missionary churches in a non-christian world. what saved my marriage
TRANSCRIPT
Missionary Churches in a Missionary Churches in a Non-Christian WorldNon-Christian World
What saved my marriageWhat saved my marriage
What saved my marriageWhat saved my marriage
What saved my marriageWhat saved my marriage
Recalculate!
Recalculate
Recalculate for the Kingdom of God is at
hand. Matthew 4
• Use the right map
• Orient
• Let’s Go
Which city?
Which map?
Using the Right MapUsing the Right Map
Three different worlds (contexts) in Three different worlds (contexts) in which we live and serve as God’s which we live and serve as God’s peoplepeople
Pre-church
Churched
Post-church
Three Mission Contexts: Three Mission Contexts: Three different MapsThree different Maps
Church
ed
Pre-
Church
Post-Church
Using the Right MapUsing the Right Map
Each mission context has its set ofEach mission context has its set of
Cultural “Insiders”
Cultural “Outsiders”
Using the Right MapUsing the Right Map
Who?Where?
When?What’s the
starting place?
Using the Right MapUsing the Right Map
It is essential to know which one we It is essential to know which one we are in order to serve effectivelyare in order to serve effectively
– Are we cultural insiders here?Are we cultural insiders here?
– Are we cultural outsiders?Are we cultural outsiders?
Pre-Church MapPre-Church Map
Church
ed
Pre-
Church
Post-Church
Using the Right MapUsing the Right Map
Church has no identity, thus no credibility
Non-Christians are Cultural “Insiders” Missionaries begin as
Cultural “Outsiders”
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
First step in mission work is to First step in mission work is to become become permeable
To remove as many “foreign” or To remove as many “foreign” or “outsider” elements as possible“outsider” elements as possible
Learn the Language and Culture Learn the Language and Culture of the “insiders”of the “insiders”
Share life experiencesShare life experiencesGet to know and be knownGet to know and be known
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
Three steps in permeationThree steps in permeation
• Learner
• Trader
• Story Teller
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
Note: The missionary might never Note: The missionary might never become a cultural insiderbecome a cultural insider
Get Gospel communication into the Get Gospel communication into the hands of cultural insiders ASAPhands of cultural insiders ASAP
Missionaries focus on multiplying Missionaries focus on multiplying cultural insiders who speak the Gospelcultural insiders who speak the Gospel
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
Cultural “insidership” Cultural “insidership” of the Non-Christian of the Non-Christian continues to play a continues to play a critical role in the critical role in the propagation of the propagation of the
GospelGospel
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
Focus on the unchurchedFocus on the unchurchedHigh engagement with the unchurchedHigh engagement with the unchurched
Maintain a porous boundary with Maintain a porous boundary with unchurchedunchurched
Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4)Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4) Unchurched → evangelist Unchurched → evangelist
Churched → pastor/teacherChurched → pastor/teacherBoth → apostle, prophetBoth → apostle, prophet
Develop Little structureDevelop Little structureVocationalVocationalOrganizationalOrganizational
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
Potential impediments Potential impediments – Professionalize the witnessProfessionalize the witness– Over structure Over structure
The porous boundary between church and The porous boundary between church and community thickens, eventually becoming community thickens, eventually becoming impermeable.impermeable.
Cultural “insidership” of the unchurched Cultural “insidership” of the unchurched community gives way to the cultural community gives way to the cultural “insidership” of the churched community“insidership” of the churched community
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
Church
ed
Pre-Church
Post-Church
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
Church is essential to the communityChurch is essential to the community
The unchurched are cultural The unchurched are cultural
““outsiders”outsiders”
The churched areCultural “Insiders”
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
The churched are now the cultural “insiders”.The churched are now the cultural “insiders”.
Church has great credibilityChurch has great credibility
Central to the shared story of the cultureCentral to the shared story of the culture
Know (shape) language and cultureKnow (shape) language and culture
Socially and culturally in chargeSocially and culturally in charge
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
Who? (Communicates)Who? (Communicates)When? (It happens)When? (It happens)
Where? (It happens)Where? (It happens)What (is the starting place)?What (is the starting place)?
These questions are now answered These questions are now answered by the church.by the church.
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
The unchurched are now the cultural The unchurched are now the cultural “outsiders”“outsiders”
Their relationship to the churchTheir relationship to the church
Share the church influenced language Share the church influenced language and and cultureculture
Value the church’s role in the societyValue the church’s role in the society
Might be attracted to the church Might be attracted to the church (cultural (cultural value)value)
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
The unchurched are now the cultural The unchurched are now the cultural “outsiders”“outsiders”
The church’s relationship to themThe church’s relationship to them
The unchurched are Invisible The unchurched are Invisible (assumption that everyone is a (assumption that everyone is a
Christian)Christian)
Possibly suspicious Possibly suspicious (non-Christians hold something (non-Christians hold something
against the against the church or church or God)God)
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
Pastor is a cultural insider (holds high Pastor is a cultural insider (holds high credibility)credibility)
Knows the language and cultural at a high Knows the language and cultural at a high levellevel
Considered the guardian of the cultureConsidered the guardian of the culture
Local outreach (Jerusalem, Judea) is the Local outreach (Jerusalem, Judea) is the vocation of professionalsvocation of professionals
Respected by unchurchedRespected by unchurched
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
Focus on the churchedFocus on the churched
Non-Christians will come to church to hear Non-Christians will come to church to hear the Good Newsthe Good News
Operate with Fewer Word gifts (Eph. 4)Operate with Fewer Word gifts (Eph. 4)Unchurched atrophy Unchurched atrophy Churched consolidate → pastor/teacherChurched consolidate → pastor/teacher
Build permanence (structure)Build permanence (structure)Structured social systemsStructured social systemsStructured vocationsStructured vocations
The Churched MapThe Churched Map
Potential impediments to Gospel spreadPotential impediments to Gospel spread
– Increased professionalization of the witness (only Increased professionalization of the witness (only the pastor can do this)the pastor can do this)
– Preoccupation with church permanence Preoccupation with church permanence (structure)(structure)
– Increased concern for the needs of the already Increased concern for the needs of the already “churched”; concern for the lost slowly atrophies.“churched”; concern for the lost slowly atrophies.
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
Church
ed
Pre-Church
Post-Church
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
The community around the church is The community around the church is increasingly unchurched, more and increasingly unchurched, more and more reflecting the “pre-churched” more reflecting the “pre-churched” context of ministry.context of ministry.
At the same time, the church continues At the same time, the church continues to operate with the assumptions of a to operate with the assumptions of a “churched” society or context.“churched” society or context.
Which Map?Which Map?
Church and CommunityChurch and Community
Pre-ChurchPre-Church ChurchedChurched Post-ChurchPost-Church
OutsiderOutsider InsiderInsider ??
InsignificantInsignificant EssentialEssential ??
NoNo
CredibilityCredibilitySociallySocially
In ChargeIn Charge??
Which Map?Which Map?
The unchurched and the churchThe unchurched and the church
Pre-ChurchPre-Church ChurchedChurched Post-ChurchPost-Church
Ignorant of Ignorant of the Churchthe Church
Know and value Know and value the church culturethe church culture
??
Church has Church has no roleno role
Value the church’s Value the church’s role in societyrole in society
??
No No AttractionAttraction
Culturally attracted Culturally attracted to the churchto the church
??
Which Map?Which Map?
Church and UnchurchedChurch and Unchurched
Pre-ChurchPre-Church ChurchedChurched Post-ChurchPost-Church
No one is No one is ChristianChristian
Everyone is Everyone is Christian Christian
??
ChurchChurch
Not in ChargeNot in ChargeChurch In Church In
charge and charge and SafeSafe
??
ChurchChurch
Not so sureNot so sureChurch is Church is
Feelin’ good Feelin’ good ??
Which Map?Which Map?
Pastor and CommunityPastor and Community
Pre-ChurchPre-Church ChurchedChurched Post-ChurchPost-Church
OutsiderOutsider Cultural Cultural InsiderInsider
??
UnknownUnknown Known and Known and RespectedRespected
??
Outreach Outreach done by localsdone by locals
Outreach done Outreach done by pastorby pastor
??
Which Map?Which Map?
PermeabilityPermeability
Pre-ChurchPre-Church ChurchedChurched Post-ChurchPost-Church
MissionaryMissionary
&&
ChurchChurch
Unchurched of the Unchurched of the communitycommunity
??
Which Map?Which Map?
Church’s GoalsChurch’s Goals
Pre-ChurchPre-Church ChurchedChurched Post-ChurchPost-Church
How do we How do we impact the impact the community community for Christ?for Christ?
How do we How do we build our build our church?church?
??
Theological Education In A Theological Education In A Post-Church EraPost-Church Era
Acculturation--Building cultural insiders Structure
Life Contexts &Experience
Formal
Informal Non-formal
Recalculate!
The Post-Churched Map
DiscussionDiscussion
What contextual conditions are What contextual conditions are assumed in your congregation’s assumed in your congregation’s future planning?future planning?
– Pre-ChurchedPre-Churched– ChurchedChurched– Post-ChurchedPost-Churched
DiscussionDiscussion
How would your congregation look at itself if How would your congregation look at itself if it were a New Testament congregation, it were a New Testament congregation, that is, a small church located in a non-that is, a small church located in a non-Christian community possibly hostile to Christian community possibly hostile to the Gospel? the Gospel?
DiscussionDiscussion
What pastoral roles are assumed by What pastoral roles are assumed by the members of our congregations?the members of our congregations?
What lay roles are assumed?What lay roles are assumed?
This presentation is shared by permission This presentation is shared by permission of Dr. Robert Newton, President of the of Dr. Robert Newton, President of the CNH District of the LCMS. If you have any CNH District of the LCMS. If you have any questions or comments concerning this questions or comments concerning this presentation, please direct them to Dr. presentation, please direct them to Dr. Newton at Newton at [email protected] or call or call 925-245-4000925-245-4000