Lesslie Newbigin was a missionary in India. On one occasion he was visiting a church in Madras. After the service he had a conversation with the elders. He asked, "What function does this church perform?" After an embarrassed silence, one of them piped up, "It caters to the needs of its members." Newbigin replied, "Then it should be disbanded."' Of course Newbigin was making a point. The church does not exist for itself. Its mission is beyond the four walls. *1)

Knowing the trends that will affect the Church and Western missions in the new millennium will help us navigate …

This understanding of the church is critical to the life and ministry of its members. It involves having a vision for the community and a heart for the world. In The Great Commission: Cause or Casualty? David Schmidt suggests that in North America most Evangelical pastors know what they are up against. He notes, "They stare at the empty pews during mission emphasis week. They know the difficulty in mobilizing support for missions among baby boomers. They are frontline trend fighters, struggling to interpret and respond to this generation." *2)

Trends in North American missions

"Trends," Naisbitt says, "like horses, are easier to ride in the direction they are already going." He adds, "You may decide to buck the trend, but it is still helpful to know it is there." Knowing the trends that will affect the Church and Western missions in the new millennium will help us navigate the cultural terrain and better further the cause of Christ.

• Christian publications say that pieces on missions and world evangelization are the least read articles they publish.
   
• Research shows that baby boomers (ages 36 to 56 today) are skipping missions-oriented meetings at church—unless they are held Sunday morning.
   
• Denominations have missionary candidates ready to go but no funds to send them.
   
• Local churches are spending a growing portion of their budgets for ministries inside the church.
   
• The sense of urgency has been lost in a society in which information overload is a daily fact.
   
• There has been an erosion of absolutes. Cultural relativism leads to theological relativism. We aren't so sure people without Christ are lost anymore.
   
• There seems to be a disconnection between knowledge and passion. We can theorize and theologize, but the question still remains, How do we keep the passion for missions alive? How do we nurture a desire that will enable us to follow a vision bigger than ourselves, a vision that is God-given and God-sustained?

Recapturing the vision

Proverbs warns us, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Schmidt suggests that people need a vision, a picture of a preferred future in order to change: A vision ignites with a rediscovery of God's heart for lost people. A church can hold annual mission conferences, hang banners, and even hold prayer meetings for missionaries. But if a vision for the lost does not permeate existing pastoral staff, lay leadership, and to some extent the pew, little long-term good will be accomplished.

I believe he's right. World evangelization is ultimately an expression of our conviction that all must hear the Gospel. As Newbigin succinctly states, "Anyone who has a faith that he really believes … wants to persuade others to believe it too. If you do not want to share it with others, it is not your real faith." *3)

What must be done to re-ignite the mission vision?

Addressing the new realities

Where does that leave us? What must be done to re-ignite the mission vision? Schmidt suggests what must not be done. He says, "No denominational poster and bulletin insert campaign will turn this emerging reality around. No video, food fair, parade of flags or papier-mache hut in the foyer will capture the attention and alter the values of a generation of Christians for which the missions enterprise is at best peripheral to life's main stage."

Mission is about the "main stage." It's about our understanding of reality and worldview assumptions that take us beyond ourselves. It's about embracing a vision we are compelled to follow. It's about understanding our own motives. It's about understanding the heartbeat of God.

What then must be done? First, we must pray earnestly that God will restore a passion for the lost. Second, a true biblical eschatology must again shape our urgency. Third, we must not limit the power of God, but restore the biblical perspective on gifts and miracles. Finally, we must adapt our mission approach to changing times and the global realities of the Church.

The mission challenges of the third millennium are legion. So are the opportunities. Captured by a compelling vision, committed disciples are willing to grapple with creative new approaches as they relate to the God of mission and embrace the mission of God. I have a feeling this lines up with Newbigin's view of the church.

Endnotes

1) Newbigin, Lesslie. A Word in Season, p. 34.

2) Schmidt, David. The Great Commission, p. 10;

3) Newbigin, Lesslie. A Word in Season, p. 34.

Irving Whitt is the mission education coordinator of the PAOC.

Originally published in Testimony, April 2001.
http://www.paoc.org/