The Spirit of the Missional Movement Pt 2

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is part 2 of a 2-part series] Click here for Part 1

Finally, renaming brands a particular set of ethos.  For example the political words “conservative” and "liberal" have a unique set of beliefs, attitudes, and practices that are attached to it.  So when someone says "missional," we who adhere to the missional way of living are instantly aware of the guiding values the word entails.  


That being said, the list below reveal my top 10 What Is and to p 12 What is Not of the missional movement. 


What Missional is not?

1. Missional is not latest church cultural fad that will last 15-30 years before moving to the next one.
2. Missional is not a style of church i.e. traditional, contemporary, emergent, missional.
3. Missional is not traditional missions or a traditional missionary.
4. Missional is not social action or social justice.
5. Missional is not a ministry division of the church.
6. Missional is not a church program.
7. Missional is not a ministry approach or strategy.
8. Missional is not a service or outreach project.
9. Missional is not a church growth strategy.
10. Missional is not a feeling.

The word "missional' can encompass some of the above (definitely not all), but is not limited to any of these. 

What is Missional?

1. Missional is what God did by sending His Son Jesus Christ to inhabit our world bringing with him righteousness, peace, joy, grace, and freedom.
2. Missional encourages the Christ-follower to emulate the missionary work of the missionary God.
3. Missional is the perspective to see people as God does and to engage in the activity of reaching them.
4. Missional is a renewed perspective (way of life) that is lived out everywhere and at all times.
5. Missional encourages all Christ-followers to live out their primary calling as Christ's ambassadors to those who don't know Jesus.
6. Missional involves both the proclamation and demonstartion of the "good news."
7. Missional begins and ends with disciplleship.
8. Missional is a spirit, a movement of God calling us back to His original purpose-stated in Genesis 1 & 2-to cultivate the earth.  Another way of saying this is that we "stop consuming and start creating."
9. Missional embraces Shalom, which means wholeness.  It calls the church to be holistic (emotional, physical, intellectual, and social) in all of its dealings. 
10. Missional is the "way of the cross," living daily in such a way that imitates the sacrifice of the Messiah. 
11. Missional calls us to be active participants of local and global missions. 
12. Missional is a lifestyle that emulates the complete life and work of Christ.