Gathered and Scattered

Excerpts from Ed Stetzer post:  Musings on the Missional Manifesto, Part 5: The Church

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Here is how the fifth affirmation reads in the manifesto:

Church: The church is a sign and instrument of the Kingdomof God, birthed by the gospel of the Kingdom and tasked with the mission of the Kingdom. The church is a covenant community of imperfect but redeemed believers living in our world. Followers of Christ do not live out their mission in isolation, but rather the Spirit of God enfolds believers into local Christian communities, i.e. churches. It is in and through such community their mission in the world is enhanced.

The church has been addressed in our musings on previous affirmations. That is unavoidable for the Kingdom, mission, and the church are connected, even inseparable.

The opening sentence of the statement on the church demonstrates how these three biblical themes are intertwined in the missional conversation. The framers used the well-worn images of "sign" and "instrument" to described the role of the church in the Kingdom mission of God.

Let's step back and dig around these images to see what it means to say, "the church is a sign and instrument of the Kingdom of God." As I do this, remember, these are my thoughts. The crafting of the affirmation was a cooperative work of the framers, but this blog post represents, well, my thoughts.

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I think that some are making similar mistakes today--focusing on the Kingdom to the marginalization of the church. There are many today who are also abandoning the church, believing it is not essential to be apart of a local church in order participate in God's mission.

It is my conviction that as we realize the connection of the church's identity and mission to the kingdom mission of God can we begin to understand the essential missional calling of the church for the world. As David Fairchild says, "To have a gospel-initiative, it must be placed in the context of a gospel community. The world will know we are Christians not by our disconnected, loose affiliations for one another but for our love for one another in a radical gospel community. Without the church, the preview of the Kingdom and the witness of the truth claims of the gospel are lost." [1]

It's important to note the difference between the Great Commission to make disciples, and the Great Commandments to love God and neighbor.

The former is the formal mission of the local church, our primary objective in the world. The latter is the responsibility of all Christians to be salt and light, representing God to the world in their personal life and vocation. Yes, these commands are distinct, and that should not be overlooked. But, also these commands intersect. They represent the role of the gathered and scattered church--different, but deeply connected.

As the people of God (the church) live in the world together and live for the good of their communities (loving and serving them and sharing the gospel), our lives reflect our message, and the mission is advanced. Our good works in the world complement the mission of the church.

Put another way, the church (as people) has/have different roles in its scattered and its gathered states.

So, its disciplemaking focus is evident while gathered and the church is essential to that process. Yet, Christians (the church scattered) also and still have a role of sharing Christ and doing good. Their connection to the church enhances that mission as well and must not be lost-- living for Jesus, but being disconnected from his body.

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