The Missional Church

In "The Missional Church," Tim Keller speaks to transformation that is needed within the American Church today.  I do not agree with everything said in the article, but much of it is really helpful.  The three paragraphs given below are from different contexts in his 3-page article.  I would note that my biggest disagreement with this article is that I do not think every aspect of the church should revolve around outreach; however, the point is that we must think of our mission even as we worship, disciple, have community, and serve. 

"But the church in the West had not become completely 'missional'--adapting and reformulating absolutely everything it did in worship, discipleship, community, and service--so as to be engaged with the non-Christian society around it. It had not developed a 'missiology of western culture' the way it had done so for other non-believing cultures. ...

In a 'missional' church, the laity needs theological education to 'think Christianly' about everything and work with Christian distinctiveness. They need to know: a) what cultural practices are common grace and to be embraced, b) what practices are antithetical to the gospel and must be rejected, c) what practices can be adapted/revised. ...

In general, a church must be more deeply and practically committed to deeds of compassion and social justice than traditional liberal churches and more deeply and practically committed to evangelism and conversion than traditional fundamentalist churches. This kind of church is profoundly 'counter-intuitive' to American observers. It breaks their ability to categorize (and dismiss) it as liberal or conservative. Only this kind of church has any chance in the non-Christian west. ..."

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."