When They Will Not Come” (WTWNC) names the social dilemma of the church in post Christendom when we can no longer assume non-Christians will come to church even when they are seeking God. This new cultural condition forces us to change the way we think about every aspect of the church. WTWNC is a series of posts that reflect on the ways the practice of being Christ’s church/church planting must change because of this new cultural dilemma.
Illustration by Ben Sternke of http://benjaminsternke.typepad.com.
How do we lead a church community to engage mission as a way of life? How do we steer a congregation out of evangelism programs into everyday missional living? How do we train a congregation out of Christendom habits and instill post Christendom virtues (character for living faithfully in post Christendom)? I think leaders walk along and among their communities. Along the way, they lead by consistently (and kindly) rejecting some old habits and directing the imagination towards other possibilities. This is the never-ending work of cultivating missional habits of imagination among a people. Here’s my list of what to reject (slowly put to death in a congregation) and what to direct (nudge people forward) a congregation’s imagination toward. I’ve learned a lot of these things from missional thinkers/practitioners but have found all these things to be surprisingly simple and possible in my own life.
1.) Kindly Reject doing Outreach Events. Instead direct imagination towards ways of connecting with people where they are. Outreach events take up much time, planning and enormous “congregational capital” (if I may put it that way). In post Christendom outreach events rarely “work.” And you simply cannot compete with the local Park District or Megachurch event planning neutral site events. Instead, with little effort or cost, direct the people’s imagination towards seeing the ways you can connect with people in their everyday situations by going to the same place at the same time every week. Stoke imagination for the way ordinary life is the stage of God’s working. Visit the same places at the same time every week (this is easy for me because I am pathetically boring and love doing the same thing everyday). This has revolutionized my missional life with not a single ounce of extra-expended energy spent on my part. I believe the same could be true for every member of our church Body. Thanks to Alan Hirsch for teaching me about this.
2.) Kindly Reject evangelism as a one time hit on a target with a preconceived outcome. Kindle imagination toward seeing mission as part of regular daily, weekly and monthly life rhythms where out or regular life God works to use your life to impact people for the gospel in unforeseen ways. There is no precision strike technique, instead we need to train our eyes to pay attention to our life rhythms and be ready to minister out of everyday life, where God is already working to bring people to Christ.
3.) Kindly reject building multiple use buildings as if by building a gymnasium on the church campus we can bring people into the orbit of the church. Instead stoke imagination for what can happen when we go inhabit the gyms already in the neighborhoods. We should build less third spaces, and inhabit more the ones already there.
4.) Kindly reject one-on-one evangelism and the techniques associated with such apologetic persuasion. Instead direct imagination for inhabiting places in two’s or three’s or more. Hospitals, PADS Centers, the school systems, the park districts and places of hurt and pain too numerous to mention are all places where there are forces at work that can take under any one isolated saint. But two or three Christians together become an undeniable force for the kingdom under the Lordship of Christ.
5.) Kindly reject the Sunday morning gathering as an evangelistic event for it cannot be that in the new post Christendom cultures. Instead fire up imagination for the formation that comes from a communal encounter with the living God in Jesus Christ. As we hover around the altar, in silence, in prayers of submission, in affirmation, in confession, in healing prayers, in the hearing of the Word, and the Table, as we sing in praise and thanksgiving at what He has done, and then as we are sent out by God in the Benedictory challenge, we are shaped for His Life in Mission. It is simple, organic, takes a lot less planning than a mega show, and alot less money. And if any non-believers do happen to come, they won’t confuse this with a Tony Robbins event.
6.) Kindly reject coercive persuasion and argument in our witness. Instead stoke the imagination of your people for seeking “one person of peace” (Luke 10) among the lost of their neighborhoods. Look for that one who, though never having heard the gospel, is dispositionally ready (been readied by God) to receive. (Thanks to Mike Breen at the EcclesiaNet conference this past week for this idea).
7.) Kindly reject presumptuous postures of power as we live our lives among those who do not know Christ yet. Instead direct the imagination towards the way Christ always enters the human situation in humility. So don’t come to your neighbors as the one with the answer, but as the one searching for the answers that always point you towards Christ. Come to your neighbors humbly and in need. Instead of offering them a meal, find ways to participate in a meal with them. If you’re in the suburbs ask them if you can borrow their lawnmower.
8.) Kindly Reject Surveying the neighborhood – Direct the imagination toward exegeting the neighborhood. Surveying looks at the neighborhood as a place to market our church, find out what they are looking for and appeal to it so that they are attracted to the idea of coming to church. Exegeting a neighborhood requires inhabiting the neighborhood, seeing the neighborhood as a place for redemption, discovering where the hurting are and the unjust structures are. See the possibilities for ministering the gospel to those who are lost and through the gospel (over time) seeing that very culture transformed.
9.) Kindly Reject problem solving – instead direct the imagination towards “appreciative inquiry.” We often approach church through problem solving. What is wrong with our programs? What needs are we not meeting? What needs to be tweaked? What are we not doing right? This is negative, mechanical and lifeless. Instead, let’s direct our community’s imagination to noticing where God is working among us and around us, to recognize it, praise God for it and participate in it through the gifts we have been given. Thanks to Mark Lau Branson for this insight.
These are just a few of the ways we can lead our congregations to make our whole way of life a participation in God’s mission. There are many more I am sure. What others do you have?
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Thanks for this! Really helpful. My favorite quote:
“And if any non-believers do happen do come, they won’t confuse this with a Tony Robbins event.”
Ha!
[...] Blogs, Missional Church | Professor and Pastor David Fitch has some excellent insights on how to instill missional habits into a congregation. This post is an excellent primer for those interested in helping a church become [...]
[...] to instill missional practices. I list some of them below, but I would encourage you to visit his site for the full list and [...]
10. Kindly reject strategic planning in favor of thoughtful preparation. We really don’t know the future… but we know that the Spirit is birthing his kingdom among us as we respond faithfully day by day. We keep our eyes on Jesus. Newbigin warned us that, “the significant advances of the church have not been the result of our own decision about the mobilizing and allocating of “resources” [rather] the significant advances have come through happenings of which the story of Peter and Cornelius is a paradigm, in ways of which we have no advance knowledge.” (The Open Secret)
11. Kindly reject heroic paradigms of leadership. Sola pastora is neither a biblical principle nor sound wisdom, and our emphasis on professionalism has subverted the spiritual nature of the task. Furthermore, all of Paul’s letters addressed to entire communities, and Eph. 4 tells us that apostolic teams are the norm. Missional thinkers like Alan Hirsch, Eddie Gibbs, Robert Webber and Alan Roxburgh have demonstrated that certain leadership types are conspicuously absent in our communities. Others have helped us to see that hierarchical models are unbiblical. (See Fitch ch 3 The Great Giveaway, Gibbs, ch 2 LeadershipNext and Missional Church ch 7).
len…I appreciate your comments, esp. the Newbigin quote. However, “all of Paul’s letters addressed to entire communities.” Where do 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, & Philemon fit into that? I’m no advocate for increasing the clergy/laity divide, but Paul clearly had a space in his writings for particular leaders.
Oops, shd have written “with the exception of Tim, Titus and Philemon” tx Matt.
Len,
Great additions!!
DF
Wow! Thanks for that- it confirms some of where I’m at and wish my actions were also at. It also pushes me further.
‘Outreach’ is a word I increasingly dislike. It’s one of those words with a reverse meaning. Outreach= Indrag.
“Kindly Reject evangelism as a one time hit on a target with a preconceived outcome.”
Amen to that. I think Christians alienate others far more often than convert them by taking that kind of approach, which can come off as condescending, disrespectul and presumptuous.
Hey Dave – Great post, as usual. I only disagree with #3.
Pernell, I agree multi-use buildings have their place. I do there is a danger that they will be seen as our “turf”.. but maybe its possible to work against that ethos. I know we are moving in this direction locally in our own urban core, and I am hoping that we have developed enough credibility.. and have scared away enough of the churchy crowd.. that we can make this transition.
Very helpful. Thanks. Mike Breen’s “person of peace” material really excited me, too.
uhhhh errrrrr Freeway Cafe excepted … of course!! Seriously, Pernell, there are times and places where buildings play a role in incarnate living. I was just hoping to encourage those who think of other easier ways as well… see you in Oakville
[...] Instilling Missional Habits in a Congregation – As You Walk Among Your Community How do we lead a church community to engage mission as a way of life? How do we steer a congregation out of evangelism programs into everyday missional living? How do we train a congregation out of Christendom habits and instill post Christendom virtues (character for living faithfully in post Christendom)? I think leaders walk along and among their communities. [...]
[...] Fitch: Instilling Missional Habits in a Congregation — As You Walk Among Your Community. Excellent insights [...]
David – it’s been a while since I’ve stopped by your blog and boy I’ve missed a lot!
Regarding #3, I think that some can build multi-purpose sites, as long as there isn’t one in the neighbourhood. If there’s one in the area then I think it should be used. It may seem like a bit more work to set things up and take things down, but in the long run, I believe it is a better use of financial resources. Plus it with all the extra work, everyone can learn to work together.
Point #5 is kind of where I’m at right now. I wish more people could see it this way. When I go to “church”, I tend to lean more towards it being “the show” (I’m at a fairly big church for me – around 500 people). Looking at it from that perspective, I’m not as frustrated and find I can still take some things away from it.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts. Thanks for still blogging!
Really helpful. Thanks for posting this!
your suggestions arent very practical or time conscious. it would take a seriously invested effort and the greater portion of our daily lives to accomplish this.
oh…..
Great stuff. Two questions:
First, on not doing “outreach projects” (applause), what are your thoughts on the “conspiracy of kindness / kindness projects” that are becoming more and more popular in many churches? I’m talking about the idea of doing somewhat random (or rather planned but unexpected and unorthodox) acts of service – car washes, handing out water or soft drinks or hot dogs, cleaning toilets, etc – and answering the “why are you doing this” question with, “We’re just trying to show God’s love in a practical way” (or something like that). These activities often take on a sense of project-ness, but not in the same way as the old bring-em-here-and-we’ll-get-em-saved outreach events. I’d love to hear what you think of these kindness initiatives in general (i.e. how well do they demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ), as well as what you think of them as character-producing communal practices/habits that train people to look for simple everyday needs and serve them.
Second, in reference to #4, how would you counsel a person to be an “evangelist” at their job where they are quite likely one-on-one whether they like it or not? More broadly, could you share some of how (specifically, not generally) you train people in different professions to be missional / evangelistic (in the best sense of the word) – teachers, doctors, gas station workers, computer programmers, secretaries, accountants, etc, etc. I’d love to have these people work two by two, but often they’re the only Jesus-followers in their respective spaces.
…
re: renting space.. ” with all the extra work, everyone can learn to work together.” Underestimated value, everyone contributes and its a big community builder..
[...] of you may have already read this excellent post from David Fitch on how to lead a congregation out of ingrained habits of Christendom. Fitch shares nine habits that [...]
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Great ideas, but one question, as I am new to this site. What is the obsession with the word pastor. Can’t the church evolve past this Latin word for shepherd, and why is this word still being used like the word priest? Doesn’t anybody out their think this is another thing we should kindly reject.
Jay,
cool, so let’s expand here on this, what have you got against the word “pastor”? I actually like it better than “lead”(v.) or “leader,” of course shepherd is good but don’t think it connects on many levels, leader is too business modelish polluted … “priest”?… well we all got problems in some way in setting one priest over the priesthood of all …If you think we’re using it as priest … I don’t think so … ?
This is excellent material, very useful in a conservative Anglican Diocese like Sydney, where the event of the year is “Connect 09″ We have a pile of 1360 copies of St Luke’s Gospel with doctrinal notes from the hierarchy.
I am not sure that putting them in letterboxes is really helpful…
[...] Fitch gives readers his fascinating – and counter-intuitive – thoughts on Instilling Missional Habits in your church. A must [...]
I wish there was a response to the question from Michael DeFazio. A local church does this kind of thing quite a lot. The only impact in the community is to shift some christians from another church to that church. They “seem” to be doing good things. But they have no more converts than anyone else.
[...] previous posts and writings (here , here, and here) we have covered the challenges of evangelism in the new post Christendom contexts of N America: [...]
[...] on this blog, and in my speaking, I have proposed that we seek to do evangelism in the rhythms of everyday life, not through attractional means, that we become onramps for the gospel as opposed to transaction [...]
[...] How To Instill Missional Habits In Your Congregation: Just some suggestions from a post which is still gets a lot of hits on a daily [...]
This is extremely helpful, David. Thanks so much for posting this on your “look back at 2009″ because I hadn’t seen this. LOVE # 5 and find it to be the absolute key to this discussion, and think if we could get this proper model of what Church is (and is not) through our heads it would revolutionize the Church in the West. I especially loved the “Tony Robbins” comment…
[...] Reclaiming the Mission » WTWNC Instilling Missional Habits in a Congregation – As You Walk Among …. [...]
[...] For those who like to read, here’s a great article by David Fitch entitled Instilling Missional Habits in a Congregation – As You Walk Among Your Community. [...]