Wednesday, April 4, 2007

"Organic" vs "Institutional"

What do we really mean by the expression "Organic Church" and what difference does this make to how we might do church?

I wanted to follow up my previous post with a question I sometimes hear and one that is important (to my mind) if we are to truly live in to our calling and election in Christ Jesus. Actually, even the question itself betrays a more institutional mindset - church is not primarily something we 'do', but something we are. As the apostle Peter says, "you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." [1 Peter 2:9] What was once true for Israel under the old, obsolete covenant, is now true for everyone who comes to him (Christ). But Peter begins with who we are out of which flows a responsibility to declare God's praise.

Peter says that we have been born again (spiritually) through the imperishable seed, the living, enduring word of God [1 Pet 1:23]. The true church therefore, does not depend upon human organization and religious programs and a hierarchical leadership that controls the agenda. Rather, it depends upon the presence and power of God in each one of us personally, and among us corporately, mediated through the Holy Spirit. This eternal and enduring life is within us all, the reality of the Triune God brought to earth and experienced by human beings.

T. Austin-Sparks puts it like this,
"God's way and law of fullness is that of organic life. In the divine order, life produces it's own organism, whether it be a vegetable, animal, human or spiritual. This means that everything comes from the inside . . . function, order and fruit issue forth from this law of life within. It was solely on this principle that the New Testament came into being. Organized Christianity has entirely reversed this order."

So what are the characteristics of this organic expression of church that we should be looking for and promoting?
(i) everybody playing a part (no clergy/laity divide)
(ii) face-to-face community
(iii) open meetings (vs a dominant leader/speaker)
(iv) servant leadership (through example)
(v) Jesus is the focus and the leader of the community

Paul put it another way when he said, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." [
1 Cor. 12:7] Frank Viola put it this way, 'whenever we sin-scarred mortals try to create a church the same way we would start a business corporation, we are defying the organic principle of church life. An organic church is one that is naturally produced when a group of people have encountered Jesus Christ in reality and the DNA of the church is free to work without hindrance. Organic church is not a theater with a script. It’s a lifestyle—a spontaneous journey with the Lord Jesus and His disciples.' (www.ptmin.org/april2007.htm)

One more thing I wanted to say about our DNA - remember the previous post. DNA stands for our need for balance in our life of Divine truth, Nurturing relationships & Apostolic mission. I believe that means for us personally but also that we be instilling these values and priorities in those whom we're discipling. I do believe that the Life Transformation Partnerships provide an excellent vehicle for seeing this really happen. Where we can commit to read the Scriptures and listen to God, to develop authentic friendships of vulnerability and trust, and to be encouraged to be faithful in life and mission. These partnerships are 2-4 people at most and as a discipling relationship matures, these should naturally (even organically!) multiply.

If you are not in an LTP or would like more information, please email me at mike@bridgepoint.org

Growing together in Christ,
Mike.

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