We desperately need each other
Bill at “NT/History Blog” has written an excellent post called “Walking Distance Ecclesiology.” He says that the cities of the first century (Thessalonica, even Rome and Jerusalem) were small enough (about 1 square mile) that people could easily walk anywhere within the city within a few minutes. This means that the early Christians were easily accessible to one another. And, that’s a good thing. Why?
This is what Bill says:
But the first Christians weren’t just accessible to one another, they were necessary. They needed each other. They no longer fit well with anyone in their towns apart from one another. For knowing Christ, THEY were all that THEY had. Each new Christian found in Jesus Christ had to also find out that their Lord was inside their new siblings as well. Thus, if they needed Him, then they needed each other.
Think about that… the early Christians needed each other and they KNEW they needed each other. Has that changed? Yeah, I think so… and so does Bill. He ends with this very true and very heartbreaking statement:
We so desperately need that [togetherness and relying on one another]. Most of us just don’t know how badly.
So… how can we help believers understand how much they need one another, and how much they’re missing if they don’t spend time with one another?
Link Love about our Easter Meeting
Thanks for the link love about our Easter Meeting:
Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” in his post “Meeting and Eating Together.”
Arthur at “the voice of one crying out in suburbia” in his post “It is His Table.”
By the way, I do not think the meetings of other churches should look like our meeting. In fact, our meetings look different from week to week. Why? Because people are different and God works through people.
Financial and identity challenges to tentmaking
Len at “NextReformation” has written a very interesting post called “missional spirituality – tentmaking.” Of course, by the term “tentmaking,” Len simply refers to elders/pastors who work a secular job, that is, they are not paid by the church to be elders/pastors.
Len makes this very observant statement about “tentmaking”:
The deepest challenges are financial and identity related. Christendom structures do not tend to validate unpaid ministry, and that lack usually impacts the internal sense of identity of leaders. Pastors and teachers without letterhead and business cards may have difficultly not just with those who would otherwise be colleagues, but also with their internal convictions about call and adequacy. But we desperately need pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles and prophets who are not waiting for permission to pursue their kingdom vocations. The existing system will only rarely legitimize a call that is outside its boundaries. But those boundaries exist more as a legacy of a cultural modality than a biblical one, and they are collapsing.
I can tell you that from my seminary and denominational perspective, Len is exactly right. An elder/pastor who works a secular job for support is viewed differently than an elder/pastor who is paid a salary by the church, even if that salary is extremely small. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I don’t think anyone who is part of the seminary or denomination would make that statement, but it seems evident in actions and attitudes.
I guess, using this terminology, I am a tentmaker… and by choice. Interestingly, I think Paul would be surprised that we use the term “tentmaker.” That was his profession. It wasn’t anything special.
Defining and Describing the Church
I read two good descriptions/definitions of the church this morning:
The first was from Guy at “the M blog” in his post “Definitions of church“:
A New Testament church is a small local gathering of believers usually meeting in homes. They are knitted together as a spiritual family with Christ as Head. Everyone contributes towards mutual edification out of what has been given to them by the Lord. Churches are characterized by their devotion to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The environment is one where everyone is stimulated to love one another and do good deeds as they encourage one another to obey all the commands of Christ.
The second came from Frank at “Reimagining Church” in his post “Church Defined & My Favorite Resurrection Song“:
Rightly conceived, the church is a local group of people who have been immersed and saturated with a magnificent vision of Jesus Christ and who are discovering how to take Him as their All together and bring Him to the world.
The church of Jesus Christ expressed locally is a group of people who are learning how to live by Divine life together and how to display that life together. “Christ in you, the hope of glory†. . . “Christ our Life.â€
What do you think?
Are you ready?
My good friend Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” exhorts us all to be prepared when gather together with our brothers and sisters in Christ in a post called “Implying Preparation.” Eric points to the following passage as an indication that we should come “prepared”:
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV)
And, it’s true that Paul recognizes that the believers in Corinth were coming together with a hymn, teaching, revelation, tongue, interpretation, etc. already prepared. Paul says that whatever they do (whatever they’ve prepared, or whatever they do spontaneously) should be done for the purpose of edifying the church – that is, those brothers and sisters in Christ that they’re gathering together with.
Another passage also indicates preparation:
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
In this passage, we’re exhorted to think about (consider) one another and how we meet help one another exhibit love and good works. Otherwise, we’re “neglecting to meet together” even if we attend a meeting.
So… as Sunday approaches… and “Easter” Sunday at that… I wonder… how have you prepared for gathering with the saints? What have you prepared to edify the church? What have you considered that will help others demonstrate love and good works?
Continuing discussion on creeds and confessions
A couple of bloggers are continuing the discussion on creeds and confessions, and both have some great things to say:
Arthur at “the voice of one crying out in suburbia” with “Creeds and confessions: unifiers or dividers?” and “Unity on my terms.” (ok, so the last one probably isn’t a continuation of the discussion of creeds and confessions, but its a good post)
T. Freeman at “getting free” with “‘Jesus is Lord’ – The core, pt. 1“
Thinking about imitation
My good friend Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” has written an excellent article called “On the Importance of Imitation.” In this post, Eric talks about imitating those churches that come before us.
Imitation takes several forms, including imitating other churches and imitating other believers.
But, there is a common denominator… we must know (intimately know) those who we are imitating.
I think the fact that the we do not intimately know others (either churches or individuals) is a hindrance to our discipleship, since we have no model to imitate. We can only imitate what we’ve seen and experienced. What do you think?
Opportunities for real ministry
Stephen, at “Beyond Outreach,” has written an excellent post called “Little Things.” His post is excellent for at least two reasons: 1) he shows how church programs are not ministry, but how they can lead to ministry and 2) he tells a beautiful story to illustrate his point.
Stephen says:
Our ministry forums (the preaching services, children’s church, crafts ministry, etc) are not where the real ministry happens in most cases. They are points of connection that make sharing Jesus possible.
Did you catch that? The programs themselves are NOT ministry (service), but they can be opportunities for connecting with and serving other people. Stephen tells the story of a woman who came to a church building for a program. The program was not available, but a believing woman who was at the church building for another program stopped what she was doing to get to know and serve this lady. Stephen concludes:
So, if your church has an AWANA ministry or angel food ministry or any other kind of “outreach,†remember that the ministry forum is not the real ministry, it is just an opportunity for real ministry to happen. The real ministry happens through people, not projects.
Excellent point, Stephen!
Serving despite how you feel
Jack at “Flight Level Musings” told a beautiful story of service in his post “Servanthood to a Child.” Here’s the story:
Here is a quick story that happened last night in my home. I have seven children ages five to twenty-two. My two oldest sons ages seventeen and twenty had just got home yesterday from a week in Haiti on a building project. Our house had been the drop off point for several of the team members cars.
No sooner had the team members said their goodbyes and my sons had brought in the gear from the trip, did my five year old daughter meet her seventeen year old brother in the hallway with a board game in her hands. Now picture this. My son is at least 6’3″ and weighs 210 pounds and his little sister stands just over knee-high to him.
She is looking up at him with her big blue eyes and says, “You want to play a game with me?” I looked at my son and could see the fatigue in his eyes. They had slept outdoors for seven days in the rain and mud. He hesitated a moment, but with a big grin on his face he said, “Sure!”
Which one was service: 1) the building project in Haiti or 2) playing a game with a five year old?
When everyone is willing to speak
So, if edification occurs most effectively when many people speak to one another, then it seems that we should gather together as churches in settings where everyone will be willing to speak. I think we would all agree that small group settings are best for this. -Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” in his post “On the Willingness to Speak“