Book Review #6 - "God's Missionary People: Rethinking the Purpose of the Local Church" by Charles Van Engen

Jill Pratt
December 11, 2009
Church & Mission in a Global Context, Dr. Bolger
Book Review #6

God’s Missionary People: Rethinking the Purpose of the Local Church
By Charles Van Engen

Local Churches: God’s Missionary People

Chapter 1 – A New Perspective of the Local Church
This chapter spoke to me in regards to my final paper, specifically through the quote in the concluding paragraph, “it is precisely because of being part of the universal Church that the local congregation is in mission, and as it lives out its missionary nature the local congregation discovers itself emerging to become the church,” (33). The church I grew up in sees itself responsible for sending missionaries, but not participating directly in mission, which van Engen would disagree with.

Chapter 2 – The Impact of Modern Ecclesiology on the Local Church
Van Engen’s idea that the disciples’ identity as witnesses to the gospel is what would always be bringing them closer to who God made them to be helped me to see another side of being a witness to Christ (42). If it is acceptable to personalize this message, then not only does God want this for our lives, but in so doing the actions we take are not just to spread the gospel, but also work to heal our identity in Christ.

Chapter 3 – The Essence of the Local Church in the Book of Ephesians
I liked the point about God being the builder of the Church, through the Son and Holy Spirit (49). Often I feel overwhelmed at the thought of the frail, broken church. This is peace-giving to recognize- that God is working to unify the Body of Christ, and not merely his followers.

Chapter 4 – The Essence of the Local Church in Historical Perspective
The idea about the church feeling tense in regards to what it is today and what it really should be is interesting in light of the class discussions (59). So much of what the church does today seems to be in the pursuit of doing things the “right/best” way. This is good of course, but it seems like many churches are going about it in ineffective ways, seeking to be what humans think it should be and not what the word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit say it should be.

Chapter 5 – Restating the Missionary Intention of the Local Church
I think Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s statement about the church perfectly sums up one of the major problems with churches today (74). The inward focus prevails so heavily, despite efforts to expand outward, such as through “missions.” The small outward gestures often seem to only be a band-aid. The part about church growth was also interesting, as I have often gone back and forth about its importance or sign of a healthy church (81). I still cannot decide.

Local Churches: A New Vision of God’s Missionary People

Chapter 6 – The Purpose of the Local Church
The discussion of koinonia and the churches charge to love relates to another key issue with the church: it does not know how to love. Loving someone means knowing what a person needs and then supplying it. If I need food but you give me a new TV, it is not the best way to show me love. Perhaps my own biases are clouding my perception here, but the issues related to outward focus and the church seem to be that the church is confused about how to love those outside the church appropriately.

Chapter 7 – The Local Church and the Kingdom of God
Having taken a course by Van Engen previously, I appreciated revisiting his exposition of the Kingdom of God. Particularly, the way he lays out Israel’s role within Missio Dei and the Kingdom of God is helpful for me. It reaffirms a Biblical perspective, something I need reminding of as my concentration is in Islamic Studies, and Israel is often the topic of conversation.

Chapter 8 – The Role of the Local Church in the World
The description of the church taking its cues for action from Christ was a clear way to refocus the Church’s often-misunderstood role in the world. Sadly, I feel that it is almost impossible today to receive the healing that the Church is called to provide. This is because of a strong culture of “perfection” that is found in the Church. Healing cannot begin when everybody is happy and healthy, at least as it appears on the outside.

Local Churches: Becoming God’s Missionary People

Chapter 9 – Missional Goals in the Local Church
When I read about the systematic approach to diagnosing a church, I couldn’t help but think back to the early church. For some reason this approach seems too reliant on human understanding and not on the Holy Spirit. Of course the development of such tools is no doubt helpful, but it still seems a bit counterintuitive to the spiritual nature of following Christ.

Chapter 10 – Missionary Members in the Local Church
The “Santa’s Helpers” syndrome rang true for my own church experience (153). It seemed ironic too when thinking of pastors being served, when their role is naturally to serve. Unfortunately as well, it is those who assist in church that should be out of church doing ministry. The diagrams- (the Bottle-Neck Model and The Servant Model) were helpful for visualizing the models as Biblical and otherwise.

Chapter 11 – Missionary Leaders in the Local Church
The topic of leadership style is so important in this book! I come from a background where pastors are appointed at a church and then stay there until they retire- with no regard to what is needed. This is a problem with the style of one head-pastor church leadership. There needs to be more flexibility without risking church division and conflict.

Chapter 12 – Missional Administration in the Local Church
Again, I was excited to read about the spiritual aspect of administration, as this is an area I have found myself in professionally, although a bit reluctantly. This is a subject I need to study further, but having this chapter as a resource is personally helpful. All parts of the body have a purpose!