My book, Apostolic Imagination was published twelve months ago. As with most books, it takes time for word to spread and people to add a new piece of literature to their reading lists. Most authors take time to reflect on their works with more and deeper reflection the farther they move away from publication dates. Though it has been a year, I am more convinced now we need to ask what was the apostolic imagination that influenced much of the first-century labors, and how should that affect the Church’s global task today?
The recovery of a biblical vision for the Church’s mission is not an easy endeavor. We did not arrive here overnight. The challenges will not be overcome next week. And anyone who calls for a paradigm shift is always looked at with skepticism by many, ignored by most (for about a decade), but taken seriously by a few. It comes with the territory.
But for those of you who are interested, a glance at the challenges to the apostolic imagination provide a portrait of the present.
8 Challenges to the Apostolic Imagination
1. Confusion over definitions of mission, missio Dei, missionary, and missions.
Put ten believers in a room and you will get a multitude of differing definitions over these terms. We use the same words, but carry different dictionaries. Extra-biblical terms, lacking a robust exegetical theological foundation, primarily understood in view of modern constructs, result in confusion within the Church and on the field.
2. Theological shifts of the 18-20th centuries.
Movement away from conversionistic theology and the exclusivity of Christ when it comes to soteriological matters, resulted in an elevation of interfaith dialogue as mission and the acceptance of pluralism and inclusivism as healthy alternatives for the Chruch.
3. Pastoral hegemony.
Ah. Here is where I’ve gone from preaching to meddlin’ (But let me be quick to remind you that I write as one who has served as a pastor for nineteen years.). The majority of the Church’s approach to the Great Commission task is filtered through a pastoral set of lenses. While this is good and correct where churches are planted, such is not the way of the apostolic. Pastors are not apostles, and apostles are not pastors. There is a reason for the difference. This is wise and good in the eyes of our Lord. However, over 2000 years, we have come to approach labors among the unengaged and unreached peoples with pastoral methods and strategies.
4. Theological training in the Academy.
Closely related to the aforementioned matter, much of theological education today is to train pastors for local church ministry. And while there are many universal elements that also apply to those seeking to lay a foundation that has not been established, seminaries and divinity schools generally offer little for those called to apostolic labors. Look at the typical M.Div. or M.A. in a school’s catalogue and it will be obvious.
