The World Measures our Success

For far too long we have been afraid of the world and the affect it would have on us. Missional-minded people choose to have an affect on the world, not the other way around. In a real sense, it is not our testimonials, year-end reports and newsletters that tell of our success—it is the voice of those who are not even in the church. Look at how Luke describes Paul and his band of missional disciples through the eyes of those steeped in the world system:

• “…and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion,” (Acts 16:20)
• “…they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.’” (Acts 17:6-7)
• “…You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.” (Acts 19:26)
• “I get it!” came a remark from a pastor in one of Reggie McNeal’s D.Min. classes. “I have been thinking all along about changing the church. You are talking about changing the world!” Reggie concludes, “He did get it!”

We have got to set our sights on something much bigger than a church with thousands in weekly attendance. Contrary to what you thought, changing the church is not the idea of this book. That is a small goal not worth fulfilling. The only reason to shift from Church 2.0 to 3.0 is to change the world. Anything less is demeaning of Christ’s sacrifice.