Have Feet Will Travel - To Be A Christian is to Be Missional

It was Sunday morning and we were in worship. This was a "new church start" and we were in the fellowship hall of the parent church (United Methodist).  I was a new believer and I was drawn to this group because I enjoy the "contemporary" worship style.  As we sat there holding our "prayer stones" (whatever the heck a prayer stone is) a young woman moved to the front, stood at the podium, and began to lead us in prayer.  She open with these words, "Now, let us turn to the Spirit, by whatever name we call him . . . "

WHAT!  My jaw dropped.  Whatever name we call him?!!  Krishna? Allah? David Koresh? Ba'al?  I dropped my prayer stone and ran.  OK, not right then but the day after.  I invited the "Pastor" to my home for dinner and we had a discussion about Christ, about the Bible, about the Gospel.  It appeared that Jesus came to show us  a better way to live, to bring world peace, and that all the paths eventually lead to God.  He died to show us how much he loved us but not as a substitute sacrifice for my sin.  I heard quotes from Henry Nouwen, Brian McLaren, and others but not much from Jesus, Paul, Isaiah, or Moses.  We parted ways spiritually.  I love him but not his message.

So that brings me to today.  It seems that there is always a move to reinvent, repaint, or reshape the church. One day it's "The Emergent Church" and the next day it's the "Missional Church Movement". Rob Bell, the Pastor of Mars Hill Church and one of the Emergent Church leaders wrote a book a few years ago called "Velvet Elvis" in which he began to repaint the Christian faith.  There were some good points in the book and some solid truth but there were also some serious wanderings from truth.  Bell described Christianity as a trampoline were people are bouncing.  He used the concept of the springs being doctrine (bendable, flexible, nonrigid) and he discussed those in the faith that used bricks (rigid, unbendable) instead of springs.  He made the argument that we could have a faith even if one of the bricks of our faith came crashing down.

"What if that spring [doctrine] was seriously questioned? Could a person keep jumping? Could a person still love God? Could you still be a Christian?"

For instance, if we found out that Jesus didn't really die on the cross but instead died of pancreatic cancer or if his bones were found still inside of the tomb, could we still keep jumping.  I guess we could keep jumping but we'd be jumping for nothing.  I say, if the bricks became springs or if they crumbled altogether I say we get off the trampoline because we're making fools of ourselves up there.  Bell wants to repaint the Christian faith but I have a better idea.  Let's find a scraper and remove all of the graffiti and paint that false teachers have used to alter God's original and perfect painting.

So on to the "Missional Church".  The main concept is that the church was never meant to be an "in" church but an "out" church.  I want to say that I applaud the idea that many churches have become inward, ritualistic, and have failed to be the hands and feet of Christ in the real world and we should break down the walls and move out.  So I agree in theory but here is the deal.  When we begin to focus on one aspect of "church" and begin to reshape it there is a tendency to make it what we want it to be.  If the "Missional Church" has as it's core to carry out the "mission" of Christ then let's call it what it is, "The Church".  And within that we have to define what Christ's mission was.  You see the "Church" can be clearly seen in action in the Book of Acts.  We see that it was clearly both "in" and "out".  They met daily and read from the scriptures, broke bread, and worshipped God.  Was it in a big building with stained glass and a pews? No.  But there was a time and a place where they stopped what they were doing and gathered. Cool. I like gathering.  But, they had a purpose (a mission)  for which many lost their lives.  They purposed to share the good news of Jesus and his resurrection.  Was their mission to feed the hungry?  Was it to cure cancer?  Was it to stop the spread of leprosy? No, it wasn't their mission but as they lived as a disciple of Jesus and lived to share the Gospel they did these things as a natural outpouring of God's love.  The bible says that they sold their possessions as others had need so that no one went without.  It wasn't their mission but it was who they were.  They were Christians. When we are living as Christ we by nature become missional.  

The Facebook group "Missional Church Leaders" states this as their description:

"A group of missional church leaders who are committed to leading others in living the mission of Christ."

I have two questions:

1) What if we took out the word "missional" and instead said "A group of church leaders who are committed to leading others in living the mission of Christ"  Wouldn't that adequately define the biblical role of church leaders? 

2) What exactly was and is the "mission of Christ"?

There is a trend toward a "social gospel" that wanders from the original gospel of Jesus.  There is also a crazy sense that there is somehow a distinction between evangelical and missional.  The mission of the church was and is to share the good news that Jesus is the Christ.  So, by default, a missional church must be evangelical.  If you read every quoted speech/sermon that Peter, Paul, and Stephen preached you will see that they preached Christ.  Jesus preached repentance, love, faith, mercy, and judgment. He is the one and only Son of the living God.  He lived a sinless life and died for the sins of the world.  He died a substitutionary death in the place of sinners and took the wrath of God in our place.  He rose from the dead on the third day, conquering death.  By faith in him we can have our sins removed and inherit eternal life.  Jesus Christ "came into the world to save sinners"  and to "seek and save that which was lost"  Did he feed the hungry?  Sure but the next day they were hungry again.  He said he was the bread of life and living water.  He came to give himself.  So, I ask again, "What is the mission of Christ?" so that when we go out and become missional we are doing his will and not a man centered mission.  

Should we be missional?  Of Course!  It defines us.  Blessed are the feet of those who bring the good news.  Why the feet?  Because feet walk.  They go out.  They travel.

We need to stop repainting and redefining the Christian faith but instead strip away the man made, read the bible, and get to the business of telling people about Christ.  If we see someone hungry along the way feed them. If they are naked, clothe them.  If they are hurting, hug them but if they don't know Jesus then give them some good news.  We need to stop being politically correct and avoiding the topics of sin, repentance, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, holiness, and judgment.  Let's stay in and worship this morning then go out later and be Jesus' feet in the word went we go out.  24/7.

Peace, 

David