Terminal Terminology

Terminal: the end of the line or an important junction point for transportation lines.
Terminology: the terms or system of terms used in a specific science, art, etc; nomenclature;

Webster always gives us insight on the words we use. So here are my thoughts regarding the new terminologies of doing mission work or church planting as many now call it.

I believe we are at the junction point for what we call 'mission work' in our ABA fellowship. This junction is now fully in view. Many are stalled at this junction point because of terminology, ie; the usage of terms that are being used to describe mission work as they have been used in our fellowship for the last 50 years.

Starting new churches/missions is a specific science (the Biblical knowledge of starting new works after the example of the great church planters of the Bible). Scientific terms are always changing to adapt to new factual and actual findings through experiment and study. We ought to be able to do the same thing when it comes to starting new works.

For instance: (this is just one example of the need for new terminology in gospel work)
For the last 50 years we have been starting 'missions'. It was a term adopted from the SBC and prior to that it was used by Protestants and the Roman Catholic church. But it was never found in the Bible. Even the concept of a 'mission' is not found in the Bible. But we adopted a term (terminology) called 'mission' and justified it for many reasons which I don't have time to elaborate on.

Therefore, the challenge of terminology has brought us to a junction point. Are we going to continue to call these new works that get started 'missions' or are we going to call them 'churches'? Because we have ingratiated ourselves to the usage of 'mission' we have built a whole system of how we do mission work. This system is now working against us because of its unbiblical foundation, as well-intentioned as it was. However, this is not the problem. The problem is that some are trying to use the biblical standard of starting or planting churches and it is being suggested that they are heretical. This is somewhat confusing isn't it? It is confusing because of how strongly we stand on the Word of God as our guide for doctrine and practice.

Some are even suggesting that the terminology of "planting churches" is universal church thinking and ought to be avoided for that reason alone. This is very strange thinking considering the intelligence and knowledge of those who say this. Paul said, 1Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Planting is a good biblical word and refers to starting churches.

My point about this whole matter is not so much about the terminology of mission vs church planting as it is that the scripturality of such terms ought to be first considered above everything else. Let's make the switch at this terminal and begin to think on a different track. Then the rest of the needed changes will come as we compare them to the scriptures and validate them through experiment and study.

David