Who Lives Next Door? (2)
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service and to building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12
Service – Now that we recognize that service is not optional, the question becomes, “What is service to my neighbor?” The answer is both simple and profound. The Greek word diakoneo becomes the description of all kinds of actions on behalf of others. It covers those who organize, dispense, oversee, aid, support, provide and even suffer for others. It is the methodology of the new order, the means by which all human relationships are conducted. It is the defining mark of the new community dedicated to love for one another in concrete acts of service. It isn’t passive or cognitive. It is out there in the midst of life helping others accomplish things.
This has a radical implication for the contemporary church. You see, most churches actually equip their members to think like Black-belt beggars. The economic model of the church is based on the idea that the church consumes but does not produce. What I mean is this: the church operates by taking wealth from productive members and consuming it. Whether by tithes, offerings or debt accumulation, the typical church does not actually produce anything that returns tangible value to the community. Of course, its members may contribute tangible value, but the church as a collected body usually does not. It works like the government. It makes promises that can’t be fulfilled until after you’re dead and asks you to fund those promises now. In other words, the church adopts a model from the culture – a consumer model based on “volunteer” giving.
But is this service? Service seems to be defined in terms of efforts that improve the well-being of neighbors. That means doing things that make a real, tangible difference in the lives of those next door. That means the real economic model of the church must be the producer model. The church exists to provide goods and services for others, right here, right now, in this world. It does not exist to make promises about getting to heaven. It exists to be an agency of cultural change, bringing shalom into the lives of everyone it touches. It is the collective for neighborly action. And, by the way, when the church becomes a producer that affects the well-being of the community, it will also have a spiritual impact on those lives as a by-product of being good neighbors. The contemporary model of the church structure on the hill, calling out to the community to come to its hallowed spaces and support its divine mission has turned the entire model upside-down. If the “church” is the Body, then it is distributed wherever members of the Body are making productive differences in the lives of neighbors. And if the church isn’t doing this, then it is nothing more than a pagan temple, sucking up the resources that God has placed in stewardship with His people for the care of others.
Ask yourself this the next time the collection plate passes by: how is this demand for wealth redistribution affecting the lives of neighbors in my community? Is it providing for their well-being, or is it funding a consumer union?
Topical Index: equip, service, diakoneo, consumer, Ephesians 4:11-12
The paradigm of consumption vs. distribution within the church is not always as clean as one may suspect. Certainly there are numerous church bodies/organizations which operate at opposite ends of this spectrum. It should be noted however that the church in general throughout history has been much more consuming while in most instances (as Skip points out) there are individuals actually personally performing services.
No where was this more prevalent than in the last millennia … particularly during the great monastic age. During this period the church was essentially hording wealth and was the “Fortune 1 Company” on the globe. At the same time however the real body within the church, the beggar monastic societies who survived by public generosity, were living and dying on the streets with the down trodden.
The point is that service should be a community deal. Often times it is not and this is when we need to step up and be individually accountable. And as far as continued contribution to a consuming non-producing organization? Perhaps our donations are better off somewhere else … somewhere that is productive. And if this be the case then perhaps the people need to be somewhere else as well.
The latter days call for the believers to come out of Babylon. Sadly most mainstream Christians are not aware of what Babylon actually is let alone consider that their own organization is ruled by it. This would destroy the insurance policy they think they have. I will leave this alone at this point and hope that not too many folks are offended! We need to pray for the lifting of scales off the eyes of our brothers and sisters who are still under a delusion.
Shalom
Well stated Drew.
Oh, if we only understood the depth of Paul’s plea to be transformed – to not be conformed to the systems of this world. This is so important. My lectures on Living the Biblical Worldview are all about the identification of systems that really belong to the world’s way of thinking. These are in education, politics, economics, social relationships, the legal system and yes, even in the church which has pretty much adopted the systems under the power of the enemy. You can start seeing the impact with a book like Peter Leithart’s Against Christianity and Neil Postman’s Technopoly. I will put up a page of recommended reading. And At God’s Table wants to make a difference for the Kingdom. We focus on the community. If you need help, ASK! We want to support you.
Skip
Skip I am sorry if I struck a sensitive chord with my comments on this topic. Perhaps Carl is not alone in his disagreement! I believe however that the warfare that must be waged against powers and principalities is not one that is limited to outside the so called church. The infiltration by the father of all lies is readily apparent if one can simply see. Sadly real transformation in most churches is simply not tolerated. My heart and spirit quake for these sleeping masses. I pray that the scales are mercifully removed and that all would seek the refuge where truth and light and life (Yeshua) is preached. In most cases this will entail getting out!
I believe a word that might properly be deployed at this juncture would be “oy”. Let us please, not throw out the baby with the bath water. I believe in the church of the LORD Jesus Christ. We who belong to Him (and we know who we are), His purchased possession, the redeemed ones, those who have been bought with a price- are His body. We are His bride. Don’t be messin’ with the bride. Yeshua said, “I will build my church”. And we know the rest of this story. If He said He will build it, dear brothers it will be built. Done deal there. According to the book- (and that is how we live, right?), “unto Him be glory- “in the church”. Also “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) I am “just”, like you!! We see wheat and we see tares.. let them grow together. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. What is the reason or motivation for our meeting together?? What a fruit salad!! Some are there for worship, some for praise, some to network for business purposes, some to show off their new hat, some because they are hurting and some are hoping to find some help. What am I there for?
There is The question. Will I “let this mind be in me which also was in Christ Jesus?” Will I look for opportunities to give away what YWYH has given unto me as a good steward of the grace of G-d? Will I pray for each one as we gather in His presence? Two’s company, three’s a crowd, but in YWYH has said- “where two or three are gathered together in my name”- What is the purpose of our gathering?
Are we giving unto the LORD the glory due His name?? Blessed be HaShem.
Carl … rather than engage in a prolonged debate brother I will simply suggest that perhaps some closer examination of matters should be undertaken with regards to the church. There is a very fine line between people in union and institution. I believe masses are blindly following the blind into the ditch. People need to be saved …. not institutions. Nor should these Nicolatian organiations be protected or defended. The problem with ingested poison is that it typically spreads.
Praise Yeshua and may be be merciful!
All this requires that the church knows the need of the “local body”. Personally, I believe sin keeps us from revealing these things to others. Sin separates me from that connection with others and leads to a feeling of unworthiness to ask for help. I know from scripture to not refuse him who asks of you Matt 5:42. Should this be part of the logic here? Is there another side to the equation? On a different note, the church and state issue has probably helped distort the churches focus.
AMEN!!!!!! AND AMEN AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
I agree. Most of my graduate students are pastors and my advice to them is “Gently into the fray.” So much of the resistance is from ignorance and tradition. If we only took the time to examine where we have come from, we would be shocked and disgusted. But moving an elephant is not easy, especially if it does not want to assist.
I agree with you that if we researched and read our history, we would have a better understanding of the delusions we have been living with for generations. I just came across a book in the lending library of my apartment complex. It was called Jews, God and History, by Max Dimont. I was around 10 years old when it was first published.
But I found it an exciting and comprehensive journey through time, from the beginning of the Hebrew faith, and their impact on all the peoples they lived with, or were forced to live with.
It really helped me to see how God made His people a blessing, even as they were seen as a curse by the rest of the world.
Our faith, originated from the same Torah that they have brought up, and protected for thousands of years. Would that we would get over our bondage in church tradition annd see the truth. Shema, Yisrael, Adonai elohenu, adonai achad.
Second thought. I know Carl. I doubt that he is really disagreeing with your view. We all know that the institution – the buildings, the programs, the denominations and the hierarchy – is not the “church.” All that is “Christianity”, the institutionalization of worldliness in the form of religion. That’s why “Christianity” is just one more of the world’s great religions instead of being the revolutionary guard of God’s Kingdom. No one wants to throw out the church – the qahalah, the edah – the Body of believers grafted into the fellowship of God. The problem is that the visible “church” is often not the church of Yeshua.
It seems to me that in order to discuss matters concerning the “church”, a definition of what is meant by the “church” will have to be step #1. For me, there is the “church” in the sense of the universal church, i.e. God’s elect. This body of Christ transcends walls, buildings or institutions. Its membership is reserved for those who God regenerates through His Spirit….Then there is the “church” in the sense of the broader community of those who, though perhaps having differing doctrinal views, would say they profess to certain shared cardinal truths concerning Christ and His gospel. The problem here is that this “church” today is more profession than real and all over the place in its understandings of “sound doctrine” and forget about the integrity of practical Christianity lived out with any measure of truth in keeping with the Word of God….Finally, there is the local “church” assembled. In today’s American culture, this “church”largely resembles more of a democratic country club than it does the true embodiment of Christ in His World…..
Don’t worry about Christ’s elect (church #1). It is doing and will do just fine. It is the salt and light that is keeping this world from rotting and from descending into total spiritual darkness. The church institutionalized (so called mainstream “Christianity” or the Christian sub-culture) has been so prostituted it is almost unrecognizable when compared with God’s Biblical standards for true Christ followers. It is the enculturated or Americanized church, if you will. It is the church that met the Western culture and the Western culture won! (Read “The Transformation of American Religion – How We Actually Live Our Faith” by secular sociologist Alan Wolfe, where Mr. Wolfe argues that all religions of the world, when brought to the American culture, lose to the American culture and become faiths almost unrecognizable in terms of “the faith of their fathers”). This prostituted “Christianity” is really no different than the Pharisees of Christ’s time – Romans 10:1-2 – “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” This has so many facets to it but is essentially an unwillingness to exalt God’s Word and God’s name. It is God on our terms rather than bowing to His character and terms…..
Finally, there is the church local – smaller communities of brothers and sisters in Christ (and now of course, unbelievers as well which makes it virtually impossible to truly “worship” since the congregation is “mixed” with belief and unbelief) who come together. I believe that God holds a special place for this type of community and this remains the only hands and feet of Christ in His world. Most of these smaller communities are really only as true to God’s Word and useful to the Lord as the leadership will permit. But here we have the critical agenda of Eph 4 being played out…or not being played out as God desires….What is amazing to me is that no matter how close or how far short these local assemblies get to realizing God’s purposes, they are never ever intended to be perfect and that is what makes them so appealing to me (since I am not perfect either). If “church” was everything I thought it should be, then where would our dependence be? On us, of course. The church local is supposed to be a “failing” institution filled with “failures”…that is the point. Which is why it amazes me that God still chooses to show Himself not only through the church local but honestly, even through me! So I hang in there even though the church local is not all that I think it should be nor likely all that God would want it to be. The church local is my place of ministry and growth….And the church local has something no one or nothing else can have….Os Guinness calls it the “seeds of its own self-correction.”
Explained more, Os writes in “Prophetic Untimeliness” pg. 108: “One such seed of Christian renewal has been the notion of sin, the church’s ‘doctrine of its own failure.’ If all of us always go wrong, then corruption is no surprise and correction should be an automatic and needed response. The other seed of correction and renewal has been the church’s belief in the word of God, which means that the church always has ‘a judgment that transcends history.’ The church may fall captive to this culture or that ideology, to this philosophy or that fashion. But when the Lord speaks and is listened to, the church wakes up to be herself and the captivity can be thrown.” He continues: “To be sure, the danger is real. But this fear confuses the church’s view of the Word with the Word itself. God is always bigger than our misunderstandings of Him. However distorted or inadequate our views may be, it only takes the real Word to speak to wake up the church and the world. The difference will be clear. Either there really is a Word of God, in which case it is separate from us and our misunderstandings of it, or there isn’t and we are shut up once more to the uncertainties of silence. The church in the West is unquestionably in poor shape today, but this is neither the first time nor will it be the last time. Like an eternal jack-in-the-box, the church will always spring back. No power on earth or in the church can keep the gospel down, not even the power of Babylonian captivity and confusion. ‘At least five times,’ G. K. Chesterton noted, “the Faith has to all appearances gone to the dogs. In each of these five cases, it was the dog that died.'”
Thanks for the clarity and reminder. Os and I have been friends for 35 years. It’s nice to see others read him too.
Skip
Strong and to the point. Loved it. Just for fun, you might want to read an old article by Chip Brogden called “Churchianity Today” in which he compares the system church with a country club, in the sense of the rights and responsibilites that come with membership and “dues”, and their lack of application or value to the true church. It has created quite a debate over several years since it was first published but at least it doesn’t leave you yawning.
http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/read/articles/churchianity-today.html