Today, I re-start my tradition of blogging on all things missional each Monday.
To do that, I wanted to start with an article that would not normally be listed as one of my "missional" articles. I think, however, it will help frame the discussion and must be part of the focus.
Simply put, I am not interested in a "missional conversation" that does not involve men and women being redeemed, changed, and transformed by the gospel. Yes, it is more than that (and I will write on that in depth over the coming week), but it must include a heart for those far from Christ. We are called to share and show the love of Christ and the beauty of the gospel-- both matter.
"We worry too much about reaching people," explained a recent "missional" convert. He explained that he had read my book and a few others and he wanted to be more about the mission of God and less about nickels, noses, and numbers. "We have to show the love of Jesus, not just tell people about him." He was a convert to missional but was not as focused on seeing converts to Christ. And he is not alone.
Converts to a Cause
I continue to see movements gaining traction among Christians that do not seem to have many converts. In other words, they have recruits to their cause, but few converts to Christ. And I am concerned. I am concerned that in the name of "fixing the Church" we are not proclaiming the Church's gospel.
You've seen it, too, among others--the emerging church wants to rethink structures; the missional folks want more social justice; the charismatic folks want more of the Spirit; Baptists want to convert the Presbyterians; the house church people want more authentic community; and the Reformed folks just want, well, I am not sure since they never seem happy.
I must confess I have an affinity with some of these groups. But, a change movement that does not produce converts is as useless as a systematic theology text at Joel Osteen's church. Even if and when the cause is important, that is not enough for the church and its mission. Central to our task is to display the glory of God through His redemptive work through the redemption of those far from Christ.
Let's Talk
An argument of sorts has arisen among some friends of mine that helps illustrate the point. Mark Driscoll, in his oh-so-subtle way, said that many in the emerging church "don't have any converts." Dan Kimball has expressed his missional misgivings about missional churches without conversions. Several defenders have responded to the critics. But, the conversation can and should be much broader than "emerging" or "missional" conversations: I have heard it in charismatic, Calvinist, Baptist, and other settings. And, there are always defenders.
But, I believe defending is not the answer. It is never a good thing to be defending our lack of converts to Christ while we are busy converting people to our cause. To me, it is the difference between complaining and creating a new (and better) way.
For example, I have been identified with the missional conversation. I believe the church can and must identify with the missio dei and refocus its agenda around the purpose of God. Yet, I don't want missional to mean attacks on mega and fast growing churches who are reaching people "wrongly," while missional churches are reaching few "rightly." (Now, take that last sentence and replace the word "missional" with the word "reformed"--still works. Now do it with "Baptist"--yep that's 3 for 3. Need I go on?)
Now, I am not willing to say that a lack of converts is a sign of unfaithfulness. But, I am willing to say that too many change movements are not seeing lost people's lives changed. And I think that is the wrong kind of change.
So, my Reformed friends, let's not only read 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John (that is, John Calvin, John MacArthur, and John Piper), let's go plant some more churches. My emerging church friends, let's take a pause from the theological rethink and head into the neighborhood and to tell someone about Jesus. My missional friends, let's speak of justice, but always tell others how God can be both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." My house church friends, let's have community, but let's be sure it is focused on redemption. My Baptist friends, let's focus more on convincing pagans than Presbyterians. And, my charismatic friends, let's focus less on getting existing believers to speak in tongues and more on using our tongue to tell others about Jesus.
Now, I know the preceding paragraph will tick some of you off--and, I am trying to be a bit edgy while making a point. But, let me suggest you be less offended at my words and more focused on Jesus' words: Go therefore and make disciples of nations.
If you are passionate about what you believe you will naturally want others to "get it" as you have. For example, you would not be a very good charismatic if you did not want me to be baptized in the Spirit. However, I think it is unhelpful that so many Reformed, emerging, missional, denominational, Baptist, house church, charismatic, and every other kind of Christian spends more energy persuading other believers than they do reaching non-believers.
So, let's continue conversations about being "missional" or whatever, but let's not do so if it distracts us from the mission. Instead let's talk about these issues but not let them distract us from our main focus--showing and sharing the love of Jesus to a desperately lost world that needs a message of hope.
Showing a Better Way
If you want to convince me (and the body of Christ) to your cause, you must show me it is a better way. You must tell and show something different. You must not just protest what is, but you must show me what should be.
Ivan Illich was once asked if the way to societal change was best through revolution or through reform. He explained it was neither--at least if you wanted long term change. Instead, he said we need to tell an "alternative story" that is so compelling it draws others to the story.
So, tell your alternative story. Show me a way that is passionate about the cause and filled with new converts to Christ. If all you have are criticisms, concerns, or new ideas, but no new converts, that hardly seems a better path or an "alternative story."
So, don't defend your lack of converts, repent of it, weep over it, and resolve to change it.
Ed,
I've been following your work and writting. You keep challenging me and nailing it.
This blog reminds me that the enemy of the best is the good.
Keep nailing it,
Dan Rockwell
exactly. we want the whole life, all of it for Jesus. Bring new relationship but bring Jesus, bring justice but also bring Jesus. Well said.
Ed,
You are right on brother. People of all denominations need to share the gospel not their doctrine. Thanks for what you do.
Bro. Jason
These are good observations, but function like the title of a paper, titled "The Need for Conversion," or something similar.
We know that terminology has its in-words and out-words, e.g., "missional" and "conversational" that you mention. "Converts," or conversion, is slightly pejorative in some circles, and for that reason you rightly sense your tone might come across "a bit edgy."
Conversion is more than stated allegiance plus behavioral transformation. By limiting it to stated allegiance plus behavioral transformation we never leave the sphere of what Paul calls seeking to establish our own righteousness, Rm 10. We must preach faith in Christ, even if we have to use synonyms, like maybe rescue from hell, for older words like salvation.
In the search for transformational results, the sufficiency of Christ and His work is often jettisoned, as in a belief that is spreading like fire among Calvinists (!) that faith in Christ to save you is not necessarily enough to rescue from hell.
Conversion has both transformational -- and destiny-altering -- effects. One fight regarding conversion is to not throw the second effect away, to get the first, or to give credit for the second, to the first. Credit should go to God, no?
Well said, Ed. This can't be said enough. Re-post this article 6 months from now. We'll need it.
Jason...the Gospel is doctrine. So how can we share the Gospel without doctrine?
I believe this is the finest article you have ever written.
Ed,
You have gone to the heart of the debate. It is not about conversation or protest, it is about being on mission.
Thank you
Ed,
Great insights here (as usual). And I keep saying that we as we use a lot of missional language or say we are on "the mission of Jesus", that we need to define what the "mission" actually is, so we can know if we are moving towards it.
If missional does not involve new disciples being made who were not followers of Jesus before - then I can't see it being "mission" as what I believe the Bible teaches and demonstrates. I have been rereading and rereading the book of Acts lately and what examples they show us of the church on mission and what they focused on.
You are raising up the exact things I believe are very important to be raising up. Thank you! And very excited to be part of MissionShift this summer!
I'm a Baptist serving in western Europe where there aren't enough Presbyterians to keep us Baptists busy, nor enough other evangelicals, protestants or really not even "practicing" Catholics for that matter. While we help people in a variety of ways as we seek to live among them as incarnational Christian witnesses, I cannot imagine being called to live cross-culturally away from my family & all that has been involved and still walk away from those I am able to engage with them still never having heard the Gospel message/offer/call from their Creator/Abba/Father/Savior & Lord. I'm reminded of atheist Penn Jillette's(Penn & Teller radio program) video blog (viewed on YouTube) after his radio show where he spoke so highly of the man who gave him a Gideon Bible and witnessed to him after one of his shows. He went on to say that "if" he himself(Jillette) was a believer he would tell everyone he met about God. He asked, "How much would you have to hate someone to believe & have experienced all those things about God & Jesus from the Bible and not tell them(others) about it?" He said he has no respect for so-called Christians who don't try to "proselytize". Pretty interesting staements from an avowed atheist, huh?
I seek to live incarnationally in western Europe where historical religious manipulation & abuse have turned generations away from Christianity & evangelicals have never constituted more than 1% of the population. I cannot imagine being called to deal with all that is involved in living cross-culturally away from family and not doing all I can to "make disciples" as I "go". That has to include the Gospel as early on as the Holy Spirit leads in each realationship. The breakthrough to an open heart, eyes & ears often come through people being helped through some other social ministry or activity. Even avowed atheist Penn Jillette(Penn & Teller Radio Show) says "if" he were a believer he would tell everyone he met about Jesus and that he has no respect for "so-called Christians" who don't.(See Penn Jillette receives a Bible on YouTube).
Ed,
Amazing. Thanks for keeping the main thing...the main thing.
I linked to this one on my blog. I want them all to read this.
Grace and peace.
Maybe we all need to be about the business of asking the Lord of the harvest to make us fruitful laborers. Our ministry is a ministry of reconciliation 2Cor5:18
Great entry, thanks for sharing your conviction Ed. I totally get what you're saying. I do believe though that making disciples is both getting the unsaved saved and then discipling them, as Christ did, walking with them in this new life they have and helping them grow and develop their new found spiritual life. This goes without saying though - obviously.
But you're right, I do think sometimes, when the leaders stand up and say "wow, God has blessed this congregation, we've had so many people join in the last two months" I do ask myself, how many of these new members have come to the faith or are on a journey in discovering Christ vs how many have just church hopped...
This is a great challenge, thank you.
Ed
a fantastic post!Thanks for faithfully stirring things up.
Ed,
it appears to me that most of yoru writing and commenting relates to sharing the gospel within our culture. it looks like your unreleased book co-authored with hesselgrave will take on the issue of communicating the gospel cross-culturally. is this correct?
are there any blog postings of yours that would give us a hint of the books thesis?
Ed,
The only words i can say are Thank You. Through your words im changing.
Ed (and other friends), I've got some push back on some of the thought here that goes beyond the scope of a comment to a blog post of my own - http://j.mp/c3hIp5.
Ed,
Like JR Rozko, I appreciate your heart, but I find your definitions a little too simplistic and polarizing. And I think you are actually shooting yourself in the foot with this post. Here's why.
I think it is rather telling that your primary concern is converts, which nobody would argue is an important "step" in the process. But in defining the process or even indicator in such limiting terms, even Jesus would be considered a failure. Missio Dei is larger than that. Jesus didn't say to the disciples, "Go and get converts." As you highlighted, he said, "Go and make disciples."
What I believe much of the pushback occurring in missional is not just about rediscovering social justice, or even against mega churches, but against the underlining historical loss of discipleship. We are beginning to see the generational fruit of those who are not raised as followers but instead pew sitters, and it's not good. You yourself have written many times about the need for discipleship.
As Dan said, we need to understand and to continue understanding the mission and if we limit it to "converts" we're missing out on the larger picture. What I think people like David Fitch and others are asking is what does it mean to engage following as a way of life.
I also want to say that this is not a critique of your work, but of this specific conversation. I don't see anyone more than you offering more of a clarion call back to mission. Thank you for that.
JR,
Thanks. Links are welcome, particularly to well thought responses. Thanks.
Jonathan,
I agree that we should not limit our ministry focus to converts and I say that in the post. And, maybe you and I are not talking to the same people, but I am concerned that this is a problem in places.
As you might know, I have written many more thousands words on the subject of what a holistic mission looks like here. This is just one article expressing one focused concern. The missio dei is more than that.
But, I do think it is an issue in some of these movements (and it is not just "missional.") Yet, the response to this article has been overwhelmingly affirmative from folks in the missional conversation-- many see the same thing as I have described.
Do know that I value your input and appreciate your criticism! And, I do not think that the lack of evangelistic passion is everywhere. And, I agree that the missio dei is more than evangelism. But I think it is an issue. If I had more time (it was a short article for a magazine) I would flesh that out.
I believe we need to show and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Both matter.
Thanks, JR and Jonathan, for your criticism.
Ed
Hello Ed and friends,
First, thank you for the challenge to be proactive about talking about Jesus and seeing lives changed. But I wonder if evangelism and conversion is one of those topics where we end up talking past each other because of the images that are associated with evangelism/conversion. I'm all for both but wonder if more time (and talk) is needed to unpack what that means. Also, it stings a little to see conversation pitted against action - let's do both. Those of us who need to talk may feel shut down and accused of shirking our Christian duty.
Missional seems to be a pushback against the idea of "conversion" as a market transaction - against the idea of "Jesus sellers" in a secular marketplace.
Ed, it's a religious project that "heads into the neighborhood to tell people about Christ" (think JW). But missional is not a project. It is who we are 24/7. Missional is a full-time resident of the neighborhood, doing its best to "love others as Christ as loved us" - without an agenda of "us and them" religious conversion, but with great hope that Spirit will gather and transform. Brent Toderash offers a wonderfully missional turn on an old saying: "live your faith, share your life."
I see missional as the transformation of institutional religious processes into something deeply human and interpersonal, perhaps what Brink is calling discipleship. We're seeing this transformation unfold as the global church begins to connect freely via social media, less constrained by clergy-centric / stage-centric identity and ideology.
If missional is anything, it is about dropping our polarizing religious identities (converter - convertee) and freely and even recklessly demonstrating God's love and empathy towards all people. Jesus will prevail, and will do so in spite of our propensity towards religious projects and posturing.
"Being a Christian" should free us from labels, performance pressures, and religious agendas - not pile them on. Missional seems like an attempt to live out this freedom from religion, while becoming more intimate with our communities and with the very heart of Christ.
Possibly the best article I have ever read on "The Church"
Dear Ed:
Thanks for an injection of wisdom in the current rages (and some older ones as well). I heartily agree...let's win our world to Christ.
I look forward to hearing your insights at our annual Foursquare Convention in Atlanta.
Doug Burroughs
Sterling Foursquare Church
Dear Ed:
Thanks for an injection of wisdom in the current rages (and some older ones as well). I heartily agree...let's win our world to Christ.
I look forward to hearing your insights at our annual Foursquare Convention in Atlanta.
Doug Burroughs
Sterling Foursquare Church