Mission as Two Tables
While sitting with my friend Martin Robinson the night before last, the
topic of whether the church is needed to do mission in Western culture came up.
Many people that I know at this point are extremely interested in missional
living, but are taking on the attitude that forming churches simply clutters or
confuses their efforts.
Martin, who is a theologian and missional leader in the UK,
suggested we look at our Mission ventures with
the picture of two tables. One
table is an open table, free for everyone to come and join and eat. He would
say that that is the missional venture part of who we are as Christians. The
second table, he would say is a “sacramental” table. The idea is that we invite
everyone to a large table or feast regardless of faith or background or gender
or anything else, but our call has to be to also invite them to the sacramental
table as well. Mine along with his experience has shown us that the sheer
mission without connection to the Christian community is a shortsighted
approach. The hope for each of us is that people become Jesus followers not
only now but in the future. The problem with doing unattached missional
pioneering is that there’s no tether or connective point for people to continue
to grow in their understanding, love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
A Thin Place – Mission from South America
The Christian Associates 2010 Global Connect is over now. It
was a remarkable time with many, many highlights.
Living Into Movement – Pt 2 – Being a Missional Community
Before I say anything about movement, let me just say that
the weather in Germany is abysmal. It has rained every day that I’ve been here,
and the forecast is grim. The last days of my summer may be spent under gray
skies and wearing jackets. For someone who’s a “fair-weather player” that is
not good news. Nonetheless, I’m making the best of it and am meeting some
wonderful new friends. The Christian Associates world is a fantastic one, and
I’m glad to be a part of.
As I mentioned in one of my last blogs Living into Movement – Pt 1 , I’d like to address
the idea of movement from a biblical perspective. Jesus sent his followers into
the world with certain aspects or charges to guide them. One of those charges
came in John 20. This is post-resurrection. In other words, Christ had been crucified
and rose from the dead, but at
that time, his followers were unaware that he was alive. They had cloistered
away in fear and trepidation that they would be the next to incur punishment as
a result of following this rebel, the crazy revolutionary. Perhaps they were
concerned that they would be found “guilty by association.” Regardless, he
comes in to their presence and he tells them “peace.” Shalom. He realizes their
fear and their uncertainty and tells them “peace be with you.” And then he says
something that is very important for the church today, “As the Father has sent
me, so I am sending you.”
Tall Skinny Kiwi: One of my talks at Global Connect
Such a great week with Christian Associates at their Global Connect gathering. I cant believe they put up with me speaking so many times. What incredible perseverance! Rogier Bos of Next Wave fame was on hand to take some photos like this one.Here's part of my Monday evening talk. The other part included a Bible reading with a Sigur Ros video.
Andrew Jones at CA’s Connect
via www.flickr.com
Here is Andrew Jones “The Tall Skinny Kiwi” speaking at CA’s Connect in Kirhheim, Germany. He talked about how we can perhaps do more out of our need missionally then if we have all the resources. Embedding in context with our fragility, vulnerability and dependence is a more appropriate posture for mission than one of abundance and strategy.