Metanoia

The theme of ECO's National Gathering next week is "Metanoia" -- a reference to Alan Hirsch's 2023 book of the same title. Hirsch, an entrepreneurial Australian author and key thought leader in the missional church movement, will be speaking a number of times during the three-day gathering of ECO pastors and leaders in Greenville, South Carolina.

Here is Hirsch's definition of metanoia: "When Jesus began his earthly ministry and invited people to follow him and encounter the kingdom of God, there was simply one condition: metanoia, or, as we have narrowly and inadequately translated it, 'repentance.' ... The word meta means beyond, above, or overarching. And the word noia (a derivative of the noun nous) refers to a way of thinking. Metanoia therefore involves paradigm shift, the recognition and rejection of various false frameworks for understanding the world itself and waking up to a whole new world in which Christ is Lord and King."

Consider the following:

paranoia = para (irregular) + noia (mind) 

metanoia = meta (transformed) + noia (mind)

In his book, Hirsch calls for an apocalypse of the soul, encouraging us to respond to the crises of our complex times with new ways of thinking, believing, and living: "As 21st-century Western Christians, we have inherited beliefs and mindsets that not only significantly affect how we perceive God, the church, and the world, but also how we operate as disciples of Jesus and as leaders."

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cedar Creek Church and imagine the next 20 years ahead, how can an understanding of metanoia inform our thinking? Are we ready for transformational, metamorphic change in order to draw closer to our Creator and attract others into the Kingdom?

We need metanoia, Friends. Let's keep our hearts and minds open as we look forward to what comes next!

God Bless,

Jennie