In the center of the ongoing conversation of what it means to be “missional” is the concept of being incarnational.  Basically, what does it mean to live like Christ in our culture.  The key to incarnation is answering two questions.  First, what did Jesus do while he was incarnated?  Second, are we doing those things today?

A few things did while Jesus lived on earth:

• Taught people
• Healed people
• Fed people
• Prayed a lot
• Hung out with people, of every stripe
• Criticized religious people
• Was killed

The Church:

• Excels in teaching
• Doesn’t do much healing…unless you’re a charismatic, but we don’t want to talk about them…
• Occasionally partners with non-profits that feed people
• Talks about praying a lot
• Is often exclusive, and has even built church growth theories on gathering exclusive groups
• Criticizes people of differing political, sexual or theological persuasion
• Occasionally faces persecution in far off corners of the world

What would you add to these lists?  There are two more questions: Why did Jesus do what he did?  What would he do today?