Tag Archives: Church

Church is like a flag

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It’s not news to tell you that, as a minister, I think about church.

Some thought is theological (what does God say about church?). Some is social or cultural (what does church look like in Australia?, what do my neighbours think when they hear ‘church’?). And some is pragmatic (what should we do this Sunday?, how can we better help our leaders do what they do?). These categories overlap, of course, but it helps to know about the different angles or perspectives we can take.

This is a pragmatic post about church: I suggest a way to think about what church does.

My suggestion: we should think that a church service is like a flag. Specifically, a military flag, a battle standard.

(If you click on the image, you can buy your own modern reproduction of a Roman standard. Perhaps every church should have one. No – I’m not spruiking for them!)

As an admitted military innocent, allow me to consider the use of a flag on the battle field.

A flag doesn’t really do anything. It’s not a weapon (except in desperation?). It issues no orders. It does not analyse the ebb and flow of battle. It provides no materiel. It fails to function as a medic. But it does reduce your fighting force – a bloke has to carry it about.

For all that, the military standard appears important. It does not flight, but those who do fight co-ordinate themselves around it. The flag stands central to the battlefield, defining what the war is. Its appearance is a message of motivation: this is who we are, and this is also why we fight. If the flag-bearer falls, it’s imperative that someone else take his place.

Without the flag, soldiers risk being scattered about the field. They can end up expending heaps of energy but to no good purpose. And remember, war is dangerous. It’s cruel to ask people to risk hurt without purpose.

And church?

Church doesn’t really do anything, either. Except exist as church. It sometimes looks like nothing more than a bunch of people gathering repeatedly out of habit. There’s a sameness about church – just as there should be (after all, the theology of church hasn’t changed since the first century AD).

Church does not have a profit motive, like a company board of directors. Church does not aim to win a premiership, like a training squad. It does not even seem to be as useful as other Christian group activity: going door-knocking; visiting the sick; establishing an orphanage.

But for all that, I am convinced that without church Christians would do nothing. Church is a central signal of who we are are whom we follow. Church is necessary, encouraging, motivating, challenging, painful, joyful. The people of God should love the church God has given us.

Who is it that hates church? It is those who hate the military standard on the field of battle: the enemy. I must ask God for strength not to become a traitor to the flag of Christ’s people, the church of which Christ is the head.

 


 

FIEC annual conference 2012

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In the last few days the family and I have been at the annual conference of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (www.fiec.org.au). Along the way, I jotted down some notes. These are not minutes or comprehensive, just some gleanings from all that we heard.

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There was a reminder: any and every church or Christian ministry has the basic human need as its basis. This need and problem is not sin, but the wrath of God which all sinners deservedly face. ‘But now, the righteousness of God has been revealed … in Jesus Christ whom God presented as a propitiation’ (Romans 3:21-26).

How could we in FIEC ever be content with so many people unaware of and uninterested in the gospel that offers free and just forgiveness?

One topic central to the conference was the nature of church.

Part of thinking about church is perceiving how Christians and churches are viewed in Australia. There was a suggestion that Christians now viewed in a new way in Australia: not simply wrong, but evil. I’d not heard that before. Do you think it’s true?

Within church circles, evangelical Christians are accused of having no doctrine of church (or ecclesiology). And also accused of being too congregational. It cannot be both, surely. Underlying this criticism, really, is a different view of church.

To do church well, including planting new churches, we do need to be sure of what Bible says about church. We should also be aware current ways the English word brings many non-biblical meanings. We might be the ones who need to admit a need to change.

For the specific doctrine of church, we benefit immensely with reminders of God’s big plan. Obviously, God’s overarching plan encompasses all other plans, including church ones. God’s plan: uniting all things under Christ (Eph 1:10). In this we certainly see individuals saved. Yet more commonly the Bible explains this as church formation. God brings peace for one new humanity (Eph 2:14-16). Jesus has everything under his get for the sake of his headship over the church (Eph 1:22).

Since all true unity is gospel unity, a number of consequences follow. We need to ensure, for example, that the structure of church never trumps the gospel. We must be wary of loyalty to the FIEC, for instance. As long as FIEC exists, we should aim to be characterised by discussion of and contention for the gospel (much more than discussion of and contention for a structure!).

There was more, of course. I hope these snippets give some sense of the conference.

What now? Firstly: I have many ideas to share with folk at church with the aim of growing what we do in Albury. Secondly: I encourage anyone who wants to find out about the FIEC to get to the annual conference (and that includes the Albury leaders – not naming names …).

 


 

Church options in Corinth

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When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, he highlighted many decisions they had made. Made badly! They frequently chose the wrong option. even when there only two choices. Paul urged the church to ask themselves, ‘Now which way will we go?’ Here are some of the pairs.

(All quotations from the English Standard Version. Verse reference included in brackets.)

World’s power – God’s power
Paul preached the weak and shameful message of the cross. ‘Christ died’ unveils the power of God. The world’s idea power does not include a king submitting to a humiliating and cursed execution.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(1:10)

Division – unity
It seems the Corinthian Christians were active in choosing to join the best groups so as to be on God’s escalator. ‘Peter/Paul/Apollos is the leader of greatest blessing.’ But this was simply human boasting. The truly great way is to join in unity with all who trust Christ.

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
(3:17)

Inaction – action
With an immoral brother, the church was proud of doing nothing. It showed how accepting they were. Instead, they should have roused themselves into action that purified God’s church.

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
(5:7)

Wrong – right
Christian meals deeply express the Christian life. We thank God that he feeds us physically with bread, as well as spiritually with Christ. We love our brothers and sisters in the faith as we live out the unity of the Spirit. And we are strengthened for lives of love. Except if we do it wrong. As in Corinth. The church was called to do right as they ate, and to cease doing wrong.

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement on himself.
(11:29)

Acceptable – much better
The extravagantly gifted Christians of Corinth had plenty of people to contribute to church life. So many gifts-so little time. So, Paul says, do what builds up the church. There is stuff that is OK and even builds up an individual. But why would you choose that when you can build up everyone? It’s an easy choice!

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
(14:5)

Lie – truth
Corinthian ideas and action messed around with truth that Jesus rose from the grave. They were sliding towards a lie about the resurrection. Paul reminded them of the necessary truth: Jesus is alive.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
(15:14-15)

Not every decision in church life is the same. It’s not always truth versus lie, or bad versus good. The decisions remain important, nonetheless. Corinth took a surprising number of bad options! May their errors stand to teach us of the better way.

 


 

Strong churches

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I want to see strong churches, heaps of them. And I know many other people who want the same. More than merely ‘want’, people dedicate themselves to prayer and effort to support strong churches.

A strong church would have many, if not all, of the following characteristics (and many more beside this list):

  • Obvious declaration of the truth of God’s word, the Bible
  • A living prayer life
  • Active loving relationships, with church members as well as with neighbours of church members
  • Good giving to the the church and by the church
  • Etc

Church numbers are also relevant: perhaps the church is stable in numbers despite being in a high turnover region, perhaps the number of attendees is growing. Also, the ‘numbers’ reflect the local area: no missing ages groups, not a monoculture, and so on.

It seems easy to identify a strong church (identify, as opposed to establish!). Easy, that is, until we read the Bible. God has a tendency to confound human, measurable indicators.

Consider Jesus’ commendation of the poor widow (Luke 21:1-4), in contrast with the temple’s rich donors. Her minor gift of two copper coins would not register on an assessment of financial strength – unlike that of the rich. Yet she was the greater. What if our church is full of people like her, not them?

Consider the church in Corinth. As a church, they were gifted in every way with all speech and knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:5). Yet what a mess! Division, immorality, and with teaching and activity that undermined both cross and resurrection.

Finally, consider the seven churches in Revelation. These churches all have a self-assessment, or a reputation with outsiders. But these points of view needed realignment with the view of Jesus. Ephesus did OK, but had lost her first love (Rev 2:4). Impoverished Smyrna was, in Jesus’ judgement, rich (Rev 2:9). Pergamum persevered even in the face of martyrdom – wow! – but needed a warning about the sword that Jesus wields (Rev 2:16). Thyatira tolerated false prophecy, immorality and idolatry, yet Jesus spoke of this church as increasing in good works (Rev 2:19). Sardis was the most deceitful church: by reputation alive, but in reality dead (Rev 3:1). Philadelphia, of very little power, will receive humble adulation from her enemies (Rev 3:9). And rich, prosperous, successful Laodicea makes Jesus want to vomit (Rev 3:16).

These salutary passages do not imply that we stop looking for strong churches. It’s not necessary to give up improving our ministries. We have, I believe, two warnings to keep in mind.

First, when we measure how strong a church is, it is possible that we are mistaken. If Christians were wrong in the first century, then we will be wrong in the twenty-first.

Second comes a warning not to push the first warning too hard. Some might see the potential for mistake as reason not to make any assessment, but that would also be wrong. After all, the New Testament has many people making a judgement on the standing of a church: Jesus, Paul, churches and Christians in general. Sorry for the double negatives, but they are what I want here: it is not impossible to assess church strength. To some degree, though not perfectly, we can get it right about church strength.

Here’s how it works in practice: we should assess how strong our churches are, but we should do so humbly.

When we assess, we can ask if we are as divided as the church in Corinth. Or if we are showy like the rich temple-donors in Luke. Or if we are as feckless as the church in Sardis. In fact, we should ask these questions. Yet humility will drive us back to the Bible (so we may assess correctly), and back to prayer (for God to mercifully inform and guide us).

 


 

Quick review: How Jesus runs the church

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How Jesus Runs the ChurchHow Jesus Runs the Church by Guy Prentiss Waters

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m very glad that this book was written. Reading it was helpful to me. And frequently bemusing.

Why glad? Because it’s about what the Bible says concerning church government. There are many wise people who have written about aspects of running church, but fewer recent books directly on the biblical data.

Waters convinced me that ‘Church government is a gift of the risen and reigning Jesus to the church, and perpetually reminds the church that Jesus is on his throne.’ (p.149)

In other words, I was encouraged to look again at elders and deacons, at the nature of church, and other matters like this – all of great importence.

In considering biblical data, I do have one disagreement with Waters. His definition of church, I believe, does disservice to the New Testament. He speaks of the church invisible (all true believers through all time), and visible (all the gathered, on earth). There’s much of use here – but the book seems to ignore the gathering or congregation focus of the New Testament. In my mind, this is a significant misreading of the biblical descriptions of church.

The bemusing parts were all to do with Waters’ Presbyterianism. It’s understandable that a book by a Presbyterian clearly explains the (American) Presbyterian system. Yet I think he overplayed the perfections of this system!

Frequently I was with the author as he argued a biblical point – for example the New Testament pattern of plural eldership. But then read with a chuckle as he proved that this equals Presbyterian government as expressed in (some) North American denominations. The final proof or argument was usually a quotation from a Presbyterian book of order.

I am happy to agree that the Presbyterian system is consistent with biblical precepts, but far from convinced that it is prescribed by the Bible. Here’s a wild guess – is this something to do with the Presbyterian fascination with the regulative principle?

Anyway, this book has plenty of good material. There is most definite great value in a thankful use of church government – that reminder alone was worth reading the whole book.

View all my reviews

 

Church planning & numbers

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At church, we have a 2020 Vision. It’s a tool to guide us in prayer and planning. Recently I spent one Sunday sermon talking about a major part of the vision – that by 2020 we see 500 people meeting with us each week.

For the sake of further conversation, I want to write up something about what I said. (Oh yeah, we also had technical difficulties with the recording that day.)

500, is that all?
The main point to remember in every church plan: Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Already. He does not own 2% of Albury-Wodonga people, or 20%. Jesus rules 100% of us. There is one Lord – all will bow to that Lord, willingly or not (Philippians 2:9-11).

The Lordship of God everywhere is the driving impulse for evangelism to everyone. 500 is way too small a number! We love to honour the majesty of God by announcing this majesty to each and every person.

Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:22

500, that’s lots!
That’s a scary number. It’s a risky number. Why bother naming a target? As I see it, there are a couple of reasons and a couple of risks.

One reason to have a target is to stretch us and to provide no excuse for complacency. It would be easy to tread water as a church, and be content with existence. We’re relatively established – and can easily be happy with that. Surely God is worth a little more effort! Not to mention love for our perishing neighbours.

A second reason is that a definite number (rather than a general ‘increase in size’) aids planning. We then ask, ‘If we have that number, where will we meet?, how many small groups leaders do we need to start training?, etc.’

The risks? One is that we set ourselves up for disappointment. Another is that we become arrogant at ‘success’. Both of these come from finding our church identity in our church plans. Keep them apart at all times. Our identity is always in Christ. This never changes. To live is Christ. If plans go well, it’s Christ who did the work. If they do not succeed, Christ remains Lord of his church.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21

But no one will care for me
There’s an idea I sometimes hear that churches are all about community, or Christian family, or mutual love. It usually translates, ‘I want good, supportive friendships here.’ That’s nice. But it is in no way Christian.

I’ll say it again: it’s not Christian in any way to love people who make you feel good. It’s not Christian – it’s human. As Jesus said, ‘Even sinners do that.’ By all means go ahead and have fine friendships, but do not derail the purposes of God in the name of your friendships.

God is about loving the ungrateful and evil. God is the Father who gives to people who will never repay. God is about ridiculous grace to people in rebellion against his rule. We know that, because we are those people. That’s precisely what God does for us through Christ. The way to have a Christian church – not merely a human organisation – is to welcome the unlovely. And that’s why we plan for growth.

Jesus said:
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:32-36

 


 

Preparing for Sunday III

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(Part I. Part II.)

When Christians get together, it’s not always church.

I chatted with some Christians when at the footy last Friday night. It was encouraging. It was not church.

I often have a ride with Christian friends, and it’s a good chance to have deliberate conversations. (‘I’ve been meaning to ask how that thing went …’) But it’s not church.

What makes church church is when Christians draw near to God, whom we meet in his word. To draw near to other Christians is great, and necessary for love and service – but that’s not the definition of church.

Church will see us ‘let the word of Christ dwell among us richly’ (Colossians 3:17). Since ‘the word of God is living and active’ (Hebrews 4:12), we long for it to be effective among us. We know that faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). For us, the word of the Lord is more precious than any other treasure (Psalm 19).

That’s all too brief, but required to intro the next topic for preparing for Sunday. Here’s the slogan version: prepare for church by preparing for God’s word.

Some ways we can do this:

  • The most simple and obvious (simple and obvious are good!): read and pray through the passage that will be read and taught in the next gathering.
  • Less obvious, but building on the previous: talk about the passage with people. Informally mention what you’ve seen already, what questions you have, what might be a challenge, etc. Include the preacher in this. Personally, it’s immensely encouraging to be asked questions beforehand. I spend time mulling over the passage, and it goes better when I can talk with others. (This can also help preachers remember that preparation is important.)
  • Plan a possible conversation-starter for after church. Nothing complex, but perhaps ‘I think verse 18 is a challenge to put into practice – what do you reckon?’ I say possible becasue maybe the talk will throw up a better option.
  • Plan to listen. Do you do better by taking notes? Then get paper and pencil. Do you nod off during readings and sermon? Then get better sleep, sit in a different part of the building, whatever helps.
  • Do whatever you can to encourage those involved in preparing and proclaiming the word. We’d never be content with unprepared music, but churches frequently have Bible readers turn up without any practice. Although they usually say the right words, I guarantee they usually butcher the reading. We can helpful in turning this around. Eg, get readers to practice together (offer to listen, ask for a listener, get the whole month’s readers together for one night to read all passages, …).

There’s plenty more to be said. Perhaps you have great tips to share with us all. Please do!

My ministry aim

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It was the usual question from another ’employed ministry’ person. “How is church going?”

I don’t know how many times I have heard the question. I also don’t know how to give an answer that is useful or helpful. It’s not the aim to deceive – merely that I am in the wrong position to give a considered answer. I’m too close to it all.

But I can, at last, say something: my ministry aim.

It’s taken a long time, but I finally can express it. And I think it’s unexpected.

It’s unexpected because my aim is not obviously tied to the employment in ministry. My aim is not to grow Albury Bible Fellowship Church (though I do work to that end). Nor is it to plant more FIEC churches (though, again, I do work for that outcome). It’s not even to have lots of MTS ministry apprentices (though I sure love working with such trainees).

Rather, my Christian ministry aim is: With the help of my wife, to pass on the gospel to my children.

This involves teaching, prayer, discipline, time, comfort, training, … Everything usual in biblical gospel ministry. My desire is that they are better informed about God’s word than I am. That they are more faithful and self-disciplined in living out this word. That they are more amazed at God’s love than I am, and love their neighbour better than I do.

Here’s some of the thinking behind this.

The ministry cliché – which I don’t buy – is ‘family first, then church.’ The reason for this cliché is to avoid the family breakdown caused by minister putting church demands first, so I get it. The problem: it assumes, and therefore perpetuates, the model of inherent conflict between church and family.

Instead, I say to myself that I am to care for God’s church. In other words, church over all. That’s it. Then, under the umbrella of this responsibility, I have levels of contact and care. The highest level is Catherine and the kids. The first aspect of church ministry is spiritual care for my household. So if I have an extra night off, or make the most of my regular day off, it’s not conflict with church. It is church. (The conflicts come when, inevitably, competing responsibilities require a difficult decision.)

Consider also how the Bible insists that appointing leaders requires a look at the family and household. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, the overseer must:

  • be the husband of one wife
  • be hospitable
  • manage his own household well

Remember also that God is our Father. So if I totally mess up fatherhood, I will be so much less able to teach people about God.

I feel as if I’ve put myself on the line a little bit here. But that’s good! I can already think of the follow-up post I will write. I also know I will prayerfully need to keep thinking through this whole matter all my life. But it’s where I stand, and what I currently think.

What are your thoughts? What suggestions do you have, what problems do you see? I’m interested to know.

Preparing for Sunday, II

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The biggest preparation for Sunday: do nothing.

Perhaps I can put that better. (And first, you might need to look at the first in this blog series.)

Church is primarily about God and his work. God is with his people by his Spirit, and not only announces that Jesus is Lord, but forms the likeness of Jesus in all who trust him.

Here’s some indication of the priority for God’s work among us, from only one chapter of the Bible (Colossians 1)

  • Grace and peace are from the Father (v.2)
  • The gospel is that which bears fruit all over the world (v.6)
  • Every Christian relationship and role is in or of Christ (apostle, saint, brother, minister, servant, membership of the body, etc)
  • In everything, Christ is preeminent (v.18)
  • The reconciliation of all things – heavenly and earthly – is by Christ and his blood (v.20)
  • The riches of the glory of God’s mystery is Christ in you (v.27)
  • The goal of ministry is maturity in Christ (v.28)

Much more could be added, but the idea is clear. The sufficiency of any church is completely the sufficiency of God in Christ, through the power of the Spirit.

In other words, the sufficiency of church is never you or me or us.

So to prepare, we do nothing except trust God.

How? There’s no better way than prayer. Prayer is when I cease activity – and activism – and accept that God works. I cease, and I ask him to work in accordance with his promise.

So, pray for your church meeting. Pray for God to change yourself and all present, for God to work through all with formal roles, for God to use all without such roles, for Christ to be honoured, for the Father to produce spiritual fruit that will last.

Preparing for Sunday I

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Being a church-employed minister, my weeks usually feel tidal.

That is, while many things take place I am always aware that I’m heading towards Sunday. The mere administration is a part: bulletin, prayer points, any special events or requests. More important by far is the teaching of God’s word: spending time in the text and striving to prepare a message that’s both humble before God yet bold in speaking.

Then, once Sunday is over, there’s a brief feeling like an exhalation, like the tide receding. ‘Done for this week.’ Before the cycle starts again.

In truth, I am in an immensely helpful position: my work life is built around a priority of engaging with God in the midst of his people (also known as church). And because I ‘have to’ get ready, I think I am the one who benefits most.

What, then, of Christians who have a different rhythm? Alternative tides are all around: the Monday-Friday work week; the school week/term/year (for students and parents); the body-clock confusion of shift-work; regular medical treatments or appointments; involvement in sport or other clubs.

To stop me being so selfish and keeping the best benefits for myself, I am going to blog a series on preparing for Sunday. It’s not the Sunday that’s important – it’s the preparing.

My aim is: to help people approach church attendance in a manner that is truly good for them and for that church. Let’s see how it goes!