False teaching and teaching one another
Whenever I talk about the church teaching one another (as opposed to one person or a small group of leaders doing all the teaching), I’m usually asked about false teaching. I’ve found that “teaching one another” has served to work against false teaching instead of encourage false teaching.
Now, Gavin at “Simple Church Alliance” has written a good article on the topic called “Simply False: False Teaching in Simple Church.”
I like the balance that Gavin presents between the importance of teachers and the importance of the whole church teaching one another. Both are found in Scripture, and both are necessary to the growth and maturity of the church.
I especially enjoyed the end of his article where Gavin offers some unhealthy patterns to watch out for:
Please hear me, gifted teachers help us understand scripture. However, we all have a great privilege and responsibility to bring our questions to God, diligently seek Truth in His Word, and listen to the Holy Spirit as He teaches us. In simple church gatherings, we can zero in on truth together as we are living this way individually. Simply being involved with simple church offers no guarantee to find and walk in the Truth. Just as in any church, false teaching can find a home in simple church. Here are some unhealthy patterns to watch out for:
* Simple churches become to homogenous only consisting of believers who all think alike.
* One person dominating discussion/teaching
* Failing to “weigh carefully” what is said.
* Failure of believers to learn to “feed themselves” on God’s word, with Holy Spirit as teacher, throughout the week. (This is why we encourage Life Transformation Groups that focus on reading lots of scripture)
* We find ourselves talking more about what a particular author or teacher has to say about God Word than God’s Word itself.
* An unwillingness to be challenged in our view of truth or challenge others (in love) on theirs.
* Intentionally or unintentionally avoiding others who do not think or believe like you.
* A sense of discouragement from simple church gatherings rather than peace (see verse above).
* Simple church relationships become primarily about policing behavior and theology rather than fulfilling the Great Commission.
* We have a need to be right, fail to give grace, lack of humility, and we fail to obey Romans 14.
I agree with Gavin that having the whole church take part in teaching is a great way to filter out false teaching. Of course, those gifted at teaching are part of that “whole church,” so they are to take part as well.
I think that one of the things that I’m most excited about is that in the last few years I’ve noticed more and more churches recognizing the need for “teaching one another.” Of course, in most churches, there is still too much of an emphasis on a single or small group of teachers. But, the trend seems to be toward encouraging input and interaction and teaching from the whole church.
Is the priesthood of all believers really that important?
Is the priesthood of all believers really that important? Well, my friend Eric from “A Pilgrim’s Progress” thinks so. He writes about this in his post “Pleading for the Priesthood of All Believers.”
After listing several passages in which all believers are exhorted to do the work of priests, Eric makes a very impassioned and – I think – a very scriptural plea. If you are in Christ, then you are a priest in Christ (the only kind of priest that matters), so do the work of a priest!
Eric writes:
I plea to all followers of Jesus Christ to fully embrace this great privilege and responsibility. Since we have direct access to God, let’s live like it. We don’t need to go through others to get to him. Instead, let’s help others see this incredible news. As we make disciples, let’s be sure to let them know that they have no need of anyone to stand between them and God. Christ alone is our high priest…
Now, the happy reality is that if we are Christians we are priests. There is no choice in the matter. It is fact.
In light of that, let’s live in this reality. Let’s encourage all our brothers and sisters in Christ to grab hold of this wondrous gift. Not only are we saved from hell, but we are saved to a life of direct communication and experience with God Himself.
This is good stuff… important stuff for all believers to understand. You are as much of a priest – and just as “ordained” – as anyone else. Teaching, leading, discipling, exhorting, admonishing, rebuking… these are all within your realm as a child of God indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
And, get this… the church only grows in maturity when ALL believers are working as priests.
The Gospel of the Gospels
Jonathan at “Jon’s Journey” has written a very good post called “Did Jesus preach the gospel?” The post is part of a series that he has been written looking at the good news in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
He begins with the gospel as it is commonly proclaimed today: “You are a sinner. God is holy and cannot have sin in his presence. Jesus paid the debt for your sins. Trust Jesus and you will have eternal life.” (By the way, this is the gospel that I’ve heard since I was very young.)
Next, Jonathan compares this to the gospel (good news) that he finds in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. At one point, he says:
You can not read the gospels without noticing how often the topic of the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven is on the lips of Jesus. Matt 4:23, Matt 9:35, Matt 24:14, Luke 4:43, Luke 16:16 are a few that link the word ‘gospel’ with this kingdom message. We also find his disciples were sent out preaching the same message (Matt 10:5-8, Luke 9:1-2, Luke 10:9) . We have 4 books call the ‘gospels’ that have a lot to say about the good news message Jesus and His disciples preached. Paul and the other New Testament writers continued with the same message and themes.
I think that Jonathan is making a very good point. I think the gospel includes forgiveness of sin and eternal life. But, I do not think that is the whole gospel. I’m glad that more and more people are beginning to include the good news of the kingdom in their understanding of and proclamation of the gospel.
What do you think?
Organic life within traditional church structures?
I was greatly encouraged when I read a post by Trey (from “Practical Christianity – Living God’s Way“) called “Non-Comformity within Traditional Church.”
In the post, he writes about a group of believers who meet as part of a traditional church. But, according to Trey, the group demonstrates a living and active community in Christ.
He writes:
Within the context of a largely traditional Southern Baptist church, I witnessed an outside-the-box, passionate ministry of believers that simply did not follow the “script”. No Sunday School quarterlies were passed around. The teacher did not read from the teacher’s guide verbatim. The participants of this class were not grouped according to age. No lesson was taught in the traditional sense. What did happen looked surprisingly like the New Testament. A group of believers ages 20-60, united and changed by the power of Christ in the Gospel, were engaging with one another with the goal of growth and edification. Challenges were made to one another about walking daily with Christ. Prayers were prayed spontaneously. New believers were asking lots of questions. Every member ministers were commissioned for service in other areas within the church. These folks loved this traditional church yet were free to express themselves within the context of their small group community.
Like I said, I’m greatly encouraged to read about this kind of life in Christ within a traditional church. (This is one of the things that I wrote about in my post “Why I’m not a house church proponent.”)
My hope and prayer is that others would see this group living in community in Christ and seek the same kind of fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ. I also hope that the leaders of the traditional church organization would be willing to make any necessary modifications so that this kind of growth would no longer be seen as “outside-the-box,” but would become normal. Finally, I hope that all brothers and sisters in Christ would welcome and encourage this kind of growth and community, regardless of our thoughts concerning traditional, institutional, organic, simple, or any other adjectival church…
(By the way, don’t miss another great post by Trey called “Contentment is key.”)
The Church in America from a British Perspective
A couple of months ago, I published a guest post by Peter who is from the UK. That post was called “House Churches: British Experiences to Teach the USA.” I really appreciated Peter’s post because it is always valuable to read other people’s perspectives, especially those who are outside the current situation or context.
Arthur at “The Voice of One Crying Out in Suburbia” has now published another guest post from someone else in the UK. His guest blogger is Christopher, and the post is called “The American Church – From the Outside Looking In – An English Perspective.”
While Peter’s post (that I published) primarily focused on house or organic church, Christopher’s post (that Arthur published) focuses on several different aspects of the American church. He calls them Charismaniacs, the Religious Right, the Reformed, the Emerging Church, and Organic/Simple Church Movement.
Once again, I enjoyed reading Christoper’s perspective on the church in America (just as I enjoyed reading Peter’s earlier perspective). I think that we (as Christians in America) can learn considerably by listening to those outside our borders, especially other brothers and sisters in Christ.
What are you thoughts about Christoper’s post?
Another blogger’s thoughts on teaching and doctrine
This morning, I published a post about terms related to teaching in the New Testament. (See my post “New Testament Terms Related to Teaching.”) I was happy to find that another blogger that I respect greatly has come to some of the same conclusions as me concerning teaching.
Bobby at “Deconstructing Neverland” expressed some of these views in his post “Barking up the wrong tree.”
His post primarily revolves around considering this question: “What is most beneficial in helping someone mature as a follower of Jesus Christ?” He concludes that what is typically called “doctrinal teaching” is not very helpful at helping a brother or sister mature in Christ… yes, even good doctrinal teaching.
Here is a small part of Bobby’s excellent post:
Maturity comes through experiencing the Life of Christ in us as we walk in the Spirit not through endless preaching and teaching of historical creeds and confessions. If we want to mature we must have relationships with others who are more mature than us and imitate their way of life. If we want to help others mature we must walk through life with them and live a life worth imitating. But first we gotta stop barking up the wrong tree and decide instead to hike our leg on it and move on.
But, in fact, what Bobby talks about IS what Scripture calls “doctrine.” The idea that teaching/doctrine is speaking or lecturing about Scripture is not found in the New Testament. Certainly, this type of activity can be part of teaching, but it is a small part. Teaching in the New Testament is primarily one of observation (i.e., watching how another believer lives) and imitation (i.e., living in a similar manner).
The fact that the church has replaced demonstration/observation/imitation with lecture is one of the reasons (I think) that so many believers remain immature today.
So, read the remainder of Bobby’s post, and comment there. Then, tell us here what you think about his post and my response above.
Guilt Free
My friend Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” has written a very encouraging and comforting post called “Don’t Feel Guilty.”
Eric’s post is one of those that I wish I had written. I think there is something in his list that everyone has struggled with from time to time.
But, guess what?! For those who are in Christ, there is no guilt… no condemnation. None.
We can rest in Christ, knowing that he loves us.
By the way, you may feel just the opposite of the things that Eric lists. Guess what?! No guilt for you either!
I guess, if I had to pick one thing to point out, it would be this one: “Please, brothers and sisters, don’t feel guilty… for feeling like you are speaking a different language when you talk with other Christians about the church.”
Which one would you pick?
(By the way, Eric’s post and image – which I used here – reminded me that whenever I see the words “Gluten Free” on a food package, I always think “Guilt Free” and smile…)
The church and one another
JR at “More than Cake” has written a great post called “Are You A Part of the Real Church?”
He begins by reminding us that Jesus washed his followers’ feet the last night before he was crucified, ending by telling them that he did that as an example for them to also serve one another.
Then, JR makes the following statement, “Living for one another is the essence of what it means to be God’s church.” Did you catch that? Living for one another…
“One another…”
Finally, JR ends his post with a list of 33 verses that all focus on our relationship and interaction with “one another.”
Seriously, jump over to his site and read the last that JR has put together.
Yeah, apparently “one another” is pretty important to being the church…
A blogger’s thoughts about the modern local church
Often, in my short noon posts, I link to a blog post written by another blogger. This time, I’m going to link to two different blog posts by the same blogger.
The blogger is Bobby from “Deconstructing Neverland.” And, I’m going to link to his posts in the reverse order that he published them… for a reason.
First, in his post called “What does local church look like?” Bobby admits that he does not agree with the way “local church” is usually defined and delineated today.
Next, in his post called “Trying something different,” talks about meeting with a local church. (The post is primarily about how the leaders of that church are trying a different, more participatory style of teaching.)
Now, put these two posts together. Bobby does not agree with how some of his brothers and sisters think about and live as the church. But, he wants to spend time with them (and DOES spend time with them) in spite of these differences.
What an AWESOME example of both blogging and LIVING as the church of God!
A new church in the projects
I’ve linked to several posts written by Felicity at “Simply Church.” I link to her posts because she writes about what God is doing through her and the people around her. These kinds of examples can be very encouraging to people who are seeking how to follow God for themselves.
A few weeks ago, she wrote a series of posts about a new church that God started in a housing project in their town. If you haven’t read them, you should read through these posts:
- How we started a church in low-income housing projects
- The continuing story of how we started a church in the projects
- A church is born in the projects
- Lessons from Rosa’s story
Those posts are short, and well worth the time it would take you to read them, I think.