The statistics aren’t pretty. People are leaving the church in record numbers these days. Many of them citing they don’t need the “church” to grow more like Jesus. While I’ve certainly met believers that seemed to be cultivating a growing relationship with Christ apart from the church, scripture also indicates there is a special role reserved for the church when it comes to making disciples.
I’ve been reading through a great new small group resource written by Jared Wilson entitled “Abide: Practicing Kingdom Rhythms In A Consumer Culture” which I highly recommend. Jared wrote…
None of the kingdom rhythms — Feeling Scripture, Intentional Prayer, Joyful Fasting, Generosity and Service — can be sustained independently. The gospel supposes reconciliation between creatures, just as it does creature and Creator. We need each other, and the Church is God’s design for discipleship. The Christian life must be walked within the encouragement, edification, and accountability of Christian community. We need teachers to teach us how to do it, encouragers to inspire and sustain us, givers to remind us to give, helpers to help us embrace servitude, etc. To “put on Christ” necessitates embracing the Body of Christ as God’s plan for the Christian life. Embracing kingdom rhythms becomes easier and more sustainable when it is done collectively.
I love that last sentence Jared wrote, “Embracing kingdom rhythms becomes easier and more sustainable when it is done collectively.”
Your thoughts? Do we really need the church?
Do we need the church? That is a loaded question that needs to be unpacked in order to answer.
Are we talking about the true sense of the biblical church as in the ‘called out’ people or are we talking about the organizational aspects that occur within a building that we refer to as church in our current paradigm?
If we are talking about the former, the question doesn’t make sense because it is like asking do we need people to be people? In this case, it would be better to ask do we need to gather as a local body of the church.
If we are talking about the latter, then we need to readjust our paradigm to see it as that ‘localized gathering of the church body’ that I referred to in the previous paragraph.
So, in either, case we can boil the question down to it’s truer representation and ask – Do we need Christian Fellowship?
And most resoundingly, YES, we do!
I haven’t read the book so I don’t know how the author qualifies the statement, “the Church is God’s design for discipleship”. As the statement sits, I agree AND disagree with it. Christ was talking to those gathered around Him when he said GO and MAKE DISCIPLES – teaching them and baptizing them. Was the great commission given to the church collective, the individual believer, or both?
It is my opinion that the command was given to the individual but it is edified by the collective. Without the gathering of the body and the benefits that come from the gathering, the individual will struggle in their ability to disciple one-on-one. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule where a believer is in a place where they are isolated from a collective body, but I believe that the Holy Spirit will empower them to accomplish the task through their obedience.
And really, isn’t that a main point as well? We are called to be obedient and we are given scripture that instructs us to gather. Can an individual who is disobedient to that instruction be as affective as one who is obedient?
I think the last sentence that you highlighted answers that question.
I like these types of questions, Pete. They make me think.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Nudiustertian – Not just for adults =-.
Great thoughts Tony.
Our pastor recently asked this basic question…
If your church were to suddenly disappear from your community, would anyone other than its members miss it?
.-= DB´s last blog ..America: We’re (Not) #1! =-.
Good question DB.
Your pastor wouldn’t happen to be Dr. Johnson from Georgia would it? He wrote a book on that exact question in his book (below) and always asks it with his congregations (From the Outside In: Connecting to the Community Around You)
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Friday Favorites: Round 4 =-.
Yeah I think that certainly there are things within “church” that are not necessary. But the idea of a community of faith (as described in your quotes) is essential. Even monks find communion with each other.
absolutely! i think the men and women who founded the Church would be dumbfounded by the idea of wanting to grow in faith apart from other believers. though the local church may not be the only place where we can we can be spurred-on toward increasing holiness (and in community), it probably is the best.
i resonate with John Wesley’s emphasis on Christianity as a social religion – not in the sense of parties, but in the sense of regular and intentional coming together of believers; believers, by the way, who go out into their various other communities to bear witness to Christ.
great stuff for a Friday morning, Pete!
Pete, thanks for the kind words about the book and for the thought provokers.
I always go back to God saying that it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone . . . even though He Himself was there.
And I don’t believe that’s just about marriage.
Jesus connects love for God with love for our neighbors in the Great Commandment, but that was even built into the 10 Commandments. The first 4 are about our relationship with God, and the last 6 are about our relationship with each other. So it seems evident that God has built into us to know that connecting to God is connected to connecting with each other.
Paul said it best, I think, when he says that trying to do the Christian life apart from the Church is like a hand saying to the body, “I don’t need you.”
Yep! Very true.
Repeatedly, Scripture talks about the Church having many parts with different functions. Even though, we as individuals are Temples of God, we are not meant to replace the function of a collaborating Church body. The many parts can only be effective when they work in tandem with each other.
As Tony said above, Christian Fellowship is desperately needed in our lives.
.-= Dusty Rayburn´s last blog ..A Psalm to Reflect On =-.
Good point!
.-= Mitch Ebie´s last blog ..Do We Really Need The Church? | WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson http://ht.ly/1FQOU =-.
Maybe we need churches that have a kingdom rhythm, as opposed to an entertainment rhythm or a social club rhythm, or a typical religious rhythm.
The question isn’t do we need the church, it’s what sort of churches do we need?
.-= mike raburn´s last blog ..bad doubt and good doubt =-.
I think that’s a fair statement and question Mike. Obviously I kept the question more general to encourage discussion but I think you’re right. Your question drives a little more at the heart of the church.
I’m still worried if people keep jumping ship (leaving the church) there will be nobody left to help correct the course.
Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves together as some are in the habit of doing…
.-= Linda´s last blog ..“Fear to Freedom” by Rosemary Trible =-.
As someone who used to say the same thing (that I didn’t need to go to A church, that I had a problem with organized church at one time), I understand those who say such things. However, also as someone who did that and now is very active in a local church I would say that YES, most certainly we need the church. I am much more involved, much more able to make it through the trials of the week after spending time (Sun and Wed) in fellowship with others. Just the encouragement and support is amazing. I have found that the majority of those who leave the church and/or say they don’t need the church are saying that for selfish reasons (I sure was). They aren’t very active-they just want to come when they come and have everything their way or as they think it should be. They don’t want to get involved in any way but they want to lecture about how it should be, or how they think it should go. There are many ways for us to get involved and have a vested interest in the church and it is only then that we will find true contentment and true peace and true enjoyment in a local church. If anyone just comes to church and sits there in a pew and then goes home they will never find that contentment, peace, and joy that a local church can bring.
Wow. Thanks for sharing Richard.
Pete, I hope neither you nor anyone else thinks I am taking those who say such things to task. That was not my intention, just that I used to be the same way and I understand it. I was never satisfied or happy with “church” as just a spectator (it was easier to blame it and walk away and try it on my own when I wasn’t actively involved). It has only been once I got involved (on the tech crew, teaching 1st grade sunday school, VBS, etc) that I found joy, peace, happiness, and contentment. I think that is what we are supposed to be doing.. all getting involved not just sitting in the pew and going home.
Richard
Richard, that is so true. The people most dissatisfied with a church are those that most often are the most disconnected. Unfortunately though, many time those are the people who need loved the most and their insecurities might be driving their disconnect. They want to belong and fight the fear all at the same time.
It’s hard knowing how much to try to get people plugged in.
Jared’s a top notch guy and I’m hearing so many good things about his new book. As for your question, the answer with me is a resounding yes!
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Sing It Loud: Follow Friday The Musical 2 =-.
Jason, thanks for the kind words, bro. You ain’t so bad yo’self.
You’re killin’ me lately Pete! Killin’ me! If it’s not your podcast, it’s your stinkin’ blog!
There is absolutely no way to express most of my thoughts on this in a blog comment. However….
I’m dealing with this in my own life. Just over a year ago I left the fastest growing church in the country to help launch a new plant.
That plant fell apart (you may or may not remember when I shared the reasons why with you) as a result of an outrageous and shocking scandal.
The immediate action on our behalf was to return to safety at our “home” church. Now “home” feels like somewhere I’ve never been. It’s foreign and awkward.
Yet, I know we need to be plugged-in somewhere, and quite honestly there aren’t any other churches in our community where someone as “unpolished” as myself can find a desire to plug-in.
During a very heated season of my faith, it’s hard to proceed while being so “disconnected”. Yet I know that going to church “services” is not going to help.
I don’t need “services” or “experiences”. I need authentic men. Something that’s harder to find in the Church than anywhere else.
I think this is the point that a lot of people quit, and leave altogether.
I say all that…crap why did I say all that? Oh, to say that I wholly agree with Tony’s thoughts up at the top of the comment list….
.-= Aaron Reddin´s last blog ..Throwback Thursday – Because I Covet the Hair…And I Dare You to Watch the Whole Thing! =-.
I’m about half way through Plan B and just read the chapter on “me too”.
Thanks for your comment, cause that is ME TOO!
When you ask a question like, “Do we really need the church?,” I think the answer depends on how your lexicon defines “church.” If you are talking about the building where people gather together, I would say, no, we don’t need the physical church building.
If by “church” you mean, the religious systems and hierarchies that have created a self-serving (as in members) business and social infrastructure which can survive on history, tradition and rules without the need of any prevailing presence of spiritual life. I would say that some people need such a thing for their own peace of mind, but I don’t think such a thing is a critical need for a genuine Christian life.
If you define the “church” an assembly of people who share a common faith, then I might be moving closer to a “yes” answer.
I have been associated with a church almost my entire life. However, I have spent good chucks of it in the “I don’t need this” camp. Mostly, my experience with that had to do with hypocrisy and fruitlessness I experienced. Whenever I felt disconnected or harmed, I would question the need for a “church” in my life.
However, there was a period of my life when I was in the military where I had no church. It was during that period of time that I found rich and deep fellowship with other believers that not only met my spiritual needs, but surpassed any experience of “church” I had ever had.
If a person experiences the “church” as the mystical body of Christ, a body that flows into you all of the life you need to sustain you, which in turn produces a reaction to life that flows life to someone else, then that person will discover how much they need the church– at least that was my experience.
Since that time, I have meet with many church assemblies had several church homes, but in every case struggled and fought to have the pure “church” experience I had with a handful of soldiers sitting in a circle in the Saudi Arabian desert, who prayed for each other, sang with each other, cried with each other and encouraged each other in our faith.
People know and experience “church” differently based on their experiences. Most of my experiences left me with the sense that the church-thing isn’t worth my time. But by God’s mercy, He game me a taste of something real, something genuine and something pure.
Despite the physical structures, the systems, the dogmas and all those things that distract us from the true church, there is a body of Christ that is mystical and mysterious that connects the members and brings life to them; if we can allow ourselves the opportunity to be vulnerable, to allow ourselves to be connected to others, then maybe we will not want to cut and run when the distractions abound, but will instead, go fearlessly into the dark places to seek the flow of life that connects and sustains us.
Very nice, PJ. I needed to read that. Thanks for posting it. For real.
.-= Aaron Reddin´s last blog ..Throwback Thursday – Because I Covet the Hair…And I Dare You to Watch the Whole Thing! =-.
Great description! ..thanks for sharing!
.-= Tom Raines´s last blog ..Today’s Affirmation: The Lord has put His Spirit in me and I live and He will place me in my own land. =-.
Yes! For growth, accountability, ministry, multiplication, etc. Look at the apostles. They spent three and a half years listening to the heartbeat of Jesus. His final instructions to them have become known as His Great Commission. After all they had seen and heard and done, how did they set about obeying His instructions? They went throughout the known world planting churches.
.-= Jonathan Haskell´s last blog ..Becoming a Successful Language Learner =-.
When I found my way back to Christ, about 2 years ago, I was convinced that I could do it on my own. The Church of my youth had ruined me on the faith for so long, so this time I was going to study and learn God’s word on my own. I felt like my personal relationship with Christ was growing, and it was, a little bit. I tried various churches and groups along the way, but never really found my place. In January, I started attending Cross Point and quickly learned what a strong church community can do to nurture and develop someone’s personal relationship with God. Ever since, my faith has been growing exponentially and is strengthened daily by the amazing relationships that I’ve built within that church community. To me, I’d only be a fraction of the person I am today had I not found this community.
.-= Kenny Silva´s last blog ..Transparency in Business =-.
Yes, we desperately need the church.
I received heartbreaking news yesterday. I needed the church family who surrounded us, I needed their physical presence because they brought Jesus with them, I needed to hear their voices because it washed comfort over my heart, I needed the hugs, and the internet just doesn’t pass those through very well, not when you need God’s love being demonstrated through a human touch.
I know the church is a place of refuge, where I can shed the world and recharge to go back out into the world to minister to others, not just the church I attend, but also you all, because though we sit in different buildings on Sunday, you are my family, and that’s what the Church should be. I come here feeling like I’ve come to a table set for fellowship, doesn’t the church feel that way? It does for me, in the building I sit in on Sunday with those wonderful people around me, and here on this blog, reading your thoughts and prayers and getting pieces of your heart through your words. It encourages me.
I don’t think I made sense, but after yesterday, it sure did feel good to say it. I need the church folks around me where I attend services, but I also need the church folks who touch my life here and a few other online places, I need you all–because we, corporately, make up the body of Christ. And sometimes, life handles us roughly–we need the encouragement and accountability of one another. We need the touch of one another in our lives.
Coveting your prayers for Jesus to reign my heart in every moment as difficult days come to pass. Thank you, for being there for me, a church family that I need, that I am finding the refuge in and feeling the strength of your fellowship through as I walk the path to share Christ with those around me. I can’t wait till we all meet one day, this side or that side of Heaven–whichever will be fine with me, I just want to see you there.
.-= Tina Dee´s last blog ..Winners, Winners! =-.
As stated by others here, my first reaction is the need for a small group of followers to continue to meet and to spur each other own. There has to be a body but do not think that the current structure of buildings and productions is not necessary. Home churches and small groups are a place to share and be involved. Just being a spectator is “doing” church…sharing your heart and life issues with a fellow Jesus follower is a church to build on and I am just not sure when big is too big…great topic to ponder! Thanks.
.-= Tom Raines´s last blog ..Today’s Affirmation: The Lord has put His Spirit in me and I live and He will place me in my own land. =-.
YES we need the church (the people, the building, the good stuff and bad stuff). the apostle paul spent his life starting it, building it and was martyred for it… spreading the gospel and church planting was THAT important to him that He gave up His own life for it.
i dont understand why does our generation disregards the as something that is useless/not helpful? it’s sad that we’ve come to this point. reminds me of europe before they entered the dark age.
.-= patricia´s last blog ..jealousy. =-.
sorry i meant: “disregards the *church as something that is useless/not helpful”
.-= patricia´s last blog ..jealousy. =-.
Hot topic! Love it.
Maybe the real question then is “what is church and authentic and transformative Christian community?”
One of my friends asked me the other day if our church was built to sustain both huge harvest and deep hostility. In other words, would your church still be a church if all the money was gone tomorrow or could your church handle explosive harvest?
I think this/these questions speak into the matter.
Yes we need church but the kind of church we are building actually matters.
Yes we need all kinds of expressions of worship but the critical question is, “is what we’re doing actually igniting, sustaining and reproducing disciples?”
And then of course there is that question — “What kind of disciple are we making?” In ten years if someone moves through the rhythms of our church…what will they look like, what will they become? Could they reproduce the Kingdom (or church) on their own, anywhere? Again asking the original question but differently — are we preparing disciples to handle great hostility and great harvest?
Well….more questions than answers there!
My answer: create a church (a group of disciples) that makes reproducing disciples that can do Kingdom life (oneness with God, togetherness with believers, otherness with spiritual wonderers–people w/o Jesus) anywhere no matter what happens good or bad.
.-= kc´s last blog ..AND — What is a Disciple? =-.
Great post, Pete.
The assumption is that we can be Christian without having to love the Church. But, just the opposite is true (preaching to the choir, I know).
That said, it is possible to be a part of a local gathering of Christians and, in fact, have a more deep and intimate community without setting foot in a church building at all.
.-= Ken Eastburn´s last blog ..What the Church and Hollywood Have in Common =-.
Not for salvation, but absolutely for discipleship: “Go and make DISCIPLES…” “He gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets… for the equipping of the saints for the work of the minisitry, FOR THE EDIFYING (building up) OF THE BODY OF CHRIST until we all reach UNITY IN THE FAITH and the knowledge of the Son fo God and become mature… Can’t be buidling a body, reaching unity, or have unity in the knowlege of Jesus if you aren’t a “member” of that body.
.-= CFloyd´s last blog ..Fruitless is Pointless =-.
I think some of the reason why people don’t see a need for the church in order to grow more like Jesus is the fact that in a lot of cases we haven’t attached the “becoming like Christ” to the mission of expanding the Kingdom of God. We talk about it, but we haven’t attached it in a tangible sense. I’ve been asking myself this question lately, “Can I or my church really be about reaching the nations if we haven’t actually gone to the nations?” Giving, praying, & preaching about that mission is great & needed, but is it really enough?
The church is the only way we can be mobilized for maximum impact on the world. That’s the way God designed it.
.-= Matt Bowman´s last blog ..Words Matter =-.
Spot on.
I have grown tired of people coming and going from church to church claiming that “this and that” is what they are looking for in a particular church. Then they move on to find whatever they may be looking for in our consumer church culture.
Have they ever stopped for a second to think about what the church is intended for and how they are supposed to “be” the church and get plugged in. Anyway…thanks for this post.
Reading through the comments seems to indicate that you have a mostly likeminded readership. I only have three things to say.
1. I really appreciate P.J.’s comment and could relate to it easier than the others.
2. Please consider that not everyone who leaves “the church” (I believe “the church” is my heart and the heart of any other believer.) is a selfish, shallow, picky troublemaker who celebrates finding fault. (Some of us left to preserve our beliefs in God and Christianity despite a flawed system. Some of us left too late; my son is now an atheist primarily because of things he saw and did not see in “the church.”)
3. And, finally, (Shoot me if you want…) I don’t think Christians need the institutional, brick and mortar, money-gobbling church.
You asked.
I always appreciate your honest take on things even if we agree to disagree.
i have left a few churches but i haven’t left the Church. i am extremely discontent with the general condition of the Western Church. recently served for the last 3 years at a mega church here in SoCal and spent most of my time gritting my teeth and gracefully encouraging the team i oversaw to not lose heart with the system & politics, but to focus on the people we are reaching and the work being accomplished. then my brother was fired for a blog he had written, concerning the western church, while i was on vacation & i asked God to let me out. He conceded.
i am hopeful of finding a church fellowship where perhaps i’ll grit my teeth less & have to excuse inexcusable behavior less and be able to love more, relate more, and even be loved more. i am not delusional, it’s not going to be easy finding a leadership team secure enough to put up with a non-compliant church blogger like me, but if Matthew Paul Turner can find a Shepherd… then most certainly i can too!
oh… to answer the question. i haven’t been to church consistently in 5 months & i don’t feel like i’ve missed much. i’ve actually enjoyed the beach, my family, and sleeping in on sundays. but i am beginning to miss community and i am in need of a Shepherd. so eventually, yes… i need Church.
Do we need the church? the short answer? Yes. The long answer — we need the church who loves those outside the church and those within the body.
We need to reach beyond the walls with love and acceptance. We need to open our eyes and see the needs that surround us and meet those needs.
I LOVE the church and I LOVE serving within the church. But there are days I want to bang my head on a pew. Currently we are in a building project — and my question is:
how will this multi-million dollar building benefit the community? Or will we only use it for a couple of hours on Sunday & Wednesday?
I truly don’t believe that this wonderful building is impressing God in any way.
But enough on my issues.
I think we need church — I need church, and my community needs church.
YES.
I am a girl who lives without a physical church now. And I certainly never waivered in my faith because I could no longer attend. But I lacked a source of teaching, of community, of accountability. I can make up for it in relationships and online communities and churches. But it requires me seeking it out just as it requires seeking of the physical church by its members.
The online presence fills a gap for me, but I still miss the building. The people. The room filled with the Spirit when 2 or more are gathered. I always want to tell people to not squander the chance to have what’s right in front of them.
.-= gitz´s last blog ..Flashback Friday: Revealing Gold =-.
Not only do we need church, but we really can’t avoid it. There will always be those that do not want church and they will avoid it and perhaps try to deter others from having it, but it won’t stop it from occurring.
The culture is changing and that makes it seem as though the church is dying, but it is just the church style that we used to have.
Now we see lots of house churches, we see the emerging church and the missional church. Christianity is going through a change in America but it is thriving in places of persecution, and it is thriving in the much of the southern hemisphere, such as South America and Africa.
.-= Mitch Ebie´s last blog ..Do We Really Need The Church? | WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson http://ht.ly/1FQOU =-.
i think we do need church, we need fellowship with other believers, and someone to walk along side of us with unconditional love, its very hard to stay on this road of knowing and loving HIM more, when alone. I know this one…we are without a church family, and it leaves an emptiness that i can not explain
I just finished reading a book called “So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore” By Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman.
This book put into words what I have felt in my spirit for years but didn’t quite know how to articulate it.
I am one who has stepped off of the institutionalized religion merry-go-round.
I think that when you are truly following what God is calling for in your life individually, then you will have belivers in your life. The Father will bring people into your life to guide, mentor, support, encourage and love you just as He will put you into others lives for those purposes.
Some have stated that we need church for accountability reasons and I am looking into that…because I HAVE to be honest when I say I don’t think thats scriptural. Leaders are accountable to God for how they LEAD others, but for us to hold one another accountable is saying that God’s standard of accountability isn’t enough. If we are truly following the will of the Father then I think we are going to HEAR from HIM when we need to be put back in line.
I am NOT saying that there aren’t a lot of places out there that are doing some real good for their congregation and their community. I am also not saying that I don’t darken the doors of the buildings called churches anymore. I do go when I feel God telling me to go. I also listen to good messages on podcasts. But I have stepped out of what I have found so far to be a guilt trip causing, bondage inducing, manipulative trap. (not an anger statement by any means, just a true statement of my experiences)
If I lived closer to some of the places that I have visited from time to time whether in R/L or by podcast I would be seen in those buildings more often.
Pete
Do we need the church?
Which “Church” did you have in mind?
Jesus is the head of the body,
(the ekklesia, the called out one’s), the Church.
I’m the ekklesia and you’re a called out one.
We are “the Church. Don’t know about “need.”
Do know I need Jesus and you need Jesus.
Or… Lets’s see… We have…
The Traditional Church,
The Institutional Church,
The Religious System Church,
The Steeple $ Corporation Church,
The 501c3, non profit, tax deductible,
Religious $ Corporation Church,
The Brick and Mortar Church,
The Pastor Led Church,
The Multiple Elder Led Church,
The Congregational Led Church,
The Pope Led Church,
The Bishop Led Church,
The Chief Executive Apostle Led Church,
There really is a Chief Executive Apostle
No Kidding. Saw it with my own eyes.
The Fluid Church,
The Solid Church,
The House Church,
The Simple Church,
The Organic Church,
The Small Group Church,
The Institutional Church,
Oh, i said that one already.
The Denominational Church,
The Non-Denominational Church,
The Inter – Denominational Church,
The Intra – Denominational Church,
The Underground Church,
The Full Gospel Church,
The Mega Church,
The Baptist Church,
The Lutheran Church,
The Evangelical Church,
The Charis maniacle ism Church,
The Pente it’s going to cost you a Lot ism Church,
Wikapedia says there are 38,000 denominations. Oy Vey!!!
Even if they overstated by 90%, that’s still 3,800 denominations.
Not to sure, but,
don’t think that’s what the Bible means by “church.”
Don’t think we shoud call a 501 (c) 3,
Non-prfit, Tax $ deductible,
Religious $ corporation…
“the church” AAARRRGGGHHH
Jesus loves me and forgives me all mu sin.
That is a bunch of churches.
We cannot say whether we need an institutionalised church or not – when our desires should stem from God’s will alone.
Even Moses left an institutionalised inheritance to follow God.
When we give the power to God, he leads us to the right places, no matter where they are or what they’re called by.
On your other post entitled “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” I posted a comment that was probably too late to be noted or maybe no one felt like addressing the issue. I’ll say it again here in light of where this thread is going…
What if the institutional church as we know it was simply one more construct that God designed only for a time? Like the tabernacle in the desert until the temple could be built? Like the temple before it was destroyed and rebuilt and destroyed again (and is probably going to be rebuilt so that animal sacrifice can be reinstituted)? Like the law that defined and regulated sin (and kept Israel pure) until Jesus came along? Like the amazing almost daily miracles of Christ and the apostles?
What if in the last days God will speak directly into the hearts and minds of men and women in dreams and visions (It does say that in Joel somewhere, doesn’t it?)? What if this is already happening? What if Christians are clinging to institutional church like the Pharisees clung to the Law– unable to see that God had used the law for a time and purpose but was now nudging them toward a deeper understanding of God’s inclusive redemption?
If God wants to move beyond institutional church, I don’t want to be someone who can’t let go of the institution. I worship the creator not the created. And I’m willing to consider that perhaps brick and mortar churches are no longer needed by God to fulfill his plan and to bring him glory.
Then again, I could be wrong… and I imagine the New Testament writers felt the same way as they struggled with things like what was okay to eat, whether Gentiles embracing The Way ought to be circumcised and how women should be viewed in light of everything Jesus did and many other things. Christianity is so complicated…
Interesting thoughts, Pete! I think the real question we need to be asking is: “Is the current model of “church” the best way to feel scripture, pray intentionally, serve people, etc.?”
I agree that we need to be meeting with other Christ-followers, but does it have to be in the same-old, same-old “songs + sermon” format that we’ve been following for the past 100+ years? I think not.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..I Am Generation Y =-.