| Just Give Me A Definition |
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This is the name of the second chapter in the first part of the new book by Roxburgh and Boren. About half way through the chapter they describe "missional" as the confluence of three powerful currents: mystery, memory and mission. "Entering the waters is not about strategies or models; it is about working with the currents that shape our imagination of what God is doing in the world. "Mission is not something the church does as an activity; it is what the church IS through the mystery of its formation and memory of its calling. The church is God's missionary people." (45) I found this particularly helpful this morning in a conversation with a pastor who oversees spiritual formation in a large church. He was asking what is different about the frame of spiritual formation within this paradigm. A helpful way of thinking about the church is in three overlapping circles: worship (communion), community, and mission. This frame is not new. However, what difference does it make where one starts: in typical spiritual formation, the lens that is foremost is usually communion with God. Inevitably, in our individualist and consumerist culture, the other lenses suffer. Moreover, in a typical church based approach to spiritual formation, the gaze is inward toward the programs of the church. Mystery and memory may be respected, but mission suffers. This river has only two strong currents. In the missional frame, all three currents are powerful - no single lens dominates. And the gaze is turned outward to our neighbourhoods.
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rcc
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... I have been rereading Howard Snyder's Liberating the Church and these themes were with us 30 years ago. Not sure the significance of it, other than disappointing more creative alternative models havent stood out over those three decades to give us hope and patterns to morph. Perhaps I am looking and missing... |
Donald M
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... I like the frame. All these different ways of seeing add some light. For me thinking "mystery" reminds me that it's outside my control and God will build his kingdom. |
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