"Maintenance or Mission?"
Adam at Adventures in Following Jesus describes the choices facing churches:
Churches and those that lead them face a choice: Will they simply defensively maintain what they have (beliefs, forms, practices, members,etc.) or will we boldly press forward into our mission? Stated another way: Will their current identity define their mission or will their mission define their identity?Is there anyone who's been in a church for any length of time who doesn't understand this dynamic? Preaching is at the forward point of this tension. For preachers, the selfish desires of our own hearts (and, often, those of other members) pull us toward maintenance. The Word of God, however, defines our mission.
posted by Milton Stanley at 1:18 AM
3 Comments:
The problem with the "maintenance vs. mission" argument is that it sets up the classic straw man. It's like asking "Answer yes or no - do you still beat your wife?" A sound church is both evangelistic (mission) and edifying (maintenance). Both are a part of the Great Commission.
I have to agree with Peter on this, there is a healthy tension that should exist between the two. I posted on it here
Thanks for your comments, guys. Thanks too, John, for continuing the discussion at Blogotional.
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