The Church
If we were to say the church is primary missional in its nature would capture one of the primary purposes of the church, but it would also distort a more comprehensive understanding of the church’s identity and purpose. The church is not only to be a people sent out into the world, but it’s also supposed to be a worshipping community and a sanctifying community.
CrossWay
So I would never say we are primarily a missional church. I believe missional is one characteristic that we want CrossWay to be known by. Not just missional, but definitely, and clearly, and intentionally missional – biblically defined.
Missio Dei
So where do we start with trying to define what we mean by missional? Like all other doctrines, we start with God. More specifically, we start with the mission of God – Missio Dei. A missional church is a church that exists for the Missio Dei.
What is the Mission of God?
The mission of God is to redeem a people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. The mission of God is to save a lost and destitute people for His own glory. The mission of God is to rescue sinners through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the praise of His name. The mission of God is to see Revelation 5:9-10 fulfilled.
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."A Missional Church
A missional church sees herself as existing primarily for God’s glory, and to make God known, and to magnify God’s name to all peoples, cultures, and nations of the world. She exists not for her own name, or comfort, or prosperity, but for the mission of God. A missional church sees all of her resources as belonging to God and for the mission of God. She views the world through the lens of God, His glory, and His mission to the praise of His name alone.
