Tentmaking is a lifestyle more than a methodology. Effective tentmakers live a life that shows they are followers of Jesus. This leads those around them to want to know more about their Jesus.

How?

James Clear in his best-seller book Atomic Habits shows how habits, once established seem to stick around forever. He describes a habit as “a routine or behavior that is performed regularly – and, in many cases automatically.”

Clear’s book reveals his discoveries about building good habits. His breakthrough discovery was:

“…my results had very little to do with the goals I set and nearly everything to do with the systems I followed… Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results… If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system.”

In other words, a key to living the effective lifestyle is to develop good practices, or habits.

Point of articulation in church history

The missions world is experiencing a major transition. This book signals an accelerating trend and explores what is happening from several angles. We are coming to the close of the age of “the Greatest Missionary Generation” and beginning the “Age of Missio Dei.”

Since the first century AD, there have been historical events―such the persecution of the early church, the Edict of Milan, and the Protestant Reformation―where major disruption resulted in the radical advance of the gospel. We are on the cusp of another disruptive innovation.

The proposition behind this book is not about reforming missions but about missio Dei . It does not just represent another missionary methodology; it represents missio Dei in the context of God the Creator. Our work is a worshipful expression of our sacred calling to live a holy life, serve others, and bring others to do the same.

Are you a Christian asked the Imam with disdain in his voice? I prefer being known as a follower of Isa since the word Christian means many different things to many people, just as the word Muslim also means a lot of different things to so many people.

You have answered well, said the Imam, come visit me in the mosque so we can discuss these things further. We are having a meeting tomorrow evening where I teach our religion to young men.

The tentmakers felt he was poorly equipped to enter into a discussion in front of an Imam and his followers but after prayer and lots of hesitation, decided he would trust the Lord to give him the words to speak.

The Imam introduced the western Christian to his students saying he had invited him to a debate on Islam versus Christianity. The Imam started by accusations against Christianity being a false religion, and those who called themselves Christians drank alcohol, had sex outside of marriage, believed in many gods and were at war against Islam.