CALLED AND SENT

I didn't sleep much last night. And that's ok. God was stirring me.

After a potent worship gathering in the morning, a frustrating Steeler loss in the afternoon, last night a large group of people gathered for worship at the Open Door, followed up with a lively dialogue with Tony Jones about the shape of the emerging church. Tony is the national coordinator for Emergent and possesses one of the sharpest theological minds you will ever encounter (check out Tony's blog for some heavy duty stuff).While I am not a huge fan of the phrase "emerging church," (I much prefer missional church), Tony rearticulated the heart of the movement - Emergent is all about rethinking theology and rethinking the Church within the context of friendships with a heart to simply follow Jesus into the world. That my friends, energizes me – big-time!

This brings me to the called and sent thing. The first pattern of a missional church is "discerning missional vocation." The word vocation signifies a call and in the Scriptures that call is to participate in God's grand purpose for the world. The call is to come to Jesus and then follow Him into the world and join the activity of God wherever and wherever we are able.
Missional Churches are continually seeking clarity on the call, especially as it relates to identity and location. They give attention to:

• where they are in a geographic, social, and cultural context
• when they are in the flow of history and change
• who they are in continuity with a tradition and re-forming it in the present
• why they are welcoming God's call and entering God's coming reign

Let me raise a few questions:

Where are We? Where is our missional assignment? While I understand we have a responsibility to be engaged in mission to the ends of the earth, our primary responsibility is local. How would you answer the “where are we” question? Are you/we clear about that? I have to confess I am wrestling with this one right now and am unsure that our faith community is zoned in on this one.

When are We? Are we aware of the unique opportunities that stand before us in our time? The Scriptures speak of these moments as kairos moments, opportune times. Because God has placed us in a particular space and time, there are unique situations that face us and demand our attention and energy? What unique opportunities stand before us, right here, right now?

Who are We? Our faith communities are rooted in a theological and historical flow.
Are we clear about our roots and are we re-thinking together about how we will faithfully express ourselves in our world today?

I will save the “why we are” question for later. But in the meantime I would love to hear your thoughts on any of the above. Is God stirring anything in you about the identity and call of the church in the world today? What do you think?

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