Passion, Mission, Friendship

In my search for the right way to do church, I have come to the conclusion that "House Church" or "Megachurch" are not the issues. There are those who think that what they did in Jesus day is what we should do in our day. This is a violation of the uniqueness of our time and culture. We don't live like they did back then and should not expect to exactly duplicate what they did. But we should expect that we can duplicate who they were and what they were like. They were believers who enjoyed being in community with one another and who were passionate about loving others like Jesus would. They were committed to the message of the Gospel. This is frequently spoken about and celebrated. But there is nowhere in the teaching of the New Testament where the location of the church is taught. Yes, they met in homes. Why wouldn't they? They had no buildings of their own. The Bible does not teach that we must meet in homes, it only reports that they did. But it does tell what heppened when they met. What happened is the key, not where.

Now, I do realize that there is a way of being the church that is clearly outlined in the NT. Elders, deacons, shepherds, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are all referred to in some kind of leadership fashion. I agree with some in the House Church movement and that there needs to be open, participatory sharing in our gatherings. But there is nothing that forbids other kinds of gatherings. I agree that there should be no top-down hierarchy in the church but that does not mean that there is to be no recourse for solving problems, passing on teaching and decisions, or meting out church discipline. Some will serve the church in leadership roles or we don't need the gift of leadership taught in Romans 12 and in the passages about the responsibilities of deacons and elders who are responsible for the church. Although it never states this as far as I can tell, there is probably good reason for us to have a multiplicity of leaders as opposed to a solo leader operating on his own entirely. A solo leader has way too much power and responsibility unless he is open to correction, advise, and direction from others.

I think I have a clue about what really matters. It matters that our passion for loving God and others should be white hot. Our passion to reach the lost should have us praying for boldness to proclaim the Gospel message in word and not just in deed. Quotes like "preach the word, and if necessary, use words" are cool and make a point but they are not the only thing that needs to be said on this subject. When the apostles asked for the church to pray that they could proclaim the Gospel fearlessly they had no concept that it did not include words. And they were not short on actions that confirmed the message either. What makes for a catchy phrase in order to make a point is ridiculous if the opposite side disappears altogether. Balance is what we need. Balance. I am convinced that every believer should pray for boldness to speak the Gospel as well as live it out in practical ways. Both are indispensible.

So, we need a renewed passion. I think we also need a clear and simple sense of mission. I came across the following statement in "BREAKING the discipleship CODE" by David Putman; "living like Jesus, loving like Jesus, and leaving what Jesus left behind (disciples)." What a great life mission statement. What a great church mission statement. What would happen to our communities and our culture if every believer was consumed with a passion for and commitment to Godly living and passionate concern, acceptance, grace, and love for people who come across our path each day. This is the big deal, the main event - reaching those who are "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Passion, mission, and one other thing: deep and abiding friendships with each other in the church. Without this deep and abiding friendship, an expression of God's commitment and love for us, we will not have the support we need to be passionate and live out our mission. In the warmth of deep friendships, we will find encouragement, correction, balance, examples, people to be discipled by, and people to disciple. The gifts of the Spirit given to each of us will find natural expression if we are in loving community with one another and being loving community for those outside of faith. I must end this now, more later on community...

Talk to me. You may use the "Name/URL" option under "Choose an Identity" in the Comments Section below. Argue with me. Disagree. Agree. Love. Wouldn't it be wonderful if at some point in this journey, we could say... "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us that we ..."

Anemic Church or Tied Up Church

We had a prayer gathering last nite. Over 30 people showed up on a Monday Nite to hear my heart and to pray for our church. When soneone asked if I thought that the church was not in good shape or in trouble spiritually, I replied that I think the church is anemic. As I reflect on that, I find myself wondering if anemic is the right word. "Tied up" might be a better way to express what I see. I believe that the people who make up the body at River Valley Wesleyan are growing in the Lord and passionate about their faith. So, there is no personal indictment in my heart for people in our church. But I wonder why we are having so little effect on our communities and our culture. Not just us here at RVWC but the church in the West.

So what does "tied up" mean? The picture that captures this for me is of a strong man tied up with ropes so that his strength is not effective. The ropes are not made of some Satanic material that is difficult to break, but they are bonds of our own making. Our ideas, practices, habits, concepts, and notions about how to be the church have us all tied up. I believe these ropes will drop right off if we can get a clear picture of what Jesus wants us to be and do.

There must be a way for us to be and do so that Jesus is in charge of our lives and we are impacting our communities and culture. My suspicion is that we just need to live our faith out loud in our daily routines. "As we are going" we can be impacting people around us by our godly life and loving ways, by being intentional about who we are as the light and salt of our world, and by sharing Jesus with those He is drawing to Himself. I suspect that, if we want to impact our world, we don't need a new or more impressive program but a fresh understanding of the awesome power resident in us as children of God. This is what I see our need to be on a personal or individual level.

On the corporate level, the body needs to function as the Lord designed us. We are an organic body. We are not a machine or even a corporation. The early church seems to have been comprised of groups of people who could gather in homes and give everyone an opportunity to participate in the life they shared. They ate meals together (the Lord's Supper). They prayed. They thought about and discussed how to flesh out what the apostles were teaching them about obeying everything that Jesus taught. There seeemed to be very little, if any, formal organization. People just did what they were enabled by the Spirit to do. They just lived like Jesus mattered in every part of their everyday life. And the world noticed. Rulers reacted. And the Gospel spread like wildfire.

Could this happen again? I believe it can and will. If you read this blog, please pray that we will have clear discernment about what ropes are tying up the strrong man of power and faith. I think God is calling me to untie some things. I would like to be part of something that is so obviously what God designed us to be that the world will stand up and take notice. Pray as the Spirit leads you to pray. And let me know what He says or you think He is saying to you about this.

Right now, I am listening. To Him, to you, and to those who think about and write about these things. At some point I would like to be able to say; "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to...."