I confess, I get wearied by fashion trends. And fashionability. You get fashionability in Christian circles. Not just tinsel at Christmas. Like for a while there, it was as if everyone had just discovered the ‘social Trinity’; and all of a sudden expressions like ‘divine dance’ and ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘open community’ being bandied around. Aha.
Another trendy word is ‘missional’. Honestly, I haven’t got a clue what people mean by this – other than I know it is used in so many different and divergent ways. So here’s my attempt to disentangle some trendy vocabulary (some of which is Biblical) in a way that makes sense:
Step 1 - Witness Who we are before we open our mouths. What people see when they look at our lives. Is there a reflection of Jesus there? And when we do open our mouths, what sort of speech do they hear, attitudes expressed? Witness is about trying to match what’s on the label with what’s in the packet.
Step 2 - Mission Literally, in the New Testament it translates a Greek word meaning ‘service’. And from Latin, the verb means ‘sending’. ‘Sent service’: that’ll do nicely. Engaging with others in acts of meaningful service. Are we trying to do it the Jesus way, with His attitude?
Step 3 - Evangelism Literally, ‘sharing good news’. Building on the platform of witness and mission. Telling people about the truth and light and life that comes to them through Jesus Christ. God's answer to the big question.
Fit in all the rest in any way you like. That’s the core of it all underneath the wrapping paper.
