It is finally time to reveal the name for the new church! Henceforth, we shall be known as The Redemption Movement!One of the greatest luxuries a church planter has is to give the church a name that will communicate the churches values, vision, and purpose. I believe "The Redemption Movement" captures these ideas beautifully. Each word has deep meaning, I want to briefly explain "Redemption" and "Movement," and then show how a combination of the two creates a mission statement for the church.
REDEMPTION
This word is a theological term that answers the "why?" to the Gospel story. God interacted with history, sent Jesus to die on the cross, in order to redeem His people. The idea of redemption overlaps meaning with the words "atonement" and "salvation," two other theological ideas crucial to explaining the Gospel. Here are two definitions of "redemption" by real theologians.
1. Christ's saving work viewed as and act of "buying back sinners" out of their bondage to sin and to Satan, through the payment of a ransom.--Wayne Grudem
2. The work of Jesus on the cross results in the deliverance from bondage, and a freedom which means a reconciliation with God, of slaves who had been freed by him and are now his adopted sons, in the Son who ransomed them.--James Atkinson
I think culturally, redemption is a safe word. Everybody enjoys saving money redeeming coupons, and what's not to like about Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"?
MOVEMENT
1. Christ's saving work viewed as and act of "buying back sinners" out of their bondage to sin and to Satan, through the payment of a ransom.--Wayne Grudem
2. The work of Jesus on the cross results in the deliverance from bondage, and a freedom which means a reconciliation with God, of slaves who had been freed by him and are now his adopted sons, in the Son who ransomed them.--James Atkinson
I think culturally, redemption is a safe word. Everybody enjoys saving money redeeming coupons, and what's not to like about Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"?
MOVEMENT
There are three ideas that I want to communicate with "movement".
1. In the Bible, the way the church grows in the book of Acts can be classified as a movement. For example, Jesus commands his followers in Acts 1:8, "and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In today's context, it is like Jesus is saying He wants His Gospel message to begin in the city, spread to the county, to the state, to the nation, and to the world. Jesus wants His message not to just be told and retold in a single church building, but He wants to see His Gospel spark a movement that engulfs the world.
2. The movement that we see in Acts can be classified under this definition: "a series of organized activities working toward an objective." The objective: spread the Gospel, the means of spreading, church planting. At the Redemption Movement, we share the same objective as the church in Acts, and everything we plan and do will be to further the Gospel.
3. The world of art also lends us great meaning to movement: "a distinct structural unit or division having having it's own key, rythmic structure, and themes and forming part of an extended musical composition." I believe God's plan to redeem humanity can be compared to a well thought out and composed work of art, there is movement, beauty, truth, and eveything works together for God's purposes. The church and it's activities, or movements, should reflect the beauty of a living God that is always moving throughout His creation.
Culturally, I think the term "movement" is more acceptable then "church." I believe in church, and by every definition the Redemption Movement will be a church. But when our culture thinks of "church" they think of buildings, suits and singing, or even scandals or how organized religion is unnecessary for today. "Movement" is a bold word that lets everybody know that we have big intentions to start a movement that changes how things are done around here.
If we combine these ideas of "redemption" and "movement," we come up with this as our church mission statement. The Redemption Movement: a participation in the Divine movement, composed to restore lost and hurting people who are valued by God, with the hope and freedom paid for and found in Jesus Christ.
The Redemption Movement begins 2010 in Oneonta New York.
1. In the Bible, the way the church grows in the book of Acts can be classified as a movement. For example, Jesus commands his followers in Acts 1:8, "and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In today's context, it is like Jesus is saying He wants His Gospel message to begin in the city, spread to the county, to the state, to the nation, and to the world. Jesus wants His message not to just be told and retold in a single church building, but He wants to see His Gospel spark a movement that engulfs the world.
2. The movement that we see in Acts can be classified under this definition: "a series of organized activities working toward an objective." The objective: spread the Gospel, the means of spreading, church planting. At the Redemption Movement, we share the same objective as the church in Acts, and everything we plan and do will be to further the Gospel.
3. The world of art also lends us great meaning to movement: "a distinct structural unit or division having having it's own key, rythmic structure, and themes and forming part of an extended musical composition." I believe God's plan to redeem humanity can be compared to a well thought out and composed work of art, there is movement, beauty, truth, and eveything works together for God's purposes. The church and it's activities, or movements, should reflect the beauty of a living God that is always moving throughout His creation.
Culturally, I think the term "movement" is more acceptable then "church." I believe in church, and by every definition the Redemption Movement will be a church. But when our culture thinks of "church" they think of buildings, suits and singing, or even scandals or how organized religion is unnecessary for today. "Movement" is a bold word that lets everybody know that we have big intentions to start a movement that changes how things are done around here.
If we combine these ideas of "redemption" and "movement," we come up with this as our church mission statement. The Redemption Movement: a participation in the Divine movement, composed to restore lost and hurting people who are valued by God, with the hope and freedom paid for and found in Jesus Christ.
The Redemption Movement begins 2010 in Oneonta New York.
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