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    Missional Community in a Capitalistic Society

    April 26, 2007 // 9 Comments »

    capitalism

    Just came across a good quote in David Fitch’s latest post on his blog.

    Of course the only way we cannot give in to these powerful shaping forces of capitalism upon our identity and life, the only way we can escape allowing years of our lives being devoured by the black of hole of seeking capitalistic success, is to be part of a reordering reality, the worshiping community of God’s mission in the world. This is what the missional communities must seek to be.

    I came across this just minutes after I had a conversation with my friend Shawn about the idea of using an attractional model of church and ministry in order to draw people in and then try to guide them towards missional life.

    Here’s my deal…

    If what it means to be the people of God is not merely about converting or even discipling people, but rather means being a communal change agent in the world – exposing darkness by being light – then we cannot use those cultural forces (such as consumerism and capitalism) which rub against what it mens to be a gospel people as tools for our labor. Instead, placing our faith in the “foolishness of God” and His ways, we must seek to live as a contrast society toward, as David Fitch said, “a reordering of reality.”

    This is perhaps little comfort to Shawn and countless others just like him whose theology leads them to a missional understanding of the church, but whose churches operate out of a different sort of theology which leads to an attractional understanding of the church. However, this ought not dissuade us from pursuing a renewed vision.

    Posted in capitalism, church, community, culture, missional

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