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Repackaging the Mission

I recently ran into an interesting phrase used to think about the opportunity the Roman Catholic Church was presented when the Pope resigned.  The phrase was “reboot the mission.”  I liked that phrase.  And when I pondered it, I realized this is not a Catholic opportunity alone.  It is actually an opportunity for all Christians.  And perhaps the same could be true for all the other major religious traditions, too.  Since I personally hail from the Christian tradition, I will limit these thoughts to that tradition alone.  If what I say applies more widely, then I am delighted.
           
The idea of rebooting the mission leads me to think there is nothing wrong with the mission.  Succinctly stated, the mission is to save souls.  At least this was the take by the author I was reading.  At one level, I would say this is accurate.  It is easy to read the New Testament and conclude that is what Jesus came into the world to do: save souls.  Of course, the tricky part is to determine precisely what that means.  I know that this has led to a number of conflicts and, probably, splits within the Christian family.
           
Let’s give some thought to what rebooting this mission might look like in the 21st century.  What is going to make it a compelling and attractive for people in our neighborhood and our world?  That is the missional question.
           
In the first place I would give some attention to the language.  A long time ago in the 1960s Marshall McLuhan recognized the relationship between the medium and the message.  In our focus the message is the mission: to save souls.  There are a variety of mediums (media) that can be used to “message the mission.”  For centuries the sermon has been an important---maybe the dominant---medium.  In a larger sense the sermon is part of the worship service---the Mass or other types of worship services.  This happened within a congregational setting.  People came together physically to worship and to hear the sermon.  This was the context for the message and to learn the mission.
           
This certainly remains the way it works for many in our contemporary American culture.  But statistics suggest that is working for a declining population in our country.  In this we appear to be following the trend that has characterized Europe for decades.  Does declining population going to church suggest the message and mission no longer matter?  I doubt it.
           
The dominant media for messages in our culture now would be television (perhaps also a declining population of viewers) and, certainly, the internet.  Cell phones, tablets, Twitter, Facebook and other electronic deliverers offer all sorts of messages.  The question is how does one announce the mission to save souls in one of these media?  Do I tweet someone and start the soul-saving process?
           
Again, I doubt it.  This leads me to my second point concerning rebooting the mission.  I think we probably have to change some of the ancient language and find new words, ideas and metaphors.  For example, let’s give attention to the idea of “save.”  I am sure that many people still value that word.  But I also think it carries less and less theological punch.  I do not find much evidence in the world in which I live that people are worried about being saved.  And if someone suggests that they need to be saved, they are not even sure what that means.
           
It is not certain what new language might work better.  But let me offer one possibility.  I suggest we talk about being made “whole.”  In my mind being saved is the same thing as being made whole.  But I think this new language might make more sense in our world. 
           
For example, I suspect most people do not think they are whole.  We are too busy, to bored, too superficial, too lost and too fragmented to feel like we are whole.  At the same time I think most people see “being made whole” as both possible and desirable.  Who would not want to be made whole?  The question is what that means and how does one get it or be given it?
           
Oddly enough, it is clear to me that classical Christianity offers substantial help here.  Being made whole has to do with meaning and purpose.  Without those, wholeness is a sham.  Being made whole has to do with relationship and, perhaps, community.  But if going to church is increasingly in peril, what is the 21st century alternative?
           
I don’t think the alternative is simply to try to re-create church online.  Instead we need to repackage the mission.  Part of that repackaging is the language change.  The mission is to be made whole.  For sure, the electronic media---Facebook, Twitter, tablets, etc.---can be the conduit for the message.  I offer a three step approach to this process: connect, communicate and communion.  If we can be brought to communion, we will be made whole.  More to come…
             

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