I continue to struggle with the growing use of the term “missional.” I’ve often used the term, yet I’m becoming concerned about what the cultural baggage hidden underneath the idea. I choose to emphasize embodied living (maybe even bodied living) because the phrase better emphasizes “being.” Being present… being with… being faithful… being local… being particular. While “mission” and by etymological association “missional,” continue place greater emphasis on “doing.” Basically, my “issue” with the word mission or missional is that it conveys a sense of a “job to complete” instead of a life to live.
It seems to me that participation in God’s mission may inevitable an inevitable expression of a person seeking to follow in the way of Jesus Christ, but without faithful embodiment mission looks a lot like busy religiosity, or much worse.
I do not believe that a genuine dichotomy between these two phrases. “Mission” is always lived out our being and “incarnational living” always results in doing. They are synergistic and interpenetrating. But the language of “mission” inappropriately places the completing of Christ’s Great Commission – or however a community interprets “mission” – (or social justice, or peace work), in the hands of Christ’s followers. Embodied living as understood as discovering and practicing Christ-like love in any and all relationships, situations, and cultural contexts more effectively places Christ at the center. Bodied living invites all Christ-followers flesh out a unique Holy Spirit guiding, Christ presence in any setting.
I am deeply indebted to Jones, Newbigin, Mead, Bosch, Guder and the group of thoughtful scholars who continue to produce rich and insightful “missional” works. To say the least, our churches are living with greater purpose (which isn’t all bad) in large part based on their diligent labors of love. To some this may sound like mere semantics but how we speak will change the world, so I see this as a very important issue. I would suggest that Jesus did not come to enlist employees in a kingdom mission. As much as the Christ came to give life and life to the full (see Moltmann). The emphasis of “full life,” which is more relative, and subjective, is at the heart of what a life of faith looks like.
“Mission” in our current usage appears singular. Especially for those who have been exposed to evangelical fever, “mission” was often limited to the conversion of the individual.
Embodied living more meaningfully values the uniqueness of each person and community and brings Christ into all life situations resulting in a multiplicity of missions. And may, be useful in further dissolve the lay/clergy distinction.
Peace, dwight
