Church Tradition vs. Church Mission (First Corinthians)
“I came to you in weakness, timid and trembling.” This came from one of the boldest saints in history. Paul, after his conversion, hid away for 14 years. During that time he began to get an understanding of his mission in life, which was taking the gospel to the gentiles. He was in constant danger from both his friends and his enemies. He was beaten, stoned, whipped, chased by the Pharisees, shipwrecked, and deserted, but he still driven to spread the Gospel because he knew he was on a mission.
Mission shaped churches - following the example of Paul - do not thrive on traditions and knowledge of the past. We all carry traditions, knowledge and learning from our past experiences. However, these traditions are nothing to what God wants to do through us in the future. Paul was a Pharisee. He had all of the Church tradition and knowledge - but he could not and did not let it define the mission God gave him.
“I didn’t come to you with powerful words, human wisdom or eloquent speech – by the Holy Spirit and his power among you.”
We are not a traditionalist kind of church.
Traditional says we come and consume some church stuff on a Sunday. We are missional because we come and celebrate and leave with vision and faith to share and take the gospel to the world. A mission shaped church is not about coming, taking what you want and leaving. It’s about taking what God gives you and using it to fulfill His purpose.
In a mission shaped church, we participate in worship and become worshippers. We don’t just show up on Sundays to watch the band.
Institutional churches are organizations that run like machines, with interchangeable disposable parts. Missional churches are living organisms with every member playing a vital role. Every member is important and has a calling and a purpose.
In traditional churches the leadership is top-down. In missional churches, leadership is flattened. Leadership isn’t just about authority, it’s about influence. Leaders help people understanding who they are in God, why they are here and where they fit in the House of God. Missional churches create a platform in which people can experience God, understand his purpose for their lives and position themselves to be used by God.
We are called to connect with people and bring God’s power to their world. In the future is the power of the Holy Spirit being unfolded in our lives. Despite our varied pasts, just like Paul, we don’t let our pasts define our future. That is our mindset – a vision mission for the church, not programs for people to consume. This missional mindset allows people to live out the gospel and experience in for themselves.
The mission of this church is more important than our feelings. Paul said it is more important than our own well-being and safety. The church mission is a microcosm of the great commission. As Paul said, we have to do what God tells me to do, and until He stops confirming with signs and wonders, we have to fulfill the mission.
Mission driven churches are people driven. We will let go of some of our traditions and make adjustments within the boundaries of scripture for the sake of reaching the lost. We want everyone to feel welcome in God’s house. We want to create an environment for the Holy Spirit to move and change lives. The most important role of the Holy Spirit is inspiring, empowering and releasing the church by giving us the tools, wisdom, gifts, faith and vision we need to go and fulfill the mission.
When you discover your role in the house and God’s calling on your life, there is no better revelation in the world. We want to be part of seeing God’s people grow – to discover God’s plan for them and empower them to fulfill it. That is the vision of a mission shaped church, and that is what we are.
