THE MISSIONAL CHURCH

by Tim Keller

'We don't simpy need evangelistic churches, but rather 'missional' churches.'

• The missional church avoids 'tribal' language, stylized prayer language, unnecessary evangelical pious 'jargon', and archaic language that seeks to set a 'spiritual tone'.
• The missional church avoids 'we-them' language, disdainful jokes that mock people of different politics and beliefs, and dismissive, disrespectful comments about those who differ with us.
• The missional church avoids sentimental, pompous, 'inspirational' talk. Instead we engage the cuture with gentle, self-deprecating but joyful irony the gospel creates. Humility+Joy = gospel irony and realism.
• The missional church avoids ever talking as if non-believeing people are not present. If you speak and discourse as if your whole neighborhood is present(not just scattered Christians), eventually more and more of your neighborhood will find their way in or be invited.
• UNLESS ALL OF THE ABOVE IS THE OUTFLOW OF A TRULY HUMBLE-BOLD GOSPEL-CHANGED HEART, IT IS ALL JUST 'MARKETING' AND 'SPIN'.

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Wonder if Tim Keller would move to Abilene.