Wearing badges is not enough in days like these....

Red Wedge, Newcastle 1985 (it could have been 1986). I saw the Smiths there! But I also saw the wonderful Billy Bragg. I can rememember Morrisey's gladioli, I can remember the Style council and I can also remember Jimmy Somerville singing with a woman who seemed at least 5 times his height. My strongest memory, however, is hearing Billy Bragg talking about the Labour Party (remember, these were the dark days of Thatcher) and talking about how it was so great that the concert was a sell out, but that meant nothing unless the 'real work' continued and grew after the concert. I can remember leaving, singing his closing song 'Wearing badges is not enough in days like these'. I can remember thinking that I was a Labour Party member in badges only...

I have often thought on those words. I'm thinking on them now as I start a year with soul searching (as ever). I am a Christian, I am a minister- but I'm wondering if these have just become badges. Soon, our income will increase. It will be possible to buy clothes, food, heating, even treats without wondering how we are going to afford it. After 7 years, I can't tell you what that feels like. Maybe I will feel less like an outsider in this village; I don't know

Thing is, I'm already plotting how to spend it..... and a few days in, I'm wondering 'where is God in all this?' See- I have the new(er) car planned, ideas of holidays etc and it seems like God/Christian living has got pushed to the edge of my actions- what about giving/living generously and not just trying to reflect the values of my (over) affluent community? I have no answers at the moment..... but I keep hearing those words- 'wearing badges is not enough in days like these.'

And now, a continuity link leap that even someone in local radio would wince at.......I found this yesterday about the badge 'missional' that has been at the centre of my thinking for I guess, 5 or more years. It made me wince and think 'wearing badges is not enough in days like these.'

Where to now, O Lord?!

http://brackishfaith.blogspot.com/2008/12/are-you-mino.html (HT: the always excellent http://www.backyardmissionary.com/- and see his recent post (today?) on ‘Post-Missional’ - More Than a Dash of Truth?)

'But an idea that has been brewing in my head is that part of the misgiving some have over the word missional comes from the fact that some (many?) who use it are misusing it. I’d like to suggest that there are a lot of churches/individuals out there that are Mino (or Missional In Name Only). And before I continue - I not claming the higher ground on this one because that would just make me a hypocrite. I’m defiantly still trying to overcome my own Minoness.So without further ado – Are you Mino?

+If all the talk is all about ‘going’ and no one goes anywhere – you might be Mino.

+If the majority of your money, your leaders time and your buildings are still used to meet your needs – you might be Mino.

+If your idea of church is still just one hour out of your life each week – you might be Mino.

+If I can come to your church, be anonymous and just blend in – you might be Mino.

+If you spend any significant amount of time perfecting the show – you might be Mino.

+If your worship is little more than an act of spiritual masturbation – you might be Mino.

+If church always has to feel good – you might be Mino.

+If you like to talk about being missional because you think it might help grow ‘your church’ – you might be Mino.

+If you have added a ‘missional program’ – you might be Mino.

+If you bare no resemblance to your surrounding community – you might be Mino.

+If you bare too much resemblance to your surrounding community – you might be Mino.

+If your church sold its building, cancelled all services and programs, fired all staff and gave all its money to the poor but then the church didn’t exist anymore – you might be Mino.