In my conversation with Borden the other day we discussed the theological underpinnings of mission and church. He suggested to me that if we are going to start with a christology then we need to be prepared at some point to ‘shake the dust off our feet’.

Mat 10:11-15 “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. {12} As you enter the home, give it your greeting. {13} If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. {14} If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. {15} I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

What he was suggesting was not persisting with people who have no time for Jesus or the gospel and moving on to more fertile fields.

Not very ’emerging churchish’ is it?…

But is it something we need to hear?

Is there a point when we allow relationships to dwindle because there are others who haven’t encountered the gospel and we have finite time to spend?

I can already feel the emergng church ‘authentic relationship’ heckles rising… If that’s not what Jesus was saying then someone help me see it differently.