{"id":818,"date":"2009-07-10T04:01:05","date_gmt":"2009-07-10T04:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2009\/07\/ps-isnt-this-missional-and-formational-stuff-just-a-bunch-of-lingo.html"},"modified":"2009-07-10T04:01:05","modified_gmt":"2009-07-10T04:01:05","slug":"ps-isnt-this-missional-and-formational-stuff-just-a-bunch-of-lingo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2009\/07\/ps-isnt-this-missional-and-formational-stuff-just-a-bunch-of-lingo.html","title":{"rendered":"P.S. Isn\u2019t This Missional and Formational Stuff Just a Bunch of Lingo?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 12 of series: Missional and Formational?
\n<\/em>Permalink for this post<\/a> \/ Permalink for this series<\/a>
\nIn this series on missional and formational I have been using some Christian lingo. It\u2019s insider talk. If you went out \u201cJaywalking,\u201d as Jay Leno used to do on the Tonight Show<\/em>, and interviewed a thousand people on the street, asking, \u201cWhat is missional? What is formational?\u201d my guess is you might find one in a thousand that had any idea what you were talking about. So, yes, I\u2019ve been using some fairly obscure Christianese in this series. I\u2019ll admit it. But it\u2019s helpful shorthand once you know what the words mean. (Photo: No, this didn’t actually happen on the Tonight Show<\/em>.)
\nYet I have been asked by people if the language of this series is \u201cjust lingo\u201d? The sense of the question is: \u201cAren\u2019t these words overused in some quarters? Aren\u2019t they used in so many different ways as to become meaningless? Wouldn\u2019t we be better off without the words \u201cformational\u201d and \u201cmissional\u201d?\u201d
\nIn answer these questions, let me say at the outset that I\u2019m not especially committed to the words \u201cformational\u201d and \u201cmissional.\u201d If they pass away, I won\u2019t be particularly sorry. But I don\u2019t believe \u201cformational\u201d and \u201cmissional\u201d are just lingo, if by this one means that the ideas they convey are just a passing fancy.
\nFormational has to do with individuals and communities being formed by the Spirit into the image of Christ. Formational is about not being conformed to this world, but being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:1). Formational is about churches becoming fully functional as the body of Christ in their life together and in their life in the world. So, whether you use the word \u201cformational\u201d or not, the idea of \u201cformational\u201d is essential to the Christian life.
\nDitto with \u201cmissional.\u201d This word has to do with our being sent by Jesus to do his word in the world. All individual Christians and all Christian churches have a missional calling, a God-given missional identity. This means we need to see ourselves, wherever we are, as God\u2019s agents, sent by him to extend his kingdom. All churches should be missional in the sense that all churches have been placed where they are by God for the sake of his kingdom work.
\nI don\u2019t care if a church uses the word \u201cmissional.\u201d I do care if a church sees itself as essentially called and formed for participation in the mission of Christ. That could be framed in different language. A church could be \u201cother focused\u201d or \u201coutreach oriented\u201d or something like this. But these phrases miss a crucial element that is implied in the word \u201cmissional.\u201d It points, not only to the work to be done in the world, but implicitly to the one who sent us. \u201cMissional\u201d embodies the notion of God as the sender and ourselves and the sent people.
\nIn my experience, the word \u201cformational\u201d isn\u2019t terribly popular. Nor is it generally understood, even by experienced Christians. The word \u201cmissional\u201d is also often misunderstood. But in some quarters this word is way too popular. That\u2019s especially true in the Presbyterian circles in which I operate. \u201cMissional\u201d is the hot word, the \u201cin\u201d thing to be. Thus we have begun to call everything missional. This works rather nicely in churches that want to maintain their current identity as basically self-absorbed communities, but also want to be cutting edge. So they simply use the word \u201cmissional\u201d to label everything they\u2019re already doing.
\nThe only way we\u2019re really going to know what \u201cmissional\u201d should mean is by a careful, exhaustive, and ongoing conversation about the mission of God as revealed in Scripture, and the mission of God\u2019s people that emerges from this mission of God. Such a biblically-based conversation will show us what it means to be missional. It will also help us to see how some of the actions we currently label as \u201cmission\u201d are, in fact, inconsistent with or distractions from the fundamental mission of God.
\nI\u2019ve added to this conversation in a blog series: The Mission of God and the Missional Church<\/a><\/em>. But there is so much more that needs to be discovered and shared than what I have written. An there\u2019s so much more to be experienced than anything I have known as a missionally-oriented Christian. If we took the missional label seriously, it would transform our individual lives and our churches in ways we can only begin to comprehend.
\nSo, it may be that the word \u201cmissional\u201d is getting worn out, flattened by overuse and imprecision. It remains to be seen whether the word will last. But the vision it is meant to convey will last and must last. In fact, no matter the language we use, I hope and pray that the vision of missional disciples and missional churches will grow in its impact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 12 of series: Missional and Formational? Permalink for this post \/ Permalink for this series In this series on missional and formational I have been using some Christian lingo. It\u2019s insider talk. If you went out \u201cJaywalking,\u201d as Jay Leno used to do on the Tonight Show, and interviewed a thousand people on the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-missional-and-formational"],"yoast_head":"\nP.S. Isn\u2019t This Missional and Formational Stuff Just a Bunch of Lingo? - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}