Failing to understand the nature of the church can lead to a number of problems. Defining the church functionally -- in terms of what it does -- can shift our perspective away from understanding the church as a unique community of God's people. In place of this, the church tends to become a series of ministry functions such as worship, education, service, children, youth, etc. Defining the church organizationally -- in terms of its structures -- shifts our mind away from the spiritual reality of the church as a community, a family, the body of the Christ, the very presence of God on earth.
In most cases the church has become something to be structured and managed. Thus ministry is to be administrated and managed to maintain effectiveness, in order to accomplish certain goals. This seduces leaders into placing too much confidence in their managerial skills or in their us of organizational techniques. Thus church leaders are always looking for the "next" key to success.
It is my conviction that we need to move beyond trying to find the "next" church "thing" that will help us be successful one more time. We truly need to rediscover what is more basic about what it means to be the "church." It is critical that we recover the nature of the church before we understand what the church is do be doing.
We must face the very way we think about "Church." The critical question is what is the church?
The church is more than what meets the eye. It is more than a set of well-managed ministry functions. It is more than another human organization! The church lives in the world as a human enterprise, but it is also the called and redeemed people of God. It the people of God who are created by the Holy Spirit to live as a missionary community here on the earth.
The church is God's personal presence in the world through the Spirit! This makes the church a unique spiritual community. The very family of God who by it's presence give witness to the origin and future of God's people.
The Church's true character is its embodiment of Christ’s mission by its very existence in the world, it witnesses to the mission of God, to overthrow evil and to the ultimate reign of God over the entire created order. This is the eschatological nature of the church. It is the presence of a Good God now revealed, it is the very future of God’s Kingdom; in a world hostile to its message and values.
The early Christians saw themselves as participants in a grand drama, …..those gathered from all nations to testify to the resurrected Lord. Without the church the world literally had no HOPE OF SALVATION since the church is necessary for the world to know it is part of a story that it cannot know without the Church.
The Church is the adopted people bought by His blood, united to Him and to each other …. Whose lives have been changed and communities that have been transformed by God’s presence among them.
The church is an inviting and compelling community of people who attract unchurched because they embody a new life under the reign of Christ and informed by their eschatological (prophetic) vision.
Our personal journey into Christ therefore is nourished by the community called “church” which God has been sent and set as a divine presence to proclaim the unltimate destiny of the world…
Without the church the world would have no idea of it’s destiny!
To come to Christ and His Church is to come into a new way of seeing!
The church is the nurturing and caring community of the Father: “when we encounter the church we move into spiritual territory that occupies earthly terrain. We encounter the living God in the midst of our humanity. We encounter the Spirit of God dwelling in the midst of a people who are created and formed into a unique community. In and through this community the converting person is nurtured, discipled, and equipped.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
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7 comments:
So what do we call the prophets of the Old Testament because they were never part of a "church". It can be understood from your post the church is not a building or another human enterprise, but an embodiment of many figurative definitions of the faith.
Should the prophets of the Old Testament be viewed and observed from simply a historical standpoint and as a progression into what the "church" is today?
Because for many today they are living a Old testament prophet-like lifestyle, searching for God on their own accord and feeling justised doing so.
Should we perhaps incorporate both the old and a new. Incorpoting the search and growth in relationship to God in private and in the church. Self and Community?
Pastor, that was a beautifully written blog, as most of them are. I am so in total agreement with what you have said, because I have seen it developed in my own life. What I was so choked up about the other day was that all the things you all have taught me are working. In a dramatic wonderful and colorful way. If I could all ow myself to have regrets I would wish I had never walked away before. But I have lived long enough to know that his timing is always perfect. That I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
I am VERY sure that the Lord shared with me that we need to be to the community that the church of old was. I know for myself I am trying to live a life that is acceptable to him first, praying for the strength to be the person my family needs. to be the friend and follower of Christ who lives a life that,inspires others to join me on the journey. To wear myself to point of exhaustion to accomplish that purpose. "they shall run and not grow weary,they will walk and not faint." This is my prayer!" And I do feel very much a "PART" of that community in our house!
We must face the very way we think about "Church." The critical question is what is the church?
Rethink! To be able to see the world as God sees. If we cannot see everyone as the body then the problem still lies with us. God sees through the blood. It does what we cannot.
May my eyes be stained that I too may see!
In America we seem to have a “brand” loyalty to whatever product or lifestyle we find out there that is, at least in our minds, the best. We have a strong hunger to be put in the category of “the best” because we sense a great void in our hearts. In other words, we cannot find fulfillment within our own self. We must go to an outside source, outside of our selves, to find that sense of “I belong”.
I believe the church, so far that I have seen, has been “taken in” by this way of thinking; some more so than others. I have yet to see a church that is completely free of prejudices of other denominations. I believe we will come to a day when we all (cross denominationally) will come into unity, and work together for the furthering of the gospel and to see His kingdom come. I would like to quote the phrase, “None of us is better than all of us.”
Bishop Quintin, I believe you have the right path in having discussions and talking about the way we think about Church. We must have this discussion and many others with everyone we come across until it becomes main stream thinking.
We must all find our “belonging” in Christ and realize the responsibility we have to His Church. The language of the day should be, “Do you call on Christ as your Lord? So do I! Let us walk together and fellowship together!”
Writer Flighter, I would like to comment on your statement and questions.
I hope I don’t offend you or anyone else. I just wish to share my thoughts on the subject and enter the discussion.
I am not sure I understand what you mean by “Because for many today they are living a Old testament prophet-like lifestyle, searching for God on their own accord and feeling justised doing so.”
I don’t think I understand, because in my thinking … you cannot “choose” an old testament prophet-like lifestyle. God specifically made those messengers to carry specific messages during specific seasons and times that only He orchestrated.
Moving on though…
I believe that for someone to say “I am a Christian, but I have no place that I call ‘home/church” is only living a “half life”. Because, lets look at the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:17-33 … When we eat and drink together … do not overlook each other, do not hold anything against each other …. For we ALL are the body of Christ. We cannot live this life uncommitted to each other. The purpose of The Lord’s Supper was to be shared within the Body of Christ. Not taken alone…
1 Corinthians 12:21-27 … We belong to one another.
The unity of the Body of Christ should be paramount in our thinking of “church”. No one can stand alone.
With this in mind and in context…. Yes we should have our own personal time with God. Our relationship with Him should come first, but never should we find ourselves secluded from the body of Christ.
Luke 10:27 – Love the Lord God … and love your neighbor.
In other words … the search for self should never outweigh the search for community.
I see the failure to understand the nature of the church as well as the nature of ourselves to stem from our culture's lack of submission. Unfortunately media portrays the extremists that demand submission from others yet fail to submit themselves. Thus we "find" ourselves and "our faith" on our own with no guidance. Many churches and workplaces have dictators that abuse submission. I believe that humble submission within the church to those who are in submission to Christ will create an atmosphere and life that will allow His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Our identity will truly be in Christ.
Those are very good points Kelly.
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