This made me think of a comment by Lesslie Newbigin (theologian, author and missionary in India) in his Foreword to a biography of Roland Allen.
"Missionary thinking is still pervaded by Pelagianism. Mission is conceived as a task, rather than as a gift, an over-spill, and an explosion of joy." (Pelagius was a fourth century British monk who believed that salvation could be achieved entirely through human effort.)
Newbigin goes on to say...
At the center of (Roland) Allen's message was the conviction that the Holy Spirit is the active agent in the Christian mission. For him Pentecost was the key for the understanding of mission. Allen could write about the "Spontaneous Expansion of the Church" because he saw it, not as a human enterprise, but as a divine activity. To understand that, is to be delivered from the anxieties, the burdens and the sense of guilt which so often forms the atmosphere of discussion about mission." Roland Allen: Pioneer, Priest, and Prophet, xiii. (See photo of Allen.)If Allen is correct (and I think he is), the reason that the Church is not more missional is not for lack of knowledge and exhortation about mission. Rather, it is because individuals and churches do not know how to have an intimate, conversational relationship with the Holy Spirit (the "active agent" of mission). Or, as Mike Breen writes, they have "little to no idea of how to be with the King".
Get people genuinely and deeply connected to the Holy Spirit and mission will be, as Allen would say, the spontaneous and natural result.
Thanks John--I believe this is absolutely spot on!
ReplyDeleteGreat insights. I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteJohn, as I read your post, the story of Mary and Martha came to mind. Learning how to be with the King seems to be a major challenge for every generation of Jesus followers.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see what Breen is saying about being a people who are "addicted" to the work of the Kingdom. I can see it in my life, and it is an addiction that I think God and I are slowly working through (Kent, feel free to call me out on this one). From a practical, day to day point of view, this kind of thing can very easily look like an addiction to control.
ReplyDelete"If we don't do it, who will?"
"If it's the right thing to do, then we should do it."
And on the flip side of that, we have Roland and Leslie..."To understand that, is to be delivered from the anxieties, the burdens and the sense of guilt which so often forms the atmosphere of discussion about mission."
It sounds so patriotic to dutifully serve the King, but it is so much more life giving to learn what it means to serve by sitting with the Servant King.
Ben: Mary is certainly our picture of what it looks like to be "with" the King. Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteRosten: It does sound so good, doesn't it! "If not now, when? If not you, then who?" "Better to burn out than rust out!" Etc.
No surprise, eh, John, that I would say that this is spot on! Thanks for posting this, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of some principles that I was brought face to face with early in my Christian experience from a godly Pentecostal leader. He told me that "every command of Jesus is a promise of what is available." If I am commanded to "be perfect" it is because He can make me so. If I am commanded to "Go" it is because He will go in me. It is actually the difference between law ('have to" or "ought to") and grace ("I can" or "what a delight to be able to")
ReplyDeleteThanks, John, for the post (both this and the previous one). I couldn't say it better. And Tony, you've hit it right on: "Every command of Jesus is a promise of what is available." May the Lord keep us walking with Him.
ReplyDelete