The more time I spend thinking about mission I find the first question that must be asked is, “How do you view mission?”. I have recently talked with people who have followed Christ for years, and with people who just in the past year began living for Jesus, and posed this question. The general consensus between both the veteran and fledgling believers was pretty much the same. Mission is an event that we may think about ahead of time if we are a part of the planning committee. If not, we think about the event when we show up. This mindset is easier to manage than the belief that, at the point of salvation, our call to go into all the world and make disciples of every nation begins. This would be to view mission, not as a subcategory, but as a way we view all of the subcultures in which we live. We will know that we have made that mindset shift when we go to bed at night and wake up in the morning thinking about how we can better love people, engage culture, and make the kingdom of God tangible to the lost around us.
Thinking with Christ-centered mission intention:
What subcultures are you involved in?
- Neighborhood/Apartment Complex
- Sports
- Work
- School
- Clubs
- Hobbies
- Public Service
- Etc.
How are you working to build meaningful relationships inside of these communities (friendships that allow you opportunities into their homes and other communities)?
How are you lovingly serving these people (not treating them as projects with time frames and expectations that they must meet)?
Are you willing to live an inconvenienced life?