A great hindrance to relational participatory church as commanded in the New Testament, with ministry by one another for the mutual building up of each other …

Is the lie that it’s all up to you.

Another is the lie is that it’s all up to someone else.

These feed the resulting impulse for one person to make it happen by then directing, motivating and coordinating everyone else …

Under their primary perspectives or “vision.”

This frequently results in a cookie cutter approach to how we gather – conforming to their own scripts, ministry, directions and methodologies.

In relational participatory church as the New Testament shows it, however, God’s people learn to lead forth – each and every one – as He directs …

According to the many diverse gifts, motivations and callings He distributes among us.

This happens as everyone learns to submit to one another as we all prefer each other over ourselves.

Biblical elders (plural), in turn, emerge among us to unassumingly serve beside us …

As they watch over, encourage and protect the ability of all to mutually build up each other.

This is authentic church.

This is authentic discipleship.

And this is how Christ authentically works through us – each and everyone – to build His assembly where we live.

In my experience with helping to start, sustain and be part of many relational participatory assemblies over the last fifty years, each one looked and functioned differently than each other.

That’s how it should be, because Christ expresses Himself differently in different groups of people based on their different needs, levels of maturity, abilities, relationships, personalities, circumstances, cultural backgrounds …

And so much more.

Yes, there are basic, general Biblical precepts for how we relate and gather together …

But God never intended for us to have cookie cutter meetings organized around anyone’s own primary vision, preconceived blue print or directed script.

Ultimately, those who presume to assume the unbiblical, controlling role of God’s man with the plan for everyone else eventually restrict God’s people – and themselves – to an edifice of their own limitations, motivations and agendas …

No matter how well intended.

Big difference!