If you can’t keep it real …
It’s not really “church”.
Category: Simple Church
Rows upon rows of spectator seating …
Have nothing to do with church in the New Testament.
I may have an ability or perspective that you lack.
But I have yet to meet anyone – and I mean anyone – who does not exceed me in some aspect of their own abilities and perspectives.
Likewise, no church or ministry will be healthy if it pulls into itself or thinks itself beyond everyone else.
This is true also with our different sub-cultures, theological “tribes,” and the often unexamined presumptions and perceptions of our own community of like-minded friends.
Unity through diversity with humility, rather than uniformity through control with hierarchy, is God’s intent among those who love Him and heed His Word …
As we learn to submit to one another and together become the multi-gifted, multi-functional, multi-part Body of Christ.
I’m often asked, “Where do I find simple, relational, participatory church?”
Why not start with hospitality …
And see what God can do?
Because it’s easier to share Christ together …
When we share life together.
So let’s open our homes and open our lives …
And be the church once again.
I’d routinely ask men who gave their lives to the Lord in the jail and I mentored there, why it was so hard for them to become part of a church when they got out.
I’d then follow up by asking whether, after being released, they were ever invited into someone’s home for a meal and fellowship from any church they visited.
The answer? Never.
I’ve asked this hundreds of times, not just of men trying to put their lives back together after jail, but also of others living in the woods or in homeless shelters.
The answer was always the same.
In twenty years, I saw no exceptions.
We all love arms-length “ministries” and “programs” that make us feel good about helping “those people,” so long as it’s not too close and personal.
I guess most “churches” are look-alike religious social clubs for cookie-cutter “believers” …
Rather than real Christian communities where imperfect people relate and build up one another to become mature disciples.
How tragic.
In the meantime, our house remains a place of hospitality, friendship and fellowship …
And our lives continue to be enriched beyond measure as real church and community just naturally happens because of it.
Is God using you to build His ekklesia …
Or are you using God to build your church?
God distributes different gifts and abilities among us to advance His Kingdom …
By calling us to serve and prefer one another above ourselves as a waiting world watches.
Today, however, many use those gifts and abilities to advance their own kingdoms …
By creating positions, titles, and hierarchies over one another as a disgusted world watches.
We need fewer “preachers” on podiums above us …
And more elders living shared lives among us.
Unfortunately, few are willing to give up the recognition of the former …
For the humility of the latter.
I am aware of NO instance where Scripture condones cover ups …
When those claiming to be leaders of God’s people use their positions to do wrong and harm others.
In fact, the Biblical approach – both Old and New Testament – is quite the opposite.
Furthermore, truly repentant leaders will not try to hide their leadership sins, but openly confess and publicly repent.
Absent that …
They remain a danger to all.
Which is why 1 Timothy 5:19-21 specifically commands us to investigate and publicly expose church leaders who abuse their position …
As a warning to all.
Too often, “Church” is about expecting others to fit our own molds …
Based on our own cultural biases, traditions and perspectives.
In contrast, I have learned to allow “church” to emerge in all its splendid diversity …
By letting the life of Christ take root in the rich soil of different cultures and communities.
Could that be why the Great Commission says “go” make disciples of all “nations” (i.e., cultures)…
Rather than “come” attend my “church”?
Slowly but surely, God is shifting the paradigm of church and leadership.
It is becoming genuinely organic, simple and participatory, with healthy fellowships beginning to emerge.
All I can say is forget the buzz words and existential agendas of past advocates like Viola and Dale – along with their fellow “itinerant” buddies like Zens, Rodriguez, Giles and Rohde.
They tried to peddle their own cookie-cutter, trans-Biblical perceptions of Christ and the Church on God’s people …
Through books and blogs that they never sustainably made work in their own lives, home towns or anywhere else.
As a result, they have left behind a legacy of ruined lives and failed churches.
Instead, build on the sure foundation already apostolically laid through Scripture as God’s authoritative written Word, in the unique context of diverse communities …
Where He still sends us today to make disciples and redeem nations.
That, my friends, is real “organic” church and leadership.
In Hebrews 13:17, some English Bibles tell us to “obey” those who “rule over” us in the church. These are very unfortunate translations.
In the original Greek, the verb translated “obey” is in the middle voice and means to “be persuaded.” Yet it is often wrongly translated in the active voice as “obey,” which has an entirely different meaning.
The verb phrase “rule over” also is a misleading translation.
In the original Greek, it is not referring to anyone with hierarchical authority “over” others.
Rather, it is simply talking about those who have earned your esteem by having given thought to and walked farther along the same path.
If they can’t persuade or earn your respect by having actually thought through and lived what they’re saying, then we are under no obligation to accord them any influence in our lives.
Bottom line:
There is NO command in the New Testament to blindly obey or follow anyone – and no mandate for authoritarianism, “covering” or control over others – in the church.
Church leadership in the New Testament is straightforward:
Be persuaded by those who thoughtfully walk the walk and are further along in their faith and life experience, yielding to their example as we submit one to another.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The New Testament says we should sing God’s praises together to encourage one another.
That’s it. That’s the only reason given.
Contrary to current presumptions, however, it never says we should do it to somehow persuade God to show up.
Nope, not nada …
Just ain’t there.
That because the New Testament instead says He’s already present in those who know Him …
And automatically among us – even with only two or three gathered – when we meet in Christ’s name.
Anyone claiming some special role to “lead” us into His presence, therefore, is committing spiritual fraud …
And peddling counterfeit “worship.”
For many, “church” has become a circus – a staged show where they go to be entertained, amazed, awed and sent home feeling good.
This perversion is sustained by convincing folks that the more they are entertained, amazed, awed and feel good …
The more “God moved” and the service was “anointed” and “inspired.”
It is collective narcissism at its worst.
Among those who thrive on the show, questioning what “church” has become initially invokes blank stares …
Then an incredulous disconnect as they quickly change the subject.
They will avoid at all cost having to consider the very idea that the Body of Christ is supposed to be something very different …
And so much more significant.
It’s amazing how much huff, puff and indignation arise when you simply ask those pushing their books, blogs and conferences on how to “be the church” or otherwise function as a church …
If they actually are part of one in their own lives and home towns like they keep peddling to others.
Hypocrisy is not a Biblical virtue …
Nor should it be tolerated in those who presume to be leaders among us.
Narcissistic leaders know how to make you feel needed and affirmed.
It’s how they control and use others to feed their own need for attention and validation.
But their charm comes at great peril, because ultimately they will consume you to advance their own self-serving agendas.
Don’t be co-dependent, no matter how gifted they seem.
God created you – and His Church – for better.
It’s liberating to learn that God did not create us to be like someone else …
But instead gives us different personalities and motivations that match our differing spiritual gifts.
We experience His pleasure as we learn to uniquely use and enjoy those gifts as He intended …
In our lives, families, fellowships and communities.
Pharisees in the New Testament were religious leaders who did not live what they taught to others.
Today, we have authors, bloggers and so-called “workers” (their euphemism for “apostles”) peddling books, seminars and “ministries” that tell others how to form “organic” or “simple” churches …
With no consistent history – in their own lives, home towns or anywhere else – of sucessfully starting, sustaining or even being part of any church like they’re selling to others.
One need look no further than authors like Frank Viola, Jon Zens, Milt Rodriguez, Felicity Dale, Ross Rohde, Keith Giles and their buddies to see such failures …
Along with their various here today, gone tomorrow mutual promotion networks.
The irony is that when you point this out, they call YOU the Pharisee!
Simple, participatory church works as the New Testament authoritatively shows it …
Not as they keep selling it to promote themselves, their “ministries” and their failed existential agendas.
Be discerning.
May God deliver His people from Church, Inc. …
As we learn to simply be the church, one to another, like He originally intended.
There are no hierarchical titles in the original language of the New Testament regarding God’s people and the church.
Instead, there are only straightforward descriptive words for different functions using the everyday language of ordinary folk …
And bad English translations which imply otherwise today.
Those needing a title to be a leader and influential …
Are neither.
Unless the mandate to be Christ’s ekklesia (His participatory assembly that represents and advances His Kingship within the local community where we live) is fully working …
None of His other mandates (like the Great Commission and discipleship) will also fully work.
Faux leaders in the Body of Christ are not so hard to spot:
They seek notoriety for themselves;
Status for themselves;
Power for themselves; and
Enrichment for themselves …
Like Jesus never did.
Nowhere in the New Testament is “pastor” ever applied to an actual person as a title, position or office.
Instead, it’s simply one of several functions performed by local elders (plural) in their churches.
Be wary of those who peddle the latest theological fads.
Often they prey on spiritually wounded or naive people with the temptation of “deeper” life, new “revelation,” or some other trans-Biblical agenda …
Rather than the health and assurance of simple faith as taught in Scripture.
Here are two tests that typically weed out these merchants of deception:
1. Are they part of an actual, functional local fellowship in their own home town, where they are transparent and accountable to a community of fellow believers – among whom their ideas have been demonstrably working and showing good fruit over time?
2. Do they openly affirm and submit to God’s plenary authority of Scripture as His authentic written Word in all matters of faith, life and doctrine?
If they fail either criteria, you likely are dealing with a wolf …
Rather than one who legitimately comes in the name of the Lord.
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