The Church of God in Texas

As I think about the idea of an “unhindered” church or an “unhindered” person, I realize the shaping of our minds is paramount to the shaping of our behaviors. After all, we tend to do what we think! Hirsch and Ford make a compelling point with respect to this idea.

One of the most basic assumptions Christians should hold, say Hirsch* and Ford, is that God is already on mission in the world. Therefore, it’s not so much that we take the mission to the world, but that we join God on the mission he is already performing in the world. Do you see how this is different? For one, it takes some of the pressure off of us; we are simply doing what Jesus is already doing—and doing it with him. Secondly, it means accepting that God has already been active in a person’s life for a long time. Our approach, then, is not so much about introducing new stuff into their consciousness, but is calling forth the already-lived experiences of faith in their life (whether they realize or accept these experiences as spiritual) and helping them to see the ways in which God was there all the time.

I don’t know about you but this approach feels freeing. It feels more like I’m a friend talking about life than a salesman peddling Jesus. There is a WARNING: all of this presumes we are engaging the people around us—and you know what they say about assumptions.

(*from "Right Here, Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People")