a few thoughts… again.
I don’t understand why the term “missional†is getting a bad rep from all of the ODMs. I don’t know of any believer who would say living a life that is completely devoted to the mission of God is a problem. Ironically, Ken Silva writes “Tozer exposes the humanistic heart of the “missional” man-centered Church Growth Movement.†I don’t see how missional and man-centered can go in the same sentence. Is Silva willing to say that anyone who has a heart for evangelism is “man-centered†because they are focusing on people rather than God? It’s simply illogical, and shows the dangers that hypercalvinism brings to the church.
We could go on and on about church growth issues. I think it is safe to say that large numbers inherently are not a bad thing and big buildings inherently are not a bad thing. It is what people do with those large buildings and masses of people that make them good or bad. Again, SIZE and SPACE is not the issue. For every temptation named that large churches struggle with, I could name one that small churches struggle with. Ironically, it is usually small, struggling churches that find the most faults in megachurches.
Welp —that’s enough on church growth for now.
![Image of The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Jl6fhDLxL._SL75_.jpg "The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith")
9 Comments(+Add)
Well, how that happens is pretty easy.
1. A new buzz word vaguely associated with E/Es bubbles to the surface.
2. Watchdoggies decides that their hits are lagging a bit (or their name recognition isn’t enough), so they write a post (or a book) slamming that particular term by attaching various negative adjectives that don’t apply, (optionally post a bit of writing by a dead theologian).
3. Repeat as needed.
Nathan,
I think that their hits are down as people are wising up to the hypocrisy and insanity that they are peddling as “righteousness”…
I think soon many of the ODM’s will be sinking into the obscurity of their own delusion… and the rest of us will keep chugging along doing what God wants us to do.
Be blessed,
iggy
This is similar to the term “spiritual formation.” Because a few folks have used it to describe their contemplative meditation, anyone who uses the term spiritual formation is contemplative according to the ODMs.
However, I declare that I AM MISSIONAL, HERE ME ROAR!
Ingrid is now pushing contemplative prayer… and does not even know it!
http://wordofmouthministries.blogspot.com/2007/10/ingrid-pushes-contemplative-prayer.html
be blessed,
iggy
I meant “HEAR.” Punchline botched.
I understood the word missional to mean preaching the gospel while attempting to demonstrate Christ in our lives. Maybe I missed something, but isn’t that the intened definition?
One thing is for certain, Ken Silva doesn’t practice any form of church growth!
Darren,
I here ya!
LOL!
Sorry, I could not resist!
blessings,
iggy
Now Rick you do know that God pruned Kens church to perserve the remnant.
Until I ran into Ken I always thought of a remnant as the hideous carpeting at Home Depot that nobody wanted in their living room; for fear of grossing out guests. Wait a sec…In a weird sorta way they are the same.
I have an unfinished post about the “remnant” which is never mentioned in the context of a certain dedicated sect of Christianity. And when you refer to the remnant with the understanding that you happen to be in that sect well then that disqualifies you. Paul said he was the least of all saints, he surely didn’t distance himself from even carnal Christians like the Corinthians, he loved and embraced them.
This remnant mentality is a self righteous thought process that negates the grace of God and magnifies your own spirituality. I hate my own pride and I know God hates it infinitely more, and to publicly proclaim yourself as part of a super spiritual remnant whose ministry it is to look down from the mountain and scorn the poor non-remnant ghetto dwellers is unchristian on very level.
If you see a legitimate falling away from some like MacLaren and Pagitt but you ave never shed a tear or fasted a day or spent an hour in intercessory prayer for them, then close you self righteous mouth because the only remnant you ae a part of is the Pharisees.
Sorry, I hate pride and especially mine.