Comments on: 9Marks on Missional

By: CH

CH — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:31:14 +0000

wow, Ron, you proved Jonathan’s point when you described the youth on the first nations reserves as experiencing “hell”. Really?! Hell? Have you read the biblical descriptions of hell?

It’s easy to dismiss this article as “reformed theology” when that was not really even mentioned in the article itself. The book I believe he was referring to is a well-known book in the missions community that came out a few years ago and every seminarian would know the 600 page work “Mission of God” by Christopher Wright, Oxford. (BTW He is actually giving yoh the title if you reread the quote but I think he was trying to protect the author) Either way the book only serves as an example of what has been repeated hundreds of times at other conferences (Urbana, Passion) and Christian circles. Jonathan is right on. He has an unpopular view but I’m glad he said it. I’m sad that it is being dismissed as theological propaganda. Think a little.

By: Matthew Morizio

Matthew Morizio — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:02:31 +0000

Hello Don -

Just curious as to where you are located in Upstate NY? Appreciate your insights.

I hail from the greater Glens Falls, NY area.

You can email me at: mjmorizio [at ] gmail [dot] com

Thanks.

By: Don

Don — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:43:45 +0000

My thoughts on the missional conversation is that it is just a big waste of time. I minister in upstate New York as a pastor in a small church in a small community. Less than three percent of people in upstate New York claim to be evangelical christians. It’s hard for me to listen to people talk about missional living, when they don’t have the slightest clue about what it means to be a missionary. Like most things in the evangelical world, it is a passing fad. Everyone wants to be missional but very few people truly want to sacrifice for the mission. Why do very few people want to minister in upstate New York? It’s simply one of the most rocky ground in the entire United States. It truly is a mission field. I wish people would start acting like missionaries and stop pretending to be missional. If you want to be missional, come to upstate New York. We can use missionaries.

By: » Prologue to Missional Discussions ::: Subversive Influence

» Prologue to Missional Discussions ::: Subversive Influence — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:42:12 +0000

[...] missional conversation as a first step toward a new liberalism. (See Rick Meigs’ post, “9Marks on Missional“; I was mildly critical of their definition back in 2007 when they were using it favorably.) [...]

By: A Prologue to Missional Discussions | The Blind Beggar

A Prologue to Missional Discussions | The Blind Beggar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:44:35 +0000

[...] Then comes an ill-considered attack from Jonathan Leeman, Director of Communications for 9Marks, where he claims the missional conversation is leading to an ill-conceived emphasis on social justice which is “but a first step toward a new liberalism.” See my post “9Marks on Missional.” [...]

By: Beginning Assault on Missional? | The Blind Beggar

Beginning Assault on Missional? | The Blind Beggar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:29:46 +0000

[...] on January 17th in 9Marks on Missional, I took Jonathan Leeman, Director of Communications for 9Marks, to task on his post, “Is the [...]

By: Linkathon 1/20, part 1 at Phoenix Preacher

Linkathon 1/20, part 1 at Phoenix Preacher — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:12:13 +0000

[...] Jonathan Leeman of 9Marks critiques the missional church. Rick Meigs critiques Leeman. [...]

By: Jeremy Griffin

Jeremy Griffin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:40:12 +0000

Rick,

Thanks for responding to that article. I read it also and had to take a time out from the article because I was so upset. It seems to me that 9 Marks does push a theological agenda in most of their articles, that being a strict reformed agenda. A while ago I used to read most of their articles, but I had hard time with, in my mind, a negative tone to some or most of the articles. Anyway, thanks for your questions and points.

By: Rick Meigs

Rick Meigs — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:33:43 +0000

Good thoughts Ron. America is past the time when all we have to do is “throw out the seed” and see a harvest. America IS now a “foreign” mission field (if I can use this type of language) and as Jesus followers we must approach it as a missionary would. This usually means meeting physical needs (like clean drinking water or AIDS help) as a way to show Gods love, concern and to build relationships. No missionary assumes meeting physical needs is their primary task, nor do those traveling the “way of Jesus.” As you rightly noted, “The reality is missional is a huge investment” that can never be measured with the “buildings, budget, and butts” yardstick of old.

By: ron cole

ron cole — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:45:05 +0000

Oh, yeah…the really fascinating thing about the “Mission of 9 Marks” was that “Mission” was not one of them. Or did I miss something in the fine print.