Today I welcome Larry Chouinard as a Guest Blogger On the Horizon! Larry writes Spiritual Conversations which I discovered via Emerging Grace. Both are well-written and thought-provoking. I highly recommend them.
When I read Larry’s post, I found myself nodding my head in agreement and raising my hand to exclaim “Absolutely!” “Right on!” or “You know it” about every one of the items on this list, so I am delighted to present:
You Might Have Missional Tendencies if …
1. You talk more about the Kingdom of God than you do your local church.
2. You are more in awe of the radical Jesus than you are the charisma of your pastor/preacher.
3. You feel a greater sense of community in the parking lot than in the pews.
4. You’ve often muttered, leaving a “church service”, “there’s got to be more to it than this”.
5. You’ve often wondered why the church couldn’t meet in the park or Starbucks once in a while.
6. You’ve cringed at the coldness and indifference of church people when someone shows up at our “church service” that looks and smells different.
7. You’ve wondered why Christians only hang out with Christians when Jesus seemingly never missed an opportunity to party with the riff-raff.
8. You’ve wondered what God does the other six days of the week.
9. You’ve had the urge to spill your guts to the next artificial inquiry, “I’m fine, how are you?”.
10. You’ve had the compelling urge to join the preacher at the podium to present an alternative perspective.
11. You’ve wanted to fall to your knees while everyone stood for another happy-clappy song.
12. You’ve wanted to close a ‘service’ by shouting from your pew, “NOW WHAT?”
13. You sometimes find more spiritual depth and authenticity in the lives of those who do not go to church.
Thursday Thirteen
{ 10 comments }
Those were very good. I especially liked #6. That is why I love my new church. The majority of the people there are not like that. They care about the community in words and deeds, and are very big on missions!
I don’t like people with missional tendencies…
My TT shares Thirteen (quotes from) lyrics by Robbie Williams.
I agree with Tink.
Non-Christians are riff-raff?
Amen….
I hadn’t given much thought to being missional, but I identified with all points of the conversation.
To each his own. Peace.
Larry didn’t say that non-Christians are riff-raff.
Too often Christians hang out with only other Christians. The blogging world is a perfect example of that.
Jesus hung out with all the folks that society cast aside, including women. He was radical and a feminist.
A peaceful, meditative Thursday Thirteen post. Makes me think about things from a different perspective. I definitely think being a missionary is a calling!
I don’t think our church is bad about new visitors, in fact, when someone new comes to our church and is different they are usually flooded with people meeting them, lol. We are a huge mission-minded church. I’m hoping several of my kids go into the field full time.
you should all see how church is in germany. i wish it would be some more open to everyone.
Comments on this entry are closed.