I know it sounds pretty corny, but I think
it takes hard core disciples to be faithful and fruitful on the hard core
missional frontier. What I'm saying is that in order for a faithful witness to
be truly faithful, it must be incarnated within the lives of hard core
disciples who intentionally live in contact with the hard core of unbelieving
communities, cultures, people groups, cities or even families.
What is hard core discipleship? It is a
philosophy of life that is based on integration; a way of life that seeks to be
fully integrated with the Lordship of Christ. Hard core disciples are people
who believe that there is no such thing as part of my life being sacred or
religious and another part being secular or cultural. There is simply one way
of life that is integrated with the authority of Jesus. It is very important
for hard core disciples to know how to focus their lives. Frankly, it is not a
good idea for them to be told thast faithfulness is attending church, giving
financially and serving in a program in their local church. Why? This is a
highly reductionist concept of Christian life that does not require hard core
discipleship. A hard core disciple will be frustrated by this and after
enduring months or even years of guilt, will have to either dialogue with their
church leaders asking for some meaningful way to serve the Kingdom within or
through their church, or leave their church and find some way to further
integrate their lives around the authority of Christ. Sometimes, they move out
to the hard core missional frontier,
The hard core missional frontier is where
fruitfulness and faithfulness merge. It is the part of a society that is
non-Christian, post Christian or even anti-Christian, so fruitful witness has
to be faithful over time. I live in northern New Jersey in the US, and there is
a large missional hard core here that has hundreds of thousands of those
people. The hard core missional frontier in North Jersey is probably at least
50% of the total population of about 4 million. It consists of lapsed Catholics
and Protestants as well as people from these two Christian categories who are
now post-Christian, or at least the second generation that is totally unexposed
to Christianity. There are also thousands and thousands of non-Christians from
all over the world from every conceivable religious background, and there are
many thousands of people who are committed to a way of life that is actually
anti Christian; just ask them! A church that has great programs for families
and youth, expository preaching and a great band mean nothing in this context.
Disciples who are integrated with the authority of Christ in the midst of these
people will be fruitful, but it is not easy and quick, so faithfulness is
required. Hard core discipleship at this missional hard core will provide the
context for you to fully integrate your life into the Kingdom.
it takes hard core disciples to be faithful and fruitful on the hard core
missional frontier. What I'm saying is that in order for a faithful witness to
be truly faithful, it must be incarnated within the lives of hard core
disciples who intentionally live in contact with the hard core of unbelieving
communities, cultures, people groups, cities or even families.
What is hard core discipleship? It is a
philosophy of life that is based on integration; a way of life that seeks to be
fully integrated with the Lordship of Christ. Hard core disciples are people
who believe that there is no such thing as part of my life being sacred or
religious and another part being secular or cultural. There is simply one way
of life that is integrated with the authority of Jesus. It is very important
for hard core disciples to know how to focus their lives. Frankly, it is not a
good idea for them to be told thast faithfulness is attending church, giving
financially and serving in a program in their local church. Why? This is a
highly reductionist concept of Christian life that does not require hard core
discipleship. A hard core disciple will be frustrated by this and after
enduring months or even years of guilt, will have to either dialogue with their
church leaders asking for some meaningful way to serve the Kingdom within or
through their church, or leave their church and find some way to further
integrate their lives around the authority of Christ. Sometimes, they move out
to the hard core missional frontier,
The hard core missional frontier is where
fruitfulness and faithfulness merge. It is the part of a society that is
non-Christian, post Christian or even anti-Christian, so fruitful witness has
to be faithful over time. I live in northern New Jersey in the US, and there is
a large missional hard core here that has hundreds of thousands of those
people. The hard core missional frontier in North Jersey is probably at least
50% of the total population of about 4 million. It consists of lapsed Catholics
and Protestants as well as people from these two Christian categories who are
now post-Christian, or at least the second generation that is totally unexposed
to Christianity. There are also thousands and thousands of non-Christians from
all over the world from every conceivable religious background, and there are
many thousands of people who are committed to a way of life that is actually
anti Christian; just ask them! A church that has great programs for families
and youth, expository preaching and a great band mean nothing in this context.
Disciples who are integrated with the authority of Christ in the midst of these
people will be fruitful, but it is not easy and quick, so faithfulness is
required. Hard core discipleship at this missional hard core will provide the
context for you to fully integrate your life into the Kingdom.
Great article. The heart of man will be consumed by something. It seeks something to treasure. If not Christ it will be sports, work, drugs or even Christian Ministry. To integrate Christ in all of life, treasuring Christ is a prerequisite. "Where you're treasure is there will you're heart be also."
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