What are the distinguishing characteristics of a Missional disciple?
Missional Christians are those who are being intentional about being the presence of Christ in the world. These followers are more Kingdom of God minded than personal agenda driven. They are movement oriented more than institutionally protective.
There are four general categories that I use in my training to distinguish these disciples...
1) Passion - Missional disciples have a passion for living out their individual and corporate calling. They are undeterred in their drive to BE the presence of Christ in the world. They are living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment with purpose and intentionality.
2) Story - Missional disciples are involved in the "story" of God's mission while living out their own story. They share their story both in action and in deed. As we minister, sooner or later people ask us, "Why are you doing this?" Missional disciples are then able to share their story with relevance and meaning.
3) Journey - Missional disciples know that they are in process, becoming MORE of who they already are. Missional disciples are categorized by growth and sacrifice. This is a growth process! Missional disciples do not appear "full-bloom" in the Kingdom. We are a pilgrim people! We sometimes forget that. Just as the disciples wanted to pitch tents at the Transfiguration, so do we! But Jesus gently nudged His brothers down the mountain, reminding them of the mission and the journey. We are to think and act "glocally", globally and locally. This is definitely a journey!
4) Mystery - Missional disciples are aware of a higher power directing their journeys! We don't know everything there is to know about God, we will never know God fully in this lifetime! We have to live partially in faith, knowing that we "see through the glass darkly"! The missional disciple encounters ambiguity everyday and deals with this in the certainty of the love of Christ!
Missional disciples are not necessarily "super Christians" nor "spiritually elite"! They are more intentional about a passionate and purposeful daily lifestyle of being the presence of Christ in their world!