Missional is a big catch-word in church growth circles these days, and in the SBC. In conversation with some friends recently, I suggested that maybe the divide between many churches was ideological in part and could be defined along a missional line, ie. missional verses non-missional churches. The problem, as pointed out in that conversation, is that no church will admit to being non-missional, and most (if not all) Baptist churches would claim defiantly that they are missional. Yet, the nature of our own Southern Baptist Convention screams otherwise. As a denomination in decline, it is obvious that the majority of our churches are not reaching people for the gospel, and yet, we continue to claim to be missional. What is needed is a clear definition of what it means to be missional. Mark Driscoll has said “Without a clear definition of what a missional church community is and does, tragically, community will become the mission of the church” (Mark Driscoll, Confessions of a Reformission Rev. p. 32).
I think Driscoll is correct, so what does it mean to be truly missional, and can the rifts in our denomination (and even in evangelicalism) really be defined along these lines? If so, can we right the ship of the SBC and of evangelicalism by appealing to all churches to refocus around the missional claims of the gospel? Jurgen Moltmann is helpful here:
It is not the church that has a mission of salvation to fulfill in the world; it is the mission of the Son and the Spirit through the Father that includes the church (Jurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology, London: SCM Press, 1977, 64).
In other words, the church exists because of the mission of God, not vice versa. To be missional, first and foremost, means to understand one’s place in the big scheme of God’s mission. Churches exist to fulfill the missio Dei (mission of God), not to fulfill the mission of the SBC or the mission of the local church. The local church and denomination are true to the call of God only in as much as they are committed to the mission of God over and above their own mission or comfort level. Unfortunately, many of our churches have transitioned from a gospel center to a community center. Rather than rallying around the Great Commission, we are rallying around fellowship and community. There is opposition, not to global missions so much, but to local missions such as church planting because “a new missional community might hurt my church.”
And, as go the churches, so goes the convention. As referenced in my article last week, Is the SBC Another Example of Church Decline, churches (and denominations) in decline have a natural tendency to turn inward in isolation and protectionism instead of outward in missions. As a convention, we must rally around a firm definition of what it means to be missional and encourage our churches to live out that vision. A missional church does more than support the Cooperative Program and SBC causes. A missional church does more than give to mission causes and go on mission trips, a missional church serves its community grounded firmly in the word of God in culturally relevant ways (See Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson, Comeback Churches). A missional church is devoted first and foremost to the mission of God in this world, secondly to the success of the local church, and then to their denomination. Missional church pastors think like missionaries and are looking for ways to reach their lost neighbors; not programs but gospel centered relationships. Missional churches take responsibility for sharing the gospel and for growth. When growth doesn’t happen, they ask why rather than make excuses. Missional churches have high expectations.
A missional church is a gospel centered community that is culturally relevant and is working to see the mission of God accomplished in their community and the world.
- Gospel centered means gospel centered, not program driven, but biblically driven. The sermons are grounded in the truths of God’s word and the ministries and programs of the church are scrutinized according to Scripture first.
- To be culturally relevant does not dictate a specific musical style, but instead focuses on the pragmatism necessary to reach the lost. Churches in cowboy towns should be cowboy churches and churches in NYC should be relevant to the culture of NYC while maintaining a strict adherence to biblical norms.
- Finally, working toward seeing the missio Dei accomplished simply means that the church will look to the word to see what God desires to be done, look to the culture to see what needs to be done by the people of God to bring the world in line with God’s will, and then lay aside all excuses and do the work of God, regardless of any negative affect it may have on us personally. Accomplishing the missio Dei will mean giving a voice to the lost in budget meetings and the life of the church. Missional churches will care more about reaching the lost than about having their preferences.
Jonah: A Lesson In Missional Ministry
Jonah was forced by God to accomplish the mission of God even though it was not Jonah’s desire. It may be that many Southern Baptists (even me?) need to take a lesson from Jonah. God’s misison for our world is greater than our personal desires. Even when we don’t like what we are called to do, we still have a responsibility to accomoplish the mission of God in this world because he has commanded us to do it. Jonah took the Word of God, proclaimed it to the Ninevites in a culturally relevant way, and, inspite of his own selfish desires, became a catalyst for the accomplishment of God’s mission–the salvation of Ninevah. It will not be easy to right the ship of the SBC–or any other denomination in decline–but if it is to happen, it must come as pastors and local churches rally around a definition and lifestyle of what it means to be missional. I do not doubt that my definition is lacking, but my hope and prayer is that it is a beginning. Let us all pray that as we focus on the Great Commission, we will seek to be missional and not selfish. We will seek to multiply and not divide. We will cooperate and not isolate, and ultimately we will glorify God and his kingdom above our selfish desires to build our own kingdoms.
I truly enjoyed your article! I am the web developer at my church and found your article while in the process of publishing a different article on missional churches! I was wondering if I can re-post your article- with links back to your site, of course? I don’t see any means of reposting or sharing on this article- is there a way? Thanks so much for your insights. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Personally, I believe that the Holy Spirit is moving mightily in the world right now because we are nearing the end days (or are in them!). The world is becoming both more sinful AND more holy. God is making his presence known in a powerful way. Our church is experiencing real fire right now from the Holy Spirit- it is very exciting! yours in Christ, Susan.