Don’t believe me? Take the word “contemporary.” A lot of us use the word to describe a style of music or even a style of worship: “we have a traditional service and a contemporary service.” The word contemporary means “belonging to or occurring in the present.” It gives the sense of modern-day, present-day or current. When was the last time you sang a “contemporary” praise song that was set to a hip-hop beat or a rap (two of the most modern-day or current styles of music today)? Sometimes “contemporary” is simply a word to describe the style that one personally appreciates or enjoys. When I say “contemporary” it reflects 80’s styled, U2-influenced arena rock-like anthems while for others it means the 70-80’s stylings of the Gaither family. Most of us don’t know who Lil Wayne is, much less aspire to sing worship songs that sound like his contemporary music, but maybe we should (that’s a blog entry for another day).
The word “missional” gets thrown around a lot too. We have missional churches, missional discipleship, missional living, missional communities and I even know of something called the Missional Leadership Initiative (http://www.cggc.org/ministries/transformational-ministries/mli/). Often we use words like “missional” in the same way we use the word “contemporary” – it shows we’re current, up-to-date, and not stuck in the past. Soon, missional becomes a word we paste onto whatever we’re doing to prove that we’re relevant (at least in the evangelical subculture in North America). I’ve even had folks tell me of their new “missional” ministry of having donuts and coffee between worship services (I’m a big fan of the donut, but I’m not sure this gets at the heart of what it means to live on mission).
Reggie McNeal defines “missional” as the people of God, partnering with God in His redemptive mission in the world. South African missiologist David Bosch wrote, “Mission is more and different from recruitment to our brand of religion; it is the alerting of people to the universal reign of God through Christ.” Mission is both the announcement and demonstration of the reign of God through Christ!
So how do we practically take steps to living on mission or living missional lives or becoming missional churches? How do we actually live on mission rather than just talk about it?
Michael Frost and Al Hirsch are two voices you need to become more familiar with if you’re not already as they have much to teach us about what it means to live on mission. They identify the five habits of highly missional people as follows:
Bless – Bless at least three people this week, at least one of whom is not connected with your church.
Eat – Eat with at least three people this week, at least one of whom is not connected with your church.
Listen – Spend at least one period this week listening to the Spirit’s voice.
Learn – Spend at least one period this week learning Christ.
Sent - Journal throughout the week all the ways you alerted others to the universal reign of God through Christ.
What would happen if we were implement these five simple rhythms or habits into our weekly routines? The kingdom of God is not rocket science; it comes through small, ordinary ways when God’s people begin to orient their lives around what’s important to Him.
How can you take steps this week to begin to live on mission? Who do you need to bless? Who do you need to show hospitality to? When did you last spend intentional time just listening to the Spirit or learning from Jesus? When was the last time you helped announce or demonstrate God’s reign through Christ?
There’s nothing magic about the above “five habits”. What habits have you developed in order to stay on mission? Leave a comment below and share your own rhythms or habits that help you live a truly missional life.
Christ's Peace,
Lance