Jesus died for this?

This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"

A provocative article by Chad Hall:

I do not even doubt that communities of believers are the God-ordained means for carrying out this grand plan. What I doubt is that what passes for "church" these days is the manifestation of Jesus in our world. I even doubt that my own church is a church. Why all the doubt? Like other congregations, the one I serve strives to be an authentic church, but we get in our own way. Simply put, our chief aim is not to connect people to God, each other, and the world, but to build an organization that does so. The distinction is subtle but significant. Building an organization isn't an inherently evil thing to do, nor is it necessarily counterproductive to spiritual aims. Indeed, modernity gifted humans to become more efficient and effective in building organizations. Businesses, governments, and charities give us meaningful and productive work when they are better organized. There's nothing wrong with that. But building an organization is not the same as being a church, even if the aim of the organization is to do the work of Jesus... I desperately want to be part of an authentic Christian community more so than giving my energy to building a church. I am a young guy, but when I add up all of the hours, energy, books, prayers, and anxiety I have directed toward figuring out how to build a church, it is enormous, and it towers in comparison to the attention I have given to exploring and living out true Christian community.

I think what Chad is saying is that the organization sometimes gets in the way of mission. Some good stuff to think about here, even if you disagree with his conclusions.

Comments

[Andy]

hmmm, thanks for blogging this... fits with my thoughts recently

[ed]

This is more and more common. I'm listening to people who have been in church and involved all their lives tell me the same thing personally. Some leaving the church...some saying, "I'll go to church...but I'm not getting involved anymore...we're talking about people who have been involved (deeply) all their church lives. Solution...sometimes I'm afraid that all this talk is going on, but churches aren't even beginning to address this stuff at a leadership level. At leadership meetings and business meetings it's all still about the institution. As long as that's the case people will continue to leave the institution to try and follow Christ. I don't think that's the solution...the church is about community, not individuals just trying to do their best to follow Christ alone...but unless something changes...people will continue to walk away. I don't think the solution is easy or simple but unless this becomes a major thing that is addressed...churches will continue to remain ineffective. Jesus will build his church whether institutions make it or not.

[Dima Fereli]

The first century christians were all ministers. There was no seperate class of evangelizers known as the clergy. The gospel was spread free of charge. Christians worked for a living and during the hours they were not engaging in their work, they taught their fellow man the truth of God's word. The only persons recieving a stipend for their preaching were traveling overseers such as Paul, Timothy Silas and others. The were happy living with the basics. So-called preachers of the truth like Hank Hanagraff (Bible Answer Man) who write a book a week for which they charge lots of money, and who make appearances like celebrities charging to hear the Gospel, unfortunately represent the crass entrepreneural side of religion today. A Muslim co-worker once asked why preachers, especially broadcast evangelists are revered as demi-gods by Christians. He said the Imam in the Mosque is considered no more than one who is an authority on Koran and not someone to whom you shower with great wealth and worship. I have neighbors who are Jehovah's Witnesses. The whole family spend much time preaching for free, in fact, they will even conduct weekly Bible studies with anyone who is interested, free of charge and sacrifice their own time to do so. Why is this concept, which was practiced by the very early Christian congregation so foriegn to the church? Why is the word of God for sale today?