Below is the e-mail I have already sent ... I will add new info shortly.
Regarding Michael Frost and Alan Hirsh's Book - The Shaping Of Things To Come
Let me start off by saying I loved this book. I thought it was a wonderful discourse on a vitally important, imperative topic. To me, there is no question that traditional church methods are failing people in general in the West. The moral decline and lack of understanding of the basic principles of Christianity – let alone the absolute perversion of the all-encompassing, forgiving nature of God, demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the fractured, institutional, misdirected, overly materialistic modern church.
My first comment regards a fundamental premise stated in the introduction – on Page x:
The challenging context in which we live in the West requires that we adopt a
fully missional stance. While some established churches can be revitalized,
success seems to be rare from our experience and perspective. We believe
that the strategic focus must now shift from revitalization to mission, i.e.
from a focus on the “insiders” to the “outsiders”; and in so doing we believe
the church will discover its true nature and fulfill its purpose. Perhaps
an established church can plant a missional congregation within its broader
church structures. Others might sponsor and support the planting of new
congregations on their doorstep to reach those not interested in the
conventional church.
This is the premise the entire book is built upon. I agree that a missional stance is needed. But is a “Fully missional stance” the best choice? Yes, the early church and some of the most successful movements in Christian history resulted from a total missional focus. But isn’t there still a place, a necessary place for the established church? A church that can be found by those in need, those who are seeking it? This is what the book defines as “institutional church.”
Granted, the most effective conversions may happen when Christians reach out and find “outsiders,” but many people, especially hurting people, need someplace to go – someplace where they can find (where they BELIEVE they can find – where they KNOW they can find) that something that is missing in their lives.
Take the pub example to the extreme – yes some people will find a legitimate relationship with Jesus as the Christ from a first contact with Christianity that is experienced in a pub … But do you really think you could write a book and tell people whose eternal destiny is at stake that in their moment of need – when their soul is tormented – go find a pub and hope that it is connected with one of those subversive organizations that actually operate a pub as a front – but is all about soul saving on the inside.
No – I can not endorse a “fully missional stance” as an excuse to “stop doing church” the old fashioned way. Just like every other discussion we will have – this is a wonderful ALTERNATIVE. Maybe it can/will become the PRIMARY type of church. I would be fine with that. I definitely believe that evangelism should be a part of life.
