Christendom vs. Missional

I enjoyed the portion of class when our professor talked about the state of the church both in the US and overseas. He was speaking about things that was really resonating with me and what I have experienced in ministry the last couple years in California. The reality is that we are ministering in a post-Christendom context. Our professor defined "Christendom" as a Christianity that expected individuals to come to them. In other words, "Christendom" is a Christianity is that attempts to be attractional. It's a Christianity that does fancy things in order to attract outsiders (e.g. those who don't go to church). I hate to break it to a lot of churches that hip worship bands, fancy lights, fog machines, etc. don't bring people who don't go to church through the church doors.

This is not to say that these things are wrong. For example, I think it's important for churches to have good, quality bands for those who go to church. My point (which was confirmed by the professor) is that people who don't go to church are not attracted to church by these types of things. It's like asking a straight person to go and hang out at a gay bar or a P.E.T.A. advocate to to dine at a steak restaurant. They don't go to the bar or restaurant because they aren't interested or attracted to that type of atmosphere. The same is true of unchurched individuals. They aren't interested in church and so an "attractional" approach to reach these people isn't working (it's borderline futile).

What's working (speaking of experience) is when Christians engage (and this is what I mean by missional) the places that are attractional to the unchurched. This could be parks, sports clubs, mommy groups, fitness centers, coffee shops, bars, etc. Once you get involved with a "network" you start to form relationships with those who are "regulars." Then friendships (e.g. trust) will naturally occur with those who are unchurched and the door to talk about Jesus and the Church begins to open. What you find more often than not is that people are spiritual, but don't want their spirituality to be institutionalized. I wish I had time to share the stories I have experienced the last three years (you can hear some of these stories on July 10th....another shameless plug for my I.C.E series).