Miguel Labrador's Blog, page 14
June 1, 2013
Nothing Will Prevail Against The Mission Of The Church.
And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:17,18,19
There is little question that much has been imposed on these verses. Entire ecclesiastical systems have risen, and may fall on the proper interpretation of them.
I do not wish to impose on them either, but simply to ask you if we can conclude from these passages that “nothing will prevail against or defeat the mission of the church?”
In other words, would it be ok to paraphrase Jesus’ words in this way; “I will build my church, and nothing will prevail against its mission.“
Commentsadjust the phrase “its mission” to “Her”, and the ... by MarshallI think it's the gates of Hell that will not prevail, as the ... by Jim WrightRelated StoriesEphesians 4:11 – Who’s Sent?Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?Discipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!
May 30, 2013
The Church; A Base of Operations, A Rest Stop, or A Gas Station?
If you had to choose one of the above, which would it be? The Great Commission was issued by Jesus to His disciples and every subsequent generation of his disciples to “go” from where? The Local Church? It seems unlikely. It seems that they were to go from their normal lives as stationary people into a mode of sent-ness. They were to go from Judea, Samaria, and other geographical locations. They were to go from ethnic exclusivity to ethnic diversity. They were to go from where the gospel is known to where it is not.
What do you think?
Is the church to be a base of operations, a gas station, or a rest stop along the way?
CommentsI like the idea of base of operations, especially since most ... by EliQuite frankly Miguel I don't think the church can be described ... by CarlosYes Marshall, it's the intended trajectory of this ... by Miguelplease, we ought by now agree… ekklesia is not a facility, it ... by MarshallYou didn't offer an option D) All of the above, which is what I ... by ClaudiaRelated StoriesLeading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?Discipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!5 Ways to Topple a Church Regime
May 28, 2013
5 Ways to Topple a Church Regime
1. Abolish all semblance of a caste system.
Any distinction, either by action or thought which conveys that there is a clergy class and a laity class must be questioned, challenged, disturbed, provoked, captured, and killed. If you think this sounds too violent, revolutionary, or subversive, then consider it a mercy killing, an assisted suicide, or a manner of considering the quality of life. I suppose we can let the system die with dignity, but that assumes there was any ever dignity in it. Notice I never said that any person should be assaulted or abused in any way. Extending mercy or esteeming others higher than ourselves should always prevail. If however, a “captain” wants to go down with his ship, then there’s little that anyone can do but to toss a life-preserver or head up a rescue operation. Congregations are implicit here too. Church committees come up with astronomical job descriptions for super-professionals to fill. This is by no means a unilateral usurpation. The clergy have only taken the power that the laity has willingly sacrificed on its man-made altars.
2. Stop facing front and face each other.
First things first. Detonate, destroy, and disassemble the pulpit. When all eyes are focused towards the front, they’re not focused on Jesus or His people. How many hours of a Christian’s life is spent looking at the back of another’s head instead of into another eyes? How are you suppose to weep with those who weep if you’re not face to face? “Jesus looked on them with compassion.” You look away!
Tear down the stage and any other platforms that separate the body of Christ. Put the worship bands and choirs in another room where no one can see them and pipe the music in. Better yet create an environment for a flash mob worship event. Why do you need a “show” in order to collectively worship God? Take the big screen down from the right hand side of the church and begin extending the right hand of fellowship.
Change the church’s shape. Get rid of squares and rectangles and sharp corners. Round out its edges. Form circles and spheres so that people can see one another, share with one another, and truly be amongst one another. Color outside the lines. Establish circular frameworks instead of boxy boundaries. Make “the front of the church” indistinguishable for the rest of it. All parts of the church should be equally accessible.
3. Go on Sabbatical. Fast from Church
Stop going to church! Yes, you read that right. Just stop. Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves, but stop being corralled, lined up, controlled and inoculated. Find some local people, you know, like your neighbors, the ones you’re supposed to be loving, and live life with them. Be salt and light. Take the Gospel to go instead of eating in. Take a short, or long sabbatical from the building you call church and start seeking the church. Take someone with you. Don’t go it alone. Go on sabbatical with 1 or two more. Never leave a person behind. Don’t burn bridges. Build them.
Don’t become a sage or guru while you’re on sabbatical. Don’t isolate yourselves. You’ve had enough of that in the system. Seek out others who are also on sabbatical. Discover your gifts. Exercise them! Don’t feed grudges, forget them. Heal those chips on shoulders and bury those axes to grind. God’s got your back. Go to a land that He will show you. Take what He tells you. Don’t take a sabbatical from being a disciple of Jesus. Take a sabbatical from the system that wants to make you a disciple of it.
4. Learn a new language.
Unlearn your clichés. Ask yourself what is “The Gospel?” What is “The Kingdom?” What does it mean to “Make Disciples?” Put away your normal bible and read a different version. Listen much and talk little. Learn the language of quietness. Listen to yourself and change your theological accent. Work on your vocabulary. Go to where people speak differently. Immerse yourself in them. Learn the language of other generations like the elderly and the young. Tell others stories. Tell yourself new stories. Be ready, as much as you are able, to speak to 5 year olds and the Stephen Hawkings of the world. Listen to new music, read poetry, and familiarize yourself with the language of those politically opposed to you. Look around you and see what creation has to say. Consider the ants and the stars, and the homeless. Talk to yourself in the mirror and see how your communicating. Do your facial expressions match your message? Keep a journal of words you hear whose definitions you’re not sure of. Be honest with yourself.
5. Do Justice /Mission
Only those with the luxury of having little to do can sit around and contemplate concepts such as social justice verses evangelism. Life lived in and amongst people within the sphere of your influence where lines are blurred between “us & them” can obliterate the walled church even when its “doors are always open.” Stay in motion. Keep moving until the Lord has you take a seat or a knee, or a stand. Go and explore, as much as you are able the fringes of society. Embrace your sent-ness. Find every opportunity to do church as you are going, on the way, and while you’re already in motion. Don’t be anarchists without also being strategists.
These 5 things can be done behind the scenes, but it’s not likely. Those who seek to topple church regimes will often be counted as heretics, hurtful, or just heinous. Not everyone can pursue these paths. If your church isn’t a regime, then great! But if it is, then wait, watch and listen. There will be others who are ready to join you. Strengthen and encourage one another. God will repeatedly destroy Jerusalems that do not serve Him. He will remove their lamp stands. He will raze them in order to raise them again.
CommentsThis is so hard not to comment on but I shall resist. There are ... by Lisa RobinsonSince this is saved in your archives, I'll leave it here for ... by Kirk StephensMiguel, I highly respect every one of your points! I agree ... by Marc WinterHowdy again Miguel. Hope you don't mind me commenting ... by CarlosRelated StoriesDiscipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?Am I Imposing My Giftings, Emphasis, Context, and Mission On You?
May 27, 2013
Ephesians 4:11 – Who’s Sent?
Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists go out on mission, Pastors and Teachers are supposed to stay put. At least that’s the sentiment of many within the church. Actually, it’s quite a hurdle to get people to accept that there are indeed still Apostles, and Prophets walking around. I try to make it easier or more palatable sometimes by saying that there are those within the body with the “characteristics” of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, but admittedly that line of thinking is a bit weak and undercuts the import of equipping saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, for unifying those in the faith, for contributing to others for their maturity and ours, and for attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11,12,13)
Of course I’m given a bit more latitude because I’m a “crazy missionary” living and working in a context that no one else will, and one that is still breaking new gospel ground. It’s almost permissible to hold to a more “apostolic” ministry because we’re bringing the gospel to where it’s not known and naming Jesus amongst people where He has not been named. Additionally many have not seen a bible, read it, or know what it is. It’s almost acceptable that I still cling to my antiquated notions that some are still acting all prophetic and apostle like.
But, that’s not what we’re here to talk about exactly. For the rest of this post, I’ll just assume that there are all five giftings alive and well amongst the body of Christ. I’ll also assume that each of these are sent or are capable of being sent. When it comes to evangelists, it’s a no brainer. Of course they’re sent! Someone’s got to “go” and preach the gospel to all of creation. But, if the church by its ignorance or by some other diabolical ulterior motive seeks to excise apostles and prophets, then it’s only left with 2 possible types of people to send, namely evangelists and pastor-teachers. And again, pastor-teachers are supposed to stay put, so that leaves only the evangelist to do mission. Wrong…Wrong…Wrong!
A Pastor’s heart is one that is disposed to mission. If someone is pastoral, then he/she will leave the secure flock and go on mission to find the one’s. The one’s are those who are lost, who have been separated from the flock, or those who need to be loved back into fellowship. The Pastor can also be sent to watch over the flock in a different sphere. A pastor is not excluded from being missional or living as sent.
Back to apostles and prophets. Let me share from “the real world” of missions. When we begin ministry in a new community, we identify which of the Ephesians 4:11 people gifts are most needed as catalysts to create an environment disposed to the making of disciples and the gathering and fellowship of the same. If they need a prophetic kick in the pants, then so be it. If they need someone with an apostolic disposition to envision, imagine, and facilitate how the Kingdom looks in their context, then again, so be it. We’ll decide amongst ourselves which of us, operating in our gifts, are best suited to meet the present need of any given community and send them. Here’s an important point. We decide collectively. The Pastor doesn’t get to decide alone who is sent and who is not. In fact, if any of the five giftings are better equipped to commission and send, it would be the apostle. Don’t you think? But none of these, have a weightier “authority” over the other. Do they? Every community is assessed and matched up with the ones that can best address their short or long term needs. Each community is different. This form of collective and probing ministry has contributed to the amazing movement happening in our context. Every part of the body, or pre-body needs every other part of the body acting in accordance with its gifting. Each of the types of people listed in Ephesians 4:11 are sent. Some are continually sent and some are sent for seasons. Some stay put and other stay in motion. Some are sent elsewhere to stay put, and some are sent with perpetual sent-ness. A few questions:
1. Should Pastors stay put?
2. Seriously, if you don’t think there are apostles and prophets anymore, why not?
3. Assuming that all 5 gifts are still functioning in the church, do any have authority over the others?
CommentsWho 'pastors' a 'pastor'? One who is respected as mature and a ... by William FloydFelicity, That's an interesting proposition. I happen to ... by MiguelHi Miguel, Let's set aside the modern concept of a shepherd ... by CarlosCarlos, who pastors a prophet? Who evangelizes a pastor? Who ... by MiguelWilliam, Thanks for your comment. With regard to point 3, ... by MiguelPlus 5 more...Related StoriesDiscipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!I Don’t Want To Be That Guy Who’s Pegged As Anti-Church, But…Am I Imposing My Giftings, Emphasis, Context, and Mission On You?
May 23, 2013
Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?
When it comes to God’s Mission and its Church, words like recapture, regain, reclaim, and even resuscitate are used to reinforce the idea that the only way forward for the Mission and its Church is to go retro. In order to advance as a church, we must certainly understand our history, but I’m not so sure we need to emulate, copy, or worse, mimic it. Popular are thoughts like; “We must learn to change our way of thinking to a more Hebraic form,” or “We must embrace those components and catalysts of revivals gone by.”
Living in a developing country and watching its church grow, I’ve noticed a trend. The church here wants to be what the church was in the U.S.A 20 years ago. It’s only natural that the trends of long ago were first based in real experience, then written about in journals, then made their way to books, then to handbooks about books, and then eventually and hopefully put back into practice into the lives of others. With various language barriers and cultural obstacles, implementation becomes something old and borrowed and superimposed on what God is doing or saying currently. By the time most trends are recognized, analyzed, interpreted, and codified, God has moved ahead.
The “Leading Edge” is obliterated with antiquated ideology and practices. The Church is supposed to be a people who are constantly being renewed in the transformation of their minds, not the stagnation of them. What God is saying now with respects to the mission and its church may be different then what He said at any previous stage in history. More simply put, what “worked” back then may have expired, gone out of date, or simply become irrelevant for today.
Now, I’m not saying that those prescriptive, commanded, and eternal concepts of the mission and its church have changed, but I am saying that there are probably a lot less of them then we think. On the whole, I think there are a lot less prescriptive tenets of the faith and a lot more descriptive ones. The church tends to get hung on the descriptions of the previous and prescribe compliance for everyone.
There is a leading edge. There are those who are on the leading edge. There are those who listen and look to God and sense where that leading edge is. These are those who go where the Father says to go, do what He says to do, and say what He says to say. Call them whatever you wish, prophets, apostles, forward thinkers, etc. The church is not only being transformed by the renewal of their collective minds, but also maturing. The entire reason for the giftings in Ephesians 4:11,12,13 is ecclesial (church)maturity.
“Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Until we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
The church may need to understand the message of its history, but it doesn’t have to drink its milk. A few questions:
1. How does one determine what is prescriptive and what was descriptive regarding the mission and its church?
2. How are those on the leading edge of mission and church verified? How can we know what they saying, what they’re doing, and where they’re going is in line with God’s will?
3. Does the church really have to go back to the past in order to progress?
CommentsThanks for the explanation Chris. Sounds like we should be ... by CarlosHi Carlos, Prescriptive is literally 'written ahead' and ... by Chris JefferiesMiguel, What do you mean by prescriptive vs descriptive? ... by CarlosI don't think it's quite so simple. Following past missional ... by Chris JefferiesBy the time you analyze, systematize and homogenize some move ... by Jim WrightPreach, teach, but mostly live the gospel of Jesus Christ. ... by Kirk StephensRelated StoriesDiscipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!Do We All Really Make Disciples In Different Ways?Am I Imposing My Giftings, Emphasis, Context, and Mission On You?
May 22, 2013
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May 21, 2013
I’m 76.5% Completely Sold Out To Jesus!
I love it when someone asks me if I’m “100% Sold Out To Jesus.” Well, I don’t really love it, but it is an interesting provocation. Actually, it smarts just a little. I suppose this sort of introspection is healthy at times, but I think it’s based on a lie. The lie is that one can be 100% sold out to or committed to Jesus. Are you completely, radically, and one hundred percent sold out to Jesus?
Are you finished being sanctified?
Are you without sin?
Does your devotion to Jesus never wane?
Does asking this question of others help them?
Is there a better way to get at the biblical idea of being “100% Sold Out To Jesus?”
Is it ok not to be 100% completely sold out to Jesus?
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May 20, 2013
The Problem of a Missional Prophet
Jesus said, “There is no Prophet who is despised except in his city and among his kindred and in his house.” (Mark 6:4) Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010) The New American Standard Bible puts it this way:
“A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”
Sure, “Missional” is a buzzword and admittedly is trendy and slightly hipsterish. This however, does not negate the import of being missionary-ish wherever the Lord has you. It is not radical to be on mission with God. In fact, it’s quite normal, or I should say quite supernaturally normal. Being a missionary in the traditional sense, my focus has been transferred to a place “across the borders,” but for me, being a missional missionary is neither redundant or contradictory. Being missional or “living as sent” where I am does not depend on location or destination, but on intention. To become self-aware of my sent-ness, for me, is to be truly sentient.
There is a problem though. If being missional is living as sent wherever you are, i.e., the city, the mountains, the suburbs, etc., then what about the missional Prophet? If Prophetic leadership’s main concern is to further the mission of God’s people and communities and to sense of the mind of God on issues concerning growth and transformation, then:
How does live as sent if there’s no honor to be had in one’s own sphere of influence?
CommentsMight Jesus' comment, Miguel, been with referdnce to his ... by GaryFPattonNote correction to name spelling. (Smiling because I made a ... by Hope de Waardt-JemersonLooking at the questions–having read through twice–I can ... by Hope de Waardy-JemersonRelated StoriesDiscipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!Am I Imposing My Giftings, Emphasis, Context, and Mission On You?I Don’t Want To Be That Guy Who’s Pegged As Anti-Church, But…
May 16, 2013
Evangelization or Mission?
The French Catholic theologian Claude Geffré prefers “evangelization” to “mission” because of the latter term’s territorial connotation and its historical link with the process of colonization.”
Put aside the Roman Catholic theology for a moment and focus on the concern of Claude Geffré.
With that in mind, consider these questions:
1. Are the objects or objectives of mission and evangelism different?
2. Is Evangelism the umbrella for Mission or vice versa?
3. How can evangelism or mission be done without Colonization or Territorialism?
CommentsOne other thought that comes to mind Miguel (for what it's ... by CarlosAs I read this and ponder, it strikes me that evangelism is ... by Rob KampenDon't know about your questions Miguel but I would like to hear ... by CarlosRelated StoriesDiscipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!Do We All Really Make Disciples In Different Ways?Am I Imposing My Giftings, Emphasis, Context, and Mission On You?
May 15, 2013
Where was the Kingdom Before?
Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:1-2
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
Both John the Baptist and Jesus referred to the Kingdom as approaching or drawing near.
Yet, David stated all the way back in the Psalms that “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” And Daniel says, “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:3
So, before the Kingdom was drawing near, where was it?
CommentsMaybe I'll take a shot at answering my own questions now. Who ... by Chris JefferiesIt was behind a veil in the Holy of Holies, and only accessible ... by David Woodsthe herald of Matthew 3:2 & 4:17 & 10:7… each identical from ... by MarshallOh very good question!! The kingdom of God is God! And when ... by Deborah ChuppI'd say that a kingdom is the realm in which the King is ... by Chris JefferiesRelated StoriesThe Gospel Is To Be Obeyed.Discipleship Group – We’re Going Mobile!I Don’t Want To Be That Guy Who’s Pegged As Anti-Church, But…
