Missional Moves: 15 Tectonic Shifts that Transform Churches, Communities, and the World - eBook
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Good insights, but not for young church leaders.
The subtitle reveals the simple premise of the book: 15 tectonic shifts that transform churches, communities and the world. As expected, each chapter deals with one of the fifteen tectonic shifts. What are these tectonic shifts? In a word, these shifts interact with the concept of mission, missional living or the more technical term, missiology. It is the belief of the authors that most churches are unaware of these shifts and therefore, are less effective in reaching the world for Christ. So this book boldly seeks to inform a generation of church leaders through the experimental lens of Granger Community Church (a megachurch in Northern Indiana where the author, Rob Wegner, is one of the lead pastors).
It is not in the scope of this review to critically interact with each tectonic shift, but extensive comments on a few key shifts are necessary.
LetâÂÂs begin with the Shift #1: Saved souls to Saved wholes. The authors contend that many churches preach an incomplete gospel or maybe more specifically, only part of the grand story of salvation. These churches tend to focus on the life insurance aspect of the gospel (i.e. saved souls), rather than the salvific blessings which are intended for this life and the next (i.e. saved wholes). According to the authors, the sad result has been a response that is decisional and private, rather than transformational and public. In other words, what is often missing in the âÂÂsaved soulsâ version is the emphasis on Lordship.
To the majority of the above paragraph, I say, âÂÂAmenâÂÂ. Furthermore, I appreciate the authors beginning with the gospel. I agree with the statement found on page 40, âÂÂEvery other missional move is contingent upon getting this one rightâÂÂ.
Yet I am still slightly uncomfortable with the distinction of âÂÂsaved soulsâ to âÂÂsaved wholesâÂÂ. Scripturally, there is no theological distinction in justification between soul and whole. Justification by faith alone assumes trust, which assumes Lordship. When the soul is regenerated, the whole is also regenerated.
So though I like that the move is âÂÂcatchyâÂÂ, let us not become weary in pursuing theological âÂÂprecisionâ as well.
My favorite chapter is Shift #2, From Missions to Mission. Though I am personally familiar with this shift, the basic graph on p. 49 says it all. The graph places the ministry of âÂÂmissionsâ alongside arts, children, small groups, youth, etc. The problem? Missions is seen as a specialized category of ministry, rather than âÂÂTHE MISSIONâ given to every Christian. In my opinion, this chapter alone is worth the price of the book.
Now this does not mean I embrace everything in chapter two. The formula espoused by the authors: Local church on mission + People of God on mission = Apostolic movement is again catchy, but invoking the word âÂÂapostolicâ for anything other than the direct ministry of the 12 original apostles is unwise and hermeneutically cavalier. Post 1st century Christians are called disciples, followers and slaves of Jesus Christ, but never His apostles.
Another helpful element is that this book not only explains the âÂÂshiftsâ themselves, but also how to implement these movements into the life of the local church. The clearest example of this is found in chapter 7, From Transactional to Transformational Partnerships. The authors explain,
âÂÂThe old model sent out organizations to do the work of mission, leaving the local church behind to provide money. The local church was involved, but not directlyâ (p. 168).
So the issue the authors wrestle with is, âÂÂHow do we get local churches involved directly and still use these essential partnerships?âÂÂ
With the use of illustrations, graphs and the experimental history of Granger, the reader is given a roadmap to build local church involvement and partnership, which functions as a wonderful resource, especially for those leaders in established churches.
Criticism
Other than the occasional examples of theological ambiguity, my only other criticism is this: 15 missional moves was too much. I think the maxim âÂÂLess is moreâ applies here. Limiting and then expanding 5-7 moves would have been more useful in my opinion.
Conclusion
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only to mature pastor or church leader. The authors are unabashedly seeker-driven (attractional, in their words) and their philosophy is woven through this book. Yet there are also profound insights regarding missiology that if absorbed correctly could benefit both the church leader and the church itself.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Cross Focused Reviews as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
January 2, 2013
A Timely Book
âÂÂ15 tectonic shifts that transform churches, communities, and the worldâ reads the subtitle of this book that gives insight into modern-day church planting and missions. The authors both serve at the Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana and write about what they are part of in this volume published by Zondervan.
Missional Moves are the changes people, churches, and community make to work together. Many of the things described in this book are how these three can work together with the church being the center of it all. The book gets really heavy in later chapters on details of one churchâÂÂs methods of carrying this out, but it is good to know. As a pastor of a more traditional church, I enjoyed getting insight into a large ministry. Not that I could feel comfortable with everything they did, I could weigh things item by item. Some ideas are worthwhile to any of us.
Part 1 (Paradigm Shift) is by far the best part of the book in that it gives us the big picture issues involved. I felt I saw the best what they were saying in chapter one on âÂÂfrom saved souls to saved wholes.â Their description of our taking a minimalist approach to the Gospel by often reducing our presentation to accepting Jesus so we can avoid Hell. We so little talk about all the Lord can do in lives. That was an eye-opening discussion.
My only criticism of the book is that at times it seemed to criticize traditional missions and missionaries. While our just sending money might not make us as personally attached to missions as we should be, we cannot discount the tremendous sacrifice and work many missionaries have done. I think it doesnâÂÂt have to be an either/or proposition. Still, their methods have potential worthy of consideration.
The authors have the task of balancing this new missional approach with the attractional method used for so long. As a traditional pastor, I donâÂÂt have that problem, but I am glad to better understand what is going on today and learn what I can from it. So, I recommend this book.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade CommissionâÂÂs 16 CFR, Part 255 .
December 13, 2012
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