I've known Jason Dukes for a few years now. A pastor in the Orlando area, Jason and his local congregation focus on being the church, doing life together, and giving themselves away. They emphasize "living sent" - being a letter from God communicating His love and hope in the message of their daily lives among all whom they encounter. As someone who frequently talks and writes on our "sentness," you can easily see the connection Jason and I share.

In Jason's new book Beyond My Church, he explores the essentials of church unity and explains how it can become part of the DNA of your local church expression.

Feel free to jump in with questions and comments. Jason will be coming by the blog today to dialogue.

Beyond My Church - lots of places you can go with that title. What's the premise of the book?

We all have fervently prayed for personal awakening and community revival before, but how fervently have we taken Jesus' prayer in the Garden for us, His church? He prayed that He had given the same mission to us that had been given to Him, and furthermore for the maturity of our oneness so that the world might believe in Him, the One who was sent. But do we ever prioritize unity as followers of Jesus together in a city, cultivating for the maturity of our oneness (unity) in practical ways? We must. Through our unity around mission, what are normally self-absorbed local churches will put on display the transforming, near love of God so that the people of our communities will see and know the presence and evidence of the sent One, Jesus.

Is this a book that only pastors and paid church leaders can appreciate, or can every follower of Jesus begin to think and live beyond their church, and if so, how?

It is absolutely a book for every follower of Jesus. Two reasons why. First, unfortunately, many pastors live either under the pressure to "grow their church," which is an extremely anti-biblical thought, or they live stifled by their own insecurities, which creates a sense of competition and distrust between local leaders. Often times, our distinctive understandings of secondary theological ideals hinder pastors' connection, as well. Thus, it is imperative that every follower of Jesus lead out in cultivating for unity around mission among followers of Jesus in a city, therefore encouraging their pastors to emphasize and prioritize for it. 

This can be done in the very ways that they cultivate for "beyond me" living in their families, among their neighbors, in the marketplace, among leaders in the city where they live, and even in the ways that they think of the church in the city. There is actually one chapter per each of those topics in the book, offering suggestions for how "beyond MY church" thinking and living can be cultivated. We need a vision for "on earth as it is in heaven" in the communities where we live, not a vision for succeeding as individual local churches. And followers of Jesus who make up those local church families can be key catalysts in enabling and allowing their leaders to feel secure to think and live "beyond MY church." 

You mention in the book that this thinking and living is a must for the local churches of a city in order for the "work of God" to happen in the city where they live. Why do you think that is such an imperative?

Very simply, because the Bible tells me so. In John 17:18-23, Jesus prayed specifically for the maturity of our oneness as His followers SO THAT the world might believe in the One who was sent. Well, in John 6:29, Jesus taught that the work of God is "that you believe in the One that He has sent." Jesus is praying, then, for the maturity of our oneness so that the work of God might happen. Maybe all of our prayers for personal awakening are being hindered by our lack of praying and prioritizing and cultivating for the maturity of our oneness. Maybe we could live as an answer to Jesus' prayer and then see the very thing for which we are praying! The work of God might then come alive in our cities in ways we never imagined. This is not easy to surrender to, however, for the consequences could very well threaten the very systems we currently have in American church culture. But those would be worth giving up if the work of God happened in our communities, wouldn't they?

Specific to pastors and church leaders, give three practical suggestions as to how they can think and live beyond their church in the next month?

• take devoted time in Sunday worship gathering to solely pray for another local church expression and their leaders and their ministries and their fruitfulness.

• allow that "put the interests of others above your own" stuff to also apply to local church expressions, and commit some time every week to working toward the encouragement and success of another local church leader and ministry. 

• put aside petty differences and serve the community together in ongoing, relational ways with no one local church's name tagged on the project, but rather for the sake of "on earth as it is in heaven" in your community. 

In 2008 the Evangelical Free Church of America adopted a newly revised Statement of Faith. You should give that a read. It's a solid confessional statement that works at connecting each statement to the gospel.

Greg Strand, the EFCA's Director of Biblical Theology and Credentialing, worked on Evangelical Convictions: A Theological Exposition of the Statement of Faith, a book that gives clarity to the theological convictions contained in that Statement, spelling out what is affirmed and what is denied (and what is not addressed). His exposition of the Statement is clear, while avoiding a lot of technical theological terms making the book accessible to as wide an audience as possible.

Sex.

A lot of Christians are talking about it... and some are talking about talking about it.

I do get that part of this is a way to engage culture and answer questions people are asking. As John Ortberg jokes, to draw a lot of people, you should teach on three subjects: sex, the end times, and will there be sex in the end times?

American churches are competing for attention through television, twitter, media, talking heads, talk show hosts, and any other medium they can use. Strategies are developed for their message to be heard over the noise of culture. Sex, indeed, seems to get people's attention-- and many use it for that purpose in the church-- yet, it is also an important issue in need of biblical clarity and discernment, not just attention and discussion. Yes, people want to talk about sex, but how do we do it in a way that glorifies Christ?

As 2011 winds down, I wanted to take a look back at some of the books I've interacted with here on the blog over the past 12 months. I don't generally do book reviews, but, rather, I do interview with authors and invite my readers to join that dialogue.  You will see several examples of that below.

I did two book reviews this year, both because I think the books mattered and my voice might be helpful.  First, I reviewed and interacted with Rob Bell's book Love Wins.  I wanted to give it a fair reading, but also point out the errors that greatly concerned me.  Second, I did a book review of What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert at the request of the editors of The Gospel Coalition journal, Themelios.  I've been pleased that so many that found their concerns echoed in my review-- and found the interaction with the authors to be helpful.  At the end of the day, I think that progress have been made, people are talking about mission, and many now know that good people can come to different conclusions-- and we do not need to simply say, "well, this issue is settled."

Yesterday, I shared links to several reviews of Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert's book, What is the Mission of the Church?, and I highlighted some common concerns with their conclusions concerning the mission of the church. Here I'll share more of my own thoughts on the issue.

When Jason Sexton, the book review editor for "mission and culture" at Themelios, asked me to write a review, I was hesitant. I don't generally do book reviews-- the only other one I have done is a three part review of Rob Bell's book, Love Wins. I suspect most reviews don't really further conversation as much as they reinforce ideas already held by the convinced.

But, in this case, the review was for Themelios, a journal of the Gospel Coalition where many were discussing the book. Since many people have been asking my opinion, this seemed a good venue to share some thoughts.

Now, this is a review, not my theology of mission (or a definition of mission). If you are interested in that discussion, I'd direct you to the book I recently co-edited with David Hesselgrave called MissionSHIFT: Mission Issues in the Third Millenium. In the first third of that book, "'Mission' Defined and Described," missiologists like Charles Van Engen, Keith Eitel, Enoch Wan, Darrell Guder, Andreas Köstenberger, and me spill much ink debating those definitions.

Yet, this is a review and a critique. For those of you not accustomed to such approaches, you should know that this is how academic discourse is often conducted-- you critique the work of others. Actually, much of What is the Mission of the Church? is a critique of the view of many missiologists such as Christopher Wright. So, it is in that spirit that I offer my critique, highlighting the good, critiquing what I think is not as good, and then giving my opinion of the project.

Let me add that working with Jason Sexton and the other editors of Themelios has been exceedingly helpful. They did not just ask me to write the review, but they engaged along the way, providing feedback and insight, helping me to tighten my statements and make clear my references. I appreciate their help.

Also, the editors decided that the book merited a longer review-- it is about triple the normal length. For that, I am grateful. I think that partly it points to the fact that the book is being widely read and discussed. DeYoung and Gilbert have done well to read the issues of the day and seek to speak into those issues (emerging church, the nature of the gospel, the Calvinist resurgence, etc.). The same is true here-- they have written the book at a time when people are talking about these issues. I am glad more people are having these conversations.

Also, I (and the editors) felt that I needed the space to address the issues fairly. We should always be fair, but since Themelios is a Gospel Coalition publication, and DeYoung is a Gospel Coalition blogger (and Gilbert a Gospel Coalition friend), this is in a sense a conversation between partner publications. More than that, it is a conversation among brothers in Christ with a desire for the advance of God's mission, though we may differ on some of the particulars of how that is defined.

My full review is about 3000 words. I'd ask that you read the entire review before engaging in the comments.

Here are excerpts that make up about a third of the actual review:

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The evangelical church is often engaged in important theological discussions. Given the impact that changes in our culture have had on the church, these conversations are expected and often needed. We anticipate that greater clarity and unity within the evangelical community would emerge, wherever possible, from these conversations. In a number of these conversations and debates, I have felt the need to participate, contributing in particular to our understanding of the mission of the church in the world. Many articles, books, and conferences have helped to shape where we are today on this topic, and most recently, Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert have written What Is the Mission of the Church?

They plod through the biblical text in workmanlike fashion and have written a thorough and irenic book seeking to answer the title question. Much of the recent missional conversation and missiology in the last sixty years revolves around answering this basic question. DeYoung and Gilbert, through what they call "straight up exegesis," locate the mission of the church in the Great Commission passages. "The mission of the church," they conclude, "is to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples in churches, that they might worship the Lord and obey his commands now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father" (p. 62).

I appreciate the deliberate interaction with key passages of Scripture and found this to be one of the book's strengths--despite not following all of the exegetical conclusions. DeYoung and Gilbert are commended for not offering merely a collection of thoughts, nor an extended argument for what is or isn't "mission," but rather a biblical exercise intended to strengthen the church. Nearly every conclusion they draw is based on exegesis, except for their treatment of social justice, where after defining justice biblically, they depend on certain economic theories and the practical principle of "moral proximity" to construct how we should think about this topic.

DeYoung and Gilbert should also be commended for the way they discuss the gospel, particularly Gilbert. Their discussion here demonstrates some development since Gilbert's What Is the Gospel? (Crossway, 2010). They are clear, nevertheless, that there is only one gospel and that it is often communicated from different perspectives, using the imagery of "zoom lens" to zero in on the center of the gospel or a "wide-angle lens" that pulls back far enough to see that Christ fulfilled all the hopes and promises in the biblical story. They note that the "wide-angle" perspective on the gospel is captured biblically with the phrase "gospel of the kingdom." Gilbert and DeYoung argue, however, that regardless of the lens the call to repent and believe is always included, for the "gospel of the cross" is the fountainhead of the kingdom. Even if one expounds the nature of the "gospel of the kingdom" in different terms, their basic framework reflects the biblical teaching, that the "gospel of the cross" is central to the "gospel of the kingdom." This is the right line to hold.

When they deal with the missio Dei they are careful to differentiate between it and the missio ecclesia, arguing that there are some things that only God does, that only God can do. His mission is different in certain ways from the mission he gave his church. They are right, I think, to define the idea of "mission" broadly as the "specific task or purpose that the church is sent into the world to accomplish" (p. 20). When they unpack precisely what the mission of the church is, they give a clear picture of the church sent in the power of the Spirit to make disciples by proclaiming the gospel.

Many will find their definition of the mission of the church too narrow. I do. With their definition, they underplay the relationship of secondary ministries to those in the community that are not immediately didactic and explicitly gospel revealing. In arguing that God's mission for the church does not include caring for the poor or intervening on behalf of those who are oppressed (good, God-honoring, and God-commanded), but making disciples through the proclamation, they overlook the role of work and example in discipleship. Rather, they equate "making disciples" with evangelism. Making disciples includes evangelism, but in "teaching everything Jesus commanded," love and good deeds are also a part of the disciple-making process.

The mission of the church always must include making disciples, but the life of disciples will always produce work unique to its time and place, relating to the various needs and corruptions in the world around us. And such work is not only the fruit of discipleship, but is also, through modeling, part of the process of making disciples.

While they acknowledge that doing good works may help us personally "win a hearing for the gospel," they do not adequately acknowledge the role of love and good deeds in commending the gospel to unbelievers in the ways Scripture does. Paul honors the church of the Thessalonians for how "the word of the Lord sounded forth" from them through their example in a "work of faith," "labor of love," and "steadfast hope," and he says there is no reason for him to say anything in the places where their witness and faith had gone forth (1 Thess 1:3-8). Probably the deeds that Paul celebrates in the church were accompanied by verbal proclamation, but he is sure commending them for how their "works" served to extol the gospel to the surrounding people. Then Peter instructs the church to watch their conduct so that others may "see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation" (1 Pet 2:12). Because good deeds may extol the gospel to unbelievers, they can serve as the first stage of the disciple-making process.

Of course, I am not suggesting that verbal gospel witness is not essential (and even central) in the disciple-making process. So feeding the poor, for example, may come after verbal proclamation with respect to its ultimate role in fulfilling the church's mission, but it is essentially connected to the church's mission. The Scripture honors the way good deeds extol the gospel in the midst of unbelievers. Though DeYoung and Gilbert affirmingly quote Robert Plummer on this point, their argument appears to be distinct: Plummer, saying something very similar to the point I raise, states, "all the various segments of the Christian community are to live praiseworthy lives--not simply for the sake of obeying God, but because their behavior will commend or distract from the gospel" (p. 61; cf. Robert L. Plummer, Paul's Understanding of the Church's Mission: Did the Apostle Paul Expect the Early Christian Communities to Evangelize? [Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2006], 104-5)...

...Ultimately, will the book be helpful? In some ways, yes--it will help people keep focused on proclamation and its central role in discipleship. That is a concern that I (and many others) have expressed in the missiological debate.

However, I think it ultimately will not succeed at its task. Instead, it will have some people needlessly looking to parse terms when the mission instead is more about faithfulness. Those who read and share the book may very well be those who most need a stronger missional focus--the theologically minded who think deeply but engage weakly. Yet those who could benefit from the book will not read it because the authors lack the background and engagement to make the case to the missional and missiological community.

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Feel free to add your thoughts about the book or this review in the comments. I am speaking and traveling but will moderate as I can. I don't mind you critiquing my critique of their critique, but be sure to read the comment policy if you have questions about how to do so.

I'm passionate about missiology and I am passionate about theology. So, when a discussion emerges at the intersection of those issues, I listen, learn, and occasionally opine.

Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert have recently ignited such a discussion with their new book, What is the Mission of the Church?. I will be sharing my review in a bit, but I thought some of the early reactions would help those unaware of the dialogue.

In short, DeYoung and Gilbert seek to clarify what the mission of the church actually is. "The mission of the church," they conclude, "is to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples in churches, that they might worship the Lord and obey his commands now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father" (p. 62).

I've reviewed the book and will share that review in my next post. When my review is published, I will link it here. Before that, let me share some of the other reviews that are already out there. Most of the reviews appreciate how they have worked through the biblical text, focused on the gospel, and did not denigrate social justice. Yet, there were several areas of concern. I'll focus on two that seemed to be recurring.

First, the concern is that the book narrows the mission, particularly missing the connection between discipleship and the actions that flow from such. The book is about the nature and extent of "the mission." Thus, many of the disagreements revolve around the question from the book's title. Put simply: is our (the church's) mission to "join Jesus in his mission"?

At the Euangelion blog Joel Willitts of North Park University explains,

These two pronouncements put Jesus' action in the story in the framework of the ongoing mission of the disciples after Jesus' departure. The concept of agency, which is prominent in John, is evident here. As the Father sent Jesus as his emissary to the world to reveal himself to it (1:14) and to die for it (1:29; 10:17-18), so Jesus sends his disciples as his and the Father's emissaries to reveal the Father and to die in service to each other in the world.

Michael's puts it eloquently: "John's Gospel has taken the notion of agency, intimated in Matthew and Luke, and made it the very foundation of both christology and ecclesiology" (745).

Jesus' mission from the Father serves as NO mere model for the mission of the church; rather Jesus' mission, as presented in John's Gospel, IS the church's mission.

"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you".
(John 20:21)

Trevin Wax at Kingdom People wrote one of the best critical (and charitable) reviews of the book. He lists nagging questions that left him wrestling the text, including:

Can we not conceive of the church's mission in wide lens and zoom lens as well? Evangelism is central (zoom lens), and yet evangelism is corroborated by any number of activities (wide lens) that demonstrate the reality of our gospel proclamation...

I wonder if, in addition to the Great Commission passages, we also need to consider the New Testament metaphors for the church as we seek to discern our mission. Images like Christ's bride, Christ's body, and the holy temple and royal priesthood help us understand that being like Jesus is part of what it means to "teach all that He has commanded." Christ-likeness is a part of the mission, and we cannot and should not separate proclamation of Christ from the representation of Christ we offer through our acts of service.

Gilbert and DeYoung quickly replied to Trevin's questions here. (Mark Horne analyzed the exchange here.)

John Starke at the Gospel Coalition shared some of these concerns in defining the mission of the church so narrowly:

Yes, with bold font and yellow highlighter, I agree with DeYoung and Gilbert that central to the church's mission is the Great Commission. And we need to keep the main thing the main thing. But just as the authors argue for a zoom and wide lens understanding of the gospel, can we not do the same thing with the mission of the church? With the proclamation of God's Word the center of the church's mission, can we not say the wide lens mission includes equipping Christians to have wisdom and understanding when laboring for justice?

Patrick Schreiner offered some critique that I think he argued with a unique degree of clarity. He explained:

I felt like they were a little pessimistic about what Christians can do in the world and how much we can and should cooperate as vice regents with our King. There was not much discussion of what it means to be salt and light in the world, and the paragraphs on the cultural mandate seemed to push too far into saying that we are merely here to preserve this fallen world, rather than fill the world with his faithful presence. Both Rodney Stark and Alvin J. Schmidt have interesting books on how Christianity has fueled great advances in society.

Finally, Zach Nielsen at Take Your Vitamin Z raised the question of social justice head-on:

So to answer Kevin's question: Is it our mission to "eradicate social problems"? I would say, in a sense, "no". Our mission is to believe the Gospel and seek to glorify God by collectively making more and more disciples who believe this historical message of good news. But if that is true, then in another indirect sense, the answer has to be "yes". If the church is the gathering of individuals who collectively believe and speak the message of the Gospel and also live in light of it's implications then we'll together have much to say and do to address the social problems that we see around us. How could we not?

Second, the concern seems to be that the book is written to the convinced and does not accurately engage the views of those who differ. Well-known scholar Tim Gombis explained that this is a book written to those who want to affirm what they already believe. I've excerpted a larger portion of his comments. Gombis writes:

It's an insider's book, written from within a self-contained culture to others within that culture. The authors confess openly that they're part of the "Young, Restless, and Reformed" crowd and I think that they live and move and have their being solely within that sub-group of conservative evangelicals.

What can tend to happen in cultures of agreement is that group members don't engage others who disagree in genuine conversation. They tend to demonize or devalue members of other groups, minimizing their viewpoints, rarely coming into genuine contact with them. This book is an example of this sort of phenomenon...

They don't elaborate a mission for the church beyond repeating a few times that the church gathers for worship and making disciples, but isn't responsible for doing good in the world...

Christians called to serve in missional churches may not feel that their philosophies of ministry are represented faithfully by DeYoung and Gilbert.

In fact, I'm not sure that the authors are familiar with the viewpoints of missional Christians. They routinely portray them as Theonomic Postmillennialists, which is simply incredible. They associate calls to do good in the world with the conviction that Christians are responsible to bring in the Kingdom of God by their efforts (p. 129). They equate a missional outlook with the view that Christians are responsible to return creation to its pre-fall, edenic state (p. 75).

This is unfair and simply wrong. I know of no missional Christian who talks or writes this way, and no one even comes close. It seems that they know this, since they don't cite anyone who holds the views they so vigorously and roundly critique...

Think "The Village." This book functions for the YRR crowd much like the fear-mongering that goes on in that film. The village's leaders spread word of monsters in the woods so that no one will venture beyond the borders of the village, discovering that they're walled off from the outside world...

Those expecting a fair engagement with the missional literature and an even-handed treatment of the topics they address will either be mystified or frustrated.

In my opinion, this is extremely disappointing. We have the responsibility and privilege to bless one another and sharpen each others' thinking. That includes treating each other fairly and speaking and writing truthfully about one another.

Now, I should add that I think Gombis is too strident here, though his view is representative of others so I include it here. Gombis suggests that this is written to scare the "Young, Restless, and Reformed" (YRR) away from other missiological approaches, but I think he conceives of the YRR movement too narrowly. There are different approaches to missiology within the YRR camp, which is why this discussion is just getting going. Actually, I've had several conversations with YRR types who share Gombis' concerns about the book.

Now, to be fair, DeYoung and Gilbert have taken on a big task. They've proposed a view that is contrary to what most (but certainly not all) evangelical missiologists think-- and critiqued them in the process. That's a big task and I am sure they expected some push back-- you cannot critique others and not expect to be critiqued. My hope is that the end result will lead to clarity, not more clearly-defined camps.

In conclusion, below you will find various reviews from other well-known scholars and bloggers. Also, you will find interviews and resources from the authors themselves that will hopefully bring even further clarity to the discussion. I trust you will find them helpful as you consider the mission of the church.

I'm glad to see a discussion taking place on these important issues. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments.

Gospel Coalition video with Gilbert and DeYoung

Crossway's interview with Gilbert and DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung on "Rethinking Missional" at 2010 DG conference

Gilbert on 9 Marks, reading the book together

List of endorsements by Justin Taylor

Other reviews of What is the Mission of the Church

Review by Mark Horne

Review by Trevin Wax

Review by John Starke

Review by Dave Dunham

Review by Tim Gombis

Jonathan Leeman on conversations about Mission of the Church

Review by Patrick Schreiner

Review by David Rogers at SBC Impact

Review by Daniel Rose

Review by Brian Collins

Review by Joel Willitts (Euangelion) on Patheos

Review by Zach Nielsen at TakeYourVitaminZ

I'm often asked what books and blogs I read and recommend. So, without further adieu and in no particular order, here are a few I am recommending this week-- they will change next week.

Today, I thought we would have an interesting and needed conversation about angry Calvinists. To be fair, this originally was going to be an interview for Joe Thorn's new book, but it turned into something more (though you should buy his new book!).

Joe Thorn is the founding pastor of Redeemer Fellowship, and the author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Joe is a friend who I first met while he was a student and I was his seminary professor. He and I had a friendly conversation about unfriendliness.

You see, I have some thoughts on angry Calvinists that include:

- Most Calvinists are gracious and kind people and are not angry.
- Calvinists have a bad reputation for being contentious.
- The contentious reputation has been earned by a vocal group of angry Calvinists.
- And, here is the thesis, most Calvinists are not angry, but because there are a disproportionate number of angry Calvinists, Calvinists have earned a reputation.

Now, you may not believe me, but maybe listen to John Piper answer, "Why are Calvinists so negative?"

So, I started a conversation with Joe on this very issue.

I was going to talk to you about Note to Self, but I thought it would be fun and helpful to touch on something else. Are you game?

For sure.

Great. First, tell us about the book, and where people can read more about it.

Note to Self is essentially a collection of meditations on Scripture that aims at proving a method and model for "preaching to ourselves." The foreword by Sam Storms is brilliant and is reason enough to pick up the book. He helps the reader to see how and why the Scripture must be the "functional authority" in the life of a Christian. In the Introduction I explain what it means to preach the Scripture, law and gospel, to ourselves. This sets up the reader to then walk through the 48 brief chapters (daily readings).

For more information you can check out a recent conversation I had with Mike Horton on The White Horse Inn, or read interviews I did with the Biblical Counseling Center, or The Gospel Coalition.

It's a great book. I enjoyed it a lot-- and I was glad to endorse it. The book is definitely coming from a Reformed perspective. It's no secret that you're a Calvinist, but you're not maniacal or mad about it. I like that. I seem to run into the cranky Calvinists. So, that leads to my question: why do you think some Calvinists are so angry?

I know what you're talking about, but honestly, I think it has nothing to do with their Calvinism, and everything to do with their faith. I don't mean the object of their faith-- Jesus. And, I don't mean "the faith once for all delivered to the saints," but their faith. Of course, it works this way in me as well. When I'm cranky, complaining, or whatever corruption is bubbling to the surface, it's not my confession or theology that is in error, but my heart. When I am proud or petty it's my heart that is out of alignment with my theology.

Sure, I agree with that. While it obviously isn't true of all Calvinists there is a disproportionate number of angry Calvinists compared to other groups. Do you see that?

Well, yes I see that. I think we all see it. The question for me is why are we seeing that, and what exactly are we seeing? Why are there more angry, loud and proud, combative Calvinists than other kinds of Christians? I think, and I could be wrong, but I think it's a combination of a few things.

One is that Cavinism, as a biblical and beautiful understanding of God, man, and redemption, is often very exciting to those newly acquainted with it. Many who have grown in the faith with very little theology and later discover Reformed theology are simply over-zealous. They are pumped about the truth and want everyone to see what they see. We call this the "cage stage." Some of us, and I was one of them, would benefit from being locked up in a cage for a few years until our heart can catch up with our head. More realistically, good discipleship helps with that.

Second, I think some who find their way into the Reformed faith are angry for having been denied a solid theological foundation in their past. They feel as if they've wasted years of their life, or the church has let them down. So, they're angry about that, sometimes even at their past self, and it just bleeds over into this new passion they have for doctrine. I get that, but it's unfortunate. Simple gratitude for growing theologically is a better response to cultivate.

Third, knowledge can and does "puff up" as Paul says. And while this is a shared problem with other systems of theology, it is certainly a reality among the Reformed. It's ironic though. The knowledge of God's sovereignty and grace, and of man's total depravity and absolute dependence on God for mercy, should produce love and passion characterized by humility and meekness. And that gets to what we are really seeing. When we Calvinists are ungracious, unnecessarily combative, proud, and arrogant, we are not being true Calvinists. We are posers.

That's why I think we need to bring the discussion back to the heart. Angry Calvinists exist when there is some kind of short-circuit between head and heart.

So, if it's a heart issue, a sin issue, how should we address it?

First, I think it would be fruitful for more correction to come from inside our own theological tribe. I'm not saying criticism is inappropriate if it isn't in-house. As the church we should be able to correct one another across denominational and doctrinal divides. But, we should be most critical of ourselves, and I think addressing our own problems from within our own group will generally prove more fruitful.

Second, when addressing the issue of "those angry Calvinists" we need to be careful and not make Calvinism the issue. It's not about Calvinism. The negativity, pride, and finger wagging is not about the Doctrines of Grace, but the heart. So, when we see such things coming from Calvinists we should seek to point out that this attitude is actually incompatible with Calvinism.

Third, I'd encourage people to simply model a better way. Whether you're a Calvinist or not, modeling loving patience over knee-jerk reaction, gracious discernment over assuming the worst about another's words, and gospel-founded brotherhood over needless separation, will wind up having greater influence in the Christian community than simply dropping bombs on each other.

Fourth, I'd encourage others to simply not engage the haters. There are blogs I simply do not read because it doesn't benefit me spiritually. Some people move me to examine myself, look to Jesus, and grow in grace. Others just provoke me to anger. Often times that anger is unrighteous, or even self-righteous. I can become the angry Calvinist doppelgänger to the angry Calvinist I take issue with. Really, the haters are not my problem, I am my own problem. So, I have learned to just stay away from certain places on the internet. I would encourage others to simply not engage people or personalities that aren't helpful.

But, someone might reply by saying, "There is a time to be angry. We should be provoked over some things." What would you say to that?

I would agree. There is a godly form of anger. Last week you went "nuclear" on evangelical feminine legalism on your blog.

I didn't go "nuclear," Joe. ;-)

O.K., but you were torqued over an issue that matters. Anger is sometimes very appropriate. We see that in the prophets and Apostles, and even in Jesus. But when dealing with brothers and sisters in Christ it's important to do more than "set the record straight," or prove one wrong and point to the truth. We need to do that, but we need to do it in a way that bears fruit, and Biblically that means doing such work carefully. Sometimes it does mean we need to drop bombs, but more often it means we need to sit down with a brother (literally, or figuratively) and reason with him.

And, look; some people don't need any encouragement to get "good and angry" at the right stuff, they have "getting angry" down cold. They need some counsel on being more gracious, humble, and gentle. We all do. At the very least, we all need to learn to be better teachers and physicians of the soul when it comes to correcting each other.

-----------------------------------------------

Joe will be answering questions at the blog today. If you are an angry Calvinist, feel free to tell him your "grave concerns" about his views. If you think there are a lot of angry Calvinists, it's O.K. to share that as well.

Recently, I got to know Johnnie Moore while I was preaching in convocation at Liberty University. Johnnie is the Campus Pastor and Vice President of Liberty University, whose ministry often targets the millennial generation. For that matter, he is IN that generation-- the youngest Vice President I've ever met. ;-)

In his new, Honestly, book Johnnie asks "what could happen if Christians began to live what they say they believe?" He also shares his first encounter with hypocrisy, and how his resulting doubt led him on a journey around the world, from the Dalai Lama's home to Rwanda .... and almost away from Christianity all together.

I asked Johnnie to come by the blog today on the release date of Honestly. Feel free to jump in with questions and Johnnie will be coming by the blog today to dialogue.

Why did you write "Honestly?"

For 2000 years, hypocrisy has been Christianity's biggest problem. It is the singular issue that has alienated more people from the church than any other. You know it; I know it; everybody knows it. It's the proverbial elephant in the room, and, yet, we rarely deal with it openly and honestly.

Secular people don't take us seriously because we bloviate endlessly about our do's and don'ts knowing for sure that we often don't practice what we preach, and many well intended, genuinely religious people, leave Christianity totally disillusioned because of their experience with what Paul called "a form of godliness with no power." What I call fake religion.

Christian television personalities come crashing down in moral failure, preachers and spiritual leaders seem as if they live in some artificial, plastic bubble, and, generally speaking, the church is often irrelevant to everyday life. One of the major reasons why these things are true is because we've neglected the heart of Christianity. Jesus said, "if you love me, you will do what I say."

This books asks, "how would the world be different if Christians actually lived what they say they believe?," and it openly addresses why we often fail to do so.

Why "Honestly?" as the title?

The title, "Honestly," reflects the tone of the book (which I call confessional) and subtitle, "living what we say we believe," is indicative of the content. Most of the time self-righteous people deal with hypocrisy with a narrow finger pointed in the eye of someone who isn't as holy as they are.

It's very difficult to deal with hypocrisy without being a judgmental Pharisee that no one wants to listen to - unless, of course, you're a victim of hypocrisy yourself.

I am.

When I was a kid the marriage pastor at my church, who was counseling my parents through their divorce, was simultaneously in an affair with another Pastors wife. Hearing of this sent my faith in a tailspin. The book begins with my journey from "doubt" to "belief" after nearly losing my faith because of the divergence between Christian claims and the way this world actually is.

Talk about that for a moment. You actually almost lost your faith?

Yes, while I was a pastor Liberty University I was struggling on the inside with some deep-rooted issues with Jesus and the church that I had never dealt with. It caused me to go on a search around the world for the truth. In the book, I write about visiting the Dalai Lama's village in the Indian Himlayas, about sitting on the banks of the Ganges River wondering if Hinduism might have something worth learning, I visited Asia's largest mosque, stood where Buddha delivered his first sermon, and even tried to reconcile God's character and evil from a mass grave of over 200,000 genocide victims in Rwanda. I also witnessed 2000 Bible School graduates take a martyrs oath before receiving their diplomas, a one-way train ticket, a Bible and a bicycle. They immediately left to become missionaries to their own people in a persecuted country.

In some sense, I kicked the tires of the world's religions, asked the hard questions, and, in the end, I found a kind of authentic faith that is not only worth living for, but also worth dying for.

I also learned that our doubts are not our curse, but a gift of God .... read chapter 2.

You claim to be a "hypocrite in transition." Are you writing a book about hypocrisy as a hypocrite?

Well, we all are, aren't we? And that's OK. We have to "work out our salvation," as Paul says, and we're all going to be hypocrites sometimes as we struggle to become the person God designed us to be. It's OK to be a hypocrite in the fight.

It's not OK to be content as a hypocrite. In Honestly, I argue that hypocrisy, which is actually just fake religion, is normally caused by one of five "soul sicknesses." Those five make up the five sections of the book.

What is your hope for this book?

I have a practical and a grandiose vision for the book. The grandiose vision is that a billion Christians around the world would start to live what they say they believe. Can you imagine how the world would be different? Everything would change overnight. It's time we seek the eradication of hypocrisy from the church.

The practical vision for the book comes from my desire to help former Christians, struggling Christians, and skeptical people, through the same journey that I went through from doubt to belief. I want to be the guide for them that I didn't have.

I wrote this book knowing that there is more to Christianity than most of us have seen or heard, that even our loved ones who are farthest away from the church might come home, and that people whom we never imagine would turn to Jesus might, as yet, find Him to be what they're looking for.

I hope people all around the world will give a copy of Honestly to everyone they know who is far away from God, or burned by His church. This book is for the rest of us who really want to believe but just have some real hurt or real questions to deal with first. Above all, this book is honest. Unfortunately, honesty isn't sometimes our specialty in the church.

Johnnie's hanging out on the blog today, so leave your questions and comments below.

Two times in the past I asked for your help deciding on a cover for a book. The last time was in 2008 when you helped me chose a cover for Lost and Found. Both times was fun and helpful, so I thought we'd do it again.

My next book, The Subversive Kingdom, is due to come out in early 2012. Here's a description.

The Subversive Kingdom tells the biblical story of the arrival and triumph of the kingdom of God. His kingdom broke into our time and space when Jesus, the conquering King, appeared as a baby in Bethlehem. He was born in obscurity to humble parents and raised as a son of carpenter. His kingdom subversively works to overcome the darkness of our age. Victory for this kingdom comes through death and resurrection of the King.

The kingdom of God is a radical rejection of every value or point of view that keeps people in bondage to untruth and blinded to Christ's mercy. It is a refusal to classify any person as being expendable or beyond reach, an unwillingness to view any situation as something that cannot be transformed and infused with hope. It means knowing that while not everything will be made perfectly right on this earth or in this era, we have opportunities to witness the kingdom's reality this week on every street, in every neighborhood, and in every nation of the world.

The people of God--undeserving recipients of God's forgiving grace--are called to be active participants and agents of change under the rule of our Lord and King. What Jesus visibly displayed through his own unexpected, unconventional emergence into human history, we can now see happening in miniature in our own lives when we--his people, his kingdom agents--act under his orders in the everyday places we're called to occupy.

We too are avowed enemies of Satan's oppressive rule, unapologetic warriors against all he stands for and every injustice he foists upon his unsuspecting subjects. But the ways God wants us to show our allegiance to him and to his kingdom are primarily under the radar and out of sight, composed of small measures that mask an enormous significance. Instead of overwhelming the world with the might of our arsenals and arguments--a "shock and awe" approach designed to undermine the enemy's will or ability to resist--God leads us to a very different way of living and thinking.

We are compelled by our rescued condition to become agents of "rebellion against the rebellion," working intentionally to subvert the devil's claim to authority over individual lives. We live and are sent to penetrate the kingdom of darkness by proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating kingdom goodness, love, and power to our neighbors, who live overwhelmed by the effects of darkness all around them.

So here's the deal. we're trying to decide between the two covers and which subtitle to use. In the comments let me know which cover and which subtitle you prefer. Yes, you can mix and match and even suggest alternatives.

Dr. Sean Benesh is planting the Ion Community in Vancouver, BC. He leads urthTREK, an outdoor adventure non-proft focusing on lower income and the marginalized. Sean is an adjunct professor teaching in the area of theology of the city, community transformation, and cultural engagement in urban contexts. He also leads the Epoch Centre for Urban Renewal offering classes and lectures on church planting, community transformation, and ministry in urban contexts.

Sean's new book, Metrospiritual: The Geography of Church Planting, is now available and he's on the blog today answering some of my questions, as well as some of yours. Leave your questions or comments below and Sean will be interacting with us throughout the day.

What does Metrospiritual attempt to address?

I wrote the book to address what I believe are overlooked issues in church planting, in particular, the where's and the why's of site selection. How does a church planter decide where to plant a church? What then are the motivating factors in this decision-making process? This all came crashing in on me one day while I served as a church planting strategist in Tucson, Arizona. After a couple of years I noticed one day where most of our church plants were located and where most potential planters wanted to start churches and that was in the suburbs. I didn't have any preconceived ideas or theories at that point. It wasn't even on my radar. I simply then asked, "Why?" and that set the course for research for my dissertation which led to the book.

Continue reading Metrospiritual: An Interview with Sean Benesh.

Dr. Aubrey M. Malphurs is Senior Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary, and the author of several books you should own. Dr. Malphurs is a visionary with a deep desire to influence a new generation of leaders through his classroom, pulpit, consulting, and writing ministries. He is involved in a number of ministries ranging from church planting and growth to leadership development. Currently he is the president of the Malphurs Group and is a trainer and consultant to churches, denominations, and ministry organizations throughout North America and Europe. His newest book, The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting, is now available and will certainly become a standard for all preparing to plant a church. He was kind enough to answer some questions for the blog.

I've known Aubrey Malphurs for several years. He has been a great influence on me and my ministry. When I heard he had a new book out, I wanted you to know about it... So here is an interview with Aubrey.

J. D. Payne is a National Missionary with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and an Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism in the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A. where he directs the Center for North American Missions and Church Planting. His new book, Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today's Questions, is now available and definitely worth your time. J.D. was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. And stick around -- J.D. will answer your questions in the comments throughout the day.

We know it's about "evangelism," but you aren't just talking here. You're trying to answer questions, right?

Yes, as the title simply states, this book is a biblical response to questions related to evangelism. I have taken 33 of the most commonly asked questions and have attempted to answer them from the Scriptures. Some of the questions addressed include:

What is evangelism anyway?
What is the gospel?
What is repentance?
If God is in control, then why do we need to share the gospel?
What is election?
Does a loving God send people to hell?
What is the role of free will in salvation?
What happens to the "man on the remote island" who never hears the gospel?
What happens to children and the mentally disabled that die, never having a chance to respond to the gospel?
What if I do not feel like sharing the gospel?
Do I have to offend people whenever I share the gospel?
What if I make a mistake when sharing the gospel?
What if someone asks me a question about God that I cannot answer?
How do I transition a conversation from ordinary things to spiritual matters?
My family member is not a believer; what is the best way to witness to him/her?

Why did you write it?

I wrote it to educate, encourage, and exhort believers in the area of evangelism. I wrote this book to provide a biblical, theological, and practical foundation for missional living. I felt that a work was needed that wed the theological and the missiological in such a way that one would not have to be an academic to understand its contents. Evangelism is our faith in action. So, while I wanted to write something that would be heavy in doctrine, I also wanted it to be heavy in the practical area as well.

Who is this book written for?

When my publisher and I started our conversation about this work, he brought to my attention the need for a work that would instruct an audience with little to no background in the local church. So, while this book is being used as a textbook in the seminary classroom, it is written for the "people in the pews" (or folding chairs if you are a church planter). I believe this book provides an excellent foundation for evangelism.

In your estimation, what are the top 3 reasons Christians don't share the gospel with the lost?

Aside from general disobedience, I believe most people are apathetic about evangelism because they do not understand the implications of the gospel on their lives. They fail to understand who they are in Christ and what it means to live in obedience to Him. Second, people are afraid of what others will say or think about them. The fear of man is their primarily concern. Finally, some people think that they do not know what to say to others. They fear being asked a question that they cannot answer. Or, they fear giving someone incorrect information. Since they do not see themselves as "evangelists," they decide to leave such Kingdom labors to the "professionals."

How is this book different from others on the same subject?

In addition to this book providing a heaping dose of theology and application, I wrote it to be a quick read. The chapters move very quickly (about 4-6 pages each). Also, while each chapter begins with a fictional narrative between two men discussing the question at hand, the bulk of each chapter is written in first person with me attempting to answer "What does the Bible have to say in response to this question?" Each chapter also concludes with discussion questions for both individual and group study.

How much do you address Reformed theology/Calvinism and Weslyan theology/Arminianism?

A little, but not a great deal. I list some additional works for the readers to consult if desired. I do admit my biases upfront. But, remember the subtitle to the book: "a biblical response to today's questions." If it helps, both J. I. Packer and Robert Coleman wrote gracious endorsements for the book.

Want to talk evangelism? Let's talk about it below. J.D. will be here on the blgo today to dialog with us.

Dr. David Sills has written a helpful review of MissionShift for the Journal of Evangelism and Missions. Since we have been discussing the MissionSHIFT book here on Mondays, I am reproducing it here for you. Be sure to subscribe to the Journal of Evangelism and Missions to get this and other great insight and reviews.

MissionShift brings multiple perspectives to bear on three of the most crucial missiological issues of our day. Whereas most texts, even edited volumes, typically advocate a single position or strategic view, MissionShift differs most notably in its roundtable discussion approach to the topics addressed: global missions issues in the third millennium. The book, edited by one of the most respected missiological authorities of our generation, David Hesselgrave, and one of our most prominent contemporary missiologists, Ed Stetzer, tackles the core topics of defining mission, contextualization, and the future of evangelicals in mission. The key elements of the text are the three anchor essays that cover the book's core topics addressing missions' past, present, and future. These essays are written by well-known missiologists within each of these disciplines, and serve as the springboard for subsequent responses by other missiologists and theologians comprising the remainder of the book.

The first essay, written by Charles Van Engen, tackles the topic of defining and describing "mission" in the context of the church. Taking a largely historical perspective, Van Engen's essay most notably affirms the value in the missional church movement, which provides much of the fodder for the respondents. Establishing a format maintained throughout the text, five missiologists and theologians respond to Van Engen's essay with varying degrees of support. This examination of the definition and description of mission and the missional church movement results in a multifaceted examination of the topic with healthy debate and differing opinions. The second essay follows in like manner, this time by the late and great Paul Hiebert in one of his final written works, submitted just before his death. Hiebert tackles a contemporary controversial topic in his examination of contextualization. Hiebert's concluding call to critical contextualization is coupled with an articulation of the call for a contextualized hermeneutic. As with each of the other two articles, multiple respondents follow Hiebert's contribution, engaging his essay with their own perspectives. With responses from scholars as varied as Darrell Whiteman and Norman Geisler, and issues ranging from insider movements to orality to apologetics all interact with Hiebert's essay, resulting in a robust and complex discussion.

Continue reading Dr. David Sills on MissionShift.

From what I can tell, the majority of missionaries and those who actively support them are women. Historically, women are always listed in the hall of great missionaries. Ruth Tucker has written a book on the very subject: Guardians of the Great Commission about women in missions. (By the way, Dr. Tucker has also written From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions, which is well worth your time.)

Every mission board I know says most of its missionaries are women, yet I see less writing and teaching on the unique role and situation that women have faced in the mission endeavor.

Elizabeth Elliot Leitch wrote:

What is the place of women in world mission? Jesus said, "You [and the word means all of you, male and female] are my witnesses. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world." And there have been countless thousands who, without reference to where they came from or what they knew or who they were, have believed that Jesus meant exactly what he said and have set themselves to follow.

Today strident female voices are raised, shrilly and ad nauseam, to remind us that women are equal with men. But such a question has never even arisen in connection with the history of Christian missions. In fact, for many years, far from being excluded, women constituted the majority of foreign missionaries.

She explains her own story later in the article:

When my husband was killed by Indians, I found myself in some indefinable positions. There wasn't one missionary man left in Ecuador who spoke the jungle Quichua language. There was no one to teach the young Quichua believers, no one to lead the church, no one but women to carry on where five missionary men had left off.

The door to the Auca tribe had slammed shut for those men and was, to our astonishment, opened to two women. It didn't look to me like a woman's job. But God's categories are not always ours. I had to shuffle my categories many times during my last eight years of missionary work. Since coming back to the States I've done it again. I've had a career of sorts, I've been a wife and housewife once more, and again I'm a widow.

But it is the same faithful Lord who calls me by name and never loses track of my goings and reminds me in a still, small voice, "Ye are my witnesses, that ye might know and believe me, and understand that I am he." (Is. 43:10). There is our primary responsibility: to know him. I can't be a witness unless I've seen something, unless I know what it is I am to testify to. And it is the Lord of the Universe who calls you - you women, you men - and offers you today a place in his program. Your education or lack of it, your tastes and prejudices and fears and status or ambitions, your age or sex or color or height or marital status or income bracket are all things which may be offered to God, after you have presented your bodies as a living sacrifice. And God knows exactly what to do with them. They are not obstacles if you hand them over.

She wrote and taught in areas of missions, challenging many others.

There are so many stories of great women missionaries. So, here is my question. Why are there so few evangelical, women missiologists? I am not saying there are none, but their are disproportionally few. (A missiologist is generally considered someone who has academic (Ph.D.?) training in missiology.)

For the term evangelical, I am using Larry Eskridge's definition:
* The need for personal conversion (or being "born again")
* Actively expressing and sharing the gospel
* A high regard for biblical authority, especially biblical inerrancy
* An emphasis on teachings that proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Part of the reason may be that many of us mission-minded evangelicals tend to be complementarian in regards to gender, but that view should not preclude women serving as missiologists.

I think we need to hear more from women missiologists and mission thinkers. I am making a point of trying to highlight women thinkers (among others) in my Thursday is for Thinkers. And, I personally have encouraged one of my team, Lizette Beard (a gifted thinker, former missionary, and researcher), to do her Ph.D. in missions. She was noticeably absent from work last week while she started the missiology program at SEBTS this week, building on her missions experience in Alaska and Africa and her Masters in Missions. You'll be hearing from Lizette on the blog soon.

So, here is my question again: why are there so few evangelical women missiologists (while most missionaries are women) and what is the best way to address that? I recognize my readership is broad and not all agree on gender issues, but I think we can still have a good discussion. If you are an egalitarian, you can blame complementarianism one time -- but then you have to suggest some other ideas. In other words, this is a discussion of missiology, not an argument about complementarian / egalitarian views-- that won't be solved here.

But, I do think there are some important voices and lessons that need to be shared and I'd like to think about how we can share them more clearly from hearing from men and women in missiology. Tell us some of the best women thinkers and missiologists you would recommend -- particularly evangelicals, even conservative evangelicals!

The floor is yours.

Last month I had the privilege of speaking at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. During my message, I mentioned a book by Jamie Munson Money: God or Gift as it fit into the theme of the text (stewardship). Money is always a timely subject for Americans to contemplate, but especially during the season of holiday consumption, credit card debt, storefront bell-ringers, year-end giving requests, and a recession thrown in to complicate things all the more. Just this week I pointed to some research that shows how churches are just now feeling the impact of the recession-- now that it's "over."

I asked Pastor Jamie a few questions about his book, which is available for just $5 on Amazon (print, Kindle, and discount ten-packs), and am glad to share the conversation with you.

Ed: You've described Money as Doctrine-meets-Dave Ramsey. Explain what this combination looks like.


Jamie Munson: There are many helpful books out there with some very practical advice about money. And there are many helpful books that explain money from a biblical worldview. But there aren't a lot of books that unite the practical with the theological, applying the gospel to personal finance.

This is a tremendous oversight. Discipleship tools rarely address stewardship, yet Jesus is clear: where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:34). Jesus describes our money as a primary worship tool, but all too often we treat giving as optional, or at least less important than "spiritual" things like prayer, Bible reading, and service.

The church's neglect in this area has led to dismal giving across all traditions. Twenty percent of Christians give literally nothing at all, and the vast majority give very little (see Christian Smith's Passing the Plate). Makes you wonder what we're actually worshiping. Money is a god. Jesus even gave it a name (Matthew 6:24).

Let's talk about the other option that you reference in your subtitle: money as gift.

Sure. When it comes to something like money (or sex, or music, or technology), Christians have a tendency to reject it altogether, as if the thing itself were inherently evil. Money is not the problem. We are the problem. Sin is the problem, and we need Jesus. By his grace we are saved, and by his grace we've been given lives to live, people to love, and work to do. As a tool, money is a great gift to use for advancing the gospel, caring for those in need, and enjoying the life God has given.

The story behind the publication of this book is rather unique. Tell us how it came about.


We're going through the book of Luke right now as a church, and in chapter 12 Jesus teaches a lot about money and stewardship. I set out to write some basic curriculum for our small groups to dig into this particular passage, but the project grew quite quickly and we had a full-length book in a matter of weeks. We printed it ourselves in order to push it out as quickly as possible and keep costs low. While we were at it, we decided to put it up on Amazon in hopes that the content could help other churches. I'm not taking any royalties on this, so we're able to sell it for extremely cheap at $5 per copy.



Is the content specific to Mars Hill Church, or could other churches benefit from this book?

Most of what we create for Mars Hill we also try and push out for the benefit of the greater church, so this book was written with that broader audience in mind. The format is very simple, with concise chapters, straightforward discussion questions, and a few practical tools and charts. Our small groups went through the whole thing in three weeks, but it could easily be used for counseling, couples, or individual study. Even though we're past Luke 12 in our sermon series, we'll continue to hand the book out for free to our congregation because the content remains timely.


Can you tell whether or not the book has had an effect on the congregation so far?

I've talked with a number of people who were pretty honest about their resistance to the idea of a three-week mini-series about money. We're seeing God change hearts. This is the first year in memory that we're on target to make budget by the end of the year, and the number of givers was up 30 percent last month--which is especially encouraging because that means more people care about the mission and what God is doing through their church.

Today is payday for a lot of people around the country. Where should their money go?  

The important thing to remember before divvying up your paycheck is that it is a gift from God, and he will hold you accountable for how you use it. That doesn't mean you have to give all your money away, although I would encourage you to give to your church before you do anything else with it. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to steward God's resources well. And then give, save, spend, invest, and enjoy in a way that honors God. If you're not sure what that looks like, I would hope that my book could be of some help, but read Proverbs. Read Luke 12. Bring it up in your community group. Talk with your spouse. Let's not be afraid to discuss money. The heart of the church is at stake.

Find Jamie Munson on Twitter and Facebook. You can download a free chapter and read excerpts from Money: God or Gift at theResurgence.com.

I enjoy a good conversation about missiology and I'd like to host one each week in January. And, I'd like to invite you to participate. If you will, I will even provide the book!

Here's the guidelines. First, you have to be ready to work through real, thoughtful missiology. Misisology is something that many pastors are talking about today. Mission, missional, missiology, and missio dei are important subjects and lots of folks are writing and talking about it. That's good.

But, it is also a discipline. You can get a Ph.D. in the subject (as I have). And, there are professors that teach the subject.

What David Hesselgrave and I decided to do is to edit a book on missiology around the big issues that are being discussed in churches and in missiology circles. David recently emailed me with several chapters of "second thoughts" he had about our book-- and I thought we would discuss them here at the blog.

If you are a blogger and are interested in missiology, here is the deal. I will send you a free copy of MissionSHIFT: Mission Issues in the Third Millenium. Then, for four weeks in January, I will post a discussion around these issues. I will send you David Hesselgrave's new (and unpublished) comments for you to interact. You would be committed to read the Grand Essay, the three respondents, and David Hesselgrave's additional comments. Then, on Monday, you can post it on your blog and I will link to it on mine if you will alert us to it.

Now, this discussion will be more than just, "look, ma', I can use the word 'missional,'" but this is a real discussion of missiology. But, you do not need to have a background in missiology. The book is accessible to readers of all levels if you have an interest in missiology. There will be three big issues discussed: what is the nature of God's mission, how can and should we contextualize, and what is the future of mission. Here is the description from the back of the book:

For an understanding of the future of mission, we need a clear understanding of the past and present status of God's mission and the work of missions in and through the church. It is the task of academics but needed for local church leaders. Missionshift offers an accessible overview to the necessary subject of mission in the church today, and tomorrow.

The book is anchored by exceptional essays, written by three of the foremost missiologists of our time: Charles Van Engen, the late Paul Hiebert, and the late Ralph Winter. Van Engen discusses mission's past, Hiebert analyzes mission's present, and Winter predicts mission's future. The three essayists offer insights into the role of the church for engaging in God's mission in the world.

We have also enlisted outstanding writers in the field of missiology to interact with our essayists. You'll discover lively, stimulating debate in their responses. The end result is a missiological conversation on the key issues of our day.

So, if you are willing to join the conversation, email research@lifeway.com and we will get you a book and start the conversation.

You will note that David is the founder of the Evangelical Missiological Society and is concerned about where evangelical misisology is going. I am more open to some of the new directions in missiology, but also have some concerns. You do not have to agree with us, but we do want to dialogue about some of the big issues.

Rules: This is limited to the first 50 blogger respondents and you must read the book, post about it, and join in the dialogue for four Mondays in January. You do not have to agree or say nice things, you just need to join in the conversation. Please send your name, postal address, and blog to research@lifeway.com.

UPDATE: We have met the limit of 50 respondents and look forward to the upcoming discussion. We will notify participants soon. Thanks for your willingness to interact.

I was the junior partner when writing the book Spiritual Warfare and Missions with Jerry Rankin, but I was honored to partner with my friend on such a great topic.

The good folks at The Gospel Coalition just reviewed it on their site. Here are some excerpts:

Rankin and Stetzer identify that God's purpose is to be exalted among the nations. That is done as God's people, informed by God's Word, declare his glory. God's desire is that all the nations would rejoice and sing for joy in him. Spiritual warfare comes in as Satan seeks to oppose God's kingdom and deprive him of the glory due his name. Satan's desire is to keep lost people lost, and he does this through both external and internal means. If the body of Christ is to take the gospel to every man, woman, and child in every tongue, tribe, and nation, it must break through both lines.

...

In Spiritual Warfare and Missions, Rankin and Stetzer take the focus of spiritual warfare away from angels and demons and the mystical power encounter to placing it firmly upon the truth, beauty, and power of the gospel. They clearly and convincingly set out God's purpose in mission and how the adversary, Satan, strives against it. Biblically balanced between the demythological and the overtly paranormal, Rankin and Stetzer take a thoughtful look at the reality of Satan's activity in the world while giving their readers hope in the victory of Christ. Their focus on the internal hindrances of Satan directs readers to self-examination of faith and practice and will hopefully lead to a change in church methodology and personal lifestyle. May we all stop asking questions like, "What does God want for my life?" or "What does God want our church to do?" to properly frame the question in light of his mission: "What does God want?" Spiritual Warfare and Missions helps us get there.

You can read the entire review here.

Darrin Patrick is the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey in Saint Louis, Missouri which runs eight services across four campuses and continues to aggressively plant new campuses and churches in the Saint Louis region and beyond. Darrin also serves as Vice President of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network and is a regular contributor at the Resurgence. His new book, Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission, is now available. I was grateful that Darrin was able to answer a few questions for the blog.

What kind of man should plant a church?

A man who is a Christian, who has forsaken being his own Savior and King and has trusted Christ with his life. He is a man who has a calling from God to a specific place with a elder-qualified life to back it up. He should be determined to prevail and dependent on God as he plants. He should be a man who loves his family more than his church and is secure and smart enough to share leadership with a team who leads the mission.

Why do most churches stay small?

Largely because most pastors don't know how to build systems, structures, and processes that are not contingent upon them. Most pastors can care for people, but don't build systems of care. Most pastors can develop leaders individually, but lack the skill to implement a process of leadership development. When a pastor can't build systems and structures that support ministry, the only people who are cared for or empowered to lead are those who are "near" the pastor or those very close to the pastor. This limits the size of the church to the size of the pastor.

Has the gospel message been lost in the church?

I don't think it has been lost as much as it has been truncated. The gospel is referred in most messages in most evangelical churches, but it is not central. The gospel - news about the person and work of Christ for the sinner and saint - is not the central theme for most sermons nor is it the primary motivation for obeying most sermons. The gospel has been relegated to good news for the sinner only. The gospel for the saint, in many pulpits, has tragically become moral advice rather than God's good news.

How is contextualization not compromise?

Good contextualization is not bringing the gospel to people on their terms. That would be compromise. Biblical contextualization is bringing the gospel to people with their terms. That is why we take our language about the gospel and forms of church that declare the gospel and we adapt them to be understandable to the cultures in which we find ourselves.

What are the biggest challenges a church planter faces?

Himself. Period. Can you die to yourself so that God can do something through and in spite of you? Can you trust Jesus to build the church and not overwork so you won't destroy your health, marriage and family? Can you surround yourself with friends who challenge you and not just fans who like your vision? Are you able to train and empower godly elders who will serve as your equals and will more than once save you and the church from certain implosion?

Darrin will be checking in today and interacting some, so feel free to post questions and comments.

I know the readers of this blog like books, so I thought I'd point to four recently published ones that are being promoted through Leadership Network or Exponential. They are worth your attention. All four books debuted April 2010 at the Exponential Conference in Orlando, FL. Below are excerpts of interviews with each of the authors.

Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement
by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson

Exponential tells our story of how God brought a handful of friends together to start a missional church movement and how others could do the same. The principles we share come from the very message that Jesus communicated to His first followers when he said, "Come follow me." So, there may be very little that is actually new about this book, but it is the one book you can read if you want to reproduce yourself, your ministry and your church.

It doesn't matter if you're leading a small group or the lead pastor of a very large church, you need to be asking the question, "Who is walking beside you? Who are you equipping to do what you are doing?" That is absolutely foundational to developing a reproducing culture in any church. We are really excited...

AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church
by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay

We wrote the AND at the request of a respected group of network leaders who felt that someone needed to call the church past the "missional/attractional" divide that has grown over the last 5-7 years. The message was confirmed at an informal gathering of mega and micro church leaders in Denver, where we saw the exact same passion for the explosion and expansion of God's missional church across a wide range of forms. No one cared about "how" we were doing church. Everyone just wanted God's church to re-emerge from the ashes of irrelevance.

Early on, people assumed we were organic purists because our church started from scratch with most of our stories in homes, pubs, coffee shops, etc. As our story grew we felt uncomfortable being labeled by someone else's "form" of church. We never tried to claim any type of church, but we were learning that there is a natural struggle to find a balance of scattering people into incarnational mission but that there is also a significant beauty and meaning in corporate gatherings...

Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers
by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird

It was our desire to write a book that would assist those involved or interested in church planting so that they might move beyond simply starting one church, toward the planting of movements. As such this book is intended for everyone involved in the church planting process: denominations, networks, local churches and church planters. Our ultimate hope is that we'll move from addition to multiplication. We need to see true church multiplication movements take place.

One of the first things we need to do is give more people permission to plant churches. There are marks of the biblical church and those always need to be central to what we do, but we have "clergified" church planting. In other words, we have made it necessary to be a certain class of person in order to plant a church...

Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church
by Mark DeYmaz, with Harry Li

Ethnic Blends is for the growing numbers of pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders, indeed, entire staff teams who are seeking to promote greater ethnic/economic diversity within the local church or ministry they lead.

Intentionality is both an attitude and an action when it comes to mixing diversity into your otherwise healthy, homogeneous context. Yes, intentionality must permeate and inform every corridor of a multi-ethnic church. For instance, I have no doubt that people mean well when they say that they would gladly welcome others of varying ethnic or economic backgrounds to come be a part of "their" church. However, in practice, what they really mean is "... as long as 'they' like things the way we do them." Therefore, you should recognize that a healthy multi-ethnic church is not established by assimilation but rather...

If you haven't read these yet, be sure to check them out.

Speaking of books, if you're on Twitter, we've launched four new Twitter accounts -- @TransformChurch, @viralchurches, @SprtlWrfrMssns, and @plntgmsnlchrchs. With these accounts, we're hoping to get out the messages from Transformational Church, Viral Churches, Spiritual Warfare and Missions, and Planting Missional Churches. Link up with Twitter and start following!