In college and seminary, I was forced to write papers according to the Chicago Manual of Style or some joker named Turabian. I had to format my papers correctly, footnote properly and write the title page neatly. I was told exactly how to write the paper, but the content was supposed to be mine. In the church world, it's exactly the opposite...we're given the content, but we're not told how to write the paper. That's because the Bible is not a style book. It's a Truth story, not a detailed description of how to organize, lead or plan out church in the 21st century.
I've been thinking a bit about Biblical church...reading through the book of Acts and such. Our church looks a little different from some of the other churches in town. And there are some websites out there designed to point out how unBiblical we (and others like us) are. We often get accused of doing things to bend to culture, therefore ignoring the Biblical way of doing things. The more I think about it, the more I realize that so much of what we do in churches - all churches - isn't Biblical.
As far as I can tell, the early church:
- Never held a Vacation Bible School, but so many churches from so many traditions do it.
- Didn't sit in pews. Pews aren't Biblical!
- Didn't even have a real church building. Early Christians hung out at synagogues and in homes...they didn't build giant church buildings.
- Didn't form denominations. No where in Scripture do you see denominations. They aren't Biblical.
- I can't find out what style of music Jesus liked. As far as I can tell, the first church didn't have big gatherings that
had corporate singing. Hymnals didn't arrive until later. - Make committees of deacons. Deacon boards aren't Biblical. Deacons were servants who served food, not decided carpet color.
- Have members.
I am not saying that these things are unBiblical. They just aren't prescribed in Scripture. We may do some things as a church that might be foreign to you, but there isn't a church around that doesn't do things differently from church described in the Bible. Just because the first Christians did it a certain way doesn't mean we have to copy that same thing. The Bible isn't a style book or a command to do church a certain way. I heard Andy Stanley say once that, when it comes to church structure (and I'd add style) the Bible is prescriptive, it's descriptive.
You have freedom to sing hymns or rock out. Or rock out to hymns. You can be elder led, deacon led or staff led. You can have church on Thursday if you want. Have VBS or a fall festival. Or cancel it. Wear a suit, a robe or jeans. None of these things are Biblical. Because the Bible is not the Zion Manual of Style.
Amen
because so many of the fights / issues / arguments are not about substance [although they are often couched in those terms] but about style. styles that have moved beyond being guidelines and have been turned into rules.
Check out Bill Kinnon's recent posting @ http://www.kinnon.tv/2007/03/the_people_form.html
Posted by: michael bells | March 29, 2007 at 04:42 AM
i like you and your church. the problem i see with most churches today is that there is this desire to be the biggest and the best, no matter of worship style, denomination, etc. God called us to none of that. christ said Love, God said love. him first and then our neighbors. the church, upon getting it right, will end poverty, will end wars, will end violence and heal broken hearts all because the love we share for one another will be too overwhelming for this world to not want to be a part of... kind of how it was intended in the first place. i dont think that these things are on our minds... the majority of us that call ourselves christians. (sadly, the american dream has infected our global/spiritual calling to allegiance to a God that sees past boundaries.) if churches, would act as the church, i wouldnt have this hesitation/fear in my spirit to wear blue jeans to my old church... or i wouldnt care about how my drums sound in the mix at front of house. none of that would matter, because the likemindedness of bringing heaven to earth would be intoxicating.
i cant wait to be back playing at OAk leaf for easter!
Posted by: jason scroggins | March 30, 2007 at 10:08 AM