A Rise of the Evangelistic Body of Christ
Missional living is definitely a buzz-phrase that is anywhere you look these days. the idea that we have to label bodies of Christ, missional, has since the beginning of creation been a tiny bit strange to me. I mean, shouldnt all church buildings be missional in their very character? all churches, at its very base, desire to engage their culture and community with the good news as a missionary would in a another country? Isnt this what the churches is encouraged to do in the great commission in Matthew 28:19? Our own place of origin begs for this type of church. Missional church in Austin is slowly going to what Christ instructed in the Gospels.
The Son of God gives the direction in Acts 1:8 saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 justifies this concept as, right before Jesus Christ goes up to Heaven, He points the disciples on a story that would launch right in their personal community. He begins with their area of Jerusalem, and then expands the call to the far parts of the globe.
As Christians, we are not called to privacy, but to be missional people who are passionately going out and meeting people right where they are with the story of Christ. We have noticed this throughout history: God sends Abraham on a mission to move from his place of origin and his people and go to the town that God would show him (Gen. 12:1), God moved Moses on a journey to renew an enslaved people and lead them to joy (Exodus 3:8-10), God sends Jesus on a journey to globe to restore all things to Himself through the crucifixion (Colossians 1:20). And now God is sending believers on a mission to engage areas, cities, people groups, and even nations with the message of Jesus (Matt. 28:19 Mark 6:7 Luke 10:1 John 20:21 Acts 1:8). If we resist this encouragement and continue to see the bodies of Christ like a invite only country club ” urging that people resolve their abilities, pay their fees, and visit to our building God will continue His journey without us.
