A friend handed my Reggie McNeal's latest book entitled Missional Renaissance to read. Half way through the book, McNeal's words are both encouraging and challenging as he critiques the current American church culture which emphasizes "doing church" versus "being church." What counts for McNeal is the orientation of each individual to the Kingdom where ever they live not the programs and plans that create silo-ed understanding of our Christian faith.
In a similar vein, David Fitch writes on the missional habits of the church.
Both resources are grounded in the understanding of the Christ centered life is paramount to the church centered life.
In a church setting, it is easy to get stuck thinking it is someone else's job to do missions whether it be in the neighborhood or around the world. Some would think: "The pastor or staff or those with the gift of evangelism, they do 'it.' "They are the ones that should be out there talking to people not me." Or others might say: "When it is convenient, when there is time, when someone else plans it, then maybe I will."
I am greatly intrigued by the idea of developing missional habits as David Fitch talks about. I am more interested in developing a people who are engaged in Kingdom possibilities everyday than planning special events that take a lot of time and energy. The life in which we live is where God already is moving. To think less would be to discount God's redemptive activity all around us.
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