I’ve had some good thoughts lately on mission. First, a hypothetical question: What would this country look like if we followers of Christ took our first and primary mission to be those we lived near? If you live in an apartment, those in your building… Or if you live in a house, those on your street. Then beyond them, those in your complex/neighbourhood. What would America look like if all the christians in this country did that?
My thoughts on mission follow that. I tend to think it would radically change the country. I’m not speaking from experience here. I have not seen this done and I am not yet doing it. I’ve realized that I have no training in how to even really befriend my neighbours. It is something that I want to do though. Alicia and I have talked about it some, and we both want to be good at it. She is quite a bit better at it than I am. I credit that to growing up in a small town where you are supposed to know your neighbours. I blaim my current lack of skill on growing up in suburbs where it doesn’t seem strange to not even know your neighbours. I think growing up in the suburbs makes one communally-challenged.
Alicia and I are going to be trying to befriend our neighbours. Befriending them, serving them, praying for them and just generally loving them is going to be our primary mission. I’ll let you know how it goes.
