MISSIONAL THEOLOGY 1

Scot McKnight recently posted a brief review of a new book by Alan Roxburgh and M. Scott Boren entitled Introducing the Missional Church: What It Is, Why It Matters, How to Become One (Allelon Missional Series). He noted that the authors contend there are three central issues and questions and topics at the center of the missional theology of the Church:

First, understanding that the West is now the mission field.

Second, rethinking the gospel itself in terms of what God's dream is and what God is doing in this world instead of the gospel that satisfies my needs and meets my issues.

Third, recasting the church itself as sign, witness and foretaste of God's dream for this world. The church must become a contrast society if it is to become missional.

I (McKnight) would add a fourth: this is all home-brewed, that is, it all occurs in the crucible of the local. Missional people have to develop one major gift: the gift of listening to the culture and to the place -- in your specific neighborhood.

Perhaps one of the most important elements of this missional vision is the place that is given to the Spirit of God to reshape and reframe what the local church is.

Finally, this book then focuses on elements involved in shifting to a missional church:

1. Awareness
2. Understanding
3. Evaluation
4. Experimentation
5. Commitment

McKnight goes on to add that missional churches listen to their community and shape their ministry by what they hear from the community.

My comments: John Stott spoke of a similar idea when he spoke of learning to "exegete the culture." Too many inward-focused churches decide what they need to do for the community without even understanding the needs of the community. How does your church go about developing an awareness of those needs?