TATTOO on the HEART

What is missional? Part I: The Wrong Question

// July 8th, 2009 // OUT LOUD THOUGHTS

What are you guys doing?

In my opinion, the question often precedes the deathnail in the coffin for a church or ministry.

What are you guys doing for evangelism?
What are you guys doing for disicipleship?
What are you guys doing…

And we go to conferences to hear professionals who’ll sell us their next book or give us the step-by-step so that we can do what they’re doing.

What are you guys doing?

Is it just me who feels like there is something wrong with that question?

What is who doing?  You guys?  Them?

What about the question: “What is God doing?” Or an even better question: “God, show me what You’re doing.”

I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to speak at various churches and youth events across the country.  I’m still genuinely in awe of the fact that I get to do this.

And when a pastor or youth pastor calls me to ask me about coming in, I always ask them: “What’s God up to in your ministry?  What do you see Him doing?  What has God been speaking about specifically?”

And this isn’t a shot on anyone, but, you know, I almost never get a clear answer (if one at all) when I ask that.  I hear some stories about the group and where they’ve been and what they’re trying to accomplish, but I never hear: “God’s at work doing this…”  “God has told us to…”  “God has put _____ in our hearts.”

I almost never hear that.  It’s the norm unfortunately.  And it speaks to a much deeper issue.

Because if we don’t know what God’s doing, if we aren’t hearing His voice on a regular basis, if we don’t even hear Him for ourselves, how can we possibly know what He’s doing in our communities?

And so, because we don’t hear Him or have a clue, we go to conferences, seminars, workshops, blogs, podcasts, etc.  Because someone out there has the answer.  Surely Rick Warren or Bill Hybels or Alan Hirsch or Brian McLaren or Alan Roxburgh is hearing from God.

And I wonder if these guys are feeling the pressure to hear from God for your community.  Because what God is doing in their community may very well NOT be what He’s intending to do in your community.

Listen: a core value, an essential, a mark of being a follower of Jesus – of being His – is that we hear and know His voice.  Look at this:

JOHN 10:3-5
The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out. When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.

Here’s Jesus:  “You can tell which ones are Mine, because my voice is unmistakable to them.”
But we don’t know God’s voice often but we know Rick Warren’s PEACE plan, and we have an acrostic for the 5 Purposes.

I’m not knocking great men of God; I’m only saying, why is seeking God’s voice so worth it to them and it’s not to us?

Are we afraid He’s not going to give us a mega ministry?
Are we even more afraid that He’s expecting too much of us?
Are we just afraid that God’s not going to speak?

No offense, but if you’re not hearing from God, you don’t have any business directing people towards a vision He hasn’t given you.

And how can you move forward if you haven’t been lead? How can you not ask the question: where is my Master going?

God’s not general and He’s not hiding His will from anyone.  He’s incredibly generous with details.

EPHESIANS 5:14-17
Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

It’s God’s mission.  He started it.  He’s already at work around us.

Being missional or being “sent” means that we have to know what the Sender is up to.  We must know His intentions.

Father, Sender, show us what You are doing.

to be continued…Look for Part II