We Value Simplicity

It would seem incongruous to go on and on with 14 different principals on how to simplify your life. Let’s face it - You already drank the cool-aid! What I mean is that you probably already believe in living a life of simplicity. The unfortunate reality is that we can all believe in it, but continue to struggle living life through the filter of Simplicity. This value can be much like working out, or eating healthy...we know that we should eat healthy, but it is a completely different thing to live life through the filter of eating healthy.

Simplicity is “keeping” it simple.

The aim of this post is not to inform you of a new reality that you didn’t know. The aim is to remind each other through accountability that the filter needs to be continually checked for snags and gaping holes that are preventing us from living life as we know we desire to live.

Instead of 14 more paragraphs to convince you that you are doing too much let’s take a test.

Which of the 2 images below more closely resemble your life with God, family, work, church…

Let's assume that these 2 computer desktop images represent 2 people with a very similar set of responsibilities. Both photos have multiple colors and are full, but the difference is obvious. The first represents a life that feels cluttered and out of control because the person only reacts to the immediate, while the other represents an intentionally simplified and ordered life.

If we believe that God values simplicity in our life, let’s be active in preventing chaos so that we can make time for the things that most honor and glorify God. Simplicity is actively saying no (or not now) to some things in order to have priority for the “God things”.

Jesus gave us some very clear direction in this, when He said: "Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness, and let God take care of the details" (my version). Check out the context of the passage HERE...and I love the Message version HERE.

We Value Mission

I see our missional core value as the central theme of the Christian calling. Certainly, we are called to be a communal, worshipful, incarnational, transformational, evangelical, simple people; and I believe all of that culminates in the Christ-follower as missional living.

*Before I go further, let me note that over the past 15 years, many have confused the word "missional" as simply a new and trendy tag used to mean seeker-sensitive, home-group driven church, or as a new method for growing a church. As a result, missional is often looked upon as just another phase or program. But we error when we do so for missional is more than just another movement, it is a full expression of who the people and church of Christ is and what we are called to be and do.

"Missional is a Shift in Thinking"
Missional Living is the view that being a follower of Jesus Christ involves simultaneously both an inner transformation toward Christlikeness and an active participation in the mission of God's Kingdom.

-Tom Bulick has covered why I highlight inner transformation in his blogpost HERE.
-I highlight active participation in God's Mission because there IS a difference between being mindful and supportive of God's Mission and being participants in gospel mission of reconciliation with God. (*for the call to participate, see 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 and 1 Corinthians 9:23)

-I highlight simultaneously because it would be a mistake to believe that you must achieve some higher level of personal spiritual formation before you begin serving, leading, and loving others as participants in the mission.

As a Missional Church, we view our own context as a constantly changing mission field. We are both engaged in and supportive of missions. We recognize that mission includes both the Great Commission (making new disciples) and the Great Commandment (loving God and loving others as self); and that all people are both the “subject” and “object” of God’s mission. We are engaged in the transformation of people, churches, communities and cultures as we multiply disciples, our church, and our mission.

What should this look like in your community?

A missional church is a gathering of believers who participate in God's mission because they understand themselves as a sent people. This shifts us from a supportive "come-and-see" mentality to a "go-and-be/tell/do" mentality.

Missional churches see the church body as the place of ministry and conversion. Every person in our HG's and CG's should be participating in loving and meeting the needs of unchurched peoples. We should begin to see conversion happening outside of Church walls, which then becomes a gathering place for sending.

**I also like this definition from Wikipedia: "Missional living" is a Christian term that describes a missionary lifestyle; adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message.