Rethinking Mission and Discipleship in the Modern Context; With Geoff and Joy

The Communitas International Podcast

In this episode of the Communitas podcast, hosts Geoff and Joy engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the evolving language and concepts of mission and discipleship within the Christian context. They discuss the historical baggage associated with the word "mission" and its connotations of colonization and cultural imposition. Joy shares a personal story from her teenage years, highlighting the disconnect she felt between the church's structured programs and her desire to engage in mission within her own community.

The hosts emphasize the need to move away from viewing mission and discipleship as static nouns or institutional programs, advocating instead for an understanding of these concepts as dynamic actions and ways of being. They encourage listeners to think of mission and discipleship as verbs, reflecting energy, movement, and relationship.

Throughout the episode, Geoff and Joy explore how the language used in Christianity has remained stagnant over the years, contrasting this with the evolution of terms in other fields like science and technology. They propose redefining mission and discipleship to better align with contemporary understanding, focusing on being with others rather than doing for them, and highlighting the importance of each individual's unique contributions.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of power structures within religious institutions and the need for a more inclusive and participatory approach. The concept of discipleship is reexamined as a relational, organic, and long-term process of mutual growth and vulnerability, moving away from traditional programmatic interpretations.

Listeners are invited to join the conversation by sharing their thoughts on mission, discipleship, and other Christian terminology that may need redefinition. Geoff and Joy express their hope to continue redefining and reclaiming these concepts, emphasizing the centrality of relationship, love, and collective closeness to God in their understanding of mission and discipleship.

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