the meaning of being “missional”

Yesterday over 50 bloggers banded together to do a synchro-blog on the meaning of being “missional”. The synchro-blog was at the instigation of Rick Meigs at blindbeggar.org with the intention of reclaiming the term missional. It seems many have feared missional was becoming unclear in its meaning. This is a bit of a late addition to the conversation.

As I read the blogs involved in the dialog on the meaning of the word “missional” and the abuses of the label, one quote by Rick stuck out to me:

Let us be very clear about what it is not first. It is NOT a method, model, style, agenda, program, or even an exhaustive theology. Missional is a stance, a way of thinking, a lifestyle.

I like the description that missional is a stance, or a lifestyle. It helps explain why I would be uncomfortable describing the “Bridging the Gap” resource as being missional. “Bridiging the Gap” as a small group DVD resource is a tool, not a person. I think much of the confusion that surrounds the word “missional” has come from the desire to use it as a marketing tag. It can be tempting to use such tags as a short form, a way to get people’s attention and let them know “You are going to like this product because we care about the same things you do!”

But products are not missional, people are. Both Wendy and I, and many others working hard on this project, would all identify ourselves as attempting to adopt a missional stance. (If you would to know more on what that means please read more of Rick’s blog) And we hope that this project will reflect that stance that we are trying to live out in our lives, in our relationships and in our conversations – including the conversations on this blog. I know this project was born out of our personal journeys as we have attempted to follow God and what He was already doing among our gay neighbours. I also hope and pray that this resource will help others as they attempt to assume a missional stance in their own lives towards the gay and lesbian people in their circle of influence.

By calling a resource missional, I fear that we could reinforce the trend of using important theological words as marketing, and participate in the consumer idea that has infiltrated even Christian thinking in our culture. The idea that what we consume defines who we are, and so if I use missional products, or go to a missional church or missional conference, then I am a missional person.

So as tempting as it might be to use tags to get our resource product into the hands of many people, we hope to avoid that trap. In the end, our small group resource is meant to be both a model and a catalyst – and people will need to think for themselves and determine if they will adopt a missional stance in their every day lives and their every day encounters with the gay and lesbian people around them.

As important as ideas are – even missional ideas – they really won’t account for much until we actually live as missional people. “Bridging the Gap” is simply meant to be a catalyst and an encouragement to real people, living real lives, engaging real neighbours from a missional stance.

-Brian Pengelly