What are the essential biblical ingredients of a church?
I’ve been involved in the NZ Baptist “Sharpening the Edge” Conference the last couple of days (Being part of a panel reflecting on the stories being told).
One of the questions I raised (which was nicely sidestepped) related to what the Biblical essentials for a church are. This conference is a group of jesus-followers who are leaders (mostly pastors), who are interested in alternative forms of church for the sake of mission here in NZ. As they explore alternative models such as weeding gardens on a Sunday morning, or a 7-day-a-week childrens program with no formal church service … the question arises “what is church?” As part of figuring that out, I think we should be able to clarify what the biblical essentials are ….. consider 3 levels
1. Biblical essentials (you must have these to have a ‘church’, & they all have sound biblical basis)
2. Very important things (but not essential)
3. Other helpful things
It is interesting & challenging to try to put the various aspects of normal church into these 3 categories (ie ordained ministers, weekly meetings, Sunday meetings, corporate sung worship, sermons, leadership structure, buildings, communion etc etc) Why don’t you try to do it??? Or if you know a ‘minister’ .. ask them. & let me know via a comment here.
My challenge to the Baptists was “we’re all ministers / theologically trained’ & trying to create churches … we should be able to do this quickly … 30 seconds & we should have the items in level #1 – but I bet we can’t, & there would be no common agreement on it (scary)
They side-stepped the question graciously & said something like it was something they needed to be working on over the next year (their ecclesiology)
My experience of asking a group of 8 ministers the same question was that there was no common agreement on the biblical essentials for a church ….. what does that tell us about our ecclesiology (theology of the church)???
Maybe you can set me straight on this ….
One of the questions I raised (which was nicely sidestepped) related to what the Biblical essentials for a church are. This conference is a group of jesus-followers who are leaders (mostly pastors), who are interested in alternative forms of church for the sake of mission here in NZ. As they explore alternative models such as weeding gardens on a Sunday morning, or a 7-day-a-week childrens program with no formal church service … the question arises “what is church?” As part of figuring that out, I think we should be able to clarify what the biblical essentials are ….. consider 3 levels
1. Biblical essentials (you must have these to have a ‘church’, & they all have sound biblical basis)
2. Very important things (but not essential)
3. Other helpful things
It is interesting & challenging to try to put the various aspects of normal church into these 3 categories (ie ordained ministers, weekly meetings, Sunday meetings, corporate sung worship, sermons, leadership structure, buildings, communion etc etc) Why don’t you try to do it??? Or if you know a ‘minister’ .. ask them. & let me know via a comment here.
My challenge to the Baptists was “we’re all ministers / theologically trained’ & trying to create churches … we should be able to do this quickly … 30 seconds & we should have the items in level #1 – but I bet we can’t, & there would be no common agreement on it (scary)
They side-stepped the question graciously & said something like it was something they needed to be working on over the next year (their ecclesiology)
My experience of asking a group of 8 ministers the same question was that there was no common agreement on the biblical essentials for a church ….. what does that tell us about our ecclesiology (theology of the church)???
Maybe you can set me straight on this ….
Labels: church, David Allis, general
3 Comments:
At August 1, 2007 9:50 PM , Anonymous said...
When you exit the institutional model, it forces you to think about your question, what are the essentials of ‘church’. Broadly speaking for me, the essentials are (off the top of my head):
1) Essentials:
Two or more followers of Jesus who commit themselves to one another for mutual encouragement and mission.
2) Very important things:
Fellowship, prayer, fasting, reading of scripture, healing, deliverance, evangelism, pastoral care, eldership, friendship, discipleship.
3) Other helpful things:
Christian literature, church history, study aids, musical instruments, doctrine, theology, core values.
There is probably some debate over what fits best in sections two and three, but for me that probably sums it up in just a few minutes. Forgive me if I have missed something obvious!
Brendan - Christchurch
At November 10, 2007 12:53 PM , Anonymous said...
when you asked this at the conf (and there were a lot of questions asked that were not answered, cos of time constraints): i thought of our opawa multi-congregational model in which we have defined church as relationships with God; with each other; and outwardly toward the world.
those 3 have then allowed us to be very fluid and creative in planting fresh expressions of church.
steve
www.emergentkiwi.org.nz
At November 10, 2007 12:54 PM , Anonymous said...
Oh, just noticed Brendan's comment about "exiting the institutional model" - so it is worth noting that Opawa is an institution that is forcing itself to ask that questions.
steve
www.emergentkiwi.org.nz
Post a Comment
<< Home