People love to think they are missional, innovative, and in touch with the world around them. 

Many people in the church world have felt the call of God to engage the world around them. A lot of them "used to" live in bubbles... Christians are surrounded by only Christians. Telling "VeggieTales", and reminding each other of animal crackers in the nursery with flannelgraphs. 

There’s something about the Holy Spirit that calls us back into the wild. We feel the need to engage with the outside world, to be good news, to extend the hope that we have to the world around us. 

So many people who grew up in the church world are attempting to live a life that is on the mission of Jesus to the world around them. This is a new territory. Unfortunately, old habits die hard. many of these new adventurous pioneers resort to old habits of scheduling events and trying to invite their friends to some sort of event. They think the mission of God is something that can simply be planned and executed like an old school church outreach event.

If you plan it they will come. we don’t think that way, yet we sort of operate by that default. We plan events, go to homeless shelters, and expect that we’re somehow going to change the world. 

You cannot “event” your way to Mission. 

Jesus was a friend of sinners, a friend to all sorts of different people religious and irreligious alike. Since we are called to make disciples we have to remember that discipleship happens at the speed of relationship.

If you wanna know that you’re “Missional” let me see your text message history. If your last 20 text messages aren’t peppered with people outside of your Christian bubble then you probably aren’t missional at all. You’re probably just putting on events. 

This isn’t meant as some sort of dig or attack, but rather an opportunity to repent, change our minds about the mission, and develop true friendships. If we are to make any sort of lasting impact as ambassadors of Jesus we must share tables, text messages, Memes, and carpools with the people that God has called us to. This is not about viewing people as targets, or objectives, but rather making real friends who you care about, and sharing real things that you care about with your real friends that you care about. 

Look at your text messages, and then take some time to repent if need be. 

Mike Jarrell oversees coaching, vision and training at Narrow Road Communities in Harrisburg, PA. He also serves as director of the Creo Collective.