Re-Jesus: The Missional Church PART 2

Ok, so we ended yesterday’s post on ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church rather abruptly and I had a lot more to say.

Entering into the last couple chapters which focused on ReJesusing the organization we have come to call church, and we must ask ourselves, “Is this really what Jesus intended for His movement”?

A good equation for us to consider is
Christianity- Christ= Religion.

A great sociological explanation into what we are experiencing in the Church is a problem with routinization of charisma. This means that it is hard to channel the Charisma that Jesus Christ ushered into the movement we call- Christianity. Do I hear someone saying, “Lack of Spirit”? This is more the reason we must ReJesus, and re-encounter Christ daily. The comparison of Christ to the manna of the Israelites was a “fresh one”. It must be renewed daily.

It’s interesting to note, that I have had these conversations with many people, basically, what was Jesus Christ trying to do? It also implies who He was. I see the Jesus Christ in the gospels, gathering a group of men around this hope that once the Old Covenant was fulfilled, and the Messiah ushers in the New Covenant, it will be an end of the world as they knew it. This good news produced such an excitement and controversy, which “turned the world upside-down. Many people seem to differ on what Jesus Christ was doing, which affects what we believe He is doing today. Way of life (life in New Covenant)- Religion (Old Covenant).

Christianity = the anti-religion!!!! But rather, “a radically alternative vision of the world and thus initiates an ensuing mission to change the world in order to fulfill that vision”.

A great quote, which is pretty much my testimony, was said in the book and I will hold on it forever!!! “…the strange and wonderful God-man has invaded our life with purpose and freshness”. Is that the Messiah you follow?

Now, the term RADICAL TRADITIONALISM, struck a strong chord in my mind, pretty much to the point of me trying to incorporate that term into the mission statement of Freaked-Out Fellowship. Radical Traditionalism is exactly where I am at in my walk with Christ, which is to return to the original way of Christ, but express it in our day. Terms like 21st Century Apostles, or even New Monasticism, are examples of radical traditionalism.

A big issue I see in most traditional churches today is the lack of mission. The lack of a common cause will mobilize no one. We must unite under a common cause, and be mobilized by it. That is what we see Jesus Christ doing with the apostles in the Word of God. I have spoken about this time and time again; my favorite passage in Matthew is Matthew chapter10, where we see Jesus sending out the apostles. How much better is our worship, services, fellowship, and reason for being when we are on mission??? My concern is how can we say that we have experienced the truth of the gospel or understand it, because mission is simply the outward impulse of the effects the gospel has on us as God’s people. Judge the tree by the fruit it bears??

So, with all of that said, let me conclude with the invite, are you ready to be involved in a radical movement, “the conspiracy of little Jesus’, why don’t you be the one to ignite a fire (figuratively) in your area, let’s go!!!

“If passion is eliminated, faith no longer exists”.

Love you all more and more, by the goodness and grace of Jesus Christ,

Michael Miano

Prophetic Imagination and the Gossip of a Missional Christian

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and King!

It has been a while, I hope everyone's "holy day season" is being blessed and will continue to be.
Well, to get right into it, I cannot begin to do this topic proper justice, but I will make an attempt. I seek to express my heart of these 2 vitally important aspects of our walk with Christ.
What is "prophetic imagination"? Basically the imagination Jesus Christ had, even more so the essence of God. Think about it. God uses some seriously interesting ways to reach people, a burning bush, a talking donkey, and the best of all, God putting on flesh! As stated by Shane Claiborne, "Until we have the sort of imagination that Jesus had to upstage hoarding and to celebrate a dream more liberating than the American dream, nothing will change".
If I had to define prophetic imagination, I would say its using the Holy Spirit creative force to reach the masses with the Gospel. Picture all the ideas...!!!
Just to reference, and now I am ashamed I even attempted to write this blog before reading..
The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann.

Now, using the prophetic imagination think about the mission. As Christians we are commanded to be on mission, spreading the gospel of Christ Jesus. All of us!!!
So, if we use this "prophetic imagination" in our everyday life, to fully persuade others of the truth that is in the gospel, what would our conversations be like.

I truly believe, that if we as Christian, devoted Christ-followers, begin to fully understand and live out the mission of Christ, we will "turn the world upside-down", just as the Apostles did in the 1st Century!
We have to become missional, and this will radically revolutionize everything we think we understand about the "Christian life".
Our Church gathering will be more than a song, dance, and sermon - rather it will be a time to gather as Believers and share and express all that the Lord is doing through us in our community.
Our lives will be so consumed with purpose we will not have as much worry or complacency of the whole sin matter.
Our Gospel (Good news of Christ) will make so much more sense to the world that so desperately needs it. Rather than repent and believe, it will be repent and live. Live this life that makes so much more sense.
And our conversation....
What did you and fellow Christians talk about after Church this week? gossip?
Consider, this...We will actually be able to gather and impact lives by all that the Lord is doing through us..Think of all the stories the 1st Century Believers could share! Or even more, think of the Chinese Church and how many stories they can tell! We have fallen short!
If and when we begin to follow the Jesus Christ, that SENT OUT the Believers, we can begin to be CHRISTIAN SUPER-HEROES!
Yes more to come....
Love to the body of Christ,
and a broken heart for the lost,
in the name of Jesus Christ,

Michael Miano
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (I Thessalonians 2:8)