So far and yet so close to home

Michael Frost just wrote a book entitled, "Exiles -Living Missionally in a Post Christian Culture"- which was a fresh read with many new insights that forces reflection.

He sights an International Christian Conference where members of the underground church in China were asking people to pray that three government impositions would be lifted. 1. no unauthorized assembly of more than fifteen people is allowed; 2. no unauthorized buildings or sanctuaries can be erected; 3. no unauthorized formal training of leaders is permitted. As the request to pray was given, it occurred to those listening that they were requesting prayer for the removal of those things that forced the church underground -the restrictions that led the Church to beome the dynamic and powerful force/movement it has become.

As Michael Frost writes (I paraphrase some here), the first imposition led the church into a cell-division model and as they reach 20 they launch a new congregation. The second imposition compels the Church to meet in homes, restaurants, karaoke bars, and other private places. The third imposition causes the Church to train and equip their own indigenous leaders without formal schools etc. The irony; the Chinese government actually forced the Christian Church to rediscover the original genius as a missional movement.

What do you think the Church in America would look like if we had all three impositions forced upon us? Whatever you think, I'm for rediscovering our original missional roots.