What would an effective missiology for the 21st century look like? Here are a few key elements- - -
A missiology developed without the context of the world is DOA & we have never needed a newer missiology more than we need it today - much of what we have is ineffective, outdated and even detrimental to the Great Commission - it takes years to develop systems that become chains
First, it would be done in the public square neither in a church building or a house church - that would be secondary - focus must shift from the gathering to the market
Second, it would be done by everyday disciples living in their domains - they would be the missionaries bringing value to society not just a platform to really do something else
Third, it would be relationally driven as people naturally live out their faith in the public square - shift would be from hanging out with believers pushing them find lost people - to hanging out with non-believers working together in domains
Fourth apologetics would not be about vilifying other religions but differentiating from other religions as we all relate in the public square
Fifth, it really would be Glocal - the old boundaries no longer exist which is why nationalism is on the rise but is ultimately doomed - it simply isn’t workable in where we are now
Sixth, church will be defined not by a reformation from frustrated older believers but by the creation of new excited believers & the forms will be varied & multiple
Seventh, this will not happen apart from our ability to learn to follow the Holy Spirit moment by moment as he opens unexpected doors - there is no movement without the miraculous. We create systems & processes, the future is relationships & hearing the Spirit and obeying
There is a new day dawning and I will live to see it - there is a shaking and a crumbling of old & broken things which sets the stage for new dynamic moves of the Spirit! To grab hold of the future you must let go of the past and truly walk by faith - there is no other way
God is both eternal and relevant to every generation & every people - We preach about faith in very safe organized places but rarely walk in it -Only those who see & hear what is happening through the Spirit will walk by faith - there really is no other way to walk in the Kingdom
