In a previous post I shared a desire to want to ask what values and practices would define a missional order for today? I previously stated, "At the heart of an order is a commitment to a set of values and practices that allow a community of people to be formed in peculiar way, so that they can maintain a prophetic and tangible 'witness' to the culture they reside within." The key defining value would be a full fledged embracing of the Missio Dei. It's very nature and being would have to be tied up in understanding its identity as the people of God "sent out" into the world to incarnate God's compassionate love (Jn 20.21.)
The church has an example to follow as it lives out the Missio Dei. Jesus came in "flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood" (Jn 1.14, The Message.) He moved into the neighborhood of humanity and he moves into the personal neighborhoods of peoples' lives. He did not remain far off in the abstract and heavenly realms but Jesus was the sent one, who came to us in real flesh and blood. He became a human and embodied "all the fullness of the Deity" living in bodily form. He left us the example of being "sent" as well as modeling for us how to go about being "sent" into the world, his incarnation. An order therefore must value and embody in it's DNA this idea of being sent out into the world as a prophetic witness of God's love and does so in an incarnational manner.
This idea of drawing upon the incarnation as a model is challenging. To take the incarnation seriously is to take being among the people and living among them. It's a continuous ongoing presence as we become one of the community we feel called to serve. This is different than merely serving among a particular community for a couple of hours a week, but to actually live among them as one of the participating members of the community. How do we do this well as individuals living in a culture which reinforces upward mobility, continuous independence from one another, isolation from those in need, and security in our tangible possessions?
I was asked a couple of weeks ago to head down to the Rowland Rebele Family Shelter for dinner with the residents to discuss with them about starting a non-denominational service or small group for those residents who wanted to be supported in their spiritual lives. As I chatted with the interested residents we brainstormed certain aspects they would want included. By the time we finished dialoguing one of the residents stated how excited they were in the prospects of shaping and forming a group. He stated, "We may play a part in starting our own little congregation here."
None of this would have ever been possible unless we had consistently built relationships with the shelter staff and residents through the tutoring of the children for the last two years. We sensed two years ago we were "sent" down to the shelter to be a blessing to the kids. We from the beginning wanted to incarnate Christ's love for the families living in the shelter. God has chosen to bless those relationships and yet, I can't imagine the impact we could have if we were living among the residents down at the shelter, not just being among them at certain times of the week, but actually living among them and being one of them. I don't know what this would look like. As we as the people of God meditate upon the incarnation I don't how we can't move to asking these types of questions about how to truly love in the name of Jesus. I confess to God I don't know how to do this well and ask for his guidance and help, His mercy and grace to stretch and guide as he forms us to serve these people.
A missional order needs to take the Mission of God seriously. It needs to recognize we are "sent" ones and called to move into the neighborhoods and lives of the marginalized, oppressed, abandoned, and orphaned. As we go we must look to Jesus and his incarnation to guide us.
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