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With the recent discussions around missionShift and the Missional Manifesto, much discussion has been stirred again around the true meaning and implications of what it means to be missional.  There are already many incredible contributions (such as these from David Fitch and Brother Maynard, to name just two).  The topic has been on my mind a great deal more of late as well, largely born out the active work of our church, Little Flowers Community, to intentionally pursue a missional identity.  So rooted in the practice of faith, the implications in this context are enormous.  While there is far too much to share in this space, one aspect has been surfacing more for me recently.

When the call was made for a single sentence explanation of “missional”, I had several ideas.  Knowing that a single sentence was going to be (unqualified) inadequate to the task, I decided to give what I see as one facet to this larger picture.  My sentence was:

“Becoming and living Christ together.”

While I am not the theologian that David Fitch is, and though I lack the masterful word/idea craftsmanship of Brother Maynard, let me try to unpack this a bit here.

First, I think it would be fair to share what I have been using as a guiding understanding of the Gospel.  Again, while it is too short to answer all questions, it will be helpful for this discussion.  Here it is:  The Gospel is the glory of the Triune God made manifest in His work to reconcile every person to union with Himself, communion with others, to fullness of life, and to harmony with Creation, in the context of community for the good of all.  Each aspect of this sentence could be further developed, but let me simply state that while not explicit stated in the wording, I do strongly affirm that the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ for the atonement of our sin is central this process.  Atonement theology can be a touchy subject, so I will say that I believe that a variety of atonement themes are represented in Scripture and all must shape and form our understanding of the redemptive work of Christ.  I wanted to put this Gospel explanation at the beginning of this post so that it is clear that I affirm that the work of redemption has a greater scope than saving individual souls from personal damnation.

Central to my understanding of the word of Christ in my life is that, through dying to self, I am resurrected with Him into His Body.  In this sense, the saving work of the Cross where sin is put to death is inseparable from the nature of what we are transformed into (together), which is Christ Himself.  We decrease as He increases.  This is the heart of the incarnation, for just as Jesus became man and entered meaningfully into our world, so to we become Christ’s Body and enter into His mission in our world.  Through the unity and power of the Holy Spirit, we represent the incarnational presence of Jesus Christ in the world today.

In some ways, using the terms “becoming” and “living” might seem redundant, but sadly it is important to distinguish.  The emphasis on the worship of Christ, which is unquestionably essential to the faith, has too often overshadowed obedience to Christ (beyond what it takes to “be saved”).  Because the redemptive work of the Cross leads to the resurrection into His Body, then it follows that as we become His incarnational presence in the world today, then we are clearly called to live as Christ in all things too.  This is not merely us following the example of Christ, but rather, through His Holy Spirit in us, living Christ as He directs in the world.  Thus, an emphasis on justice, service, charity, hospitality are not distractions from the salvific work of Christ, but the inevitable fruit and evidence that work.

Finally, that this active incarnational nature happens primarily in the context of community is essential.  While individuals can unquestionably live missionally, I would strongly argue that all true missionality is done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  That same Spirit is what unites us as diverse members in one true Body.  Therefore, I believe that individuals are missional only insofar as their individual obedience is expressed as the act of a member of a wider Body.  While it might be said that, by simply being a Christian you are part of a Body (and this is true), I believe that the unity of the Spirit is made manifest in more than an abstract identification, but more primarily through genuine relational community.

To be missional is to enter into the invitation of God to participate in His work of redemption and restoration of all creation through the transformation into His Body through His death and resurrection.  It is in the act of participating in Communion that this truth is most beautiful displayed.  As we come in brokenness, we share in the brokenness of Christ at the cross.  And through participating in His death, we also are unified in Him through His victory over death in resurrection.  Even creations redemption is celebrated in the elements of bread and wine, life giving fruit of the earth.  It is here that I am thrilled by considering what it means to be missional.