Recently I was in a discussion about whether we should still plant churches… or even, would the Apostle Paul plant churches today. It seems to me that we need new language to discuss the idea of pioneering new Christ-communities.
I’m pretty sure the Apostle Paul would convene Christ-communities – Clusters of people who recognize their oneness in and through Christ, joining together to remember who and whose they are, to practice and embolden Christ-like love and service, and to work to subvert the empire(s) of their context. But almost without question Paul would avoid the creation of “churches” as we think of them in the Western world. Institutional churches gravitate toward embodying ideals that are counter Christ… its the inevitable pull born of the fear of death.
- an institution’s first concern is self-preservation – not Christ… Christ lays down Christ’s life for those others.
- an institution needs money – not Christ… Christ has no place to lay Christ’s head, even Paul built tents.
- an institution has an image to protect – not Christ… Christ puts on a towel and washes feet.
- an institution guards power – not Christ… Christ empties power.
- an institution claims its members – not Christ… Christ sends Christ’s followers out.
Don’t get me wrong God is in, and is using our institutional churches, but we likely don’t need to plant more of those. And to be sure, today’s small relational Christ-communities will be tomorrow’s institutions, unless these Christ-communities can begin to see the Kin-dom gain of their loss.
Doesn’t the metaphor of “planting” also carry an assumption on the planter’s part that they know what needs to be grown in a given place. Maybe we could be “church discovering.” What kind of community of faith is emerging in a given place and time, amongst a community of people? How do we open up to the already always presence of Spirit where we are and join with?
Lord, allow our churches to be crucified that your resurrection and new life may abound.
Peace, dwight
