Shifting into Missional Gear
June 23, 2008
Making the Paradigm Shift
As my contribution to the What Is Missional? Synchroblog, I want to explain a few simple, yet vital, tweaks in the way that we view ministry that are needed in order to overcome the dualistic, condescending, and separatist mentalities of mission and ministry that hinder truly missional expression.
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What Is Missional? It is…
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Out not In
An important distinction of missional is that it is Out rather than In. This is a 180 degree shift from traditional ministry methods. Ministry is a lifestyle out in the world rather than service to or within an organization. As we love and serve others around us, we participate in the life of the kingdom.
With not For
As we walk together with others in their faith journey, we walk in mutual relationships, both giving of ourselves and receiving from them. When we share the love of God with others, we encounter Christ himself in their midst. The idea of mutuality is expressed by doing things With rather than For others. This necessitates that we take the time to know them. We develop relationships of commitment, to be with them in their journey rather than to simply show up for charity work.
Us not Them
Another necessary shift in thinking is to view the people that we minister among as Us rather than Them. We are all invited to share in Christ’s table. We don’t view others as a project, but we identify with them as our family – broken as we are, in need of restoration. Our own restoration and shalom is wrapped up in the reconciliation of those around us. God is already at work in their lives. It is our missional privilege to share in God’s mission of reconciliation among the people in our world.
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Missional – sharing God’s love out among the people in our world
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List of those participating in the synchroblog:
Alan Hirsch
Alan Knox
Andrew Jones
Barb Peters
Bill Kinnon
Brad Brisco
Brad Grinnen
Brad Sargent
Brother Maynard
Bryan Riley
Chad Brooks
Chris Wignall
Cobus Van Wyngaard
Dave DeVries
David Best
David Fitch
David Wierzbicki
DoSi
Doug Jones
Duncan McFadzean
Erika Haub
Grace
Jamie Arpin-Ricci
Jeff McQuilkin
John Smulo
Jonathan Brink
JR Rozko
Kathy Escobar
Len Hjalmarson
Makeesha Fisher
Malcolm Lanham
Mark Berry
Mark Petersen
Mark Priddy
Michael Crane
Michael Stewart
Nick Loyd
Patrick Oden
Peggy Brown
Phil Wyman
Richard Pool
Rick Meigs
Rob Robinson
Ron Cole
Scott Marshall
Sonja Andrews
Stephen Shields
Steve Hayes
Tim Thompson
Thom Turner
