hundred years from Constantine, the reformation and so on, for then on Europe became Christian culture. Going to church on Sundays and everything that goes with it was just part of life. This all then flowed over into the Americas (more specifically the united states of america is what we call it today).
The Church then defaulted to what it always knew which was not a bad thing but good and God used it, but it would not work forever with many different cultures and people groups coming in. This also is good cause God created ALL people equal as should they be viewed this way. Anyways, the church was working in default mode and as the US culture changed the church continued to default to what it always knew which was good old church stuff (I'm not saying this is bad, but became wrong). Defaulting is not bad but when it goes against what you believe it is wrong. let me explain; Jesus Christ moved into a culture (Jewish) and was Jewish in many ways. He lived it and breathed it. He was kosher and followed torah (Jewish law), he went to synagogue and learned/memorized it till about age 10. These are just a few things. My point is Jesus was A Jew to the Jews first.
We also see Paul who dealt with gentiles and became a like a gentile for the gentiles sake and said, "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not myself being under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). This is interesting since Paul was mostly in non-jewish cultures even himself being Jewish. We can see this in his many journeys sharing the gospel.
We in the US are daily surrounded by many people who are of different faiths or no faith in a supreme being who is influencing there lives though there choices.That said we don't live in a culture that church or things of the Christian God is there lifestyle but we in the church do life as though everyone is Christian. Like I said this is not true; in fact most people are not of the Christian faith. We are in a culture that needs to be looked at differently and handled differently. This shift needs to happen otherwise we will never live the life we are called to nor will we reach people with a God who is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness" (Psalm 103:8). Simply going to church is not the holistic para-dime we are meant to live, for that is a small part and has many factors to it. None of which I will touch on here.
That all said, I love how Alan Hirsch in his co-authored book Right here, Right now puts it, he says "Christianity is an intrinsically missional faith" (page 33). In the nature of the Church we are meant and called to be missional to all people at all times. This is not just an overseas mentality as we always have been taught but an over your fence and cross your street mentality. Being on mission is being sent by God right where you are living. This is a posture that we are to have at all times, for Jesus said, "as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you" (John 20:21). We serve a God who's heart and desire is for all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Now I understand that all won't follow Him and so be saved but that His working not mine. He judges people, I'm not called to judge but to love. As one who lives the teaching of Martin Luther's priesthood of all believers we are ALL sent by God and not just a special group of people or even men alone and women sit on the sidelines but ALL are called by God to be on mission as a unified body of Christ.
Now I ask what will you do. Run and hide? Take chances? Talk to people who are not of the Christian faith? Love all people no matter what they say or believe? Argue with me over doctrine? Look into the conversation of being on missional/sent by God?
God's peace, love and grace be with you as you serve the King and His kingdom
We (Americans) live in an interesting culture. One that is counter productive to what has always been. About 200 years ago many people came to america wanting religious freedom from the church of England and the powers at be. They came with the desire to not be constrained by these powers towards there personal desires for religion and God. Previous to this the church was integrated into everyday life for a few hundred years from Constantine, the reformation and so on, for then on Europe became Christian culture. Going to church on Sundays and everything that goes with it was just part of life. This all then flowed over into the Americas (more specifically the united states of america is what we call it today).
The Church then defaulted to what it always knew which was not a bad thing but good and God used it, but it would not work forever with many different cultures and people groups coming in. This also is good cause God created ALL people equal as should they be viewed this way. Anyways, the church was working in default mode and as the US culture changed the church continued to default to what it always knew which was good old church stuff (I'm not saying this is bad, but became wrong). Defaulting is not bad but when it goes against what you believe it is wrong. let me explain; Jesus Christ moved into a culture (Jewish) and was Jewish in many ways. He lived it and breathed it. He was kosher and followed torah (Jewish law), he went to synagogue and learned/memorized it till about age 10. These are just a few things. My point is Jesus was A Jew to the Jews first.
We also see Paul who dealt with gentiles and became a like a gentile for the gentiles sake and said, "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not myself being under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). This is interesting since Paul was mostly in non-jewish cultures even himself being Jewish. We can see this in his many journeys sharing the gospel.
We in the US are daily surrounded by many people who are of different faiths or no faith in a supreme being who is influencing there lives though there choices.That said we don't live in a culture that church or things of the Christian God is there lifestyle but we in the church do life as though everyone is Christian. Like I said this is not true; in fact most people are not of the Christian faith. We are in a culture that needs to be looked at differently and handled differently. This shift needs to happen otherwise we will never live the life we are called to nor will we reach people with a God who is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness" (Psalm 103:8). Simply going to church is not the holistic para-dime we are meant to live, for that is a small part and has many factors to it. None of which I will touch on here.
That all said, I love how Alan Hirsch in his co-authored book Right here, Right now puts it, he says "Christianity is an intrinsically missional faith" (page 33). In the nature of the Church we are meant and called to be missional to all people at all times. This is not just an overseas mentality as we always have been taught but an over your fence and cross your street mentality. Being on mission is being sent by God right where you are living. This is a posture that we are to have at all times, for Jesus said, "as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you" (John 20:21). We serve a God who's heart and desire is for all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Now I understand that all won't follow Him and so be saved but that His working not mine. He judges people, I'm not called to judge but to love. As one who lives the teaching of Martin Luther's priesthood of all believers we are ALL sent by God and not just a special group of people or even men alone and women sit on the sidelines but ALL are called by God to be on mission as a unified body of Christ.
Now I ask what will you do. Run and hide? Take chances? Talk to people who are not of the Christian faith? Love all people no matter what they say or believe? Argue with me over doctrine? Look into the conversation of being on missional/sent by God?
God's peace, love and grace be with you as you serve the King and His kingdom
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