The Organic Church
There are many metaphors in the Bible used to describe the Church of Jesus Christ. The Church is pictured as a Building, a Family, an Army, a Body, a New Man and a Bride. No matter what illustration we use, the Church is collective; never just one person. Peter wrote that each believer is a living stone that is being built together with other living stones to form a spiritual house, or rather the Church. (I Peter 2.5) Paul told the Ephesians that the Church, as a Body, was the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 1.23) Jesus is the Head and His disciples are the members of His Body; called out of darkness to live together in community to express His fullness.
During the Middle Ages, the Church was seen as a physical building. Beautiful cathedrals were constructed to the glory of God and the believers were expected to “go to church” regularly. Later after the Reformation, the Church began to be seen as a meeting. The cathedrals were not readily available to the believers so they would meet in the open air, in houses or other public buildings. As the Reformation became more established, buildings were built, but the emphasis was more on the service than the structure. In both these concepts of Church, the focus was on doing rather than being the Church.
Today, many are looking back to the Early Church, as revealed in the book of Acts, to try discover God’s original design. Their experience in “going” to Church has been unsatisfying and yet their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior is alive. They long for the vibrancy of the Early Church; their face-to-face community experience and the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. Though some, in trying to rid themselves of the “baggage” associated with religiosity, have thrown out the baby with the bath water. By defining an organic church as one that is unpolluted by human hands, they have gone down the road of isolation rather than congregating, independence rather than community, and rebellion rather than submission.
The Church is not perfect, but is growing into the fullness of Christ. Please, if you find a perfect church, don’t join it. You will ruin it. None of us have arrived at perfection yet. We are being transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Church of Jesus Christ is in a process of making herself ready for the Bridegroom. We are under construction and the Architect and Builder is God. He has a blueprint that He designed before the foundation of the earth. The model is the family, not a cafeteria. We don’t choose our family, God does. In a family there is authority, provision, responsibilities and nurture; all designed to enhance one’s maturity and fruitfulness. The Church may meet in houses and buildings, serve God and others, but is an organism whose life comes from God and shared with one another.
To be in the Church is not like being a member of a club or association. It doesn’t come by attending a class, paying dues or signing an agreement. Being a part of the Church is a result of the New Birth. After being born again, our Father God places us under caring pastors, who will teach and disciple us in the ways of the Lord. Our maturity is seen in our ability to take responsibility, to live in covenantal relationships and in our fruitfulness. Each member is essential for the Church to reach its fullness. The DNA of the Early, organic Church is this: D – divine revelation, N – nurturing relationships and A – apostolic mission. This is the Church.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Eph. 1.22-23; 4.15-16; Rev. 21.9-10; Ps. 68.6; Col. 1.18;