missional
It has become a popular term in ecclesiastical circles. It simply means that every follower of Christ is a missionary and that all of life is a mission field. Being missional means that following Christ is not about trying to be a good church member or to get people to come to our services or programs. Being missional means that we are motivated to be the evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and now within his followers and to be involved among people who really need to see a little light of the kingdom.
post-christendom
Christendom was ushered in by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 306AD, when Christianity became the official state religion. Since that time there have been several state churches and the church has often enjoyed a place of status and favor with the government and within the culture. Through this time of favor, the church became a powerful organization. The same could be said for much of the history of the United States. It has become obvious to many historians and sociologists that this period of the church having a place of favor with government and culture is already coming to an end. Some experimental expressions of the church are giving us a peak at what the church may look like in the future as we move past the age of Christendom.
postmodern
I guess if we totally understood the phenomena, we would have a better name for it. It seems as though there is a new way of thinking and looking at the world that has just come on the scene in the last few years. Modernism began with the enlightenment period in the eighteenth century. It was characterized by a confidence in science, education, reason, and technology. It had a dramatic impact on Christianity. The new way of thinking that is developing elevates relationships, mystery, dialog, and artistry. As that trend develops, it seems almost more in keeping with scriptural understanding than the modern approach. We simply realize that it is becoming the context of our culture, therefore it is the context of how we relate to one another.
