BREAKING THE MISSIONAL CODE

Ed Stetzer and David Putnam, authors
Broadman & Holman, 2006

Review by George Pasley

Over the last few years I’ve read a number of books on evangelism and reaching the unchurched. “Breaking the Missional Code” is my favorite this far. I read it last fall and marked it up with notes, underlines, highlights and questions, then skimmed it again and re-read several chapters to reinforce and revisit my earlier thoughts.

I like it primarily for two reasons: One, it does not insist that a certain theological perspective is necessary for evangelistic success. There are some books out there that do, and they seem more aimed at proving their point than helping you introduce people to Jesus. “Breaking the Missional Code” does say “we must take the Bible seriously” and does reference a theology that does not compromise faith, but it leaves room for considerable differences and it does not overwhelm the reader with its bias.

Second, “Breaking the Missional Code” repeatedly makes list of key points, making it easy to understand and easy to apply.

In particular, page 81 lists four questions we need to ask before setting out on evangelism: 1) where are the unchurched/unreached? 2) Who are the unchurched/unreached? 3) Why are they unchurched/unreached? 4) What is God already doing among the unchurched/unreached? (I found the 4th question especially significant).

These lists are found in most every chapter but others that I found helpful were on page 102, barriers to helping seekers understand and feel safe in worship; page 103, list of important assumptions to make about engaging people in a meaningful way; and page 128, patterns for spiritual formation.

Regarding barriers to worship, I like the way they recognized that even though seekers and believers are looking for different things in worship, and that tension will exist between serving both groups, we all need to worship together to experience the Christian community.

Key principals the book lifts up: 1) North America is a poly cultural context, with many cultures being micro-cultures in a local community. If we want to reach people with our message we need to find them, get to know them, and deliver our message in a way they will understand. 2) Many persons are spiritually receptive but not familiar with Christianity. 3) Discipleship now begins before conversion as people need to experience and participate in the Gospel before committing to it. 4) Evangelism is now relational instead of propositional. 5) Evangelism will require patience since much of it is more about sowing seeds rather than harvesting.

I also like the book because it is, by definition, adaptable. Every culture and context is different. Though the book seems written by persons more familiar with locales of growing populations, it could easily be adapted to other contexts, such as my won, where populations are not growing but the numbers of unchurched persons ARE growing.

While reading the book I occasionally noted questions or critiques, only to have them answered a bit later. My most serious critique is that it emanations “servant evangelism” but them passes it by as if it were insignificant or nor worth pursuing, but perhaps it is only “beside the point.”