An Equation For a Church?
Jake Rasmussen | October 20, 2008 | 2:35 pmI have been stuck in the Atlanta airport today since early this morning. I have been reading a bunch and working on the iLife series which starts this weekend at Epic Church. But, I came across this thought provoking equation. Read it. Think about it. Wrestle with it. Pray about it. Talk about it with others. Then share your thoughts.
Building + Clergy + Program = Church.
Body + Mission + Kingdom = Church.
*from http://threadsmedia.com/index.php?/store/detail/sent-leader-kit/
It seems to me the first is a very common way of “doing” church and even starting churches here in North America, in Tucson to be specific. We find a location to meet, we raise some money to hire staff, we structure the best program we can think of for: children, youth, adults, bible study, and so on. Then, we feel we have a church! And the things I hear and even at times, I confess… think, if we just get a better place, get more staff, and have better things to do then we have a more successful church.
The later has a focus on relationships. The relationship with Jesus as its foundation. With the “body” being those who have accepted the forgiveness from Jesus Christ and have made a decision to journey with Jesus though life. That journey is made with others toward the common focus which we hear over and over though the pages of the New Testament which is about brining the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. Which leads the final addition to the equation; a Kingdom focus. Not a “my church”, “my denomination”, “my city” focus but a Kingdom focus. One that says, “I don’t care if my name ever become great, or if my church ever becomes great. I desire for the name of Jesus to become great and that the Kingdom of God/Heaven is multiplied here on earth.” When those things happen we have a church being born. A place where you can be you. Where you can journey with others toward a common goal, and serving our cities, friends, nation, globe, family… in the name of Jesus Christ.
I have more thoughts about this but thought I would share what I have thus far with you.
jake, i would have to disagree with both of them. i
josh reich | October 20, 2008 | 3:27 pmjake,
i would have to disagree with both of them. i would put it like this:
body + mission = kingdom
the body is the church. i have a hard time seeing the kingdom as serving the church but feel like it needs to be the other way around. the goal is kingdom growth, not church growth. just a thought.
Man I appreciate your comments. And I do think
Jake Rasmussen | October 21, 2008 | 8:22 pmMan I appreciate your comments. And I do think you are right in comparing the quote-on-quote, body to the church. I think there is more to it.
…this is messy in my head so I am going to spit it out and we can clean it up later…
Although the body of Christ is, in fact, believers who follow Jesus yet then there is still the church. Is it two different things or not? In my mind, at first glance, I would say yes. Follow me here.
The body of Christ is universal, meaning all believers // everywhere. Yet the church is a smaller segment of, just that. The body. So, yes they both can be the same thing yet different. Meaning…. the Revolution Church and Epic Church are indeed, churches, yet we are still part of the body of Christ. Follow me….
Ok, as I am typing this I am feeling silly trying to break this down. Sure… your equation can have a place on this blog. The “goal” might not be so much about growth at all. Numerically speaking, but in transformation. Bringing about Kingdom transformation here in our city. Maybe in the equations I have found which started my wheels spinning had the church and kingdom on the wrong side of the equals sign. Regardless of Epic Church ever reaches “x” amount of people the measure of her effectiveness is in transformation not addition of souls.
But, I imagine that regardless of what equation you and I can come up with your heart and my heart desire to see our city a better place. To see marriages strengthened, divorce to go down, our jail systems to become less crowded with druggies, wife-beaters, rapist, and so forth. And that is only if the body of Christ, works together to fulfill our mission, to bring the Kingdom of God to earth and we see healthy churches birthed and strengthened.
Or am I full of it?