“Missional”seems to be the new buzz word that is currently floating around the stratosphere of progressive, post-modern, emergent evangelicals. So what the heck does it mean, anyway? I know the concept when used within the context of church, but could not get my mind around a simple definition.
I was reading an article yesterday by Bob Hyatt and he used the best terminology I’ve heard. He said this, “By missional we mean that we are trying to foster a orientation within our community not inward, but outward. Not to ourselves, but to others. We are attempting to be not attractional, but incarnational.” Those two words, attractional and incarnatioanal really describe the core of what it means to be missional.
Do we want people to be attracted to our gathering, or do we want them to be change people? Missional churches are not focused on making Sunday morning or programs an advertisement. Corporate gatherings are not big rah rah cheerleading sessions to tell attenders how great the church is. Missionional churches do not view programs as a buffet line so everyone one can get a taste of what they like. A missional churches goal is not information, but transformation. Missional churches are focused solely on Jesus and the and the hope He brings. The focus is the heart of Jesus and the hearts of people.
Programs and activities are not inherently bad or even the problem. The disconnect occurs when the value is placed on the method rather than the outcome. Our church values reaching the hearts of youth. Therefore, we have a full time youth guy and activities and programs to fulfill the mission God has given us. Within some churches there has been a shift that has made “programs” a bad word. I think my dad said it best by saying that Programs are merely a tool to fulfill our Purpose that is fueled by our Passion. So then the real question becomes What is our Passion?
