As some of you know, we had a rather interesting Easter Sunday. I will comment on the events since so many people have been calling, emailing, and stopping by. What follows are my both my experience and thoughts.
After being part of a small group dialoging about God’s plan for marriage on Sunday morning, we attended a local church. That is where it got interesting. We were met outside of the auditorium by several church leaders and refused entry. They gave no reason for their actions. However, we have since received a brief letter outlining the reason for their actions. Rather than attempt to recreate what was said, I quote the letter:
The fact that we asked you not to attend [name deleted] functions is not a personal attack. As evidence of what we have seen over time in actions, emails, and views conveyed in teachings and your blog, the attitude towards the local church is one we cannot tolerate or welcome into what God has called us to.
We have made a decision that this email will be our only response to you and we ask that you will please respect our decisions.
I am rather curious about the statement that my attitude toward the local church cannot be tolerated. I feel that it would be beneficial for me to outline what I believe about the local church. I welcome your input and correction. Feel free to point out where you feel my beliefs are contrary to scripture.
Ø I believe that church is the “ecclesia”, the “called out ones”. The church is not a building or a program. It is people, people connecting around Jesus Christ the Head. It is people doing life together, eating together, sharing our resources, and gathering together to encourage and spur each other on. It is people following Jesus together, caring for each other, praying with and for each other. It is people engaging in the ministry of Jesus together, binding up the brokenhearted, healing the sick, and setting the captive free.
Ø The church cannot be destroyed. Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. No created being, angel, demon, or human can stop the work of God. If something that calls itself church can be destroyed, then it wasn’t the church in the first place, it was only a facsimile of the real thing.
Ø The Head of the church is Jesus. The pastor is not the head; the elders are not the head. Jesus sets the agenda for the church. That doesn’t negate leadership. God has set leadership in place. However, His paradigm of leadership is one where the leaders exist for the benefit of the people. (This follows Jesus’ example.)
Ø I believe that far too frequently the “stuff” of church has replaced God. We become enamored with programs, buildings and hierarchy. In doing so, we lose our love for people. The system becomes more important than people.
Ø The concept of “going to church” is remarkably absent from the New Testament. Church is not something to go to but something to be. I don’t go to the body of Christ; I am a specific part of the body of Christ.
Ø There is not a correct formula to gather and meet together. The church can meet in a cathedral, a living room, or a coffee shop.
Ø When people follow Jesus, church will emerge. The desire for fellowship, relationship and community is resident in every believer. However, when our focus moves from Jesus to church, Jesus usually gets left behind.
Ø The Jewish religious system was destroyed by Jesus We no longer have a need for a holy man, a holy time, and a holy space. Every believer is a priest. Instead of stones and mortar the “temple” is now built of living stones.
If you peruse the blog you will find that I chronicle my thoughts about the church from time to time. In May of 2008 I posted several times about my observations of church. I would encourage you to re-read those posts as well.
As far as my actions toward church, Bev and I relate to and serve a number of churches in Central Pennsylvania and beyond. These churches are as varied as the people of which the church is comprised. Some are larger and meet in a building. Some are smaller groups that meet in homes or other places. One is not better than the other; all are the body of Christ. My desire is that all believers in these churches will become fully alive in their God-given purpose.
Since the church leaders that sent me the letter choose not to dialogue with me, I welcome your input and would be happy to dialogue on this forum. Feel free to go back to previous posts and measure my comments against scripture. If you feel that I am in error, please comment.
FYI - I will not allow this to become a platform from which to vilify people or churches. If I feel that your post has venom in it directed at other people, I will not post it.
4 comments:
I get the church thing. I've had church in the lobby, church in my house, church in a bar.... (Don't tell my mom!) My question is, how does the GEM Network play into this? Someone told me this week that I come under your authority, since GCC is a part of the GEM Network, but that seems counter to what you're saying these days. Also, I have to admit that I never did the whole "Kingdom Authority" thing, so maybe I'm talking out of turn. Does coming under your authority mean that I have to follow you unquestioningly if you are the (human)leader of my church? Maybe this isn't a question to be addressed here.
One of the issues with leadership in the church is that we have a humanistic hierarchial view of authority when it comes to the church. The person that talked with you thinks hierarchially (is that a word??)
I believe that because of our natural desire for independance, God does ask us to submit to each other (submit to one another out of reverence for Christ). When I see a person who has something I need, I submit to them. When I needed to learn how to put ideas into an orderly manner, I submitted to an older retired pastor. He showed me how. I watched a spiritual father absorb a direct attack. I knew I needed that ability, so I began "submitted under" him to so that he could impart that to me.
I would encourage you to come under Christ's authority. If you come under Christ's authority, everything else will be taken care of. GEM Network is the legal entity that facilitates what God has called us to. I lead GEM, does that mean that somehow you are under me? No. That means that I have responsibility to serve you. You have the responsibility to submit to God.
Beware of leaders that demand submission. Jesus never demanded that people submit to Him. Leaders who demand submission have left the way of Jesus.
Anyway...good questions. Feel free to be specific.
One body, he died for all sins. Your mine everyones. To be excluded is or a grudge is a big question mark to me. I would wonder if I would be welcomed.Matt
I can think of scriptures to back all of that, so i believe your're spot on. I believe we confuse the entity of "church" (the structure, administration, hours of operation, etc.) with the emotional meaning of church. Similar to how focusing on day-to-day life and not nurturing relationships destroys families, marriages, etc. in today's society.
But I would also like to comment on Polly's comment. I think we also have a distorted view of submission. Submission is never unquestioningly following something or someone. Consider Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and his plea to "if it is Your will take this cup away from me, yet not My will but Yours be done" Even in that moment between Father and Son there were questions. So should we do less when dealing with imperfect humans? No. Questions lead to debate and dialogue and can help create respect and even insight for both parties. Submitting is repecting that those above you have a bigger picture, and I'll say that questioning shows you are in submission because you are asking them to show you some of that bigger picture.
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