Biblimissional...or Something Like That!

I have been studying the term “missional” lately. It is a buzzword among the Emerging Church that simply put means to be a missionary in the culture in which you live. Overseas missionaries have been doing this for years. They attempt to learn their culture and understand the people in that cultural context. The missionary will be looking for opportunities to “bridge the gap” between the culture and the Gospel.

In essence for an individual to be “missional” simply means to be a missionary in the place where ministering. For example, someone desiring to minister in an urban setting would need to learn who the people are in the area. It would be important to understand how they communicate, what are the major influences in the area, what they love, what do they hate, how do they express themselves, and where do they congregate. This urban culture would be very different than a rural Midwestern community so knowing the differences would be of utmost importance. It is no different than what Hudson Taylor did in China during the late 1800’s when he went local and started dressing in Chinese clothing and infiltrating the Chinese culture in order to share the Gospel more effectively.

To be missional is to understand the culture that you are trying to reach and then make every attempt to do so. While the term may be new, the meaning is not. This is exactly what God did in sending His Son. Jesus came into humanity being fully God and fully man and was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. In Fact, one of His names is Emmanuel which being translated means “God with us”. That means that God sent His son into the culture of mankind and identified with us. I think that is the point…to identify.

In the end to be missional is to identify with the people surrounding you and give them the message that God loves them and wants to be in a relationship with them.

Personal confession time: The older I get the more I believe what I am about to say. Heather and I work with College students and Young Singles. I might listen to my music louder than you do. I stay out later than most my age. My kids hang out with students in coffee shops so much that they actually know the ingredients in a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha® and could probably make it better than the kid behind the counter. (Well maybe not) Often there are people in our house until after midnight and I still have to be at the office by eight. It sounds like a sacrifice doesn’t it. But you know what; Love does not see it that way.

I used to be different because I have a deep disdain for normal and boring. But over the years as God worked in our lives to teach us love for Him and love for others we have decided to live with the people we minister to. We desire to know them and minister to them. That means going to where they are and pouring our lives into them. While that sounds “missional” (and it is) it is also biblical. I think I will call it “As you are Going” theology because in Jesus’ last conversation with His disciples He told them “as you are going make disciples of all the nations.” As you are going this week, look around, be interested in someone besides yourself and share the Love!