A prophetic missiology…
June 8th, 2007
Something that Brandon Hammonds prayed today got the ol’ wheels turning in my head and heart. He prayed that a missiology of signs and wonders would emerge in this generation. “Missiology”, for the uninitiated, is properly defined by the Oxford dictionary as the study of religious (typically Christian) missions and their methods and practices. Missiology and praxis (practice, as distinguished from theory) are two major buzz-words in the evangelical church in our day. The related term, of course, is missional - a term that captures the desire for the church to be relevant (or “contextual”) in its efforts to reach the hearts and lives of unbelievers. These efforts involve the message, morality, and methodology (thank you, Wikipedia…) of the believer who seeks to see the lost come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
Brandon’s prayer stirred me again with appreciation for my missiology - as he so succinctly stated, a missiology of signs and wonders. I understand why cursing and drinking might help some in the emerging stream contextualize for unbelievers the aspects of the gospel that matter (winning the lost by not majoring on the minors - or what they might feel is a non-issue biblically). I can see why, in frustration, they would see the current expression of Christianity as one that is insufficient, irrelevant, and hopelessly unsuitable to present to an unbeliever in this hour. In many ways, I happen to agree.
Yet I long for a way to reach the lost that is radically different than being personally authentic, hospitable, and relatable. While I appreciate that, I am hungry to see more than a warm embrace and a conversation. I want something inexplicable, something transcendant, and something wholly inarguable to take place on a regular basis when I whisper the name of Jesus. I want to see the power of the Holy Spirit that the early church saw. I want to see the dead raised, I want to see the sick healed, and I want to see the demonized suddenly free. I want to see what the Apostle Peter, Charles Finney, and Jonathan Edwards saw: hearts cut in two with conviction of sin with a fear of the Lord and a yearning to repent. I want to see what Stephen and thousands of martyrs have seen: gnashing of teeth and the stopping of the ears because of the tormenting power of the truth for the heart that rages against God.
I want more. So I give myself to prayer and fasting, with the understanding of the uselessness of a conversation in which neither party has much of substance and depth to offer one another. I want to answer the great crisis of the hour from a place of significant personal encounter with the Living God. I do not want to answer the crisis facing the western church with an empty missiology. I want to gather in a solemn assembly in the face of a national crisis and appeal to God with all my might to relent and leave a blessing behind (Joel 2:14), or as Peter called it, a “time of refreshing” (Acts 3:19). That methodology and approach is incredibly frustrating for some evangelicals, as it seems to leave no immediate answer for the one who does not know Jesus. God’s answer of “who knows” in Joel 2 seems to lack the impact one would hope for when my neighbor is suffering, lonely, and depressed today.
I understand that frustration. It feels weak to wait. It feels powerless. In God’s economy, I tend to think of those two emotions, well, as the point.
What’s your missiology?David
Entry Filed under: emerging church, life in the spirit, prayer, prayer movement
14 Comments Add your own
1. retroman | June 8th, 2007 at 10:28 am
This is getting me stirred up. I really want to see what Finney & Edwards saw, in the same places where they saw it. Your description of many “missional” people resonates with me - many have never seen a demonstration of God’s power and are trying to reconcile truth with a lack of visible supernatural evidence in their experience - so it becomes living the best natural life possible. There’s a better way if we can press in and persevere with God’s grace. CBB
2. David | June 8th, 2007 at 11:30 am
What a great statement - “the best natural life possible” - I love it when someone says something with precision.
That’s exactly it - sincere, godly believers choosing the best of a bunch of bad options. My hope is that someone would, at some point, offer one not known or considered - the prayer movement.
David
3. Jeremy | June 8th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled…
I think CS Lewis said it well when he wrote that “if I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” We are blessed because we desire and hunger something that this world cannot satisfy, and that is the Kingdom of Heaven which is at hand.
This inner hunger seems able to be identified easier in the midst of a fast, doesnt it? We begin to find all sorts of desires that this world has no fulfillment for. We do have a legacy though as seen in the works of Jesus and His followers in the past. That kind of work that can only be built FROM a different Kingdom TO these worldly ones.
Because of what Jesus has done in His physical body it is logical that ‘impossibilities” would bow their knee and spiritual barriers would be broken and things considered natural like sickness and disease would come under the alignment of this Kingdom.
And there is a disparity to how we view ourselves as “only human” and what Jesus has done and said we are to be ambassadors for. This Jesus is the new measure of what is “only human”…the reality is that right now, in the moment, I’m something less than human as defined by Him who defines humanity…
…and that makes me hungry and thirsty, and like obedient children, what else can we do but actively wait at His table for food only He can provide?
4. Jake | June 8th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Amen, I spent a lot of time “around” the relevanteers and have some friends that are doing some great things in the midst of the emergent movement and yet despite the good its, as much of today’s Christianity is, left woefully wanting.
Since the moment I met Jesus I have carried the message in my heart of normative Christianity being a faith that is quite naturally full of supernatural power. To be like Jesus is to have power as the normative expression of our daily lives.
Oh Lord, in this hour send the fullness of your promise and release signs and wonders throughout the nations.
5. Brian | June 8th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Your missiology sounds a lot like the premise laid out by John Wimber in his excellent book “Power Evangelism”. You have some definite differences in how its walked out daily, his approach more rooted to being “naturally supernatural” and less about worship and intercession. But, I bet he would have enjoyed having a meal with you…
6. Washington | June 9th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Spiritual Frustration… thanks where I’m at.
It’s the glorious precursor to the breaking-in of God to take you spiritually to a new level of power, encounter and character that edges you closer to the vision in front of your spiritual eyes… which is ultimately the cause of the spiritual frustration, but anyway it’s the glorious cycle plan of the grace of God.
Washo
7. Washington | June 9th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Edit: “…. that’s where I’m at.”
Faith and patience…
8. Sean MacNair | June 9th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Dude, you challenge me every time I read. Thank you.
9. Dave Rose | June 9th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Sliker, rIght down to the last statement, which i think is the hammer blow, we need God. I wish God would just suddenly wake us up to our depravity. Feels like religion has fossilized our spiritual growth and forced us into an unbreakable status quo. How will he bring us to this reality? And why cant it happen now for so many in order to shift Christianity, today?
10. Dana | June 11th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
If you don’t mind would you help me with something? I ran across your site searching for something else but there it was the same door that was in my dream. I was standing outside of the door - it looked medieval - with the naiheads and everything - just like your door. I thought it had glass insets in it (the recessed areas) which but I guess not because the light was just spilling over the edges. Medieval doors didn’t have glass anyway. Jesus was walking back and forth on the outside of the door - not anxiously. I was also standing outside of the door. I was afraid that it meant that I wasn’t going to get to open the door or that I needed to do something so that the door would open. I have been having several prophetic dreams from the Lord where he shows them to me in scripture. Praise the LORD! One of them did tell me that I needed to intercede. I thought it was specifically related to the scenario in the dream, however. In this specific dream Jesus seemed to want to open the door, but of course I was just standing there. Any help or enlightenment would be greatly appreciated. Your sister in the LORD, Dana
11. Dana | June 11th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
PS. I love you and your family’s site! I am so glad that the LORD brought me to it. Thank you for all of the work that you are doing for the LORD.
12. David | June 12th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Wow! I’m glad you found my site, Dana.
My guess? It seems simple to me -
Rev. 3:20 - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Matt. 7:7 - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
The “asking” and praying is connected, perhaps, to wholeheartedness - in other words, a singular focus and pursuit on encountering Jesus. The door is an invitation - but you have to knock, seek, and ask. Then, at the right time, open it.
Look around, make yourself at home - you can check out the rest of my site at http://www.heisatthedoor.com - welcome!
David
13. Jason Clark | July 3rd, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Wow! You are smart! This is Jason Clark (EBI) Found you and have enjoyed reading some of your blogs. great insight bro. Actually found your name associated with The Call in Nashville and wondered if it was you. How are you? I see three beautiful kids to match your wife in the pics. We have three as well and are living in Charlotte NC. Well, just checking in, its been along time. Bless ya man…I’ll keep reading. -Jason
14. bret | April 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I actually think that one of the best examples of missiology run amok is the XXX Church. The XXX Church is an evangelism initiative targeting members of the porn industry– by infiltrating porography conventions and expos. Their primary tactic is handing out bibles and t-shirts with faux porn-themed logos.
Isn’t this praxis gone awry? I think this misses the point that the porn industry is ruled not by pimps and producers, but by demons who can only be displaced by prayer and fasting. Clever T-shirts just aren’t enough to overthrow this kind of darkness.
Leave a Comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed