Insider Movements and Outsider Missiology
Thanks to Gary Corwin for his pro found commentary, “Insider Movements and Outsider Missiology” (January2006). He hits the nail on the head when he says that “a common phase in.. .conversion. . .is being made by many into an ultimate objective or strategy.. .called insider movements.” The fact that a person can be saved while holding faulty theology has been made a justification for encouraging individuals to remain in a state of weak theology and inadequate fellowship. An earnest desire for increased results has led many workers to abandon biblical perspectives and try out a Pandora’s box of compromises, with the rationale that the end (reaching as many “focus” people as possible) justifies the means.
Perhaps even more problematic than some of the experiments being tried on the field is the host of young workers heading to the field who have heard a good “insider movement” sales pitch, and thereby concluded that anyone not open to “C5” minis try is not in tune with the latest word in missiology. Rather than thinking biblically about the issues, they assume they have learned the key that is going to bring the glorious community movements that eluded their “stodgy” predecessors.
We are all in favor of Christ-followers continuing to live as much as biblically possible as “insiders” in their community. But when “insider” becomes a code word for encouraging entrenched compromise and doctrinal confusion, it is time to ask for clearer definitions and more biblical thinking. Thanks,
—A field worker in
( EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No.
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