Every group of Believers that get together is (a) church.
Church is not a building. It is not an organization. It is not a name or a denomination. It is people! It is the fellowship of all believers, it is the Body of Christ with Jesus at the head. All of us other Christ following human beings are the bits and pieces of the Body. Every group of Christ followers that get together are the Church. When a bunch of hands get together or a bunch of feet of all ages, or different parts that get together on a sunday morning, wednesday night and/or Friday lunch. Whatever label you slap on “youht group” bible study “sunday morning worship” Bible Study, Addiction Overcomers. You are the Church… you are a church and have a responsibility for reaching out.
If everyone at the same building is a church and they all belong to a certain larger church expression which belongs to global one church that loves and follows jesus of which He is the head. Reverse it and how small do you get? You get to the two or three gathered together in His name. Doesn’t matter what the flavour and focus whether common past or present or age or interest gather in jesus name is a church. “Gathered in His name” if everything we do is supposed to be worship and done unto the Lord then if believers are getting together they are gathered in His name.
Seriously, Where does church begin and end? Who gets to make the call? I would say it begins with two or three who are gathered in Jesus’ name and goes to all who gather in jesus’ name across the planet. I think that there are too many exclusive units of “not church.” Look at it globally. There are some regions in some countries that only have a handful of believers and they may only get together every 6 months and that is in total secrecy but who dares say they are not a church? What kind of hubris do you have to say they are not church? So what about the group of ladies that get together to pray and do a Bible stud once a week? Aren’t they church? I just think you need to be careful about hard and fast exclusive definitions of what church is and isn’t.
What pride must someone have to say that is church and that is not church! Leave it at where 2 or 3 or more gathered in His name—that is church.
So what is the responsibility of each of these bits that get together? Is that responsibility greater then practice? Whether the practice is reading the Bible and figuring it out or learning more about Jesus for my age group/interest group? If we do not get out into the field to actually do what we are practicing for then… at the very least we are not very loving. At the worst, we really don’t think Jesus is worth it—by our deeds if not by our lips.
Thanks for hooking up. You might be interested in these video's on how simply church can be
ReplyDeletewww.homes4him.blogspot.com. Enjoy
I just don't think starting another local church is the answer. there are so many out there now. I am not supposed to start a new modality. I am way too interested in sodalities. I simply want a modality family that I can link with.
ReplyDeleteI Hear you. Starting another church when there is one down the road seems like a waste of time. That is not what I was suggesting - forming yet another group to "do church", rather a group partnering in mission. Many house groups form over a specific mission, at least the healthy ones (Many home groups are far from healthy), they gather for a time for a purpose.
ReplyDeleteYour posts are thoughtful, and really, you are where many sincere believers find themselves these days. However, want to discuss this "faceless"- "We need to get out there and do something" as a "group".
Start with your Friends, and contacts, start with like minded believers and build a team to focus on .......? What is it you want to focus on. Don't wait to find a ready made group to plug into, make it. This is usually where people look at me wide eyed and say I can`t start a group, I don't have time skills or......etc.
We can't take on the whole world.
I would love to hear some specifics. Let's get beyond the faceless, "we need to get out there and do more". Let's examine this generic line.
1. Who is "we"? Do you need to create the "we". Who do you want to pull into this, shares this desire with you? What is the role of "you" in MAKING the "We", instead of connecting with a we.
3. Where is "Out there" (Where on the planet)
4. Who is the "Out there" (What people)
5. What exactly are is the "Do more"? Do more what for who, where, and when will we begin?
I know it's just a blog and your sharing thoughts and one should not examine what is said in detail. I sense your frustration. It's very common, but am sure the answers will come in time. But until the answers to the specifics is clear, it's hard to rise up and do much, hard to help a church do much. Where's the face?
Pick one people, one specific need and run deep. Maybe it's a group in your community. Poverty in Africa through micro-finance or irrigation. Maybe it's unreached people group in Indonesia - rally prayer and bible storying materials, and bibles, and give it to a missionary who can engage them. Rally 30 families to give $2000 and send one of the group to go an engage the people.
We can't do it all in each local church. We can only do well at few "out there" things. But many local groups together get the whole job done as they each respond to "specifics".
Just thoughts. I'm not putting pressure on you,or criticizing your article. Just putting more juice in the juice machine you already are :-)
I know it's frustrating to look for a new church. Once you have seen God's global vision, it's hard to sit with those who have not seen it. Amazing that we have such trouble finding a simple genuine "Welcome here" in church isn't it? We wonder why unbelievers don't feel welcome? Man!
Sometime, I would love to hear a blog post on your thoughts and ideas. Shoot - Share your dreams, no matter how unclear right now, of the WE (with who), Who (among whom), Where (Local and/or global) and What (Doing what for them?)
Like to hear the preliminary thoughts you have from where you are on this journey. Might surprise us what you put on blog paper!
Your on the right track I think :-)