Incarnational vs Attractional

What do these two terms mean anyway? I have a number of friends and aquaintances who are heavily involved in the Emerging Church movement. I respect greatly what most of them are doing.
However I do have an issue with what it might seem is an “exclusive” style of Philosophy and methodology in what they are doing. I struggle with some who seem to have thrown out the expression of the church as it is now, while still relying on it for support. It has been really encouraging though to see some, who are embarking on such works, also working alongside with and encouraging the work of more ‘regular’ expressions of Church.

This is why the article Brian Harris has written in the latest Advocate (WA Baptist Newspaper) is so ‘on the money’, in my opinion. http://www.theadvocate.tv/ADV1005.pdf
Brian advocates a ‘lets do both’ approach.

At Bedford I would like to think we are both heavily Incarnational and Attractional. We provide wondeful Community services, such as Toddler Jam (childrens ministry), Counselling, Welfare. But this is because we have a solid church base to support them. We also stress the need to be incarnational in our lives, be a Christian where you are.
People need support and encouragement to be incarnational. Christians need an attractive and relevant program to disciple, train, exhort and encourage them and their children.

I wonder if as time goes on what will be most valuable about the EC movement is not the communities it establishes, but the much needed redress it challenges the local church to embark upon.

3 thoughts on “Incarnational vs Attractional”

  1. Welcome to the blogosphere Mark. I look forward to reading more.

    PS: Congratulations on the Dockers win in London. See, you guys can beat the Eagles. (If we leave our Brownlow Medalists and most of our best players at home.)

  2. Hi Rod!
    Nice to have your comments,

    but I cant let that one slide by!!

    The Dockers had nine players in their side who had never played footy at AFL level!

    Please let all your wonderful players know about the Heimlich manouver, its wonderful for chockers!!

  3. What I want to know is, who won the fight? There wasn’t enough coverage to work out who won their round of world championship wrestling.

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