This post is the result of watching several interviews at www.allelon.org/

The subject matter dealt with the question: "What is missional church?" That isn't the subject of this post however. I found the comments of the theologians being interviewed far more substantive than a mere definition of missional church.

Two primary thoughts surfaced in the dialogue pertaining to the western Christian perspective of Scripture. This perspective has been around for centuries, so it isn't of recent vintage.

It was noted that westerners read and interpret the scriptures from a personal, individualistic perspective. Thus, the scriptures are understood to be a manual for personal salvation and self-improvement in walking out the Christian life. Therefore, the reader becomes the central focus of the scriptures.

However, it was pointed out that the scriptures are not focused on the individual, but on a people, the community of God. But this has been missed in western Christianity with its individualistic approach to Scripture, resulting in a warped view of what the scriptures are really all about.

Secondly, though not necessarily second in importance, the scriptures are about the mission of God. If we don't read and interpret the scriptures from a missional perspective, we miss God's intention in his written word. The devastating result is that we don't understand the purpose of God, therefore finding ourselves out of sync with him and what he is doing.

A radical course correction is required if we westerners are to get back on track with God. Thankfully, there are pockets where this is taking place, but we have a long way to go if the scriptures are to be understood and interpreted in the communal and missional context that is intended.