Every Monday I post about being “on mission” with Christ. I’ll spend a couple of months asking you to think with me about the principles in Milfred Minatrea’s book, Shaped By God's Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches . Find previous posts on this subject by clicking the label “On-Mission Mondays” at the end of this entry.
"Our world is tired of words -- it wants real."
That's one of the convictions that drives Robert Lewis at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock. And Minatrea says that's the second practice of missional churches. He says we need to be authentic in our faith, authentic with one another, and we need to act authentically in the world.
Authentic in Our Faith. Minatrea says that many people “perceive the church to be a head trip that never touches the heart.” Instead, discipleship touches every part of our lives and has implications everyday of the week.
Authentic with Each Other. Minatrea provides several examples of churches where disciples are free to be open with each other and challenge each other. This happens best in small-group ministry. For example, Antioch Community Church in Waco encourages their small groups to interact with one another in seven areas that are based upon the New Testament: love one another, serve one another, spend time with one another, allow others to be imperfect, build one another out, have a gentle heart toward others and difficulty, and be in unity with one another.
Authentic Actions in the World. Robert Lewis at Fellowship Bible Church challenges his people to “present living proof of a loving God to a watching world.” Minatrea says of believers, “When their faith transforms the way they live and react every day, then it merits the world’s attention.”
What are the ways your congregation encourages this kind of authenticity?
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