I have thought much (and am doing a lot of reading) about what it means to be ‘missional’ in the context of the local church and as Christians in the so-called ‘postmodern’ environment we find ourselves in. This being an election year, a variety of issues are at the forefront: many ‘moral’ in nature. War, sexuality, immigration, etc.
So what is at stake for us, as Christians? Is it important that we ‘win’ in regards to having our agendas met?
We are all citizens and therefore it is our duty to vote, and vote our conscience. However, does the Church have a different aim, goal, mission than the state? I hope so. But to engage in the way we speak as Christians, you would think that Christians expect the state to have the exact same goals as we do. Or, in fact, maybe we’ve forgotten our mission altogether and mistake ‘being right’ or ‘winning’ with spreading the gospel. Therefore, can ‘winning’ be counterproductive? Are we expending energy on the ‘battle’ rather than the ‘war?’ (again figuratively speaking.)
“…what it means to be ‘missional’ in the context of the local church and as Christians in the so-called ‘postmodern’ environment…”
Is it madness not to try to be ‘missional’ and not to try to be Christians in the ‘postmodern’ environment, not even to think in those terms? Doesn’t the Good News itself ring true in its naked, native truth, so that without our deliberation and intentional modification to fit ‘current circumstances,’ our faithful handing over of that faith ‘once delivered to the saints,’ as it is, out of the written and practiced Word of God, will suffice, will bring to the people dwelling in the land of darkness the true Light of Christ?
“So what is at stake for us, as Christians? Is it important that we ‘win’ in regards to having our agendas met?”
As Christian citizens in a pagan world state, can we hope for anything more than to be allowed to proclaim by word and deed the Good News? In many countries this is not allowed, because it’s too disruptive of ‘normal’ society. In America, we still have this privilege. Is it unrealistic to leave to others the erection of ‘altars in parliaments’ since we, as followers of Jesus, do not have religious or moral agendas just as He did not? What would we ‘win’ by having any facet of our faith enshrined in state marbles or written in the nation’s law codes? Wouldn’t this just be shifting the burden of unrighteousness from one visible area to another? Ultimately, are we willing to follow Constantine and Theodosius in reconstructing a moral empire using the mortar of human righteousness, which is sure to fail?
“We are all citizens and therefore it is our duty to vote, and vote our conscience.”
Amen on both counts, to honor the emperor, but to fear God. It’s fitting.
“However, does the Church have a different aim, goal, mission than the state?”
And so with the rest of your thoughts following, yes.
The winning of battles is not necessarily the winning of the war, that is, the victory of Christ over sin and death, which has already been accomplished without our help. The ‘Christian’ political agenda, though it predictably comprises moral legislation, the overturning of the immoral, falls into unchristian triumphalism no less than the ‘imperium in imperio’ of the Christian emperors, exchanging societal improvement through transformed lives for the appearance of an ordered society at the expense of human freedom and real conversion to Christ. This is not the victory of Christianity, but merely another whitewashing of sin and death.
All our righteousness is but filthy rags.
Great post.
I believe need to understand that when we mix religion and politics you get politics. Jesus wasn’t a democrat or republican. We need to preach Jesus and his message of grace and hope to a society that needs it. We need to understand that in our congregations we have people who have differing ideas when it comes to politics. God created everyone different. It is beautiful. A wonder master peice that he has made in his likeness. So, let us continue to be missional! Let us as Paul says in Philippians “Keep focused on the goal and win the prize in which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus!”
Great blog.
I have added it to my favorites.
I look forward to reading more of your blog in the future.
God bless.
Padre,
What are you reading about what it means to be “missional” in the context of the local church?
Check out the Great Giveaway’ by David Fitch…
Gracias padre!