January 14, 1999
The title to this brief article may be more a
hope than a statement of fact, but as a visionary, I feed off the hope
of a preferable future. In my daily walk with Jesus, I often cling to
the prayer of Paul found in Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow
with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
| This hope is important to
Christian leaders today because many, if not most, commentators
(religious or otherwise) see the Church being pushed to the margins
of our society. Perceived (and real) hypocrisy, the increasing real
‘reality’ of relativism and a sometimes harsh and
defensive response from the Church in reaction to
social/philosophical shifts are just a few of the reasons these
pundits may be right. |
 |
In an evangelistic sense, I am not overly
alarmed. God has always raised up an effective apologetic for his
sovereign plan to save the world through Jesus. The Holy Spirit
communicated powerfully through his servants in pre-modern and modern
times. I believe he will do so in postmodern/post-Christian times as
well. Actually, rather than alarmed, I feel a great sense of expectancy
to see what God will do to speak to both social critics and the Church.
Christianity may be under fire, but opponents, pundits and the loyal
opposition ought to all beware of writing God or the church off too
soon. The future is securely in his hands!
I must, for my own sanity and confidence (and I
really do), believe God has a plan for the Church in the transitional
period we live in. His Word assures us that everyone will one day
witness God’s saving work on behalf of his creation. In fact, his loving
grace is so irresistible, Isaiah compares it to "rushing torrents of
water."
Is. 59:19 – ... men will fear the name of
the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his
glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the
Lord drives along.
When God plans and then determines to do good,
no philosophical or societal resistance matters. When he finally decides
to act — Everyone…Look Out!
Rom. 8:31, 35, 37-39 What, then, shall we
say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or
hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
As a passionate participant in (and observer of)
the Church, I see God raising up ‘missional communities’ that can
influence ‘from the margins.’ I can’t remember where I first heard the
term ‘missional communities’, or I’d give the person credit. But the
picture it paints in my mind is a group of people who are highly
intentional about truly obeying Jesus’ commands so as to increasingly be
like him. The individuals pursuing this life-goal are in
community. They live out their new, loving, powerful kingdom
reality not as ‘Lone Ranger Christians’ (going about their work-a-day
life isolated except for an hour on Sunday), but non-negotiably as a
vital part of a group of Christ-followers.
An additional key attitude is that this
Christ-imitating community does not ‘have a mission.’ A mission ‘has
them!’ They are in the grip of God’s sovereign eschatological plan to
redeem mankind! ‘Mission,’ ‘missions’ or evangelism could never
become a ‘department’ in this kind of church, nor could it ever be given
to a committee! Hence, I see these emerging churches as ‘missional-communities.’
The two cannot be separated.
This is not new. It is a renewal.
However unevenly, for 2000 years the Church, when it is at its best, has
existed as a missional community. This is Christian life that marries
conformity to Christ’s clear teachings (discipleship) to Christ’s
mission (evangelism).
The Christ-followers I envision in these
missional communities would not be content if they yielded to ‘consumer
Christianity.’ No, they are bond-slaves in the Lamb’s war. They want to
be a part of winning for him the rewards of his sufferings.
Nor can I envision them
settling for ‘bumper sticker’ faith. No, these are serious
apprentices of their master, Jesus. Becoming like him, they
become ever increasingly the light of the world and the salt of
the earth. As Ambassadors of God’s kingdom, I foresee them
obeying his commands, doing as he does, and speaking as he
speaks.
Can you see how such a Church would break the power of the
charges of hypocrisy – both the straw-man versions and the real
ones? Can you see how this is a great side-door apologetic that
disarms the reactions/rejections of a purely linear, cognitive
or argumentative approach? People like this would never think of
harming others as they fought for a place at the table of
society. Rather than eating the pitiful crumbs of such a
pay-off, they’d much rather feast on the provision of the
kingdom – righteousness, peace, joy and power – even if it must
be eaten from the margins. |
 |
Look out world, the Church thrived best when it
was least inclined to accommodate culture. I am not afraid of being on
society’s margins. What we should appropriately fear is how the Church
will respond on the margins. Will she be defensive? Combative?
Reactionary? I have confidence that the young leaders I know will
rediscover a pre-Constantine form of Christian life.
The missional churches of the future will
thrive, then, under God’s commands and through his power. God will give
them love for society, a gentle love that winsomely leads others to
Christ in a way that is appropriately responsive to the shifts in human
experience that we see all around us.
Thank God that our history in the Vineyard makes
it relatively easy for us to experience God’s leading and then to hear
his voice and risk. It keeps us from being too rigid to respond to his
Spirit or to change approaches as he dictates. This
faith part of our genetic code, our highly participative
and experimental worship (letting the Holy Spirit be the
administrator/leader of the church), our belief in the nearness of God’s
kingdom (and its attendant power, rule and reign), our comparatively
young leaders and our focus on healing – all these existing under the
Authority of Scripture – leads me to believe that by God’s grace, the
Vineyard can thrive in the realities of the new millennium.
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