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Get your own, Free HomepageWE--as Christians are like those agents. We have a mission. But our mission is always possible...because our mission is given to us by God. That's who we work for.
What is that mission? Depends. For the Church universal? For us as individuals? For this particular church? Well...in all of those cases God provides a mission. We must seek it...accept it...and act on it. This morning I want us to investigate the missions that have been assigned: to the church universal - to us an individuals - and to this particular church.
First...what is a "mission"? In the context we're thinking of...with us being, as the Blues Brothers would say, "on a mission from God," Webster's College Dictionary provides a good definition: A "mission" is "a specific task that a person or group is sent to perform."
So what is that "specific task" that we have been sent to perform? For the church universal--the whole Christian church the world over--God's bottom-line mission is summed up in the words of Jesus that are known as "The Great Commission:" "...go and make disciples of all nations."
That's THE church's mission. It's important for us to know that. If we're unclear about what our mission is, then it's easy to get sidetracked...to fail to do what God would have us do which is make the good news of God's incredible love--made known to us through Jesus Christ--available to all people, everywhere. Everyone who would serve God as a Christian must play a part in helping to achieve that mission.
During a flight on a commercial airline, the flight attendant asked a passenger if he would like dinner. The passenger asked, "What are my choices?" The flight attendant answered, "Your choices are 'YES' or 'NO'" So it is with us as members of Christ's church. The mission has been assigned. We can only say "YES" or 'NO."
It's not just the church as a whole that's been given a mission though. Individuals are given missions, too. Even Jesus had a mission. His mission could be summed up by his own words, found in the Gospel of John: "I have come that they (that is, all people) may have life...and have it abundantly." We might even say that that was Jesus' "mission statement." It defined his goal and purpose for being here.
Now the concept of "mission statements" is one that has been embraced and acclaimed in recent years in the business world. But, obviously--since Jesus had one--the concept is nothing new. Perhaps its time for us, as individuals, to examine our goals and purpose for being here: to develop a personal mission statement as we do our parts to fulfill the Great Commission.
During World War II, on certain patrols, if an unidentified soldier appeared suddenly in the dark and could not state his mission, he was automatically shot without question. I wonder what would happen if we reinstituted that policy today!?
Author Laurie Beth Jones writes: "Being confronted with a 'life or death' need to know one's mission would force millions of us to reexamine who we are, and what we're really about. It would save immeasurble amounts of money, tears and heartache. Absenteeism would drop. Productivity would soar. Leaders of Congress, corporations, institutions, and associations would be forced to exchange rhetoric for real and meaningful action. People who linger in the shadows, leading unfulfilled lives, would burst into the sunlight of Possibilities and Power. Those who have never known what it's like to feel a passionate commitment to a cause would be catapulted from their couches onto the playing field [of life]--tasting the dirt, feeling the sweat and the sting of tears and having the wind knocked out ofthem...and in the process become fully alive.
The first reading we heard this morning,(Ephesians 3:7-12) from Paul's letter to the Ephesian church, explores some of Paul's ideas about his mission. This particular reading is tied very directly into my own experience of my calling into ministry and my personal understanding of my goal and purpose for being here. I know that, as Paul said, "To me, the least of all believers, was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles--[that is...the socially, politically, religiously "unacceptable"]--the incredible, myriad riches of Christ and to make plain the mysteries of God..."
Now the story of how the Scripture came to me and how it ties in with my call to ministry is a long story for another time and topic. But suffice to say, having that understanding of God's mission FOR ME has helped me to accept my role in the church and has freed me to use my own personality and perspections to do my part toward "making disciples of all nations."
You see, when I scoff at some human-made religious traditions...and invite you to laugh with--and at--me...and when I preach using references to things like lost lizards and my own breasts--(sorry, visitors, you had to be here), I am simply trying to fulfill my mission--as I understand it: to show you that Christ is way bigger than our traditions and to help make God's ways meaningful and understandable to the average person. That's my mission.
Do you know what your mission for God is? Your mission won't be like mine...or the person next to you...or your parents or your friends. It will be unique. It may be huge. It may seem small and simple. Don't place those kinds ofjudgments on what God may be asking you to do. Remember: in God's mission, there are no small parts--only arrogant people who may think they know better than God does!
Ask God to help you explore and understand your mission. Just be aware" seeking, accepting and acting on your mission will change your life. A personal mission--accepted and defined to the point ofbeing a personal mission statement--will act as both a harness and a sword. It will harness you to what is true about your life, and cut away all that is false. Your life will change. Mine certainly has.
God has given a mission to the church universal. God will provide a mission to each of us if we will seek it, accept it and act on it. And God has a mission for this church.
We are one part of the church universal. We aren't expected to create disciples of the whole world from here in St. Louis. But we are expected to come together as commissioned individuals to seek, accept and act on our mission as a church.
So what is that mission? Well, that's where a "mission statement" can be particularly useful. Ifwe don't have a clear mission, on which we can all agree, then we open ourselves up to lots of communication problems, and we may often fail to understand each other or even really know where we are and what we're being asked to do.
Like the two New Yorkers who were driving through Louisiana. As they were approaching the town of "Natchitoatches," they started arguing about the pronunciation ofthe name. They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch. As they stood at the counter, one New Yorker asked the cashier, "Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are...very slowly?" The cashier leaned over the counter and said, "Buurrrrrr-ggeeerrrr Kiiiiing."
Now no doubt, after 25 years of existence, we as a church must be, in some ways, living out God's mission for us. But having a "mission statement" can help provide the focus and clarity we need to do a better job.
I remember when I first got my glasses. I was around 25, and when I was driving I noticed that it was getting harder and harder to read the directional signs along the road. Eventually it got to where I couldn't read some signs until I was literally right on top of them and often, by that time, I had missed my turn or my exit or run through an intersection! Not a good thing!
I remember when, after seeing the eye doctor and getting my perscription, I went to pick up my new glasses. I took them and turned toward the windows at the front of the store and slipped them on. Oh, my...it was like someone reached down and focused the picture! As I got used to wearing them and driving with them on, I was amazed at how clearly I could read signs and see what was coming up. Then I began to wonder what else I had been missing as I fumbled along in a constant blur! That's what a "mission statement" can help do for our church. It can focus the picture and help us see clearly where we're trying to go.
Now what should a mission statement be like? Well, I've done a lot of research and talked with some pretty knowledgable people about this. There are three simple elements to a good mission statement:
Now creating mission statements has been pretty popular in churches over the past several years. The intentions have been good--the processes ofcreation intricate and well-meaning. But lots of times folks have just simply missed the mark.
For example, this is the actual Mission Statement of a church I know nothing about: the Kimball (that's a city, I guess) Church of Christ: "Our mission is to honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by carrying out His command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28: 1 8-20). Specifically, we believe God has called us to focus on reaching those in Kimball and the surrounding areas who do not regularly attend church. In order to accomplish this, Kimball Church of Christ will be an equipping center where every Christian can be developled to his or her full potential for ministry. This development will come through: creative, inspiring worship, teaching which is Biblical and relevant to life, vital supportive fellowship, and opportunities for outreach into the community in service and evangelism."
Now remember...you're supposed to be able to recite that by memory at gunpoint. If that were the case...how many of you have a hope of surviving?! The goals are great... the intentions admirable...but that's not a "Mission Statement."
So what about us? What's a good, short, understandable, memorable mission statement for the Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis? Well, to arrive at that, I first had to evaluate several things. This church had done some good work toward the formulation of a mission statement, as well as a vision for doing ministry--which is the next step--a few years ago. I certainly didn't want to ignore or discredit that.
Then I needed to talk: with staff, Board Members, ministry leaders, members and friends about your desires and viewpoints regarding our church and its mission. I had to examine my own heart and spirit--to discern, as your pastor, what God was telling me about the goals and purpose for this particular body. I finally concluded some basic things. Please tell me if you agree.
We represent the inclusive, embracing, forgiving, healing, victorious truth made known to us through Jesus Christ. We proclaim that God's love can overcome, override, overtake and oversee anything. Do you agree?
O.K. Then I concluded that we are here to do three things with that wonderful all-surpassing love of God. First, we are here to put it into action...into flesh and blood...to make it manifest to people in and around St. Louis through our actions and work for justice, our relationships with each other and through our prayers. Do you agree?
Second, we are here to communicate that great, surpassing love: to preach it, to teach it, to share it in outreach to the community, to make it clear and understandable and desirable to those who are so hungry for it. Do you agree?
And thirdly, we are here to celebrate God's love--when we worship...in our caring and socializing together...through laughter and fun, through work and prayer. Do you agree?
Great! Then the only challenge was to put all that into a single sentence...that was pretty easy to understand and could be recited by memory at gunpoint! Well, I think we've done it!
This morning, church, I want to present to you our new "Mission Statement."
That's a single sentence. It's simple enough to understand. We are here to live out, to share and to be excited about a love from God that overcome anything! And ifyou can remember where you go to church--the Metropolitan Community Church ofGreater St. Louis--M.C.C G.S.L.--you have the mental hook to be able to recite this statement at any time -even at gunpoint!
From now on, this Mission Statement will appear on our bulletins and most ofour other printed materials. And I want everyone to learn it by heart! In two weeks, I will share with you a Vision for achieving this mission...a way that we can always check ourselves so that we will stay on track with what God has called us to do here. We are the agents ofa great and powerful--tender and loving God. We have a mission--and ifwe will continually seek it, accept it and act on it, we will always find it to be completely possible...because, with God, all things are possible! --Amen.
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