AGENDA

I know that it's popular right now to focus on missional living and relational evangelism.  I certainly have jumped on the bandwagon, and without regret.  However, there is something about the movement that leaves me a little restless.  How are we supposed to build relationships with those outside of the church with "no strings attached" - that is, no agenda?

I find it almost impossible not to have an agenda.  Maybe it's OK to have an agenda.

Truth be told, when I meet someone I immediately long for their salvation.  I find myself trying to find common ground and build rapport.  I desire to earn trust and respect.  I pray for them to know Jesus.  I have an agenda and it's pretty hard to hide.  I want them to go to heaven and skip hell.  I want them to know the joy of knowing Jesus.

Did Jesus have an agenda?  He said that He came to "seek and save those who are lost."  He came to bring salvation to the Jews.

Did Paul have an agenda?  He said that he tried to find common ground with all men in order to save some (1 Cor 9).  His mission was to bring salvation to the Gentiles.

I'm not saying that I want to be an obnoxious, peddling, telemarketer for Jesus.  But the only way I can think of not having an agenda is to try and quit caring about people's souls.  Am I missing something?

Comments

[Paul R]

Roy, found your blog a week or two ago after the STBC article. nice blog. we are transitioning to the missional concept (very slowly). reading Driscoll's Radical Reformation and McNeal's Present future. your critique here of "missional" is good -- i've wondered this as well. I'll link to this.

[sean]

My thoughts exactly.
Keep up the good blogging.
-Sean
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www.SeanDietrich.com
"All my music is free."

[Snoopdon]

While we do have a desire to see them saved, I think that when we have "no strings attached" it is a recognition that our ultimate responsibility is to love them while it is God's responsibility to save them. When we love them like Jesus and our talk about church and Jesus is not propped by ulterior (sp?) motives (which have overwhelmed and drowned out many) it will happpen in God's time that we can share more specifically after we have earned that right in a person's life. That right for some comes from a long term consistent relationship built on trust. As a result of that trust, a friendship will be the same whether or not the other person sees eye to eye with us about Jesus. A lot of times Christians come with all guns blasting before a true friendship is formed. Just because you care about a person in that way, it does not have to be labelled an "agenda." But, it could and should come up sometime naturally because of who you are. That is my thoughts for today.

[The Bishop]

My thoughts exactly, bro. The supernatural product of our love for people should be their well-being. And, in this case, their eternal well-being. What better way to love someone than to help them live forever?