Something dawned on me as a wrote about GCR Component #1. I realized how important it is, if we are going to work together from the vision cast by the task force, that we have a common understanding of what it means for us to have a missional approach to our churches and ministry.
A few weeks ago, I preached on What Does it Means to Be Missional? I set up a list of contrasting attitudes between missional thinking and conventional thinking. I thought it may be helpful to post that list here.
|
Conventional Outlook
|
Missional Outlook
|
|---|---|
| Sees our community as "home field." | Sees our community as a mission field. |
| Waits for people to come to us. (Welcome mat) | Reaches out and meets people where they are. |
| Assumes people are saved. | Assumes people need to hear the gospel. |
| Sees missionaries as a separate class from the rest of us. | Sees every Christian as a missionary. |
| Attitude of complacency. | Attitude of urgency. |
| Church is mostly same race, same income class. | Reaches a cross-section of the community. |
| Treats "sinners" with contempt. | Treats "sinners" with compassion. |
| Comfort is king – change is the enemy. | Mission is king – change is a tool. |
| Sees value in today’s world but lives in history and tradition. | Sees value in history and tradition but lives in today’s world. |
| Timid, conservative, mind set on safety and control. | Bold, risk-taking, mind set on making an impact. |
| Gets excited about giving to facility upgrades and maintenence. | Gets excited about giving to missions and the spread of the gospel. |
| Assumes we already know the culture and how to communicate. | Studies culture and looks for bridges to cross. |