More on Missional

Out of Ur has a nice interview with Alan Hirsch on the meaning and importance of the word "missional" as a way of shifting emphasis from church as provider of spiritual consumer goods to one in which every member is a "missionary." Hirsch says:

Missional church is a church that takes its agenda from the mission of God in the world, and it defines itself or organizes itself around the mission of God.

But Hirsch adds a nuance to this when he adds the term "incarnational." Thus, his term, missional/incarnational. Hirsch talks about the difference between the attractional paradigm (bring the pagans into the church and impress them with your wonderful community), which is more or less dominant these days, and the missional paradigm (go to their communities, settle there, and incarnate Jesus among them).

I find this conversation very interesting. Hirsch, btw, blogs at The Forgotten Ways. Check it out.