And Who is My Neighbor?

"Our very lives are our messages, and we cannot take ourselves out of the equation of mission." -Alan Hirsch (p. 92)

My wife, Heidi, is so good at noticing people. Whether it's a server at a restaurant, the checker at the grocery store, or a neighbor, she's great at initiating meaningful and uplifting conversations. Oftentimes (especially in a fast-food drive thru), she goes out of her way to say "please" and "thank you," make eye contact, and intentionally leave the other person feeling better after she's gone than before she arrived.

On the other hand, if I'm willing to reflect honestly, I "quickly judge what a person is like, what their motives are, and if there is anything to gain by pursuing a deeper engagement with them." (p. 84) In Chapter 2 ("Meet the Extras: The Habit of Beholding Others") of Right Here, Right Now,

Lance Ford challenges my unfortunate ability to categorize and/or dismiss people based on my own perceptions. In fact, he poignantly summarizes and suggests, "As Jesus' ambassadors, seeking to have a right here, right now impact, it is imperative that we cultivate in ourselves the Jesus habit of moving past prejudiced

assessments of others we get via these initial impressions. We should work to develop a hearing ear and seeing eye to what the Lord is saying to us about another individual." (p. 86, emphasis mine)

Honestly, although the contexts vary, this section reminded me of the opening rhythms of Revelation: "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches." Perhaps, the Wind Words are consistently blowing relationship opportunities with other people our way, but we're too "plugged in" or "tuned out" to hear.

*"What would happen if every place you were to go today, as far as it depends on you, peace [and the habit of beholding others] would be manifest?"

Up To Something

I just started So Beautiful by Leonard Sweet, and the quote below has already captivated my attention.

"God is 'up to something.' Do we know God well enough to know what God is 'up to?'"

Identity: Starter's Pistol or Finish Line?

"Perhaps the greatest factor that hinders the Western church from missional engagement is that most Christians here do not identify themselves as fully empowered agents of the Kingdom of God." (p. 71)

Although this sentence does not appear until halfway through Chapter 1, "Putting the Extra in the Ordinary: Viewing Daily Life with a Missionary's Eye," it seems to contain the thrust of what Lance Ford exposes, analyzes, and proposes in the chapter. I'd rather hear from you, so I'll briefly break down his statement through the lens of Right Here, Right Now.

First, what about this "missional engagement?" What does that mean or look like? I'll let Alan tackle that one by saying, "A working definition of missional church is a community of God's people that defines itself by, and organizes its life around, its real purpose of being an agent of God's mission to the world. In other words, the church's true and authentic 'organizing principle' is mission. When the church is on mission, it is the true church. The church itself is not only the result of God's mission but is obligated and destined to extend it by whatever means possible. The mission of God flows directly through every believer and every community of faith that adheres to Jesus. To obstruct this is to block God's purposes in and through his people." (p. 66)

Second, in the initial statement, with precision, Ford cuts into our identity. As the people of God in the world, who are we? In Jason Coker's beachfront context he's noticed Christians identifying themselves with the following distinctives, "The strongest churches here extoll conservative evangelical tenets: the inerrancy of scripture; the submissiveness of women; the threat of evolution to the faith; God's divine blessing on capitalism and Western democracy; an understanding of salvation as the assurance of heaven after death for those who confess specific boundary-marking tenets." Is that who we are? In UnChristian, the research data describes us as anti-homosexual, hypocritical, and judgmental. Is that who we are?

On page 67 of Right Here, Right Now, Ford proclaims, "There is nothing remotely average about a human being who has been born again with the very resurrection life that caused Jesus to rise from the dead, to have the indwelling Holy Spirit as guide, to possess the mind of Christ for needed wisdom, and then to be commissioned by Jesus himself to go into the world with his redemptive agenda." As the people of God, who are we?

Perhaps the latter section of the opening sentence provides a starting point to answering the "who are we" question: "...fully empowered agents of the Kingdom of God." As much as I would like to expound on what I think that means and/or looks like, instead, I'm going to defer to a humbling quote in So Beautiful by Len Sweet that should move us all to close our mouths for prayerful waiting and listening: "God is 'up to something.' Do we know God well enough to know what he is 'up to?'"

*What's keeping the Western church from shedding attributes that inhibit us from living as "fully empowered agents of the Kingdom of God?" Should we shed, renew, or reset?

*Should context influence identity, or identity cut into context? Where does contextualization fit in this conversation?

*What is God up to where you are at, and how do you know?

Moving Alongside in a Round-A-Bout Way

Thank you for joining my in-process journey through Right Here, Right Now by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford. Currently, I’m traveling through Alan’s “Briefing” chapter and stopping to engage each of his four suggested movements “needed on our behalf if we are indeed going to partake of the movement that Jesus started: move out (into missional engagement), move in (burrowing down into the culture), move alongside (engaging in genuine friendships and relational networks), and move from (challenging the dehumanizing and sinful aspects of our culture). (p. 35) Here, we looked into the move out (into missional engagement), and in the near future, Heidi Mashele will offer reflections from her own move in (burrowing down into the culture). Until then, I’m moving forward with the move alongside (engaging in genuine friendships and relational networks).

In an earlier post, I mentioned Alan’s challenging reorientation of the “Great Commission” text in Matthew 28:16-20. As we consider the move alongside, Hirsch describes his perspective by writing, “It is not simply about sharing the Good News with people through abstract concepts about Jesus and calling for a response—this is at best only part of the deal, at worst a shoddy witness and mere salesmanship. Friendships should be part of the equation. We are called to disciple the nations, which means we are committed to a long-term relationship with them that must surely include meaningful friendships, genuine involvement, and compassionate concern for a person’s best good.” (p.50) In other words, the “Great Commission” breathes, grows, and expands through discipling relationships that look “part cultural savvy, part organic friendship, and part hospitality.” (p. 51) With a descriptive and prophetic challenge, Hirsch summarizes, “Missional Christianity needs to get relationally savvy, and it should come naturally because we are called to love and discipleship.” (p. 52)

These comments read really well in a book about "Everyday Mission for Everyday People," but does anyone else out there feel like moving alongside through discipling relationships, in fact, comes very unnaturally? Here’s what I mean.

Recently, Bill Kinnon and David Fitch wrote helpful, succinct blog posts that seemed to thoughtfully deconstruct and (at least attempt to) reconstruct ecclesial leadership. In different ways, both posts point out what leadership has been while offering challenging possibilities for what leadership might become (or return to). Unbeknownst to either author (at least specifically), their reflections serve as stark challenges to the training, modeling, and leadership development I have experienced. Primarily, in terms of leadership, I’ve been molded to make organizational decisions, formally teach the Bible, and cast and protect vision.

While I accept the fact that decisions must be made, the Bible should be taught, and vision should be shared, modeled, and guarded, I’m not sure these components best support the scaffold of leadership.

If I don’t hold any inherent disagreement or disgust for these three expressions of leadership, what am I actually critiquing? Without articulating much in terms of new ideas (except stories from my own experiences), I am critiquing the way in which I have led in the past and sometimes find myself still doing today. Basically, my leadership attempts have originated out of a title and, additionally, the role represented by the title.

As a result, after many years of embracing and propagating this type of leadership, I have noticed a few of its harmful implications. First, when I’ve set myself up as the primary, role-based decision-maker, people (at least from my experiences) seem to take on a “just tell me what to do” posture. In other words, I (and usually a few close partners operating under similar leadership dynamics) do a majority of the thinking, wondering, wrestling, and deciding while most others seem to wait patiently to be told what to do. Although this assumes the guise of servanthood, I wonder if the posture creates unhealthy distinctions and distances among people. I don’t really have to give myself to others, because I’m not (deeply) involved in relationships as much as I’m doing what I’m told.

Second, leading from a title has given me too much of the wrong kind of power. I like attention, recognition, and others to look to me for answers (although I just critiqued it above...let me be honest, I've crafted and enhanced such dynamics, too), and I don’t need more help liking those things. For me, title leadership fed (and feeds) the ego…sometimes too much (as if a little is okay!), and I began thinking things like: “Look what I did,” “We’re such a great church,” and “You need to let me teach you a thing or two.”

I’ll never forget the Monday after we launched (language intended) our first Sunday worship service. 110 people showed up in the elementary school cafeteria, and that next day, I was on the phone with a close mentor exclaiming, “We did it! We planted a church!” I shudder to even recall, let alone share, the memory; however, it reveals the desires for power, recognition, and applause that were in my heart at the time (that surely have vacated by now…or not). Obviously, I’m still giving much of this over to the Lord (and these Right Here, Right Now reviews are helping); and therefore, I'm not laying my pride at the feet of title-oriented leadership alone; however, being “The Man” sure hasn’t helped.

Finally (there’s more, but…) leading from a title bred loneliness for me. Here’s a confusing reflection: if I’m going to be a good leader, I need to be a good follower, and when I was trying the hardest to be a good leader, I found (or took) very little time to be a good follower. Know what I’m sayin’? In the end, I was pretty sorry at both.

In our podcast conversation and in Right Here, Right Now, Alan awakens readers to a form of leadership that I’ve felt (and even experienced) for a long time, but wasn’t quite sure how to put into words: moral authority. When we walk with people, care for people, serve people, and sacrifice for people, it “comes naturally because we are called to love and discipleship.” (p. 52) Translated by me: a title doesn't necessarily result in leadership. Instead, leadership becomes an invitation offered by someone else...to move alongside, because of the struggles and successes of a shared and relational journey of discipleship.

Maybe I'm not the reader I pretend to be, but I've only re-read two books (that I can remember!): Following Jesus by NT Wright and In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen. (Sorry Alan & Lance!) Although I'm certain that Following Jesus has much to contribute along the lines of this conversation, of the two books, In the Name of Jesus is the one I have in front of me tonight. While thumbing through it again, I was captivated and convicted by this gem: "Laying down your life means making your faith and doubt, hope and despair, joy and sadness, and courage and fear available to others as ways of getting in touch with the Lord of life." To the glory of God, may we move alongside whomever the Spirit draws into our laid-down lives with prayerful hope for another little Jesus.

*What about discipleship? Have such relationships come naturally for you? Share a story or two.

*If so, how do they originate? How do they take shape, grow, change, and twist as relationships normally do? If not?

*Where does Scripture reading and study, prayer, and your local community of Jesus fit into this conversation?

Briefing the Briefing

Right Here, Right Now creatively portrays an engaging shared writing style. Alan writes a “Briefing” chapter at the start, and bookends the work with a “Debriefing” chapter at the end. In between, Lance unpacks a three-fold outline containing the following components: “Putting Our Hearts Into It (Missional Paradigm),” “Wrapping Our Heads Around It (Missional Analysis),” and “Doing Something About it (Missional Action).” Lance’s contributions are, oftentimes, poignant, personal, and practical, and in the midst of his reflections, Alan chimes in with theology, philosophy, critique, and/or cultural analysis that make for a thoughtful and productive dialogue. In other words, for a non-fiction book, the writing style successfully draws the reader into the “story,” and allows for different perspectives and people to share time during the conversation.

Alan’s initial “Briefing” chapter glides the reader through four movements. To me, his two-fold thesis is as follows: 1) “I believe with all my heart that the future of Christianity in the West is somehow bound up with the idea of becoming a people movement again. Somehow and in some way, we need to loosen up and learn how to reactivate the massive potentials that lie rather dormant within Jesus’ people if we are going to make a difference to our world;” (p. 31) and therefore, 2) “We suggest that there are a number of movements needed on our behalf if we are indeed going to partake of the movement that Jesus started. We have to be willing to move out (into missional engagement), move in (burrowing down into the culture), move alongside (engaging in genuine friendships and relational networks, and move from (challenging the dehumanizing and sinful aspects of our culture).” (p. 35)

First, Hirsch unpacks the need for the people movement of Jesus to “move out (into missional engagement).” As a result, at the bottom of page 35, he challenges, “…it might not be far, but the obligation is on us to go to them, not them to us.” It seems simple enough, but I remain stunned at my own stubborn ability to slothfully wait for people to come to me (or come to us). And you know what? In response to that posture, very few come and even fewer stick around. I don’t have a color-coded Microsoft Excel spreadsheet; however, I feel confident in saying that most of the churches I am connected to or have history with are in decline. Those that are not in decline are thankful for already-Christian move-ins that are looking for their flavor of church. That’s a harsh reflection and I hesitate to type it, but our failure to admit it would be more terrifying.

In August 2010, Bret Wells and I shared a podcast conversation (Missional Monks Podcast) with Alan. During our chat, he challenged us to a re-reading of the “Great Commission.” According to Alan, we have misinterpreted Matthew 28:16-20 labeling it as an evangelistic text instead of a discipling text. There are several implications that result from such a misreading; however, the one most obvious to me right here, right now is the lack of urgency about going to my neighbors.

We are well connected in our neighborhood, and share many good surface relationships. However, because of our existing relationships in the neighborhood, we also have a good idea as to the struggles and burdens our neighbors are carrying, and what are we doing about any of that? The couple on the corner just moved in…doesn’t know anyone…and is adjusting to life with a new school, neighborhood, and town. The couple across the street continues to struggle in their relationship with each other. The other couple on the corner just had a baby, and the late nights aren’t ceasing any time soon. The couple around the corner battles consistent health problems and rebellious children. Let alone the folks in our hood that we don’t know!

We’ve got to prayerfully go to them. In spite of any and every taboo in neighborhood suburban culture, Jesus said, “Go;” and therefore, we go empowered by the Holy Spirit and trusting in Christ to take care of the rest. On page 37 after a four-suggestion outline entitled: “Learning the art of the small,” Hirsch insightfully asserts, “For most of us, what will be required to engage in missional Christianity is to simply reach out beyond our fears and ignorance of others, to overcome our middle-class penchant for safety, to take a risk and get involved in what God is already doing in our cities and neighborhoods. It’s not a science really, although as we will see, there are sometimes tricky cultural elements to deal with. It is all about love. Just read 1 John again to remind yourself of this.”

I’m one step ahead of you, Alan! Before reading Right Here, Right Now, I had recently cracked open 1 John. Consequently, while reading Right Here, Right Now, this passage from 1 John rang in my head, “…but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, ‘I abide in him,’ ought to walk just as he (Jesus) walked.” Christ, have mercy. Help us to walk (into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and third places) just as you walked.

This “Briefing” chapter is almost 30 pages, and there are numerous good and needed treasures to be discovered within it. We’re nearing 11:30pm CST, and I’ll be up for work at 6:30am. As a result, I’ll blog again soon on the “move in (burrowing down into the culture). For now...

*What are your reactions to Alan's two-fold thesis? What implications do you anticipate or are you seeing in your context when acting upon this thesis?

*Share a story of a "move out into missional engagement," so that we might praise God for his work in and through you or your group of friends. (Click here for a great one.)

*Wrestle with Matthew 28.16-20 and 1 John. What else is the Lord saying to us through these texts that contributes to this conversation?

*How can I pray for you and your "move out into missional engagement" among neighbors or social groups in your context?

Peace.

A New Book Splashes into an Unfolding Story

“You are here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain but you feel it. You felt it your entire life. There is something wrong with the world but you don’t know what it is. But it’s there like a splinter in your mind.” – Morpheus

As a Gen-Xer that journeyed through both high school and college in the 1990s, I resonate greatly with Morpheus’ comments. Without realizing it at the time, in high school, two close friends invited me into discipling relationships. Almost over night, I transitioned from attending (language intended…I still remember sitting in the balcony with my homeboy…half paying attention) a 4,000-member mega-church from 30 miles away to a high level of participation in a church of 225 within my town.

This hometown church welcomed me into their community. In particular, 2-3 families loved, served, modeled, and mentored me closely as I shared life (meals, trips, family celebrations, and more) with them and their own teenage children.

As I left home for college, and married my high school sweetheart, again I was invited and discipled into the way of Jesus. A close friend from high school, initiated opportunities for my wife and me to serve families living in pockets of economic poverty in our college town. For the first time, I found myself glaring drug addiction, domestic abuse, prostitution, and cycles of poverty square in the face. What I saw left me shaken and clinging to faith.

After college, my wife and I moved to the suburbs to serve in a quaint, friendly church. Most of the folks were in the thick of a time wandering in “Worship Forms Forest” wondering if singing during Communion, raising hands, preaching in segments, closing our eyes while singing, or other expressions related to the Sunday morning worship service were permissible. In addition, the church recognized the changes underway in the city, and timidly considered how we might be affected by and participants in such changes.

As we jumped into this community of friends, nice people all of them, we (Heidi and I) began longing for the raw, evangelistic, and adventurous experiences and relationships from college. We loved the people of this church, but couldn’t shake the stirring…the feeling we had, perhaps our entire life, “there is something wrong with the world…” In his song, Consuming Fire, Tim Hughes described our feelings, “There must be more than this. Oh Breath of God, come breathe within. There must be more than this. Spirit of God, we wait for you.”

As a result, in February 2004, we set out into unchartered territory (at least for us) with a burning question deep in our hearts: “What if we engaged our local people, neighborhoods, and cultures like missionaries?” Without any exposure to things post-Christendom, post-Christian, demographics, or Pew Research/George Barna, still, this question occupied the front seat of our minds. Having not heard (yet) of Leslie Newbigin, David Bosch, Darrel Guder, Craig Van Gelder, Mike Frost, or Alan Hirsch, we trekked downward (a metaphor I’ll unpack in a future post) along a steep path into a deep valley, and we had no idea just how far below sea level the path would take us.

In some strange twisty-turny, topsy-turvy way, this brings me to Right Here, Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford. By the grace of God and sacrificial friends gracious enough to share the journey, Heidi and I have come a long way in the past 7 years. We trudged deep, spent transformative time in the valley, and have recently begun the overwhelming but necessary climb up the other side, and books like Right Here, Right Now are helping and encouraging us and our communitas of friends to continue the climb (sorry to get all Miley Cyrus all the sudden!), with a hip-out-of-socket limp, but still climbing nonetheless.

Consequently, I think I’m writing a review(s) of this book. However, as you may have already gathered, I don’t think it’s going to read like a “regular book review.” If you have any interest in reading my posts, I’m going to assume you’re already familiar with Alan and Lance. You already know how to connect with them, and if you haven’t ordered Right Here, Right Now yet, it’s on your to-do list or you’ll borrow it from someone.

Therefore, I’m not going to plow through the book in a typical fashion of summarization. Instead, thorugh a series of blog posts, I’m going to interact with the book from my walk with the Lord, discipling relationships, communitas experiences with my peeps: Christ Journey, and our prayerful responses to God’s partnership invitations to be about his Kingdom work in and around Burleson, TX and our specific neighborhoods, schools, playgrounds, and eateries.

If Right Here, Right Now is really about Everyday Mission for Everyday People, then let’s wrestle with the book as a people seeking God together, swapping stories together, and going into all the world…together. If missional is just a word, then the risk of failure is very real. But, if missional describes a way of life…a life that glorifies God as, together, we grow in looking like Jesus in and through the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of the world…that’s spicy, or maybe better construed: salty; and therefore, worth sharing.

Saddle up (I’m in Texas. What can I say?), and let’s go.