- I think church would be very culturaly relevant
- There would be no consumers or passengers in the pew
- I think we would potentially get a lot more new converts
- We wouldn't have a prayer book
- We wouldn't waste money buying million dollar homes for a minister of the Gospel to live in (even if they are a Bishop...)
- We'd lose all those priests who were in it for some sort of power or status trip
- I'd lose my job
- We'd learn to rely on God's provision, rather than our own ability to raise money and balance budgets
- We'd be risk takers not so risk averse you'd think that God's work in the world would fail if we did something new that didn't work
- We wouldn't have non-Christians leading Christian things
- We'd lose some structure that is probably quite helpful on some levels
I'm slowly discovering that I really love not knowing how the future will pan out, and knowing that some ministry that i'm involved in are way too big and hard for me to ever be able to say, I did this. And knowing that in any moment the whole thing could fall in a heap.
God is soverign and gracious... I vote for more relying on him and more risk taking across the church at large.
It would probably look a lot like Acts.
ReplyDeleteit would look like acts if you were also charismatic in the true sence,of being biblical
ReplyDeleteany chris your post seems to suggest qualities of the entrepienal tenting making church planter- wanting to break down structure and take risks. I believe you may have heard about this with the mark driscoll and philip jensen talking about it and being in a angican church I bet you have
What if you got rid of all the clergy and had lay people do ministry? Why, then you'd be Brethren. Welcome aboard ;)
ReplyDeleteMost of us employed by the Church understand your frustration with it. There are times when some of us feel like walking right away from it. But closing them all down (if that were possible) would be something of an over-reaction to its shortcomings.
ReplyDeleteWith all its past failures and present shortcomings, God in his wisdom has used the structures of the Church to preserve the apostolic faith and make the gospel known to others. When we have strayed from God’s ways there have been those who have been raised up to call us back. So rather than leaving the institution, most of us have chosen to stay within it and work for its re-formation, renewal and growth. Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones speaks to us of the need for the Spirit of God to breather fresh life into his people. If we were to close down churches just because they were part of ‘the institution’ much good Christian work would be damaged. Even if we were able to start from scratch things would sooner or later get messed up and we’d find ourselves back in the same position once again.
As for the matter of Christian workers being paid, there are passages in the New Testament which give approval to the practice. For example, in 1 Corinthians 9 Paul, writing about the rights of an apostle, says ‘The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.’ In the same context he also reminds us that there are times when Christian workers need to be willing to relinquish their rights for the spread of the gospel.
There are other passages that should be considered as well, such as:
Luke 10.7 (Jesus’ commissioning of the Seventy)
Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.
Galatians 6:6
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
1 Timothy 5:18
For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
Yes, the Church has too much money tied up in expensive property. We must se how we can best use those resources in the service of the Kingdom. It is difficult to see why a church would want to own an expensive house in a suburb like Sandy Bay (Tasmania) when much cheaper options are available in neighbouring suburbs.
The prayer book may not be everyone’s preferred style for ordering worship, but there are those who find it a helpful resource. Why would we want to deprive them of something that enriches their lives?
Paying some Christians for their ministry roles frees them up from the demands of other work responsibilities and allows them to focus more fully on core tasks such as teaching and evangelism. In trying to balance the competing demands of a busy work life, family responsibilities, self-care and church leadership something almost inevitably suffers. Those of us who are paid by the Church need to see it not as a right, but as a precious trust and responsibility.
the anglican church as I understand has bishops and priests a bit like the catholic church. I don't understand a great dealso forgive me if I'm ignorant butI believe one person can have a lot of power over a dionese.
ReplyDeleteI generaly prefer the biblical structure of leaders. a pastor, elders and diacons. I like the fact that this structure ends up being one person in charge along with a group of elders so the power is notso centralised and its bibical. but then I grew up and the reformed church and are now part of the apostolic church so I use to that format.