For the last 35 years, one of the most anthemic phrases around my church is this one: \u201cthe Church is the hope of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t agree more. The Almighty God is actively healing and redeeming the entire world, and doing it primarily through human beings who are willing to offer themselves to this movement. But I\u2019ve been noticing a disturbing trend that, in my opinion, twists this truth.<\/p>\n
In the wake of a handful of well-known pastors leaving their churches (Francis Chan, Rob Bell, etc.) to pursue other missions, there has been some grumbling and criticism from those who stay. One influential pastor said it like this:\u00a0\u201cThe local church has been, and always will be, the PRIMARY tool for God\u2019s will in the world.\u00a0Other ministries are important but secondary.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when I heard it, I wondered, how is \u201cthe local church\u201d defined?<\/p>\n
If we were to say of the local church, \u201cThe primary tool for God\u2019s will in the world is when God\u2019s followers humbly submit themselves to His dream for humanity and to each other in the power of His Spirit,\u201d then I completely agree.<\/p>\n
But if our idea of the local church means, \u201cThe primary tool for God\u2019s will in the world is any 501(c)(3) organization that calls itself a church, and anything outside of its walls is important but secondary,\u201d then I absolutely disagree.<\/p>\n
When church leaders are believed to have the most important job in the universe and everyone else is secondary,\u00a0that is religion at its worst\u2026.<\/p>\n
God has invited every person to join His work of redemption\u2014whether they\u2019re wearing a clerical collar or an orange construction vest.<\/p>\n
How can the Church help foster this reality? What kind of church trains and launches people into the ministry of their everyday lives? What kind of church trains and retains people to receive the ministry of the Church? This is obviously a huge question.<\/p>\n
I am way more compelled by a church\u00a0of <\/em>the people than a church\u00a0for<\/em> the people.<\/p>\nThis is not to say that one is completely right and the other is completely wrong; but I\u2019m becoming increasingly captured by the idea of \u201cthe priesthood of all believers.\u201d Church as a movement rather than an institution; a Church created by the people rather than consumed by the people.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Aaron Niequist, in Relevant Mag: For the last 35 years, one of the most anthemic phrases around my church is this one: \u201cthe Church is the hope of the world.\u201d I couldn\u2019t agree more. The Almighty God is actively healing and redeeming the entire world, and doing it primarily through human beings who are willing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[484],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church"],"yoast_head":"\n
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