The Unlikely Evangelist

A little more depth ...

I have recently undertaken a study as part of my MA in missiology of the international mission conferences of the 1900's, in order to take stock of the various understandings and approaches to mission of the last 100 years.

From my reading and research I have written a brief summary and analysis of the issues which shaped these conferences which still pose pertinant questions for our time.

For the purposes of the assignment my research was also focused on the implications of the various understandings of mission on a typical British sub-urban context of the kind many of our churches find themselves, including Heald Green. (The paper may still be of use/interest if you are not in that context).

The material may not be new to you, nor the conclusions drawn that surprising, but I hope at the very least this paper will serve as a useful short summery of the last 100 years of mission thinking! Like me, you may then find this background a valuable foundation on which we can build an emerging mission paradigm for our time and context(s).

As ever, comments and insights of your own are more than welcome, but particularly on this occasion as I hope to develop the conclusions of this assignment into my MA dissertation topic, so please join the conversation.

happy exploring,
The Unlikely Evangelist

Towards a Theology of Mission

Lectionary Reflections
Week: Pentecost 24 Year B
Mark Chapter 13 verses 1 - 8

A puzzling text this week which initially offered little to our Bible Study groups' other than the argument over when Mark was written in relation to the destruction of the temple, and what the significance of the destruction of the temple would have been to the Jewish world of the time.

However, a train of thought that in the light of Jesus encounters with all the great and the good of the temple in the previous couple of chapters, lead us to believe in this story Mark's Jesus is talking metaphorically about the 'Blocks' which build the corrupt temple system. That being so, the temple system had already been pulled down, 'stone by stone' by Jesus devastating arguments with the authorities.

Is it then with a sense of irony that Mark tells us in Jesus trial scene with the Jewish authorities that he is accused of saying he will tear down the physical stone temple and build it up again in three days? Is it for this false claim that Jesus is killed? So while the religious elite are preoccupied with preserving their temple, they miss the point that (from Chapter 13 on), the temple is already destroyed, that is, it no longer has any credibility or hold over the people.

Not One Stone ...

Similarly in Britain today many of the 'Religious Elite' that is the minority that still attend a church are often equally preoccupied with preservation of buildings, even ruins! Yet at the same time failing to see that much if not all of what once was church is crumbling much more dramatically. The church in Britain has been dismantled stone by stone by a devastating attack on its at best irrelevant at worse corrupt practices. The church as we have known it is all but gone, to be preoccupied with preservation of buildings is a distraction, let English Heritage, The National Trust or private developers save the beautiful ones for people to enjoy, but cut them off from draining the resources of the church as the temple did to the people in Jesus day.

The 'Emerging Church' movement is rebuilding the church for a new generation of believers, in parallel, but not in competition with the existing church, indeed many 'mainstream' churches are also involved in innovative new expressions of church and worship. So as the church as we have know it in our lifetimes thus far continues to crumble, let us strive to build a new church before not one stone is left upon another!

Maybe it's a strange time to start a section of this blog which will be a reflection on one or more of the weeks Lectionary passages, as this is the last week of Mark's Gospel, preceding a one week excursion to John, before the Advent switchover to Luke. However, it is chance not only to give my beloved Mark a fitting send off, until we journey together again in two years time, but simply a chance to offer reflections from the weekly Bible Study groups I attend, (which are this week pertinent to one of the themes of this blog, namely 'the Emerging Church'). So this 'Lectionary Reflections' feature may not be a weekly event, nor a detailed exploration of the passage (for that Disclosing New Worlds is a MUST visit), but simply an occasional offering when appropriate. However, I do hope it will always appear by Wednesday, to allow time for any preachers out there to ponder our groups offerings.

So be sure to look under 'Lectionary Reflections' for future offerings.

The Unlikely Evangelist