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?
Great thoughts! I think something happens in our hearts when we section off our lives and put things in little compartments. The Gospel has power to save us to it…for it. The sending nature of the Gospel seems to be a lost thing but i think we need to be praying, engaging, and dare i say acting like a people on mission. Good word Josh! You gave us a bunch to think about.
Great, thought provoking questions. I try my best to live an open life and not a quarantined one. My co-workers know I’m a pastor and talk to me about God frequently. But I also hang out with them and goto their parties and such. I hope that my friendships and discussions with these people are fruitful and that the Holy Spirit operates at a deeper level than our relationship allows.
I think we under estimate “the power of the party”. It is hard to feel spiritual without a
bible study to make us feel “spiritual”. Thanks for your notes.
I have thought about your note for a couple of weeks since you have posted it. In my religious experience I was taught that Christians should withdraw from the world in order not to be influence by non believers’ perspective. So instead of feeling condemned that I was not doing what I should, I need to be retrain in my thinking about being involved in other people lives especially non-believers. So I am doing it in small steps, letting God train me to be involved in relationships. And the first step that I need to take is to find and become interested in social activities instead of introverted activities such as watching television.
Adia,
Thank you for your honesty. It is hard to brake out of that seclusion mindset. Not only have I lived that way but I have taught it on many occasions… “Get saved and Get away!” I love hearing about your growth.