Practical ways of developing and expressing community
After having discussed the biblical principles describing what a Jesus community looks like, we must ask, “How do we develop and express community/fellowship in our churches today?” Is the biblical model a pattern for all times? Not necessarily, otherwise we would all have to meet in private homes, share a common meal in our gatherings, and eat the Lord’s Supper in the context of that fellowship meal. Yet, it is important that we follow the principles discussed above. We must be careful not to make every action of the early church an authoritative precedent to be rigorously copied without regard to time and place. The New Testament is not a second Levitical Code. It is our responsibility, guided by ancient precedent and wisdom from above, to adapt to the current and future needs of our world.
Whatever forms, projects, programs, or activities we use today, they must be guided by the fundamental truths that Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit is present, the gospel must be lived out, and the love of Jesus must be expressed.
Whatever forms, projects, programs, or activities we use today, they must be guided by the fundamental truths that Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit is present, the gospel must be lived out, and the love of Jesus must be expressed.
Thank you! May we have the courage to follow Jesus TODAY.
ReplyDeleteTerry, let's not dismiss the biblical model for building community too quickly. Would that model be more effective for building community than the one we are using? Perhaps some of the folks here would want to brainstorm about effective methods for building a Christ-centered, Christ-guided community.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your posts!
As to the 'biblical model' I'd like to remember what brother Terry has already posted on the topic. Without cutting and pasting his complete post on this subject, I do believe he captures the essential problem with talking about the 'biblical model'. And, I might add, that it is an uncomfortably close to pattern theology termenology. Here's a bit of Terry's previous post:
ReplyDelete"When discussing “the biblical model of the church,” we must be careful to understand that cultural and societal differences are normal and acceptable to the extent that they respect the scriptural concepts and principles of what a church is and why it exists. It is doubtful that a first century church in Jerusalem was an exact representation of a first century church in Philippi, Corinth, or Rome. We are very naïve to assume all the churches throughout the world were cookie cutter churches. It is also unlikely that churches in the first century were identical to churches of the second, third, or other centuries that followed. History bears this out."
Jim, Let me redirect from that last comment. I may be over-reacting to the 'patternistic' sound of 'biblical model.'
ReplyDeleteI do think you ask a good question: "Would that model be more effective for building community than the one we are using?"
But, I guess I would prefer that we ask the question without the comparison to some perceived 'biblical model.' Let's just ask: "How may we more effectively build community?"
Ryan, you are reading something into my comment that was not at all intended. I was not suggesting that there is biblical model to be duplicated slavishly or legally. We can use the term "biblical picture" if that is more satisfactory. We have developed our own methods of "doing church" and creating community, and my question is, "Are our methods effective?" If not, we should not dismiss the methods employed by early Christians (or Christians of any age) that proved effective.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Jim. You're right. I am being overly-sensitive to the termenology. The phrase "Once bitten, twice shy," may describe my predicament. I agree that those methods that proved effective for the early church (first century and forward) should not be dismissed.
ReplyDeleteSince the question is about effectiveness, it may be that we need to avoid reinventing the wheel is unnecessary and less effective than using tested and tried methods of the past, even the ancient past. But, it may also mean that what worked so effectively in the past does not work as effectively today. For example, the house church system of the New Testament era is gaining a bit of a resurgence (i.e., George Barna). And, maybe, it is time for such a resurgence? But, the last 200 years of American Religious History have shown that house churches typically disband after a few years, or they grow into a church that buys property for a meeting place. What seems to be effective in today's world is a combination of large group meetings in facilities adequate for large grous (100s, 1000s) and a well-organized network of small-groups or cell-groups.
Our discussions about gospel meetings illustrate how a method may prove effective at one point in time, but ineffective later.
As long as we are focused on effectiveness, we will make a real and meaningful application of the teachings of the Bible. When we just mimic Bible precedents, we often find ourselves doing exactly the opposite of what the Bible calls us to do. For example, our concern to only collect and use money in ways that we can find New Testament precendent have put a strangle-hold on the church, so much so that the parable of the Good Samaritan cannot be fulfilled by the church in any corporate way!?! Whenever church practices make impede the church from following the most basic teachings of Christ, something has gone terribly wrong.
Jim, thanks for interacting with me on these ideas... clearly, I need to watch my over-reactions. Love and appreciate you, brother!
Thanks Ryan, and I concur completely. We have boxed ourselves in by our creation of perceived patterns, our traditional practices that are no longer effective, our paranoia of "change" and "denominationalism," etc. Your point about handcuffing ourselves to the extent that the church (the body of Christ) cannot "be Christ" in the our communities is excellent. What an irony! (Now I'm getting wound up and need to preach to someone.) God speed, dear brother.
ReplyDelete