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What does it mean to be "missional."

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Bronconagurski, Feb 26, 2013.

  1. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    I have heard that term recently linked to the emergent church movement. We say our church is missionary minded, whether it be home missions or abroad. I get the feeling this is something different, but haven't heard a clear explanation of what it is.
     
  2. jonathanD

    jonathanD New Member

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    I think this is a helpful article.

    I think the Acts 29 guys have really embraced this philosophy. They are emerging, but not emergent.

    Subtle difference in spelling, but a VERY different understanding of the Scripture.
     
  3. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    I hear it all the time in the circles I travel and I don't really know that I understand what folks are talking about when they use this phrase.

    I'm not sure it isn't just renaming something we have done for years. Here is an article I found that makes it clear that the people who use the word aren't really agreed what it means

    http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/16.56.html?paging=off
     
  4. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    Thanks for the link. The author did a good job explaining that missional has the idea of being sent into the world as Christians, like God sent His Son to the world. He said that the method of attracting people to come to us at church is not working anymore and that we need to go into the world. Fine, but to what end and with what methods? None of that was really approached by the writer. It sounds like a new word for obeying The Great Commission unless being sent to the world means more than witnessing and making disciples. That was what wasn't clear to me. Oh, and the writer denied it was part of the emerging church.
     
  5. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    Whew, boy do they ever disagree. I kind of agree with you, its what we have been doing with a different name. Brian McLaren likes it as a tool of the emergent church and uses the term. That is enough right there to cause me not to use the term. You couldn't pay me to go listen to Brian Mc.
     
  6. Berean

    Berean Member
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    As you go be telling the Good News of Jesus Christ, Whether it be on the assembly line,in the office on the foorball field or on a plane to Kenya or Bosnia. Be like Johnny Appleseed.
     
  7. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    If that is what missional is, then it's just another word for personal evangelism. It seems that in this postmodern world, people seek to put new labels on things so that it isn't seen as traditional or part of the old Christendom. JMHO
     
  8. quantumfaith

    quantumfaith Active Member

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    One purveyor of this term, is someone I personally really like, Christopher J H Wright. I have, in other threads shared his view (you probably remember) regarding the "calculus of election", he "kind of settles" on the idea, that "missional" is at the heart of election.

    My "pastor" Andy Stanley, has numerous favorite words, one of his is "intentional" or intentionality.


    Just my two cents. :)
     
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