Gospel Formation
Dan Marotta wrote a short series exploring the essence of the vision of Redeemer Anglican Church (Richmond, VA): "Gospel Formation for Missional Presence." While this vision is inherently tied to Redeemer, it serves as a reminder for all of us on our spiritual journeys, encouraging us to deepen our connection with Christ and embrace a love that mirrors His. Below, you'll find excerpts from both of these writings, along with links to read the full letters.
Metamorphis | Gospel Formation
Strange as it might sound, I’ve actually been delighted to hear that this phrase is not obviously and immediately understandable. I know that I like most things in my life to fall neatly into my ready-made categories and I grow frustrated with anything that doesn’t fit neatly with everything I already believe and practice. However, the very definition of a change-agent is something that very much does not fit with what I already believe and practice. A change-agent disrupts. This is, of course, initially uncomfortable. But all true change begins this way.
So let’s seek clarity together, what is Gospel Formation?
GOSPEL: In Jesus Christ, God takes his creation—which has, because of sin, fallen into ruin—and redemptively restores it in every part, until the time of consummation, in which all things will at last be made new.
FORMATION: The intentional adoption of practices and habits in order to re-shape one’s internal life with God and self and one’s external life with others and the world.
We’ll take them one at a time.
What is missional presence?
One of the ways we talk about our life together is that the Church of Jesus is called to be a missional presence in the world. But what does that mean? “Missional Presence” sounds somewhat lofty, abstract, and vague. How can I tell if I’m doing it? How can I tell if it’s working?
Mission, a Fraught Word
The first challenge with the phrase is the word “mission.” Often the word mission is used exclusively to describe a person (usually a white westerner) who travels to another country in order to engage in cross-cultural evangelism. We are accustomed to calling this person a missionary - and rightly so. A missionary is someone who is living every aspect of life intentionally as a kind of missional presence. Whether they are grocery shopping, talking with neighbors, taking their kids to school, coaching soccer, or ordering a latte; everything they do, they do as a missionary - with the motive to represent the transforming love of Jesus to everyone they encounter.
Establishment Mentality
Now, those of us who grew up in what we might call “Establishment Christendom”¹ in the United States or Europe think of this kind of missionary as special, a kind of super-Christian. The tendency is to think that most average Christians live “normal” lives here that are categorically different from the lives lived by professional missionaries. The problem with this kind of attitude is not what it says about overseas, cross-cultural missionaries. Those dear brothers and sisters deserve our financial, prayer, and relational support. Many of them are doing great work and that is to be celebrated. The problem lies in what this attitude says (or does not say) about everyone else, the Christians who live in their homeland. It says they are not missionaries.
The Christian Life = A Missional Life
Ah, here is the problem. There is no such thing as a follower of Jesus who is not called to a missional life. All Christians are to live all of life with the motive to represent the transforming love of Jesus to everyone they encounter. “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17. The Bible, and especially the New Testament epistles, have much to say about varying spiritual gifts (prophecy, teaching, leading, giving, mercy, healing, etc.) and varying ecclesial offices (Bishop, priest/presbyter, deacon), but nothing about some being called to missions and others not.
A better, fuller understanding of the Christian life would mean recognizing that every man, woman, and child in the Church has a missionary calling and is to live with a missional “lens” through which they see every aspect of their lives.
The Rev. Dan Marotta is the Rector of Redeemer Anglican Church in Richmond, VA.