The Gathered AND Scattered Church

Book Review,
Halter, Hugh. Smay, Matt. The Gathered AND the Scattered Church. Zondervan, 2010.
Comment. Henry.
This book is a sequel to “The Tangible Kingdom”. This resource is an honest, commendable attempt to ‘move beyond the attractional-missional divide’. It is not a matter of either/or but both AND (scattered and gathered). It describes a balanced biblical church. Church leaders should find this read encouraging and informative.
Right off the authors are declaring that any valid expression of a (living) church, micro or macro or anything in between, is legitimate. “The power of the AND is seen in churches of all sizes” (26) where good things are happening.
The story of the church, the bride of Christ, begins with the chosen people of Abraham’s race and then continues with the chosen One who came as the Bridegroom, in the flesh. We are part of that chosen one, “the sent church”. (43)
“Any church of any size can be both missional and nonmissional at the same time. The difference is the lifestyle of the believers.” (52) In church planting a missional community needs to be developed whether you are starting from scratch or from structure.
Some helpful advice is shared regarding the challenge of consumerism in the church. A ‘consumer less’ church is a possibility.
Spiritual formation in missional churches is presented as a result of “observance, preparation, participation, and partnership”. (102) these concepts were introduced in “The Tangible Kingdom”.
To help us with the AND concept regarding gathered AND scattered, we revisit the concepts of “sodalic” and “modalic”. (127-128) It is time to recognize these two ‘thrusts’ as two arms of the same body. “The greater the collaboration, the greater the potential. The more aggressive the partnership, the more expansive the movement becomes.” (136) Herein lies the power of the AND. The “sodalic/modalic balance” (150) in each church will be unique depending on things like gifting, calling, capacity and variables.
Church gatherings are a popular target of church critics. “If we want people to find meaning in our church gatherings, we must help them gather for purposes and people outside the gatherings.” (176) Such a focus would certainly be a shock for the consumers in our congregations. Missional communities would be a natural outcome of such gatherings.
To help bring a perspective to this ‘gathered AND scattered’ thesis it is suggested that we seriously consider the legacy that we are leaving and how we plan to ‘finish well’.
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