Formative Streams
My Restorationist, Anabaptist, and Missional Roots
The other day I saw a Facebook friend post about his “roots” which are the traditions that shape a person’s way of being a Christian. These traditions or roots are what I like to think of as formative streams because they not only have an impact on our formation as Christians but also, like a stream, they are always flowing through our mindset both consciously and subconsciously.
So I thought I would share the three formative streams flowing through me as a Christian. In no particular order, these three streams are . . .
Restorationist: I grew up within the Churches of Christ, which are part of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. At the heart of this movement is the restoration of primitive Christianity, desiring to be “Christians only” based on the teachings of the Bible. Although I lament how the restoration impulse morphed into sectarianism and legalism, as congregations focused on the restoration of church polity, I still appreciate the desire for the pursuit of non-denominational Christianity and knowing what the Bible says. I am also thankful that many Churches of Christ are moving beyond a sectarian and legalistic faith.
Anabaptist: The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God, is a politic and therefore a way of life. The church is called to follow Jesus as his disciples, embodying the gospel (and its political claim) among the world. Therefore the church is called to live a peaceful, non-violent, life of self-sacrificial service as a testimony to the confession that Jesus is Lord. So without denying that some temporal goods in the world come through nations and their governing officials, followers of Jesus bring about the good of the gospel through their own good works as the church.
Missional: Rather than the church having its own mission, the church participates in the mission of God. This pursuit seeks to discern God at within the local neighborhoods and joins as followers of Jesus embodying the gospel. The church is functions with a servant-oriented and polycentric leadership rather than a top-down leadership that seeks to equip every believer to serve as the Spirit has gifted.
These are the formative streams that shape my approach to reading scripture, thinking theologically, and ultimately putting into practice my understanding of the gospel. Others, of course, will claim other formative streams, such as Calvinism, Holiness, Orthodox, etc. My list is not a critique of other formative streams, its just that these other streams have not shaped me as follower of Jesus who happens to serve as a pastor and writer. Of course, with all three of the formative streams I mention, there are some ways in which I differ from each of those streams to some extent. Another reason for identifying the formative streams that flow through me is that they will undoubtedly flow through my forthcoming book Gospel Portraits.
So what formative streams flow through you and how God has used such streams to shape who you are as a follower of Jesus?
Like Abram from his home, like Moses in the wilderness and the wandering, like Messiah who had no place to rest his head, churches need to understand that the Holy Spirit commonly calls disciples on both geographic and ideological journeys. Sometimes, willingly or forcibly, whole congregations are moved to peoples asking the Most High God to reveal a more mature relationship with him by providing a "modeling it" community. With 3000 + USAn denominations, the Holy Spirit appears to be much more concerned with dignity than with efficiency.