Confessions of a Reformission Rev. - Book Review

I am reading a great book written by Mark Driscoll, "Confessions of a Reformission Rev." The book chronicles Mars Hill's journey as a church from 0 - 4000 members. Mars Hill is a Seattle church that is culturally relevant and also fiercely Biblical, both in its teaching and practice. In chapter 0, titled: Ten Curious Questions, Mark ask this question:

Question 7

Will your church have a mission of community or be a community of mission?

The buzzword community is so often bantered about that it is nearly devoid of meaning. But since the church is a community, it is important to define what kind of community the church should be. Without a clear definition of what a missional church community is and does, tragically, community will become the mission of the church. Consequently, the goal of people will be to hang out together in love, like the family they never had. While this is not evil, it is also not sufficient.

If taken too far, this can lead to the heresy of participatory redemption, in which the goal is to have authentic friendships and a loving community instead of repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ as the means of salvation. This error is a very real threat is overlooked by many young Christian Leaders I meet who prefer small and more loosely defined neo-church arrangements and so-called new monastic communities, in which being in community sometimes takes priority over being in Christ.

In Scripture, we see two prototypical communities: Babel/Babylon and Pentecost. Their similarities and differences are noted below.



The Babylonian version of community is godless affinity. Babylonian community does not aspire to grow except by internal births, dies not welcome people who are different, does not practice hospitality, and seeks to remain safe and successful. Community is the only goal for churches who think Babylonian. God’s response to Babylonian community is judgment and scattering, because it is a sin, especially in the church.

The Pentecost version of community exists for mission, not for itself. Pentecost community is not held together because people are similar but rather because they are on the same mission with the same Lord. Because of this, Pentecost community is marked by a desire to expand God’s kingdom through salvation of many diverse people, who are hospitably welcomed to learn about the greatness of Jesus.

People who think with a Pentecost mindset do not see the building of community in their church as their mission. Rather they see their church community as existing solely for God’s mission, and they accept that the only way to have healthy community is to pursue God’s mission of reaching lost people because community is an effect of mission but not an effective mission. God’s response to Pentecost missional community is grace an unity through the Holy Spirit.

Be blessed as you build a Penticost Community,

Pastor Willy