Discovering Mission at the Margins

My friend, Mike Smith, says, “Don’t say Baptists have never done a certain thing. Baptists have done a lot of things.” This is not only true for the Baptist tribe, but the Christian Church historically. As we study the history of the Church, we observe a continuing evolution of thought and practice. This is especially true in relation to what we call the mission of the church.

Mission has been continually reconceptualized down through the last two thousand years. Missiologist David Bosch and theologian Han Kung suggested that the church has gone through several “paradigm shifts” in relation to its mission. We might consider the changes in this way:

The apocalyptic paradigm of primitive Christianity was based on the expectation of the imminent or impending return of Christ.
The Hellenistic paradigm of the patristic period addressed this situation: “What do you do when Christ does not return as expected?”
The medieval or Roman Catholic paradigm established the Church as the purveyor and protector of culture and civilization.
The Protestant (Reformation) paradigm brought theological options, but little changed in the role of the church and it continued establishment under secular rulers.
The modern Enlightenment paradigm addressed the role of faith in the light of rationalism and the scientific method. An unexpected consequence was the increased emphasis on individualism and one’s “personal relationship with Christ.”
The emerging ecumenical paradigm showed promise but became marginalized due to the decline of the churches’ influence in society and the decline of Christendom
The Postmodern paradigm is now being created. What is the mission of the church in a postmodern, global, intercultural society?

During these twenty centuries, one recurring trend is the emergence of new approaches to mission on the margins--outside the established church. Monasticism began outside the church and eventually became a vital part of its structure. Orphanages and hospitals were started by Christians, but not always with church sponsorship. Mission societies, camp meeting revivals, Sunday schools, evangelistic crusades, Bible societies--these and many other endeavors that we take for granted as “the way we do church” were initially unsanctioned by those in power, but they worked, grew in influence, and became the norm.

Many of these ministries are expressions of the Spirit of God breaking through in unexpected places. So, where do we look for new ways to pursue the mission of God today? We use our peripheral vision to catch a glimpse of what God is doing outside the walls. We look for those spiritual entrepreneurs who could not find a way to live out their calling within the traditional ways of “doing church.” They are our prophets and pathfinders. Although they may make us uncomfortable and trouble our complacency, they are leading the way forward.

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