Is it me, or is the whole idea of mission an odd one? When I think of spy missions, I'm thinking inhospitable places, or secret locations, and normally immensely dangerous (hence Bond being so sexy). Yet in a church context, it seems that mission is all about putting on events exactly where we are and inviting the people in: as if we've been excluding 'outsiders' except for this particular week.
What's this all about? We believe that Jesus, Paul, and many others stepped out to share their faith; and we still don't want to be in the same place as 'pagans'. What's it all about?
When a minister, at the end of a service, say 'Go forth' or 'Go in peace...', are we willing to go out and do anything regarding what we've heard, experienced, or want to share?
Now is the time to change that - Go forth and be Good News to all who you meet. May our churches remember that Jesus is with us always, even when we are trying to be like Him to someone who doesn't get it. Let us never be down hearted, because believing also leads to suffering as well as fullness of self.
Go Forth!
gillyk
I really like this. We learned this some years ago - why should people come to us? We need to take the Gospel to them! I've just finished reading 'Moving towards Emmaus' by David Smith - a brilliant look at the Emmaus story in the light of current disillusion, not only in Christians but also in humanists and Muslims. A very timely call to us Christians to be more humble in our approach and just be content to share Christ wherever we are. Trouble is, our big church buildings make us feel like they should be full ... and much as I would like to pull a lot of them down, the cry of 'heritage' goes up! But whose heritage? And what does it actually mean? Jesus didn't leave buildings behind ... that was a wise move!!