Church Planting or Gospel Planting?
By Jonathan Dodson | November 22nd, 2008 | Category: Missional Church | 9 commentsAlan Hirsch has suggested that we move away from the term “church planting” in order to advocate a more biblically faithful term–”gospel planting.” Is Hirsch correct? Do you think the terminology should be changed? Does it matter?
HT: BH
Like it. I’ve tried to not use the term church planting. I don’t know that I would say it is technically incorrect, but it is a loaded term and suggests for most people a certain North American methodology. Rethinking our language helps us more critically think about our methods…in this case anyway.
I am interested in your statement: “it is a loaded term and suggests for most people a certain North American methodology.” What methodology, in your opinion, dominates NA church planting? In Acts 29, the PCA, and others, church planting is driven by gospel-centeredness, in which case, a name change is not necessary.
I stopped telling people that I’m part of a church plant or that I’m helping to plant a church. Rather I tell people that I’m helping to initiate a gospel movement in my city. The establishment of local churches through the city is simply the physical manifestation of a gospel movement. Church planting is not the ultimate goal – having a self-sustaining movement is. So, while gospel planting doesn’t roll off the tongue, I like what it represents better because I don’t just want to plant a church – a better box or better show. I’m trying to sow the seeds for a movement.
I’m not sure. I think when you say the word “church planting” most people have pre-conceived idea’s of what that is…Sunday gathering, small groups etc.
Also, I think many church are planted but for whatever reason those churches don’t make a legit impact.
Gospel planting seems a bit fuzzy also. Maybe it depends on who the end-user is in the discussion.
If we change our language could that the trajectory of our conversations?
You can plant a church and not really change anything…maybe switch some Christians around…but if you truly do “gospel planting” then it would seem that much impact would be made.
JD,
It seems like the most visible stream of church planting I have seen in the last five years has been a hard start/big launch within about six months of arriving in the community. As I talked to a few different denoms and church planting organizations about potential partnerships (PCA not included), this was the general strategy. So, that philosophy seems to be pretty dominant to me — ie, the church wasn’t officially “planted” until it had a service. Granted, that might have a lot to do with the heavy Evangelical emphasis of my own background which usually measured success via butts in seats.
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I’ve just asked that very same question myself on my blog. We still use the term, but I’m not that happy with it. Jesus doesn’t send us out in the world to plant an ecklesiology, a certain form church, a specific style of worship etc… He sends us out to make disciples, to plant the gospel of the kingdom of God. And out of that Christian community is born. For us it has quite profoundly changed how we think about initiating new Christian communities (or church planting, if you want to use that term).
I’ve just asked that very same question myself on my blog. We still use the term, but I’m not that happy with it. Jesus doesn’t send us out in the world to plant an ecklesiology, a certain form church, a specific style of worship etc… He sends us out to make disciples, to plant the gospel of the kingdom of God. And out of that Christian community is born. For us it has quite profoundly changed how we think about initiating new Christian communities (or church planting, if you want to use that term).
[...] Church Planting or Gospel Planting? [...]