I spent two years studying the New Testament to see what it had to say about the New Testament Church. A lot of my study was informed by the original Greek so as to avoid modern English impositions in the meaning of words. I wanted a complete picture so I looked at everything.
When I had completed my study and realised that the church today had missed the plot, that is what I started talking about, not from the perspective of this is what you have to do but more a case of this is what the word teaches.
Here are some of the subjects I covered and my conclusions. Space does not allow me to post everything.
FOUNDATIONS
The church was birthed on the day of Pentecost with three things. One, unity. They were together, together. Two, prayer. They stayed in the upper room to await the coming of the Holy Spirit and to pray. Three, the power of the Holy Spirit. They were all filled with the spirit and spoke in other tongues. I believe we need all three to be an effective church. In most churches prayer is the least supported activity and most of them are prayers for God to help us or bless us. In other words we are in it for what we can get out of it.
DAILY LIVING
The met daily in the temple (they were Jews) and from house to house for fellowship, apostles teaching, prayer and meals together. When you do this it is hard to not like someone and not to care for someone. And be aware of their needs. Generally Sunday morning meetings are a barrier to this happening.
Their learning was the dialogue method in home groups, not the monologue method as we have today. Every one could share what they wanted without fear of censure.
THEIR AUTHORITY
They had two. Jesus himself whom they preached and his word. They had no traditions to draw on and no denomination headquarters. Although the Jerusalem church were Jews and went the synagogue as well, it did not determine their way of life under the leadership of Christ. There was no New Testament so instruction was verbal or through the gifts of the Spirit. Learning was by example and the Holy Spirit’s proceeding word.
LEADERSHIP
The New Testament is conclusive that leadership was by a plurality of Elders who were selected from within the congregation they were part of. Not once do you read of “pastor” leading the church and certainly not one that is brought in from outside the assembly. The word “pastor’ in fact does not appear in the Greek, it is shepherd. The word “pastor” is Latin and was introduced later the same as the Greek for “bishop“ is ‘pappa’ and was later changed to pope.
There is no evidence that the Elders were paid and there is evidence that they were not.
MONEY
Tithing was an unknown concept for the New Testament Church. They gave as the Lord prospered them and they gave when there were needs. The three main ones were widows and orphans, those experiencing famine and the financing of apostles whilst they were travelling and could not work. Once they settled they supported themselves.
No one was paid a salary and no money was spent on putting up buildings.
EVANGELISM
Three methods were used. The Lord added daily so it was supernaturally in response to the way they lived and cared for each other. The second was by the leading of the Holy Spirit telling them where to go and to whom. So that was supernatural. The third was preaching with signs following so that was supernatural as well. Today evangelism is about 25 on the agenda, which is probably why the church is not growing.
MINISTRY
This was by anointing not appointing. Either Christ gave you a ministry or you didn’t have one. (Ephesians 4v11). Most ministry today is by appointing from head office and devoid of anointing.
These five ministries are ministries not positions. Your authority was in the context of your ministry. For example, Paul was an apostle which means “sent one”. When he was sent by the church to preach the gospel and form a new assembly, he had full authority and anointing to do so. When he wasn’t doing this he was just apart of the fellowship, as he said I come AMONG YOU, not over you.
The ministry group was specific to carry out their ministry and the Elders were a specific group to oversee the local assembly. The ministry group was not superior to the Elders as they had different roles. Not once in the whole of the New Testament does it mention “a pastor” as leader of the assembly and as I have talked to people about this they have always fallen back on denominational “tradition” to support such a concept and they usually twist scripture and circumstances to support their unbiblical concept.
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
Many churches talk about this and say they do it but in most cases it is minimal assent. In the New Testament Church, everyone was a capable minister of the new covenant, probably because they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. At the same time it says that we are ordained to bring forth fruit. The word “ordination” in scripture has nothing to do with ministry,. It is to do with character and humility. In the New Testament, there are no words used to describe clergy or the clergy/laity divide. It was an unknown concept.
In Corinthians Paul says that when you come together, everyone has, not just a select few. What they had was the gifts of the spirit, not man inspired lectures and programmes. I was in a church in England for 10 years that had no pastor, no platform, no pulpit, no preacher and no programme.
We all arrived and sat until the Holy Spirit began the meeting, using one and another to contribute in various ways. One meeting lasted six hours. Frank Viola says that the appointment of paid leaders sounded the death knell of the priesthood of all believers as in most cases the chosen few perform up front and the rest are the cheer squad. As a result, most of the congregation never grow because they are not giving according to their ministry.
CHURCH
In the New Testament there was only one church in each town. The church at Corinth; the church at Philippi; the church at Laodicea etc. Paul castigated the Corinthian church for their division (denominations). The times that I have heard that denominations are of God are totally incredulous. Jesus prayed that we would be one. Denominations divide, not unite.
Jesus said he would build his church. That being the case we need to know how. Most of the time church leadership is building their church and the gates of hell are prevailing against it as a result. Until we confess our sin of ignoring Jesus and the Holy Spirit and submit ourselves to his will and purpose, nothing will change.
I hasten to add that churches in third world countries are submitting and they are the churches that are making an impact with converts being added daily. It is only westernised, self sufficient, smug churches that are losing the plot.
COMMITMENT
The New Testament Church was totally committed to their cause. They gave freely without consideration for their own needs and they accepted that dying daily was the routine. For some that even meant martyrdom.
The New Testament talks about sacrifice and death, being shunned and even killed. It does not talk about prosperity of finances. It talks about prosperity of commitment and sacrifice. They consider themselves to be their brother’s keeper. We usually leave that to the government to take care of.
They were very happy to take up their cross daily if it meant that Jesus was exalted and the good news was passed on to others. Being a believer in Jesus meant that it was a full time ministry for everyone, not just a select few who had been to Bible College.
These are a few of my favourite themes (apologies to Mary Poppins). In all there are many, many more which will appear on my website once I have developed one.
Showing posts with label NT CHURCH LIFE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NT CHURCH LIFE. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
DO NOT FORSAKE...WHAT?
I guess most of us have been told that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in the context of someone exhorting us to attend church services.
The truth is if we attend 52 Sunday services a year, we are forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.
The Greek word used in Hebrews 10:25 mean ‘your synagogue’, the place where you gather together. It is not the word ‘ecclesia’ which means the church assembly.
This suggests a smaller gathering in the home. This is backed up by the fact that the purpose of assembling together is to exhort one another. The meaning of this word can only be done in the confines of the sort of interaction that you get in a small group. It does not say to gather together to sing songs and listen to someone preach.
At the same time we note that the New Testament Church met daily in their homes as the basis for their fellowship. Sharing of food with each other, to pray and receive apostolic teaching. They did not meet to sing songs and have a bible study.
It is no use quoting the word of God if we ignore the meaning of the words that we are quoting and use them just to support our cultural application. I believe that the Sunday whole of church meeting is contributing to the problems in society as it is very impersonal, it generally ignores people as individuals as the system has to be served, needs are not listened to or met and people leave with the burden they came in with.
In the smaller home fellowship, people can relate to each other in a personal way and bear one another’s burdens. At the same time we can exhort one another as the verse instructs us to.
That is if it is not just a repeat of Sunday or a platform for the leader’s ministry, which so often it is. The New Testament Church met daily in their homes and occasionally met together as a whole church for the purpose of building up the body of Christ with the gifts of the Spirit.
If we spent more time meeting in homes round a meal and exhorting one another, our maturity would go through the roof as no one could hide behind religious devotion and ritual. We would all be exposed and accountable and united in a way that would enable us to do exploits for God.
The truth is if we attend 52 Sunday services a year, we are forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.
The Greek word used in Hebrews 10:25 mean ‘your synagogue’, the place where you gather together. It is not the word ‘ecclesia’ which means the church assembly.
This suggests a smaller gathering in the home. This is backed up by the fact that the purpose of assembling together is to exhort one another. The meaning of this word can only be done in the confines of the sort of interaction that you get in a small group. It does not say to gather together to sing songs and listen to someone preach.
At the same time we note that the New Testament Church met daily in their homes as the basis for their fellowship. Sharing of food with each other, to pray and receive apostolic teaching. They did not meet to sing songs and have a bible study.
It is no use quoting the word of God if we ignore the meaning of the words that we are quoting and use them just to support our cultural application. I believe that the Sunday whole of church meeting is contributing to the problems in society as it is very impersonal, it generally ignores people as individuals as the system has to be served, needs are not listened to or met and people leave with the burden they came in with.
In the smaller home fellowship, people can relate to each other in a personal way and bear one another’s burdens. At the same time we can exhort one another as the verse instructs us to.
That is if it is not just a repeat of Sunday or a platform for the leader’s ministry, which so often it is. The New Testament Church met daily in their homes and occasionally met together as a whole church for the purpose of building up the body of Christ with the gifts of the Spirit.
If we spent more time meeting in homes round a meal and exhorting one another, our maturity would go through the roof as no one could hide behind religious devotion and ritual. We would all be exposed and accountable and united in a way that would enable us to do exploits for God.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
DO NOT FORSAKE
Heb 10:25 We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.
In all probability this verse has been used by your church to encourage you to come to the Sunday morning meeting. In some cases, they might imply that you should come because you spirituality is measured by your attendance.
I have found that a few other words that are not there have been inserted as in “we should not stop gathering together on Sunday morning in such and such church.”
Or “we should not stop gathering together with other believers in the midweek fellowship meeting”
In some cases it has even been interpreted as “you should come to as many meetings as possible and support the professional staff because that is what this scripture says.”
All these are interpretations that are the product of cultural conditioning. In other words, how we see the church today. Such methodology does not allow us to discover the biblical context of the words, so let’s look at it.
First, we see that the New Testament church at its inception met daily in homes. No mention of Sunday morning meetings or liturgical buildings where people gather to see a select few perform for the masses. Their fellowship was daily mostly over a meal. On that basis to meet just Sunday morning is far from fulfilling this command of scripture. In fact, if that is the only meeting we attend, we are positively disobeying it.
This is against a backdrop where they did not meet every Sunday morning or regularly as a whole church. The second part of the verse says that the purpose of gathering together was to encourage each other.
What I want to know is how can you encourage Mrs Jones who sits on the other side of the room and who you never talk to? If, as the New Testament Church did, you met daily in homes around the meal table, everyone hears what is said, everyone knows who said it, everyone knows what the problem is and everyone hears what the solution is. In all probability, everyone gets involved according to the gifting given them by God, i.e. hospitality, shepherding, prophecy, word of knowledge etc all of which can be used to encourage a person.
It is very hard to sit in a building looking at the back of each others heads and being the cheer squad for a select few to encourage anyone. I can’t tell you how many lonely people I have met who attend a local church. This is due to the fact that everything revolves around the ministry of a handful of so called gifted people and the main intention is to serve the institution rather than the institution serving you.
As a result people do not connect in a meaningful way that enables them to encourage each other. Even mid week home groups can be a waste of time for two reasons. One, they are only a miniature version of the Sunday morning meeting or the leader uses it as platform for his ministry so the rest are just spectators again.
Next time someone says something about not forsaking meeting together with others, ask them when they are going to invite you round for a meal.
In all probability this verse has been used by your church to encourage you to come to the Sunday morning meeting. In some cases, they might imply that you should come because you spirituality is measured by your attendance.
I have found that a few other words that are not there have been inserted as in “we should not stop gathering together on Sunday morning in such and such church.”
Or “we should not stop gathering together with other believers in the midweek fellowship meeting”
In some cases it has even been interpreted as “you should come to as many meetings as possible and support the professional staff because that is what this scripture says.”
All these are interpretations that are the product of cultural conditioning. In other words, how we see the church today. Such methodology does not allow us to discover the biblical context of the words, so let’s look at it.
First, we see that the New Testament church at its inception met daily in homes. No mention of Sunday morning meetings or liturgical buildings where people gather to see a select few perform for the masses. Their fellowship was daily mostly over a meal. On that basis to meet just Sunday morning is far from fulfilling this command of scripture. In fact, if that is the only meeting we attend, we are positively disobeying it.
This is against a backdrop where they did not meet every Sunday morning or regularly as a whole church. The second part of the verse says that the purpose of gathering together was to encourage each other.
What I want to know is how can you encourage Mrs Jones who sits on the other side of the room and who you never talk to? If, as the New Testament Church did, you met daily in homes around the meal table, everyone hears what is said, everyone knows who said it, everyone knows what the problem is and everyone hears what the solution is. In all probability, everyone gets involved according to the gifting given them by God, i.e. hospitality, shepherding, prophecy, word of knowledge etc all of which can be used to encourage a person.
It is very hard to sit in a building looking at the back of each others heads and being the cheer squad for a select few to encourage anyone. I can’t tell you how many lonely people I have met who attend a local church. This is due to the fact that everything revolves around the ministry of a handful of so called gifted people and the main intention is to serve the institution rather than the institution serving you.
As a result people do not connect in a meaningful way that enables them to encourage each other. Even mid week home groups can be a waste of time for two reasons. One, they are only a miniature version of the Sunday morning meeting or the leader uses it as platform for his ministry so the rest are just spectators again.
Next time someone says something about not forsaking meeting together with others, ask them when they are going to invite you round for a meal.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
NEW TESTAMENT LIFE
When you read the New Testament, it becomes very obvious that it was a hive of activity. First of all they met daily, so that meant their wasn’t much time for eating out, going for swim, playing badminton, joining the gardening club, getting involved in Rotary, Saturday sport or watching TV to name a few.
We read that they were devoted to each other and went out of their way to meet each others material and spiritual needs.
They spent time eating together, learning together, fellowshipping together and praying together. There were regular miracles of healing, people were sent out to preach the gospel and start new churches and now and then, someone was murdered for being a believer in Jesus the Messiah.
Let’s turn the clock forward to the present day church. We attend Sunday morning meeting and midweek bible study and prayer (perhaps) and next week we attend Sunday morning meeting and mid week bible study and prayer (perhaps). The following week we attend Sunday morning meeting and the mid week bible study and prayer (perhaps).
In between we might attend the youth meeting if we are young. We might attend the ladies meeting if we are a lady. We might attend a midweek house group (that is if your church has any).
In other words, we have a bad case of meetingitis. Rarely do we have miracles of healing. Rarely do we send anyone out to preach the gospel and start new churches and even if we do that it takes about 12 months to 10 years to getting around to making a decision to do just that.
We don’t need to care for people because the government can do with welfare. Eating together? Maybe if we can be bothered to put ourselves out and find the time.
After all, what do you expect? We can’t be a vital, living church if we have to spend time at the gardening club, playing footy on Saturday, watching our favourite TV show, getting involved in things like Rotary, and taking our annual overseas holiday. Not to mention our job which means working 6 days a week or late at night? After all that when do I have the time and energy to make the church a vital force that changes its known world?
Of course I understand that job comes first, family second and God and the church can have what’s left over, and that is if there is anything left over. That should not be a real problem as I can leave it to those who put God first, family second and their job last as the bible tells us to. They have the time to make things happen and can cover for me when I don’t have the time to make anything happen.
Have you ever wondered why 90% of the population are not interested in a wishy washy entity called church? Where the name of the game seems to be meetingitis. Where excitement, the miraculous, challenge, sacrifice and diversity is frowned upon or actively discouraged?
I don’t as someone has said we produce the results that we work for. In most cases, nothing; In most cases don’t rock the boat; in most cases change is a dirty word; in most cases it is our church, not God’s; in most cases avoid the supernatural; in most cases don’t let the rank and file hear directly from God; in most cases don’t let people get a passion for the word of God because they might expose our traditions; in most cases don’t preach sacrifice or the leader may have to give up his life of comfort.
We read that they were devoted to each other and went out of their way to meet each others material and spiritual needs.
They spent time eating together, learning together, fellowshipping together and praying together. There were regular miracles of healing, people were sent out to preach the gospel and start new churches and now and then, someone was murdered for being a believer in Jesus the Messiah.
Let’s turn the clock forward to the present day church. We attend Sunday morning meeting and midweek bible study and prayer (perhaps) and next week we attend Sunday morning meeting and mid week bible study and prayer (perhaps). The following week we attend Sunday morning meeting and the mid week bible study and prayer (perhaps).
In between we might attend the youth meeting if we are young. We might attend the ladies meeting if we are a lady. We might attend a midweek house group (that is if your church has any).
In other words, we have a bad case of meetingitis. Rarely do we have miracles of healing. Rarely do we send anyone out to preach the gospel and start new churches and even if we do that it takes about 12 months to 10 years to getting around to making a decision to do just that.
We don’t need to care for people because the government can do with welfare. Eating together? Maybe if we can be bothered to put ourselves out and find the time.
After all, what do you expect? We can’t be a vital, living church if we have to spend time at the gardening club, playing footy on Saturday, watching our favourite TV show, getting involved in things like Rotary, and taking our annual overseas holiday. Not to mention our job which means working 6 days a week or late at night? After all that when do I have the time and energy to make the church a vital force that changes its known world?
Of course I understand that job comes first, family second and God and the church can have what’s left over, and that is if there is anything left over. That should not be a real problem as I can leave it to those who put God first, family second and their job last as the bible tells us to. They have the time to make things happen and can cover for me when I don’t have the time to make anything happen.
Have you ever wondered why 90% of the population are not interested in a wishy washy entity called church? Where the name of the game seems to be meetingitis. Where excitement, the miraculous, challenge, sacrifice and diversity is frowned upon or actively discouraged?
I don’t as someone has said we produce the results that we work for. In most cases, nothing; In most cases don’t rock the boat; in most cases change is a dirty word; in most cases it is our church, not God’s; in most cases avoid the supernatural; in most cases don’t let the rank and file hear directly from God; in most cases don’t let people get a passion for the word of God because they might expose our traditions; in most cases don’t preach sacrifice or the leader may have to give up his life of comfort.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
CHURCH IN YOUR HOUSE
I was dialoguing with someone on the internet the other day and he was convinced that the New Testament Church did not meet in homes. In fact, he said that as the New Testament did not forbid meeting in sacred buildings, it was OK to do so.
It just shows you what you can do to twist the truth if you try hard enough. He obviously does not understand how to read scripture.
I am not saying that a theological education is essential, but it helps and when you are listening to someone who has one, it just might be that they know something’s that you don’t.
For example, my senior lecturer at Bible College who was a converted Jew, said that you can find out what the bible supports or does not support by what it does and does not say.
An example is leadership in the church. There are 17 verses in the New Testament that says leadership is by male elders. There are no verses that say the leadership is the province of female elders.
He taught us that if the scriptures show clearly one particular idea or concept, if the opposite is not mentioned then it is indicative that it did not happen.
So 17 verses that talk about male eldership means that there was no such thing as female elders. If there were they would have been mentioned.
The same with marriage. There are 770 verses that refer to marriage. Not once does it speak of marriage between Adam and Steve. Therefore we accept that marriage is between Adam and Eve.
The fact that the scriptures talk about the “church in your house” or alludes to it in 12 verses and does not mention the church “in a building” indicates that the idea of the church meeting in public buildings was non existent.
When you get into the idea that something must be OK because the scriptures don’t forbid it, you will be led astray unless you look for what it does allow as that is the method used to show what we should or should not do.
It is known as the general revelation of scripture, where there is an overall theme or course of events that indicate what the New Testament Church did or didn’t do.
Knowing this is more authoritative than looking for a ‘gotcha’ verse which is one that says something specific but does not necessarily flow with the general revelation of scripture. We need to find out what that is if we are to understand the so called ‘gotcha’ verses.
When you are confronted by someone with a verse of scripture that is being used to prove a point, always ask for the general revelation of scripture as it is unacceptable to base any doctrine on one verse of scripture, unless of course there is only one verse.
You will only know that by studying the scriptures. Not very popular these days from what I have seen.
It just shows you what you can do to twist the truth if you try hard enough. He obviously does not understand how to read scripture.
I am not saying that a theological education is essential, but it helps and when you are listening to someone who has one, it just might be that they know something’s that you don’t.
For example, my senior lecturer at Bible College who was a converted Jew, said that you can find out what the bible supports or does not support by what it does and does not say.
An example is leadership in the church. There are 17 verses in the New Testament that says leadership is by male elders. There are no verses that say the leadership is the province of female elders.
He taught us that if the scriptures show clearly one particular idea or concept, if the opposite is not mentioned then it is indicative that it did not happen.
So 17 verses that talk about male eldership means that there was no such thing as female elders. If there were they would have been mentioned.
The same with marriage. There are 770 verses that refer to marriage. Not once does it speak of marriage between Adam and Steve. Therefore we accept that marriage is between Adam and Eve.
The fact that the scriptures talk about the “church in your house” or alludes to it in 12 verses and does not mention the church “in a building” indicates that the idea of the church meeting in public buildings was non existent.
When you get into the idea that something must be OK because the scriptures don’t forbid it, you will be led astray unless you look for what it does allow as that is the method used to show what we should or should not do.
It is known as the general revelation of scripture, where there is an overall theme or course of events that indicate what the New Testament Church did or didn’t do.
Knowing this is more authoritative than looking for a ‘gotcha’ verse which is one that says something specific but does not necessarily flow with the general revelation of scripture. We need to find out what that is if we are to understand the so called ‘gotcha’ verses.
When you are confronted by someone with a verse of scripture that is being used to prove a point, always ask for the general revelation of scripture as it is unacceptable to base any doctrine on one verse of scripture, unless of course there is only one verse.
You will only know that by studying the scriptures. Not very popular these days from what I have seen.
Friday, July 25, 2008
ONE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED
I was reading a booklet that set out what a particular denomination believes. It said that “According to the New Testament there are only two offices in the church – that of pastors and deacons.”
Statements like this show the paucity of scriptural knowledge in the church today and how easy it is for tradition to become scripture.
First, there are NO offices in the New Testament Church, only ministries. Anyone who was involved in a ministry was anointed by God for that ministry long before there was any recognition of their ministry. Please note that the original apostles served a three year apprenticeship.
Second, once they were recognised as having a given ministry, they were publicly acknowledged. They were not ‘ordained’ by any man made committee as it was not necessary. If God had set his seal on a person, a committee cannot do anything to improve on God’s choice and his anointing. All the church can do is recognise the persons calling and anointing.
As has been said “a man’s ministry makes way for him” and if it doesn’t, they don’t have one and going to Bible College and climbing the denominational ladder of success won’t give them one. I hasten to add that some churches actively discourage a person’s ministry if they are not ‘credentialed’ by man, especially if the person has an anointing that uncovers the spiritual nakedness of the official leader.
The ministry recognised for oversight of the local congregation in the New Testament Church was that of an Elder. This word in Greek means “older more senior men chronologically.” This is a difficult concept for us to grasp because we do not place the same emphasis on seniority and maturity like they did in the New Testament Church and New Testament society.
Today in society you are over the hill when you are 50 years old. The church is no different as it seems that the crown jewels are to have a vibrant youth ministry.
It is quite ridiculous to have a 30 year old ‘pastor’ having authority over a body of elders who are all retired. It just would not happen in the New Testament Church. We are told that the young men should submit to the older men, not to a 30 year old pastor.
Supporting the elders were the Deacons who looked after the distribution of the welfare dollar (shekel) and goods to the poor and needy. Because there were no building to build or maintain and no salaries to pay there was heaps of money available for this purpose. They weren’t there to see that the lawn out the front of the church building was mown.
Nowhere in the New Testament Church will you find a stand alone pastor who was called from outside the church, given a house and paid a salary. The whole idea is quite foreign to the New Testament Church.
What you will find is the priesthood of all believers which included every child of God who were all expected to minister according to their gifting for the building up and edifying of the body of Christ.
So, what about ‘pastors?’ the only time that the word ‘pastor’ or in the Greek ‘poimen’ is used is in Ephesians 4 where it is listed along with the apostle, prophet, evangelist and teacher. All these ministries and please note they are ministries not positions were for the body of Christ at large not to a specific local fellowship. They were what you might call the ministers to the elders and deacons as they ‘ministered alongside” them, not over them. They never replaced them.
One of the responsibilities of the ministry of oversight carried out by the elders was that of ‘shepherding’ which is what pastoring is. They were responsible for the day to day shepherding of the local congregation, not the ‘poimen’.
Until we understand the necessity of five ministries (not one pastor doing all five ministries) and the oversight of the local congregation by elders and deacons, we will never ever become the church that the New Testament Church was or become the church that God wants us to be.
Statements like this show the paucity of scriptural knowledge in the church today and how easy it is for tradition to become scripture.
First, there are NO offices in the New Testament Church, only ministries. Anyone who was involved in a ministry was anointed by God for that ministry long before there was any recognition of their ministry. Please note that the original apostles served a three year apprenticeship.
Second, once they were recognised as having a given ministry, they were publicly acknowledged. They were not ‘ordained’ by any man made committee as it was not necessary. If God had set his seal on a person, a committee cannot do anything to improve on God’s choice and his anointing. All the church can do is recognise the persons calling and anointing.
As has been said “a man’s ministry makes way for him” and if it doesn’t, they don’t have one and going to Bible College and climbing the denominational ladder of success won’t give them one. I hasten to add that some churches actively discourage a person’s ministry if they are not ‘credentialed’ by man, especially if the person has an anointing that uncovers the spiritual nakedness of the official leader.
The ministry recognised for oversight of the local congregation in the New Testament Church was that of an Elder. This word in Greek means “older more senior men chronologically.” This is a difficult concept for us to grasp because we do not place the same emphasis on seniority and maturity like they did in the New Testament Church and New Testament society.
Today in society you are over the hill when you are 50 years old. The church is no different as it seems that the crown jewels are to have a vibrant youth ministry.
It is quite ridiculous to have a 30 year old ‘pastor’ having authority over a body of elders who are all retired. It just would not happen in the New Testament Church. We are told that the young men should submit to the older men, not to a 30 year old pastor.
Supporting the elders were the Deacons who looked after the distribution of the welfare dollar (shekel) and goods to the poor and needy. Because there were no building to build or maintain and no salaries to pay there was heaps of money available for this purpose. They weren’t there to see that the lawn out the front of the church building was mown.
Nowhere in the New Testament Church will you find a stand alone pastor who was called from outside the church, given a house and paid a salary. The whole idea is quite foreign to the New Testament Church.
What you will find is the priesthood of all believers which included every child of God who were all expected to minister according to their gifting for the building up and edifying of the body of Christ.
So, what about ‘pastors?’ the only time that the word ‘pastor’ or in the Greek ‘poimen’ is used is in Ephesians 4 where it is listed along with the apostle, prophet, evangelist and teacher. All these ministries and please note they are ministries not positions were for the body of Christ at large not to a specific local fellowship. They were what you might call the ministers to the elders and deacons as they ‘ministered alongside” them, not over them. They never replaced them.
One of the responsibilities of the ministry of oversight carried out by the elders was that of ‘shepherding’ which is what pastoring is. They were responsible for the day to day shepherding of the local congregation, not the ‘poimen’.
Until we understand the necessity of five ministries (not one pastor doing all five ministries) and the oversight of the local congregation by elders and deacons, we will never ever become the church that the New Testament Church was or become the church that God wants us to be.
Friday, July 18, 2008
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
Until the church comes to terms with the concept of the priesthood of all believers it will not be able to fulfil the great commission as it needs everyone to function in their gifting to make it happen.
You will not find anywhere in scripture where it says that the church is to appoint a pastor, pay him a salary and get him to do all the important things.
In Matthew 28 it says that Jesus told the eleven disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. Now the question is, if that instruction was only for the chosen few, why was it that God sent his spirit to give power to everyone so that they could be witnesses?
If only the clergy are meant to go and make disciples, there is no need for everyone else to get involved in anything. Yet that seems to be the modus operandi of most churches. The pastor/priest is the anointed one and does most of the ministry and he leaves the crumbs for the rest.
What this mentality produces is dormant Christians who tend not to get involved in anything or very little. After all, we have a professionally trained leader who is better than us at doing what needs to be done.
In addition it develops a mentality that you are not expected to be meaningfully engaged in the life and work of the ministry because you are not professionally trained.
This is evident by the fact that if you do want to be in the thick of things, you are sent away to some theological institution to learn this that and the other and when you have a degree to boast about, you are considered as qualified to lead a church.
You then get a title of Pastor, Rector, Vicar, and Reverend or if you make it up the ladder you get to be called the Cannon, Reverend Doctor, Bishop or the Very Reverend.
The New Testament Church however was quite different. It was a vibrant, sharing, accepting, and caring every believer ministering power of God. And not a clergyman in sight. Everyone was expected to carry each others burdens so every one was a shepherd. Everyone was expected to minister according to the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Everyone was expected to care for each other according to their ability to do so.
Apart from calling for the Elders of the church if someone was sick, everyone was an able minister of the new covenant and ordained to go and bear fruit.
What does the priesthood of all believers mean? Simply this; the senior pastor or head shepherd is Jesus; the oversight of the congregation is the responsibility of the Elders; when you come together everyone is expected to contribute to the spiritual life of the fellowship as they are led to do so by the Spirit; there is not a pulpit or programme in sight; everyone has a direct relationship with God, not through the pastor or the church; the gifts of the spirit are fully operational through whom he chooses, not through whom the pastor chooses.
That is the story of the New Testament Church. Why not make it the story of your church?
You will not find anywhere in scripture where it says that the church is to appoint a pastor, pay him a salary and get him to do all the important things.
In Matthew 28 it says that Jesus told the eleven disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. Now the question is, if that instruction was only for the chosen few, why was it that God sent his spirit to give power to everyone so that they could be witnesses?
If only the clergy are meant to go and make disciples, there is no need for everyone else to get involved in anything. Yet that seems to be the modus operandi of most churches. The pastor/priest is the anointed one and does most of the ministry and he leaves the crumbs for the rest.
What this mentality produces is dormant Christians who tend not to get involved in anything or very little. After all, we have a professionally trained leader who is better than us at doing what needs to be done.
In addition it develops a mentality that you are not expected to be meaningfully engaged in the life and work of the ministry because you are not professionally trained.
This is evident by the fact that if you do want to be in the thick of things, you are sent away to some theological institution to learn this that and the other and when you have a degree to boast about, you are considered as qualified to lead a church.
You then get a title of Pastor, Rector, Vicar, and Reverend or if you make it up the ladder you get to be called the Cannon, Reverend Doctor, Bishop or the Very Reverend.
The New Testament Church however was quite different. It was a vibrant, sharing, accepting, and caring every believer ministering power of God. And not a clergyman in sight. Everyone was expected to carry each others burdens so every one was a shepherd. Everyone was expected to minister according to the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Everyone was expected to care for each other according to their ability to do so.
Apart from calling for the Elders of the church if someone was sick, everyone was an able minister of the new covenant and ordained to go and bear fruit.
What does the priesthood of all believers mean? Simply this; the senior pastor or head shepherd is Jesus; the oversight of the congregation is the responsibility of the Elders; when you come together everyone is expected to contribute to the spiritual life of the fellowship as they are led to do so by the Spirit; there is not a pulpit or programme in sight; everyone has a direct relationship with God, not through the pastor or the church; the gifts of the spirit are fully operational through whom he chooses, not through whom the pastor chooses.
That is the story of the New Testament Church. Why not make it the story of your church?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
WHAT DOES YOUR BUILDING SAY?
I was having a conversation with a brother the other day about this, that and the other and whilst it was happening an idea began to form in my mind. When I later thought through things, I realised that outside every building that the church meets in there are two signs. One that you can see and one that you can’t see…sort of.
Most buildings have a sign that says this is the so and so church and a few details about who runs it (usually called “the pastor” or “priest”). Some have an additional sign which is so religious such as ”Jesus loves you and we do too”.
The sign that you can’t see is the building itself. It usually gives a message that you’re welcome or not as the case may be. Let me explain.
If you go into most religious buildings it will reflect the people that attend. Cathedrals tend to attract the establishment crowd and moneyed people. It conveys that the working class are not welcome. Of course it will be denied, but look at the crowd, if there is one, and see if any working class do attend.
Modern, slick, prim and proper, shiny new buildings with all its mod cons and facilities welcome the middle class set as it reflects the homes they live in and the sort of people they are. Again the unseen sign is working class not welcome here. Of course it will be denied, but you only have to observe the expectations of the group to be or become middle class to realise that it is the truth. After all a successful middle class person couldn’t be expected to entertain a working class family in their home if it was going to lower the tone of the place and in the building they might spill coffee on the pristine carpet.
Buildings that may be run down, or old and very ordinary tend to attract people that are not into worldly goods and image. Theirs is a day to day struggle to make ends meet, so the important thing to them is to find a place where people are important, not buildings. This type of building can say “middle class not welcome here” or “everyone welcome here, take us you find us.”
This latter example has to be careful that it does not look down on middle class people that are genuinely caring and want to make a difference and give an impression that they are proud of not being middle class. When the two mingle successfully it is potent mixture that can produce dramatic results.
Why did the New Testament Church meets in home where everyone was accepted? One of the reasons was to break down class barriers which were rampant in those days. In the homes, everyone was accepted regardless of their station in life, and no one was treated with more deference than others. There were no professional clergy to laud it over the “lower class” as the scripture says that they were “all one in Christ Jesus”.
Was this classless faith due to the fact that they met in homes? I don’t think that it was the only reason, but I am sure it was a big factor because homes generally speaking should be welcoming and warm. Just the place a person who is new to the faith might find acceptance and love whether he is a saint or a sinner, a Senator or a slave, rich or poor.
Most buildings have a sign that says this is the so and so church and a few details about who runs it (usually called “the pastor” or “priest”). Some have an additional sign which is so religious such as ”Jesus loves you and we do too”.
The sign that you can’t see is the building itself. It usually gives a message that you’re welcome or not as the case may be. Let me explain.
If you go into most religious buildings it will reflect the people that attend. Cathedrals tend to attract the establishment crowd and moneyed people. It conveys that the working class are not welcome. Of course it will be denied, but look at the crowd, if there is one, and see if any working class do attend.
Modern, slick, prim and proper, shiny new buildings with all its mod cons and facilities welcome the middle class set as it reflects the homes they live in and the sort of people they are. Again the unseen sign is working class not welcome here. Of course it will be denied, but you only have to observe the expectations of the group to be or become middle class to realise that it is the truth. After all a successful middle class person couldn’t be expected to entertain a working class family in their home if it was going to lower the tone of the place and in the building they might spill coffee on the pristine carpet.
Buildings that may be run down, or old and very ordinary tend to attract people that are not into worldly goods and image. Theirs is a day to day struggle to make ends meet, so the important thing to them is to find a place where people are important, not buildings. This type of building can say “middle class not welcome here” or “everyone welcome here, take us you find us.”
This latter example has to be careful that it does not look down on middle class people that are genuinely caring and want to make a difference and give an impression that they are proud of not being middle class. When the two mingle successfully it is potent mixture that can produce dramatic results.
Why did the New Testament Church meets in home where everyone was accepted? One of the reasons was to break down class barriers which were rampant in those days. In the homes, everyone was accepted regardless of their station in life, and no one was treated with more deference than others. There were no professional clergy to laud it over the “lower class” as the scripture says that they were “all one in Christ Jesus”.
Was this classless faith due to the fact that they met in homes? I don’t think that it was the only reason, but I am sure it was a big factor because homes generally speaking should be welcoming and warm. Just the place a person who is new to the faith might find acceptance and love whether he is a saint or a sinner, a Senator or a slave, rich or poor.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH?
If you believe the church growth specialists it is all about numbers. The idea is to build the biggest church that you can numerically which can be done by giving people what they want, not what they need.
A pastor once told me that success was being “faithful.” This did not necessarily include gaining new converts. It is probably good that is how he felt because his church didn’t produce any new converts.
If you go by what you see, ‘success’ is determined by how well you maintain the status quo, doing the same thing every week.
Back in the old days, numbers did not figure too much in a churches success. They were all about sin, salvation and sanctification. I can remember well sermons that focused on the scriptures that talked about holiness of living and separation from the world. Prosperity and my needs came a distant last if at all. We were there for the King and his Kingdom.
In other words, the depth of the heart was more important than the size of the crowd.
The New Testament Church did not worry about numbers. They didn’t have to as the Holy Spirit added daily to their numbers, sometimes as many as 3,000 people. They got on with being Christians, or as they were known then, believers of “The Way” which was a sect of Judaism.
The Holy Spirit was able to add daily because, and I believe that this is a key to a successful church; they produced disciples, not attenders. A disciple is one who learns what his master says and does and then goes and does the same. Jesus said we are his disciples if we keep his commandments. When was the last time you heard someone teach about a commandment of Jesus? One like “Go, sell all you have and give to the poor and then come and follow me”. Or the one that says to take up your cross daily and follow him or to paraphrase “Jesus comes first in everything”.
Producing disciples is the real mark of a successful church according to scripture. Whether you have a congregation of five, 50 or 5,000 is not really relevant. What is relevant is are you producing numbers or disciples?
Gideon’s 300 make it quite clear that God does not need vast numbers to achieve his purposes. He does however need disciples. Are you a number or a disciple? If you are not a disciple, can I suggest you gather a few people around you to study the scriptures and find out what it means to be a disciple, find out what the master has said and then follow in the master’s footsteps.
What that will mean for you will be determined by the master.
A pastor once told me that success was being “faithful.” This did not necessarily include gaining new converts. It is probably good that is how he felt because his church didn’t produce any new converts.
If you go by what you see, ‘success’ is determined by how well you maintain the status quo, doing the same thing every week.
Back in the old days, numbers did not figure too much in a churches success. They were all about sin, salvation and sanctification. I can remember well sermons that focused on the scriptures that talked about holiness of living and separation from the world. Prosperity and my needs came a distant last if at all. We were there for the King and his Kingdom.
In other words, the depth of the heart was more important than the size of the crowd.
The New Testament Church did not worry about numbers. They didn’t have to as the Holy Spirit added daily to their numbers, sometimes as many as 3,000 people. They got on with being Christians, or as they were known then, believers of “The Way” which was a sect of Judaism.
The Holy Spirit was able to add daily because, and I believe that this is a key to a successful church; they produced disciples, not attenders. A disciple is one who learns what his master says and does and then goes and does the same. Jesus said we are his disciples if we keep his commandments. When was the last time you heard someone teach about a commandment of Jesus? One like “Go, sell all you have and give to the poor and then come and follow me”. Or the one that says to take up your cross daily and follow him or to paraphrase “Jesus comes first in everything”.
Producing disciples is the real mark of a successful church according to scripture. Whether you have a congregation of five, 50 or 5,000 is not really relevant. What is relevant is are you producing numbers or disciples?
Gideon’s 300 make it quite clear that God does not need vast numbers to achieve his purposes. He does however need disciples. Are you a number or a disciple? If you are not a disciple, can I suggest you gather a few people around you to study the scriptures and find out what it means to be a disciple, find out what the master has said and then follow in the master’s footsteps.
What that will mean for you will be determined by the master.
Monday, June 9, 2008
HERE IS THE 6 O'CLOCK NEWS
Here is the six o’clock news read by Peter Fisherman. Jesus said he is going to build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Jesus, who has been hailed as the son of God, and who the religious leaders hate, said that he was in a position to changed things and break Satan’s power over the earth which his father created.
He said as part of his plan he was going to create an organism known as the ekklesia of called out ones and he was going to personally supervise its building. Whilst this happens, satan was not going to be too pleased about it as he saw it as a threat to his dominance so he would throw everything he could at it to stop its advance. He said he was able to do this as unlike previous efforts this ekklesia would be made up of people, not buildings.
We cross live to our reporter in Galilee, Matthew Money who is with Jesus now.
“Jesus, can you give us some details of this new organism of yours as you call it?”
“It will be made up of people who chose to follow my teachings” he said. “Everyone involved will have a part to play and they will be equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit of God my father, who will work through them to establish my coming Kingdom.”
“Where will these people that make up this ekklesia carry out your objectives?”
“Where two or three of them are gathered together in my name. This will give them the right to receive power so that they can enter the realm of the supernatural where I am and destroy Satan’s plans.”
“Don’t you think that he going to try and destroy this organism first?”
“Yes I do. He is going to try and take over the ekklesia and impose all sorts of rules and regulations, all sorts of rituals and various leaders who are going to usurp my authority. He is going to get people to waste millions of dollars on unnecessary and irrelevant buildings and what is left will be wasted on salaries for people to run the show who I have not anointed to do the job.
This counterfeit ekklesia will be known as the church with 35,000 different branches of it and millions are going to be duped into thinking it is my church, but I can tell you here and now it is not. The one that I am going to build will have no steeple, no priest, no programme and no control other than my own. The people that will make up my ekklesia will be nobody’s without title or the approval of man and who are committed to what I want to do. All the others will be committed to what they want to do. In fact, I won’t be welcome in their churches because they will see me as a threat to their plans and power.”
“In that case, how are you going to overcome Satan with nobodies?”
“Simple, I will give them my power to do the things that I do and even more than I do. All they have to do is let me pour it into them and they will be supernaturally energised so there will be nothing that they cannot do or conquer.”
“Won’t the counterfeit get upset if you do that?”
“Yes, they will and they will try and stop it by saying it is the devil’s work to make people scared, but that is their problem, not mine nor the people that follow me. In fact, nothing will stop it or the people, so if you want a slice of the action you will need to get on board what I am going to do, not what these other counterfeits will be doing. And watch this space to see Satan’s downfall.”
“Thankyou Jesus. This is Matthew Money returning you back to the studio.”
He said as part of his plan he was going to create an organism known as the ekklesia of called out ones and he was going to personally supervise its building. Whilst this happens, satan was not going to be too pleased about it as he saw it as a threat to his dominance so he would throw everything he could at it to stop its advance. He said he was able to do this as unlike previous efforts this ekklesia would be made up of people, not buildings.
We cross live to our reporter in Galilee, Matthew Money who is with Jesus now.
“Jesus, can you give us some details of this new organism of yours as you call it?”
“It will be made up of people who chose to follow my teachings” he said. “Everyone involved will have a part to play and they will be equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit of God my father, who will work through them to establish my coming Kingdom.”
“Where will these people that make up this ekklesia carry out your objectives?”
“Where two or three of them are gathered together in my name. This will give them the right to receive power so that they can enter the realm of the supernatural where I am and destroy Satan’s plans.”
“Don’t you think that he going to try and destroy this organism first?”
“Yes I do. He is going to try and take over the ekklesia and impose all sorts of rules and regulations, all sorts of rituals and various leaders who are going to usurp my authority. He is going to get people to waste millions of dollars on unnecessary and irrelevant buildings and what is left will be wasted on salaries for people to run the show who I have not anointed to do the job.
This counterfeit ekklesia will be known as the church with 35,000 different branches of it and millions are going to be duped into thinking it is my church, but I can tell you here and now it is not. The one that I am going to build will have no steeple, no priest, no programme and no control other than my own. The people that will make up my ekklesia will be nobody’s without title or the approval of man and who are committed to what I want to do. All the others will be committed to what they want to do. In fact, I won’t be welcome in their churches because they will see me as a threat to their plans and power.”
“In that case, how are you going to overcome Satan with nobodies?”
“Simple, I will give them my power to do the things that I do and even more than I do. All they have to do is let me pour it into them and they will be supernaturally energised so there will be nothing that they cannot do or conquer.”
“Won’t the counterfeit get upset if you do that?”
“Yes, they will and they will try and stop it by saying it is the devil’s work to make people scared, but that is their problem, not mine nor the people that follow me. In fact, nothing will stop it or the people, so if you want a slice of the action you will need to get on board what I am going to do, not what these other counterfeits will be doing. And watch this space to see Satan’s downfall.”
“Thankyou Jesus. This is Matthew Money returning you back to the studio.”
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
FELLOWSHIP
Last Sunday, half a dozen of the congregation went to the local hospital canteen for lunch after the morning meeting.
The whole time we were eating we talked and talked and talked. The subject matter ebbed and flowed, sometimes spiritual, sometimes about day to day life. There was humour, seriousness, agreement and disagreement. Some of the conversation was intense, some of it was light-hearted. The food seemed incidental to the fellowship we were having. One brother very kindly and generously paid for everyone’s meal.
We learnt things about ourselves and each other. When we left we hadn’t resolved anything, decided anything or changed anything. What did happen however was that we knew a bit more about each other.
We discovered who was caring for who, who was doing what that we didn’t know about. We discovered spiritual principles that maybe we had not considered before. We discovered other people’s thoughts about the way we lived our lives as a fellowship. None of it was scripted, organised, planned or programmed. It was totally spontaneous and it was totally inspiring for the simple reason that we got down and dirty and related to one another in an open and genuine way.
The sort of thing that very rarely happens when you are sitting in a ‘church service’ looking at the back of people’s heads. If we really do believe that the scriptures are there as a guide book, I cannot see how anyone can justify the “back of heads” fellowship model as you will not find it anywhere in the New Testament church.
The truth is, the Sunday morning “back of heads” model was an invention of the apostate roman church who introduced paid clergy and insisted that these “special” people set aside for religious devotion, were the only ones who had the right to tell us what to do.
Until this happened, no one was paid anything as Constantine the Roman Emperor who legalised Christianity, insisted that the clergy were paid for their trouble. If they were already paid, he would have not needed to insist that they were.
Since this happened in 312AD, we have developed this model of religion in various forms ever since. That is until now as all over the world, there are believers who have seen the light, ditched the “back of heads” fellowship model and are meeting informally in homes, offices, schools, parks, cafes, gyms, in fact where two or three can gather together in the name of Jesus.
The end result is up close and personal fellowship of the New Testament kind where everyone knows everyone and as a result they fellowship with people, not a system. Knowing one another in that way means that we are more likely to take responsibility for each other and each other’s needs. When this happens, you don’t need a paid pastor as every believer is a pastor, teacher and care giver.
Of course such an experience is going to be actively opposed by the religious hierarchy as if it is adopted worldwide they will lose their authority and power to control and that is the last thing they want because they revel in being someone special who can laud it over everyone else.
The whole time we were eating we talked and talked and talked. The subject matter ebbed and flowed, sometimes spiritual, sometimes about day to day life. There was humour, seriousness, agreement and disagreement. Some of the conversation was intense, some of it was light-hearted. The food seemed incidental to the fellowship we were having. One brother very kindly and generously paid for everyone’s meal.
We learnt things about ourselves and each other. When we left we hadn’t resolved anything, decided anything or changed anything. What did happen however was that we knew a bit more about each other.
We discovered who was caring for who, who was doing what that we didn’t know about. We discovered spiritual principles that maybe we had not considered before. We discovered other people’s thoughts about the way we lived our lives as a fellowship. None of it was scripted, organised, planned or programmed. It was totally spontaneous and it was totally inspiring for the simple reason that we got down and dirty and related to one another in an open and genuine way.
The sort of thing that very rarely happens when you are sitting in a ‘church service’ looking at the back of people’s heads. If we really do believe that the scriptures are there as a guide book, I cannot see how anyone can justify the “back of heads” fellowship model as you will not find it anywhere in the New Testament church.
The truth is, the Sunday morning “back of heads” model was an invention of the apostate roman church who introduced paid clergy and insisted that these “special” people set aside for religious devotion, were the only ones who had the right to tell us what to do.
Until this happened, no one was paid anything as Constantine the Roman Emperor who legalised Christianity, insisted that the clergy were paid for their trouble. If they were already paid, he would have not needed to insist that they were.
Since this happened in 312AD, we have developed this model of religion in various forms ever since. That is until now as all over the world, there are believers who have seen the light, ditched the “back of heads” fellowship model and are meeting informally in homes, offices, schools, parks, cafes, gyms, in fact where two or three can gather together in the name of Jesus.
The end result is up close and personal fellowship of the New Testament kind where everyone knows everyone and as a result they fellowship with people, not a system. Knowing one another in that way means that we are more likely to take responsibility for each other and each other’s needs. When this happens, you don’t need a paid pastor as every believer is a pastor, teacher and care giver.
Of course such an experience is going to be actively opposed by the religious hierarchy as if it is adopted worldwide they will lose their authority and power to control and that is the last thing they want because they revel in being someone special who can laud it over everyone else.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
CORE ACTIVITY
What is the core activity of a church that wants to reflect the life and teaching of New Testament Christianity?
Is it loud music and professional musicians and singers?
Is it consistent religious ritual undertaken on a weekly basis?
Is it going out and feeding the poor?
Is it qualified paid clergy?
Is it clapping, jumping up and down and raising ones hands?
Is it study of the bible or the preacher’s sermon?
Is it providing as many programmes as possible for all those who attend?
Is it having a nice building that makes the activities held in it more spiritual?
Is it attending meetings and then ignoring one another the rest of the week?
Is it having nice orderly meetings and sermons that are decently and in order?
I am sure you can make various other suggestions and would defend any of the above as essential.
If you turn to the book of Acts and the letters of Paul, you will find it is none of the above. What you will find is that the core activity of the New Testament church was…hospitality.
Their life and ministry was usually carried out in the context of a shared meal which everyone who could contributed to. In Acts 2 we find that this was a daily occurrence.
In the context of families, everyone does this, that and the other and when they have done that, this and the other, they eat together. Every night my family sat down to a meal together before the evening’s activities were embarked upon. That might mean doing things together or it might mean doing things in different directions. One thing never changed though and that was an evening meal together.
Every one of us usually sits down to a meal. Why not sit down to a meal with your spiritual family as the New Testament church did. Whilst eating they fellowshipped, listened to and discussed doctrine, prayed together and grew close to one another. In such a normal environment free of religious ritual they could not do otherwise.
During the day they went about their normal business, performed a few miracles, helped one another practically and…changed the world. Does that sound like your church?
Is it loud music and professional musicians and singers?
Is it consistent religious ritual undertaken on a weekly basis?
Is it going out and feeding the poor?
Is it qualified paid clergy?
Is it clapping, jumping up and down and raising ones hands?
Is it study of the bible or the preacher’s sermon?
Is it providing as many programmes as possible for all those who attend?
Is it having a nice building that makes the activities held in it more spiritual?
Is it attending meetings and then ignoring one another the rest of the week?
Is it having nice orderly meetings and sermons that are decently and in order?
I am sure you can make various other suggestions and would defend any of the above as essential.
If you turn to the book of Acts and the letters of Paul, you will find it is none of the above. What you will find is that the core activity of the New Testament church was…hospitality.
Their life and ministry was usually carried out in the context of a shared meal which everyone who could contributed to. In Acts 2 we find that this was a daily occurrence.
In the context of families, everyone does this, that and the other and when they have done that, this and the other, they eat together. Every night my family sat down to a meal together before the evening’s activities were embarked upon. That might mean doing things together or it might mean doing things in different directions. One thing never changed though and that was an evening meal together.
Every one of us usually sits down to a meal. Why not sit down to a meal with your spiritual family as the New Testament church did. Whilst eating they fellowshipped, listened to and discussed doctrine, prayed together and grew close to one another. In such a normal environment free of religious ritual they could not do otherwise.
During the day they went about their normal business, performed a few miracles, helped one another practically and…changed the world. Does that sound like your church?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
ONE ANOTHER
Have you heard any teaching about the “one another’s” in the New Testament lately? Come to think about it, have you ever heard any teaching about the “one another’s?”
If you haven’t that is strange as the New Testament is full of one another’s. Take for example we are told to “love one another” in Romans 13: 8-10. We are told to “edify one another” in Romans 14:19. In Galatians 5:13 we are told to “serve one another” and in 1 Peter 4: 9 we are told to “show hospitality to one another”. In 1 John 1:7 we are told to have “fellowship with one another”. There are about 20 more “one another’s”.
If we spent our time doing what the scripture says to do, loving, edifying, serving, showing hospitality and having fellowship with each other, we wouldn’t have much time for things that don’t matter. Doing all these things and more, would take up all our time and energy. It would not only build the body of Christ and help make others feel accepted and strong, we would ourselves benefit from giving ourselves away to other people.
We certainly would not have time to sing songs, have our weekly religious snack, listen to irrelevant sermons, hold dead end bible studies, volunteer for car park duty or take up the offering.
We would be so engrossed with the needs of others and taking every opportunity to bless them that religious rituals would become totally meaningless. I mean, what is more real than being hospitable, opening your home so that others in the fellowship can join you in a heart-warming meal and ‘get to know you’ fellowship.
So much of what we do in so called “church” rather than inspiring us to fulfil the “one another’s” keep us from “one another”. All we see in the meetings is the backs of heads, we have a cursory greeting before during or after the meeting, we listen to one person telling us what we should do, or not do, some might share a cup of tea and then we go home, in many cases, never to see each other again until the following Sunday morning.
No where does it say in the New Testament to attend a religious meeting on Sunday morning, sing a few songs, have a religious snack and listen to someone tell you what to do. It does tell you however, to love one another, have meals together, fellowship with each other and serve each other.
When was the last time you did any or all these things? If your church doesn’t place any importance on these things, why don’t you ask the leadership to have a “one another” month so that you can begin to do all these things and forget the religious rituals for a while so that you can get some reality into your corporate Christian experience and so that you can experience something of New Testament life.
God will bless you if you do because he has told us to do these things in his word.
If you haven’t that is strange as the New Testament is full of one another’s. Take for example we are told to “love one another” in Romans 13: 8-10. We are told to “edify one another” in Romans 14:19. In Galatians 5:13 we are told to “serve one another” and in 1 Peter 4: 9 we are told to “show hospitality to one another”. In 1 John 1:7 we are told to have “fellowship with one another”. There are about 20 more “one another’s”.
If we spent our time doing what the scripture says to do, loving, edifying, serving, showing hospitality and having fellowship with each other, we wouldn’t have much time for things that don’t matter. Doing all these things and more, would take up all our time and energy. It would not only build the body of Christ and help make others feel accepted and strong, we would ourselves benefit from giving ourselves away to other people.
We certainly would not have time to sing songs, have our weekly religious snack, listen to irrelevant sermons, hold dead end bible studies, volunteer for car park duty or take up the offering.
We would be so engrossed with the needs of others and taking every opportunity to bless them that religious rituals would become totally meaningless. I mean, what is more real than being hospitable, opening your home so that others in the fellowship can join you in a heart-warming meal and ‘get to know you’ fellowship.
So much of what we do in so called “church” rather than inspiring us to fulfil the “one another’s” keep us from “one another”. All we see in the meetings is the backs of heads, we have a cursory greeting before during or after the meeting, we listen to one person telling us what we should do, or not do, some might share a cup of tea and then we go home, in many cases, never to see each other again until the following Sunday morning.
No where does it say in the New Testament to attend a religious meeting on Sunday morning, sing a few songs, have a religious snack and listen to someone tell you what to do. It does tell you however, to love one another, have meals together, fellowship with each other and serve each other.
When was the last time you did any or all these things? If your church doesn’t place any importance on these things, why don’t you ask the leadership to have a “one another” month so that you can begin to do all these things and forget the religious rituals for a while so that you can get some reality into your corporate Christian experience and so that you can experience something of New Testament life.
God will bless you if you do because he has told us to do these things in his word.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
POWER OVER OR SERVICE TO?
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he talks about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers being given to the church by Christ for the express purpose of preparing God’s people for works of service so that the body [of Christ] may be built up. (4 v 11&12).
This means literally that these ministries are there to facilitate the ministry of the others in the body of Christ. Or if you want it more basic, they are there to get everyone else ministering. The word service or ministry is ‘diakonia’ where we get the word or idea of deacon.
It is the same word as for Elder as well. So we have here a totally new concept of ministry. Today we think of ministry as being that which is done by a chosen few who are ‘credentialed’ by some man made denominational leadership and who often dress up as a woman if they are a man and are seen as someone special.
The New Testament idea of ministry is quite different. There are no special people as everyone is special because we are all called to ministry. Probably the main reason this does not happen because we have a few special people that are more concerned about their ministry rather than everyone else’s.
Another important reason is that most denominations don’t believe what the word of God says so they only appoint one of these ministries, that of ‘pastor’. The other four are nowhere to be seen. Such an action is saying that we don’t believe what the word of God says and we know better than God how to run the church.
One has only to dialogue with people on the internet in Christian forums to know that there is a desperate need for teachers amongst the body of Christ. Much of what is posted on the internet is based on a simple premise. Either it is a case of ‘I think that this is what it means so that must be what it means’ or ‘this verse says this so that must be what the scripture teaches’ with the writer choosing to ignore what the scripture as a whole teaches.
A classic example is Joel 2 v 28 where it says that in the last days God will pour out his spirit on all flesh and our sons and daughters will prophesy, our old men will dream dreams, our young men will see visions and the spirit will be poured out on both men and women.
According to some, this verse teaches that women can be pastors and lead the local congregation. The fact that there are 17 verses in the New Testament that indicate elders are older men and form the leadership of the local congregation is conveniently ignored.
The church today is desperately in need of makeover if it is going to come anywhere near being like the New Testament church that changed the world. One thing that it can do is give room for the other four ministries that currently it refuses to acknowledge and for these ministries to concentrate on getting everyone else fulfilling their ministry instead of insisting that everyone else become spectators for a few to perform their ministries.
This means literally that these ministries are there to facilitate the ministry of the others in the body of Christ. Or if you want it more basic, they are there to get everyone else ministering. The word service or ministry is ‘diakonia’ where we get the word or idea of deacon.
It is the same word as for Elder as well. So we have here a totally new concept of ministry. Today we think of ministry as being that which is done by a chosen few who are ‘credentialed’ by some man made denominational leadership and who often dress up as a woman if they are a man and are seen as someone special.
The New Testament idea of ministry is quite different. There are no special people as everyone is special because we are all called to ministry. Probably the main reason this does not happen because we have a few special people that are more concerned about their ministry rather than everyone else’s.
Another important reason is that most denominations don’t believe what the word of God says so they only appoint one of these ministries, that of ‘pastor’. The other four are nowhere to be seen. Such an action is saying that we don’t believe what the word of God says and we know better than God how to run the church.
One has only to dialogue with people on the internet in Christian forums to know that there is a desperate need for teachers amongst the body of Christ. Much of what is posted on the internet is based on a simple premise. Either it is a case of ‘I think that this is what it means so that must be what it means’ or ‘this verse says this so that must be what the scripture teaches’ with the writer choosing to ignore what the scripture as a whole teaches.
A classic example is Joel 2 v 28 where it says that in the last days God will pour out his spirit on all flesh and our sons and daughters will prophesy, our old men will dream dreams, our young men will see visions and the spirit will be poured out on both men and women.
According to some, this verse teaches that women can be pastors and lead the local congregation. The fact that there are 17 verses in the New Testament that indicate elders are older men and form the leadership of the local congregation is conveniently ignored.
The church today is desperately in need of makeover if it is going to come anywhere near being like the New Testament church that changed the world. One thing that it can do is give room for the other four ministries that currently it refuses to acknowledge and for these ministries to concentrate on getting everyone else fulfilling their ministry instead of insisting that everyone else become spectators for a few to perform their ministries.
Monday, April 14, 2008
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
Most meetings in the church today consist of a chosen few, around half a dozen people, who perform at the front of the room for the entertainment of the rest. The spectators, consisting of the majority of the church membership are there to sing a few songs at the direction of the front platform, and listen to the lecture for the day.
When it is all over they are supposed to be grateful that they have received a blessing from the performers and been instructed how to do…what one might ask as most lectures consist of a few thoughts of the person giving the lecture on a few verses of scripture.
The relevance and practicality of what is said is minimal. No worries, that is what he is paid to do and he has done it to our satisfaction so what more can we ask.
On a day to day basis, the New Testament church knew nothing of this type of exercise. There’s was an every member community where every believer was required to contribute to the gathering of God’s people. Whilst it was obvious that was not always the case, the potential was there.
There were no platforms, no pulpits, no programmes, no preachers, and no pastor organising and controlling everything. Things happened because the members of the body of Christ functioned in the gifts of the spirit that they had been given at his sovereign will.
Using the Holy Spirit’s leading gave them the guarantee that whatever was said and done was relevant to everyone there. The end result was a lively exchange of ministry amongst the congregation, with the supernatural present every time they met and a sense that they were an essential contributing member.
In most meetings today we are lucky to see that once a year. In most meetings it is planned down to the last detail and to the last minute, with everyone taking part chosen and approved by one man “the pastor”.
The Holy Spirit has little or no say in what happens so it is not surprising that he is rarely in attendance. After all, we don’t need him as we can organise everything ourselves.
If by any chance the Holy Spirit should show up he usually has to fit in with the man made programme. If he decides to grace us with his presence, he can only do so as long as it doesn’t encroach on communion or preaching time. Should he do so, he will summarily be cut off so as not to disturb the programme.
You work it out which type of meeting is going to be of more value to those attending. The one where everything is prim and proper and man made and controlled by one man who decides what is good for us or the one where the Holy Spirit is in charge and pouring himself out through whomever he chooses so that everyone can experience his direction and leading and gain a little of his power for living.
When it is all over they are supposed to be grateful that they have received a blessing from the performers and been instructed how to do…what one might ask as most lectures consist of a few thoughts of the person giving the lecture on a few verses of scripture.
The relevance and practicality of what is said is minimal. No worries, that is what he is paid to do and he has done it to our satisfaction so what more can we ask.
On a day to day basis, the New Testament church knew nothing of this type of exercise. There’s was an every member community where every believer was required to contribute to the gathering of God’s people. Whilst it was obvious that was not always the case, the potential was there.
There were no platforms, no pulpits, no programmes, no preachers, and no pastor organising and controlling everything. Things happened because the members of the body of Christ functioned in the gifts of the spirit that they had been given at his sovereign will.
Using the Holy Spirit’s leading gave them the guarantee that whatever was said and done was relevant to everyone there. The end result was a lively exchange of ministry amongst the congregation, with the supernatural present every time they met and a sense that they were an essential contributing member.
In most meetings today we are lucky to see that once a year. In most meetings it is planned down to the last detail and to the last minute, with everyone taking part chosen and approved by one man “the pastor”.
The Holy Spirit has little or no say in what happens so it is not surprising that he is rarely in attendance. After all, we don’t need him as we can organise everything ourselves.
If by any chance the Holy Spirit should show up he usually has to fit in with the man made programme. If he decides to grace us with his presence, he can only do so as long as it doesn’t encroach on communion or preaching time. Should he do so, he will summarily be cut off so as not to disturb the programme.
You work it out which type of meeting is going to be of more value to those attending. The one where everything is prim and proper and man made and controlled by one man who decides what is good for us or the one where the Holy Spirit is in charge and pouring himself out through whomever he chooses so that everyone can experience his direction and leading and gain a little of his power for living.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
THE FAMILY OF GOD
Just imagine being part of a family where two brothers have a disagreement with each other and as a result one of them refuses to talk to the other. They live in the same house but they eat in different rooms, watch TV in different rooms, and they talk to other members of the family that agree with them but not the brother or anyone who disagrees with them.
What would you think of a family that lived like that? Not much I bet as families are supposed to get on with each other, help each other, love each other despite mistakes and disagreements and be a haven from the cares and pressures of the world.
Do you know a family that lives like that? I do. It is called the church. In virtually every town and city, the members of the church of God won’t talk to each other unless you agree with them. They spend a lot of time criticizing each other and giving the impression that they are superior to everyone else because they believe this or that. They refuse to help each other because they believe different things and if problems arise, they ignore each other.
Some members of this family, if they have a disagreement they get up and leave the family and start their own, and cut themselves of from the rest of the family.
When you read about the church in the New Testament, it becomes obvious that there was only one church in each town. Paul writes his letters to the “church in Corinth”, the “church at Philippi”. Nowhere do we read about a letter being written to the “churches at Ephesus”.
There was only one church which met in various homes on a daily basis for fellowship and meals. There was only one church that cared for each other and met each others needs. There was only one church that didn’t spend its time shooting the wounded. There was only one church that was bound together on the basis of the redeeming work of Christ, not a long list of doctrinal beliefs or of do’s and don’ts.
Most churches today bear no resemblance to the church in the New Testament. They are more like businesses or social organizations with a set of rules and membership conditions and are run by a CEO and a few paid executives.
The New Testament church was a family. Paul said as much and was often referring to the members as “brothers”. The sad thing is that we excuse the fact by saying that we don’t have to have a literal interpretation of the bible, we can interpret it and take into consideration cultural issues or we justify the apostate church of today by reinterpreting passages that will support our theories of how church should be.
One example is the verse that says the labourer is worthy of his hire so that is justification for having professional paid pastors to run the church even though it is quite clear that the New Testament church was run by unpaid elders.
Another is the idea that you can’t lead a church unless you have theological degrees. We don’t seem to realize that we are emptying the church by degrees as we impose man made ideas as to how the church should be.
Very few churches in the western world are growing with new birth growth. The few that are growing are doing so by transfer growth from other churches which are losing membership to those churches that have a belief system that is three miles wide and three inches deep.
In other words, the church is attracting people with a wishy washy bless me message that says you can have it all and God will bless you if you give to the church.
What is really sad is that we are happy to allow this God forsaken status quo to go unchallenged. What is really, really sad is that we are being robbed blind by an organizational structure that denies the very nature and purpose of the family of God.
What would you think of a family that lived like that? Not much I bet as families are supposed to get on with each other, help each other, love each other despite mistakes and disagreements and be a haven from the cares and pressures of the world.
Do you know a family that lives like that? I do. It is called the church. In virtually every town and city, the members of the church of God won’t talk to each other unless you agree with them. They spend a lot of time criticizing each other and giving the impression that they are superior to everyone else because they believe this or that. They refuse to help each other because they believe different things and if problems arise, they ignore each other.
Some members of this family, if they have a disagreement they get up and leave the family and start their own, and cut themselves of from the rest of the family.
When you read about the church in the New Testament, it becomes obvious that there was only one church in each town. Paul writes his letters to the “church in Corinth”, the “church at Philippi”. Nowhere do we read about a letter being written to the “churches at Ephesus”.
There was only one church which met in various homes on a daily basis for fellowship and meals. There was only one church that cared for each other and met each others needs. There was only one church that didn’t spend its time shooting the wounded. There was only one church that was bound together on the basis of the redeeming work of Christ, not a long list of doctrinal beliefs or of do’s and don’ts.
Most churches today bear no resemblance to the church in the New Testament. They are more like businesses or social organizations with a set of rules and membership conditions and are run by a CEO and a few paid executives.
The New Testament church was a family. Paul said as much and was often referring to the members as “brothers”. The sad thing is that we excuse the fact by saying that we don’t have to have a literal interpretation of the bible, we can interpret it and take into consideration cultural issues or we justify the apostate church of today by reinterpreting passages that will support our theories of how church should be.
One example is the verse that says the labourer is worthy of his hire so that is justification for having professional paid pastors to run the church even though it is quite clear that the New Testament church was run by unpaid elders.
Another is the idea that you can’t lead a church unless you have theological degrees. We don’t seem to realize that we are emptying the church by degrees as we impose man made ideas as to how the church should be.
Very few churches in the western world are growing with new birth growth. The few that are growing are doing so by transfer growth from other churches which are losing membership to those churches that have a belief system that is three miles wide and three inches deep.
In other words, the church is attracting people with a wishy washy bless me message that says you can have it all and God will bless you if you give to the church.
What is really sad is that we are happy to allow this God forsaken status quo to go unchallenged. What is really, really sad is that we are being robbed blind by an organizational structure that denies the very nature and purpose of the family of God.
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