Reformation:
Reformed & Always Reforming
- Historic & Current Need -
|
(Updated 05/05/06 ) |
In every age and with every generation the church exhibits strengths in one area and weakness in another. With every era there is a need for reformation in beliefs and practices to conform to a Biblical pattern. Here are the pillars of the needed reformation in today's church.
Attempts have been made to find some of the best articles and books to reinforce each position. If you are aware of articles or books that should be added then please write.
May God reform His Church!
|
|
|
|
|
Soli Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be The Glory |
"Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11; "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever." Revelations 7:12; "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36
The Reformation reclaimed the Scriptural teaching of the sovereignty of God over every aspect of the believer's life. All of life is to be lived to the glory of God. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." This great and all consuming purpose was emphasized by those in the 16th and 17th Centuries who sought to reform the church according to the Word of God. In contrast to the monastic division of life into sacred versus secular perpetuated by Roman Church, the reformers saw all of life to be lived under the Lordship of Christ. Every activity of the Christian is to be sanctified unto the glory of God.
|
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone |
"Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law" Psalm 119:18; "....I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name...." Psalm 138:2; "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17
The doctrine that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority was the "Formal Principle" of the Reformation. In 1521 at the historic interrogation of Luther at the Diet of Worms, he declared his conscience to be captive to the Word of God saying, "Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons -- for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another -- I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word." Similarly, the Belgic Confession stated, "We believe that [the] holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein...Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures nor ought we to consider custom or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God... Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule" (VII).
There are at least a couple aspects in which Sola Scriptura is in jeopardy in today's church. Firstly, it is with great irony that many who call themselves "Reformed" now impart to historic confessions an authority due only to the Scriptures. When this occurs the creeds are the end of a doctrinal debate. Where do the Scriptures speak of giving authority to subsequent creeds? Do not the creeds themselves disallow for such a position? Roman Catholicism cries "Scripture and Church Tradition". Should we now cry "Scripture and Creedal Tradition"?! By no means! Solo Scriptura! Secondly, many in today's church impart the force of authority to experience. This is where much of the Charismatic movement derails. The Holy Spirit illuminates the hearts and minds of men with Scriptural truths. This is not the issue at hand with the Charismatic movement. What is often said is that "the Lord showed me...". The statement then rises above being questioned unless there is blatant Scriptural error.
By what authority do we derive our convictions and practices? May it be by Scripture alone!
|
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone |
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to
adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind
intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He
freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His
grace, which He lavished upon us.
Ephesians 1:3-8
A central cry of the Reformation was salvation by grace. Though the Roman church taught that Mass is a "sacrifice [which] is truly propitiatory" and that by the Mass "God...grant[s] us grace and the gift of penitence, remits our faults and even our enormous sins" -- the reformers returned to the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Our righteous standing before God is imputed to us by grace because of the work of Christ Jesus our Lord. In contrast to the doctrines of self-merit taught by Rome, sola gratia and the accompanying doctrines of grace -- total depravity, unconditional election, particular redemption, and perseverance of the saints -- were preached by all the reformers throughout the Protestant movement. As the Baptist Confession of 1689 says, "Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf;...their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners."
|
Sola Fida - Faith Alone |
Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as
righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are
sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying,
"All the nations shall be blessed in you." So then those who are
of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. For as many as are of the
works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is
everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to
perform them." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is
evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:6-11
The "Material Principle" of the Reformation was justification by faith alone. As the Westminster Confession of Faith says, "Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love." The Genevan Confession likewise pointed out the necessity of those justified living by faith saying, "We confess that the entrance which we have to the great treasures and riches of the goodness of God that is vouchsafed us is by faith; inasmuch as, in certain confidence and assurance of heart, we believe in the promises of the gospel, and receive Jesus Christ as he is offered to us by the Father and described to us by the Word of God (Genevan 11).
|
Solo Christo - Christ Alone |
There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time...For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. (1 Timothy 2:5-6; Colossians 1:13-18)
The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man. While the Roman church held that "there is a purgatory and that the souls there detained are helped by the intercessions of the faithful" and that "Saints are to be venerated and invoked;" "that their relics are to be venerated" -- the reformers taught that salvation was by Christ's work alone. As John Calvin said in the Institutes of the Christian Religion, "Christ stepped in, took the punishment upon himself and bore the judgment due to sinners. With his own blood he expiated the sins which made them enemies of God and thereby satisfied him...we look to Christ alone for divine favor and fatherly love!" Likewise the Heidelberg Catechism, Question 30 asks, "Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior who seek their salvation and happiness in saints, in themselves, or anywhere else? They do not; for though they boast of him in words yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior: for one of these two things must be true that either Jesus is not a complete Savior or that they who by a true faith receive this Savior must find all things in him necessary to their salvation."
|
"For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps." Psalm 136:5-6
Who is in control? Satan? God? Man? Is control shared? Does God voluntarily relinquish aspects of His sovereignty? Is God even capable of controlling all things?
God is God. He alone is Sovereign. From eternity He unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass. This is done without making Him the author of sin. Furthermore, He upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures, actions, and things, by His providence. To the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. Amen!
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:44
How is a person saved? Does a person choose to follow Christ out of his own wisdom and insight? Does he weigh the merits of Christ from neutral position? Is a person able to desire Christ without the divine assistance of God?
All are dead in their sins. They are born this way. Without the supernatural drawing of the Father no man will seek Christ! From the pages of the Bible we learn that God saves sinners and Christ's blood redeems those to whom it is applied. Amazing grace, how can it be!
|
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Mathew 7:17
Must a Christian's life demonstrate holiness? Is a desire and a pursuit of holiness secondary and optional for the Christian? Is the demand for repentance for salvation adding works to the Gospel?
Those whom the Lord draws to Himself He also imparts a new heart and a new life (a.k.a. Regeneration, the New Birth). This new heart and life bear fruit. It cannot do otherwise. Certainly battles with sin are still a part of life, and will be until death.
Nonetheless, a good tree bears good fruit. The absence of good fruit displays the actual, rather than the professed, nature of the individual. It must be understood that we do not bear good fruit to merit God's grace, the good fruit is evidence of having
received God's grace.
"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5
Are the hearts and minds of men able to discern matters in an impartial manner? Is it true that if an unbeliever hears a good defense of Christianity then he must certainly believe?
"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the
things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so..." Romans 8:5-7
Neutrality is a myth. All of men's' thoughts either honor Christ as Lord or dishonor Him through unbelief. The Christian worldview establishes all knowledge and academic disciplines. There can be no knowledge, reason, science, or warranted thinking of any kind if the Christian God does not exist. For the biblical worldview provides the inescapable preconditions of all knowledge. Whereas, denying the Christian worldview destroys all knowledge undermines academic disciplines.
This is not to assert that non-Christians have not and do not contribute to scientific advancement, but that they must be inconsistent with their world view to do so. The non-Christian borrows from the Christian worldview in order to maintain
coherence.
|
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
The good news of the Gospel. It is central to the meaning of true
Christianity, yet there is much confusion as to what it is. Is the Gospel
telling someone to "Receive Jesus into your heart"? Is the Gospel
only to be proclaimed to the elect from the pulpit? Is repentance necessary or
destructive to the Gospel?
The good news of Christ's atonement in light of man's guilt and depravity
under sin and the call obey the Gospel (to repent and believe in Jesus Christ
and His atonement as the sole hope for salvation) must proceed from every
believer to every unbeliever. We do this as Christians knowing that "Whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" because the "Lord
is rich in mercy."
|
"Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother." Galatians 4:24-26
Are the Old and New Covenants two administration of the one "Covenant of Grace" (Covenant Theology)? Are they two different dispensations with two distinct ways of salvation, peoples of God, and promises (Dispensationalism)?
God has maintained one eternal purpose in Christ which has been expressed through a multiplicity of distinct historical covenants. Prominent among these are the Old Covenant (also known as the Mosaic or First Covenant) and the New Covenant. The former, confined to the people of Israel alone, was established while that nation was assembled before Mt. Sinai and was later made obsolete through its fulfillment by the life and death of Jesus the Messiah. It was comprised wholly of shadows pointing ultimately to Jesus and His body, the Church. Therefore, the age in which it remained operative was at all times a period of immaturity as compared to the age of fulfillment which was inaugurated with Christ's first advent.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:36-40
Is there a standard for the believer's thoughts, words, and deeds? Is that standard summarized in the Ten Commandments? Is it summarized in the slogan "What would Jesus do"? How are we to view the laws contained in the Old Covenant?
The Old Covenant, containing a single, unified law code, was a legal, conditional covenant requiring perfect and complete obedience of all those under it. On the one hand, it promised life to all who obeyed it, and, on the other hand, it pronounced a curse upon all its transgressors. It therefore inescapably brought death to all who sought to be justified by it -- not because of a deficiency in the law (itself "holy, just, and good"), but because of the sinful inability of those under its charge.
Its distinct purpose being to illumine sin so as to make manifest the Israelites' and, by implication, all men's need for a redeemer.
Under the New Covenant, God's people, having entered the age of fulfillment, now stand as mature sons. Having been set free from the tutelage and bondage of the law coded written upon tablets of stone, they have subsequently been placed under the Spirit's management -- having the new and greater Lawgiver's own law now written upon their hearts.
As a result, though many of the individual commandments given in the Decalogue and the eternal principles upon which the Mosaic Covenant was founded still apply to those under the New Covenant, God's people are now totally free from the Old Covenant as a covenant. The usefulness of the Mosaic commands is not therefore to be denied, only that these are now understood to come to us through Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant. In particular, with the obsolescence of the Old Covenant, the fourth commandment, the seventh day Sabbath observance, is no longer obligatory --- its relevance now pointing to that rest enjoyed by all those in Christ.
"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" 1 Peter 2:9
Who are
God's special people? Was Old Testament Israel the Church prior to Christ's coming (Covenant Theology)? Does Israel and the Church have distinct promises and futures (Dispensationalism)?
As nation redeemed from bondage in Egypt by the hand of God, Israel of old served to foreshadow the new
Israel of God redeemed from sin's bondage by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.
The Church now stands as that which Old Covenant Israel foreshadowed as the True Israel. The Church stands in that place of fulfillment as the pure and spotless Bride, the fruitful
nation, the "heavenly Jerusalem," the "city of God," the "one new man" comprised of both Jew and Gentile, which alone shall receive all the blessings promised throughout the Old Testament by virtue of its relation to Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham.
|
"Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling." Psalm 2:11; "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." Revelation 14:7; "Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart." Psalm 32:11
Much of today's "worship" appears to be more concerned with entertaining and emotionally charging its audience then with the glory of God. What is worse is that the world's latest cultural edge is sought to achieve these ends. We end up with a trite, frivolous, irreverent and man centered "worship service" that entertains the goats and starves the sheep.
Our chief aim in worship must be to honor God by acknowledging the hideous nature of sin, the glorious nature of God and His attributes, God's sovereignty in salvation, and the splendor of God's Mercy in the
Cross and the centrality of Christ as Redeemer. Our worship must be founded theologically and intellectually, expressed emotionally, and animated by fear and joy. The question must be asked: is the aim of our current worship philosophy to elicit a particular response from those present or is it to extol the Greatness of God?
ARTICLES
A Qualified Eldership
"Now the overseer must be..." 1 Timothy 3:2Are elders the churches equivalent of a board of trustees for the CEO, the "Senior Pastor"? Are they just trustees? Are they necessary for a church? Should any willing adult be encouraged to pursue the eldership? Too many are ostensively placed into the office of elder without being Biblically qualified for the position.
The church must be governed by Biblically qualified elders. This qualification is marked by being beyond reproach, moral character, integrity, self-control, hospitable, apt to teach, and spiritual maturity. It is only by such qualification that these elders are able to bear the unique responsibility to govern, feed, protect the church, and equip all the saints to do the work of ministry.
Within the lists of elder qualifications, three requirements address the elder's abilities to perform the task. He must be able to manage his family household well, provide a model of Christian living for others to follow, and be able to teach and defend the faith.
A Modeling Eldership
"Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1; "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers... being examples to the flock" 1 Peter 5:2-3To often the "Pastor" is a source of public teaching in the eyes of the congregation, and nothing more. Instruction without an exemplary life produces empty sanctimony.
If indeed the elders are Biblically qualified then they will be excellent models and examples of what godly, mature, humble, zealous, selfless Christianity looks like. The maturity of the elders in their homes, marriages, fathering, finances, friendships, employment, recreation (etc) is inherent to Biblical Eldership.A Plural Eldership
"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church..." Acts 14:23The Bible contains examples of God working through one strong leader. Should this be the paradigm for church leadership? Does the Bible leave forms of church leadership an area of liberty for each church to decide?
The Apostolic example is that of establishing a plurality of elders in each church (Acts 14:23). With this in mind the church is to be governed by a plurality of Biblically qualified elders. These elders share an equal authority and responsibility in pastoral care and oversight of the church. There is no New Testament precept, example, or merit in today's prominent view of having a single "Senior Pastor". Such a one-man leadership/one-man ministry impedes the biblical functioning of the body. With one man as Senior Pastor the problem arises that his personal, theological, and practical imbalances in all likelihood will go unchecked. When a plurality exists the elders must come to a brotherly and deferential consensus. With such consensus imbalances, weaknesses, and errors are far more apt to be kept in check.A Servant Leadership
". . . nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock" 1 Peter 5:3; "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" 1 Peter 5:5New Testament, Christ like elders are to be servant leaders, not dictators. God doesn't want His people to be used by petty, self-serving tyrants. Elders are to choose a life of service on behalf of others. Like the servant Christ, they are to sacrifice their time and energy for the good of others. Only elders who are loving, humble servants can genuinely manifest the incomparable life of Jesus Christ to their congregations and a watching world.
The humble-servant character of the eldership doesn't imply, however, an absence of authority. The New Testament terms that describe the elders' position and work--"God's stewards," "overseers," "shepherd," "leading"--imply authority as well as responsibility. Peter could not have warned the Asian elders against "lording it over those allotted to your charge" (1 Peter 5:3) if they had no authority. As shepherds of the church, elders have been given the authority to lead and protect the local church (Acts 20:28-31). The key issue is the attitude in which elders exercise that authority.
A Community Raised Eldership
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you" Titus 1:5; "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2The current thought is that pastors are trained in seminaries and sent out to serve in a church. This has tended to created an air of professionalism. Too often the ability to perform academically for seminary is seen to qualify a man for pastoring and shepherding in a church body. A few visits and sample sermons may establish that one is apt to teach, but there will be no real knowledge of his life or character. In the early church elders were local brothers who arose from within a local church where their life and character were known.
A second issue is the relationship between the seminarian's life and the local assembly. Theological training must always be seen as being in conjunction and inherent with life in the community of a church. Too often theological training and church involvement are artificially separated. This belief / life disconnect has deep and troubling implications for the spiritual health of the individual and the church.
The responsibility to train up future leadership properly and Biblically resides in the local church, not in a para-church institution. No one would dispute that para-church ministries have done good. However, the ends do not justify the means.
Why aren't our churches raising and training their own men for pastoral leadership? There have been generations of abdication on the churches part. Now it is assumed that one will have to depart off to seminary.
Churches should establish a vision to become the ministerial training facility for the men in their own midst. A caveat is due, the local church is likely to be ill-equipped for such training. Most leaders in today's church are themselves poorly trained in textual exegesis, the biblical languages, hermeneutics, counseling...etc. How could such leadership raise up and train future leaders? "A disciple is not above his teacher." If this is the case then the goal ought to be established to become capable of thoroughly training future leaders as a church or in conjunction with other local assemblies. Such a goal may take years to attain. Most goals worthy of pursuit take time.
Community and The Primacy of Relationship: Intimacy and Accountability
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;" Romans 10:12
What are the distinguishing characteristics that should be present in how Christians relate one to another? Is love practically demonstrated in our actions towards fellow believers? Or is self-will, inhospitality, or a safe shallowness the prevailing characteristic? The saints of God are to be equipped for spiritual ministry and maturity primarily through family-based, one-on-one, heart-level relationships. Whereas, the popular church system has replaced heart-level relationships with activity-based programs.Community and the Priesthood of Believers
"for the body is not one member, but many"What does "the ministry" look like when the church assembles on Sunday? Is the ministry primarily to be one way? From the ministry team and Pastor to the congregation? Is there a New Testament pattern to consider? What is the New Testament pattern?
Most churches have the congregation sit back and enjoy the "ministry" up on stage by the church staff. Except for some brief corporate singing they are the passive audience. Some churches may even set aside a few minutes for those present to share a verse or a prayer.
The New Testament teaches that the local church is to be edified and ministered to by all the members present – "for the body is not one member, but many" (1 Corinthians 12:14; cf. 14:12,26-31; Ephesians 4:16). Effective corporate teaching occurs when the instruction of various gifted teachers is combined with the priesthood of all believers. Because of this, active participation, questions, and interaction of the entire fellowship for the edification of one another ought to be encouraged.
Some churches acknowledge a need for Christians ministering to one another. A few minutes are set aside during the Sunday morning service or home groups are established for such sharing. It is a good thing that the need for mutual edification during the corporate gathering is acknowledged. However, what is the New Testament pattern? Such interaction is seen as normative for the entirety of every gathering. Why would we seek to do otherwise?Community, Family Cohesion and The Modern Youth Ministry
"Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching" - Pro 1:8
How are people best lead into maturity? By being placed into peer oriented groups (Youth Group, Singles Ministry, College Group, Empty Nesters...etc)?
The biblical family is a Scripturally ordered household of parents, children, and sometimes others (such as singles, widows, divorcees, or grandparents), forming the God-ordained building blocks of the church (2 Tim. 4:19). Therefore we ought to reject the church's implementation of modern individualism by fragmenting the family through age-graded, peer-oriented, and special-interest classes, that prevents rather than promotes family unity.
If the elders desire to find the best way to build up the youth of the church then let them find ways to build up and strengthen the families.Community and Hospitality
"Be hospitable to one another without complaint." - 1 Peter 4:9
The New Testament teaches that Christians are to practice hospitality towards both fellow believers and outsiders (Matthew 25:34-40; Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 3:8,14; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9). This being true, why do most of us rarely open our homes to others? Why do so many Christians ignore the physical needs of one another? Why is hospitality a forgotten virtue in most churches?Enter a typical church for a visit. What do you encounter by way of fellowship? A few speedy "hellos"? Probably. A brief chat afterwards? Maybe. An invitation to someone's house for fellowship? All too rarely. Why is hospitality a forgotten virtue in most churches? The New Testament teaches that Christians are to practice hospitality towards both fellow believers and outsiders (Matthew 25:34-40; Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 3:8,14; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9). Hospitality is a crucial element in building Christian a community of close, brotherly love. It is especially important in churches where people really don't know each other or where relationships are superficial, Sunday-morning-only relationships.
Hospitality is not only characterized in Scripture as normative Christianity, it is a Biblical command. If fellowship and community are important to Christianity then we must be a people marked by hospitality. Many Christians do not realize what the New Testament teaches about hospitality and what it can do for the local church.
Hospitality is an effective tool for evangelism. Showing Christ's love to others in a home environment may be the only means Christians have to reach their neighbors for Christ. A Christian home can be a lighthouse for God in a spiritually dark neighborhood.
Hospitality is a great way to serve the Lord's people and for Christians to use their spiritual gifts. By opening their homes, Christians can discover a practical and effective means of serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do we long for fellowship with the brethren? Or do we see hospitality as an inconvenience to our schedules and priorities? It is time to examine some attitudes and priorities.Community and Discipleship
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Titus 2:3-4In today's Christian culture where every subset of the church has their own support group (Youth group, Newlyweds, Golden Years...etc) the passing of knowledge and wisdom accrued through experience seems to all but have passed away. This trend to physically separate these subsets into classes one day a week militates toward a relational separation throughout the rest of the week. Today, when a woman's children have grown and moved out she shifts her attention to a career, or Bridge Club, or a church program or some other activity. What is the exhortation in the Scriptures? Older women teach younger women to be lovers of their husbands and keepers at home. There are a host of Christian young men who did not have the blessing of growing up in a godly home. Where are the older men to disciple them? Must each generation of new converts have to struggle without the assistance of those who have gone before? We must see the return of discipleship relationships as normative Christianity. Discipleship is an activity that by its very nature is accomplished by means of a relationship over time. It includes teaching, modeling, and on-the-job training, but the essence of discipleship is a relationship.
We need to see a return to Christian discipleship.Community and Church Size
God designed His church to be a spiritual "family of families" where members know one another intimately, the shepherds understand the sheep effectively, and the various body parts function interactively (1 Tim. 3:15). However, the current trend is to value numbers and size more than intimacy and vitality by building impersonal mega-churches rather than the multiplication of family-like congregations.
A goal and sign of success in the thinking of many churches is to have the number in attendance grow large. Having numbers grow can be a boon to a church's programs. Unfortunately, quite often, programs serve to artificially prop up an appearance of church life in the absence of vital Christian relationships and community.
A host of problematic issues arise when churches grow too big. How can elders shepherd properly when they could not possibly personally know all those under their care? How can the participation of the brethren in the corporate gathering be maintained? Will not participation become too unwieldy and eventually decline? How can intimacy in community survive? How can hospitality and community be maintained between two members who commute great distances from opposite directions?
For the health of our churches we need to reform our view of growth to mean the starting of a sister church rather then ascending to mega-church status. A new church ought to be started when the above concerns start affecting church life and function providing that enough elders are present to be divided between each church. When planting a church special consideration should be given to the location. The goal with church location should be to foster community among members and focus attention to proclaiming the Gospel to neighborhoods as neighbors.
Some might respond by saying that the need for fellowship and mutual participation is being met through home groups (a.k.a. cell groups). Firstly, the mutual participation in Scripture is seen to characterize all of the corporate gatherings. Why would we presume to do otherwise? Secondly, if the home group is a function of the church should not an elder be present? All would agree that to have the elders routinely absent from Sunday morning service runs counter to Biblical pattern. Why then would it acceptable to allow home groups to continue without elders? Elders are responsible to oversee, protect from falsehood, and teach. How can this be done in absentia?When addressing the issue of church size it must be kept in mind that the Scriptures give no explicit direction for church size. So we cannot be dogmatic with any specific number. Having said this, the elders must bear in mind the above issues and be attentive to how growth is adversely affecting the church community.