Caring for Strangers

I always look forward to David Dunbar’s Missional Journal, and this month he leads off with the question, “How can pastoral leadership encourage Christians to move into the neighborhood?” (Naturally, this got my attention!) He advocates a missional reading of the Bible as we begin this move — and in fact, I believe a missional reading of the Bible will actively press us back into our neighborhoods. Dave makes this really practical as well… if “reading” our actions is the first exposure our neighbors have to the Bible, it will be a mistake not to read it with a missional view, as it will fail to ingrain in us an essential aspect of how the gospel is intended to engage with our culture. Do you think Dave hits the mark here? I’d love to hear about anyone’s experiences with direct applications of this idea.

When Missional is Not Helpful

My friend David Dunbar’s Missional Journal, consistently writes insightful messages for the missional conversation. Recently he published an article about when “missional” is not helpful. His message is a necessary and helpful reminder for those who would seek to bring change into church contexts, as he cautions us to remain humble, patient, and inclusive as we reimagine church missionally. I’d love to hear your thoughts… have you encountered the kind of “triumphalistic” attitude Dave warns against in the missional conversation? Has it been damaging in your context? It’s a good season for practical suggestions to approaching the issue Dave describes, so share your stories if you’ve got them. If you’ve been following it, do you see a connection between the task of navigating “discontinuous change” and Alan’s recent Missional Mapmaking Series? — MP

A New Imagination for the Church

My friend Dave Dunbar, president of Biblical Seminary where he publishes the Missional Journal, has written an article on “A New Imagination for the Church,” and has given permission for me to share it here. He opens with a statement against consumer-oriented Christianity, which I’ve written about here as well.

Dave also reflects upon how missional leaders commonly speak of “moving back into the neighborhood,” of learning to listen and build relationships and create a context in which the gospel may flourish in word and deed. For the majority of leaders this will require learning new skills. Quite simply, it’s a call to locality, its a call to “pitch our tent” and enter our neighborhoods and communities in order to incarnate the Gospel.

Let me know what you think of Dave’s ideas and I would love to hear about some of the missional experiments you are up to in your local context — MP.

Love in the Burbs

I ran across this blog post from Jonathon Brink and I thought I would post it here. Thoughts?

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Much of the discussion around social justice is centered on reaching and loving the poor. Of all the mandates in Scripture, the poor are the front and center in the law and in the commands of Jesus. I get that. I have had many conversations around this with friends and family. And our first response is typically the idea of participating in some organization that feeds the homeless, or serve at a soup kitchen. These established ministries are needed, wanted, and serve to transform my own heart as much as they reach those who are homeless. And when we think of the poor, the first thing that typically, but not always, comes to mind is the idea of financial poverty. But is poverty deeper than that?

The Consumeristic Gospel: The “Reveal” Radio Interview with Fitch and McKnight

I had a chance to listen to the most recent radio interview with David Fitch and Scot McKnight. I am grateful to Scot and David for their kindness and willingness to show what it means to be hospitable to one another, even when you have a difference of opinion. My hope is that we would continue to challenge one another, to give each other space and to discern together what God may be saying and doing. This is the beauty of what it means to be companions in the gospel – we are invited to discover with each other, not only the mysteries of God, but the practical realities of what it means to be God’s hands and feet in our neighborhood. May we do this with grace, courage and humility.

If you get a chance, I would encourage you to listen to the interview. I look forward to some of your reflections and thoughts.

Business, the Gospel, and the Consumeristic Church

Over the last several weeks there has been a lot of posting around Willow Creek (”Reveal”) and the “consumeristic church” conversation. You may want to check out David Fitch’s most recent post, Is The Consumerism Critique Legit? - and the conversation taking place in the comments. Check out Bill Kinnon’s comments around the book Consuming Jesus.

Here are some thoughts I wrote in a blog post around this conversation awhile ago. I have updated a bit and added a few reflections. Look forward to some of your thoughts. Grace, Mark

It’s not Business, it’s the Gospel

“If you don’t like the way you were born — try being born again!”

This announcement, prominently displayed recently on a church marquee in my neighborhood, reflects perfectly the spirit of religious life in North America today. It advertises to all who pass by the church what sounds like very good news: “If you don’t like who you are now, God has a ‘new you’ ready to try on! Details available inside!”

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