8/26/07 - Life Journal - We didn't invent it?

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.
3 John 1:5-8

Wait a second! We didn't come up with anything new by being missional? Nope, just coined the phrase. By planting churches? Nope, just organized and networked it near to death. By growing disciples? Nope, just made it almost impossible for "initiates" to pass our own version of legalism that Jesus set out to banish. Here John is speaking with his friend Gaius and from what we read we can assume that he was a leader and teacher of Christ followers and rearing up disciples. Just as they were taken in, John says that Gaius should release them back into the world with good will so that all could work together for the truth, His Kingdom.

We have got to take discipleship more seriously. Sunday mornings can't just be a place for people to fraternize until the next "cool" church opens. It must be used to draw them to a deeper understanding and a road on which to lead them to higher purpose with instruction and encouragement. Likewise, this cannot be a dead end road. It should flow through our community and onward to others that need to hear His Gospel and be raised to be disciples.