What Kind Of Church?

September 10, 2020

What Kind Of Church?

I wonder if the reason so many churches in the United States die every week is because they failed to ask what kind of church Jesus was calling them to be. 

It is clear that the future of the Christian church in the United States will be different.  Depending upon your perspective and your spiritual journey, you may see the changes as a good sign, as a bad sign, or as something else.  The question is, “To what essentials will the Church hold on as we navigate all the shifts?”

I don’t have all the answers to that question.  But, I do know there are a few things that seem to be central to Christian faith as well as our living out of the faith in and through the Church.  In other words, something must define what kind of church Jesus wants us to be. 

Unfortunately, it does not seem the church in the United States is all that clear about these essentials.  Here are some things that make me uneasy. 

I see too much of the church built on the personality of a pastor rather than on the person of Jesus the Christ.  When the personality of the pastor shifts (because of the work of the Holy Spirit, a life trauma, a moral failure, etc.) or the pastor leaves (because they a transferred, fired, promoted, etc.), the church is often left floundering.  When the focus is on the personality of the pastor, the proclamation and presence of Jesus is often diminished.

I see too much of the church have little or no regard for authority.  Things like The Book Of Discipline (the book of order in the United Methodist Church), the office of Bishop (i.e., general superintendent, presiding elder, etc.), a Judicial Council (review council beyond the local church), a Church Council (local church official board), a General Conference (association of similar churches), and even the Bible are not viewed as having much or any authority.  The church is increasingly functioning with no accountability and no anchor when life-storms rage.

I see too much of the church being narrowly or exclusively defined by their particular perspective on human sexuality and gender.  Many churches with a very traditional perspective on these matters as well as many churches with a very progressive perspective on these matters can become so focused on this one topic that they fail to proclaim the full counsel of God.  Although these discussions are important, the power of the Gospel message can be unintentionally and easily diluted.         

I see too much of the church using methods to engage conversation and dialogue that are not healthy, not helpful, and not healing.  Models of mediation are being used in conflicted churches in which the foundational assumptions of most mediation processes are not present.  It is also apparent that the classical models of debate are increasingly disenfranchising, marginalizing, and abusing more people than they unite.  Too many people are too often left without a voice and without value.

I see too much of the church not wanting to be the Church.  An Acts 2 model of the church includes frequent worship, small groups, serving the poor, generous giving, engaging in Baptism and Communion, and sharing lives with others.  These spiritual disciplines are often sacrificed on the altar of being culturally relevant or to survive another year or to make a denominational office happy.

I see too much of the church not interested in, not engaging in, and not trusting in the Bible as the authoritative Word of God.  Too much of the church does not read the Bible each day, does not pray each day, and does not engage in conversation about the Bible with other believers each week.  The Bible does not influence the life of the Church because the Church values other voices more than God’s voice through the Bible.

My earlier question was, “To what essentials should the Church hold on as we navigate all the shifts?”  In other words, “What are a few of the essentials to which we could hold on as we navigate the redefining and refining and remaking of the Christian Church in the United States?”

Consider a first step that is foundational for navigating change.  In II Timothy 3:16-17 the Apostle Paul reminds the young pastor Timothy about the purpose of Scripture.  Paul writes; “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

The purpose of the Scripture is to mold us and make us into the image of Christ and to prepare us to live and love like Jesus in and through the Church.  But for these things to happen, you will need to trust that the Scripture is the Word of God for your life, that the Scripture has authority in your life, and that the Scripture is useful for the Holy Spirit to teach you and grow you. 

These things can happen again in the Christian Church in the United States.  When that happens we will take delight in the Lord.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug