What about mono-church, where our gatherings primarily revolve around ministry by one man …

Such as a so-called “Senior Pastor?”

You can’t find that anywhere in the New Testament (unless you count the warnings against Diotrephes, who wanted to be “preeminent” in his church) …

In fact, it explicitly violates the New Testament’s many commands about how we are to actually gather together – one to another – as the multi-gifted, multi-functional and multi-part Body of Christ.

So people are starting to leave behind those rigid, monolithic organizations that call themselves a “church,” yet:

  • Revolve around one pinnacle leader called “the Pastor” who dominates their gatherings with hierarchical “leadership” and monopolistic “sermons;”
  • Delivered in an impersonal building from an elevated “pulpit” as anonymous attendees are corralled below into rows of spectator seating;
  • As part of scripted staged events each Sunday that are call “worship;”
  • To grow the “membership” rolls and insure financial viability through obligatory “tithes” to fund it all (because the time, personnel and infrastructure needed to put on a good show each week don’t come cheap!).

In contrast, people are discovering that what the New Testament explicitly commands is far different, as we instead:

  • Gather together as a relational family of believers with ministry one to another out of the many gifts God distributes among us (including mature elders – plural – who function pastorally);
  • By building up each other to live lives of holy reverence and sacrificial obedience to God, which is true worship;
  • And focus together on growing disciples (which costs almost nothing), rather than “church attendance;”
  • While joyfully giving out of our individual abundance, with each determining what’s appropriate in their own heart, to support those in need among us.

So how about you?

Do you desire relational participatory church as God commands?

Decades ago, I left the mono-church system in obedience to clear New Testament imperatives.

Since then, I’ve been gathering with others in my home and elsewhere …

As part of simple, relational, participatory churches with ministry one to another for the mutual building up of each other.

Along the way, we’ve all learned a lot …

And know it isn’t always easy to start, find or sustain that kind of Biblical fellowship.

Yet we’ve found that it’s certainly possible …

When we’re willing to strengthen, encourage and learn from each other as we commit to being the church as God commands.

Sound interesting?

Stay tuned …