Mere Missions

76 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

church are the foundation of a church that is planted. They are the absolutes that must not be compromised. The church planter is authorized and commissioned to plant the church, not a concept of what s/he wants the church to look like. Plant the church and one can grow a vision of the church. Thinking and applying the four marks to church planting makes the vastness and complexity of missions to the nations, attainable. It does not compromise the radical minimum of a biblical Church; the culture is not dependent upon the planter because the “framing and building” supplies come from within the culture (Self-Supporting and Self-Governing); it is reproducible when we think of the Kingdom principle of multiplication, i.e., the culture can identify, equip and release their own church planters to lay the foundation of the four marks of a church (Self-Propagating); allows for church planting movements to retain fruit that will last through a shared spirituality, a common practice, and be culturally sensitive to all people groups that make up the harvest field. They can move with velocity. The Apostle Paul was approximately three weeks in Thessalonica and planted a church. He surely didn’t have the time to train in money management principles, provide a marriage conference, address slavery issues or injustice issues of the ruling government, or the many other things that make for growth and maturity as a follower of Jesus in every area of life. As important as these are, and many other issues of life, the Apostle Paul proclaimed the Gospel leading to churches, bona fide churches, built on a solid radical minimum foundation. He entrusted the expected growth and nurture of the disciples through Spirit filled leaders. Paul was able to “fire and maneuver” and keep moving forward with the Gospel. Church planting and church planting movements can move with velocity. It’s not complicated.