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Dear brothers and sisters, This is part of our writings that concern about building Organism Leadership Network. As you read this article, may God bless you and gives you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you can know Him more and more. And also feel free to email me...
Organism Leadership Network Definition In the dictionary, organism means living creature with its members cooperate together. The meaning of living creature here means an existence having a life. So, human being, animal and plants included in living creature. We use the term of organism, as the church is living. But it is necessary to consider that church life is not a life taken by natural man. In Greek, there are 3 words used to explain life. First, bios means a kind of life with general meaning.
The Lord Jesus used this word when commented on the offering of a widow. The second, psuche that means kind of human life. Third, zoe which means kind of God's life. Church is people who are living the zoe, and growing to be God man by the power of zoe's life transformation. So, the organism we mean is human with zoe life. We use the organism term to remind the people that the church is not an organization. Because the organization places people in a "box" according to functions and duties, and makes a command line in order that a certain "box" knows to whom it is responsible, and also knows who will be responsible to him. Authority of a certain "box" merely depends on its position in an organizational structure. One's ministry also depends on his position in the organizational structure. Not only authority and services, but also the glory and other blessings also very depends on his position in the structure. In such conditions, it is not relevant anymore of people in a certain "box" ask about God's wills, life led by the Spirit, or follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These conditions are not like church explained in Acts, where people follow the Lord and led by Holy Spirit. So, the church is an organism, not organization.
The use of organism term also intended to explain the kind of relationship existed among the church members, and more specifically among the leaders. The relationship existed among the fellow church members is not the kind of relationship among the fellow organization members, but the kind of "hand - foot" relationship.
"Foot - hand" relationship occurs as both of them are members of an organism, and also because both of them absolutely under the control of the head. This relationship is so harmonious, so there is no conflict at all between the two. The moves of foot and hand, absolutely controlled by the head. Foot is not controlled by the hand and reverse. All the arrangement come from the head, but between foot and hand there is relationship mutually to built, equip, submit and love each other. The "mutual" relationship like this should exist among the church members. In the understanding like this we can understand why Jesus said, "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ." [Matthew 23:10]. By this words, Jesus was not to teach that the church does not need a leader in this world but Christ. But He stressed that "......you are all brethren" [verse 8]. "Mutual" relationship, "foot - hand" relationship and "you are all brethren" relationship only possible if the nature of the church which is an organism should not be contradicted, meaning that it is not treated as organization. When the church is treated as an organization, then it damage the nature of the church, and the relationship among the its fellow members as well.
"Church " members relationship treated as organization is clergy-laity relationship, not the organism relationship. This is the matter hated by Jesus Christ, where in Revelation 2:6 revealed with the Nicolaus term. The term of Nicolaus derived from niko word, meaning to conquer, and laos which means layman. So Nicolaus means to conqueror the laymen. They who understand the organization would know that in an organization there is the authority sharing such so it creates "superior-subordinate" relationship, or we called before, namely "clergy-laity" relationship. So organizing the church is not a trivial matter. We need to know what behind the such act. Indeed, it is realized or not, organizing a church is the act of the leaders to subdue and control the congregation.
While, the term of meant leadership is the ability to lead. As the church leader is Jesus Christ the Lord, then what we mean church "leaders" are not other than servants of Jesus Christ, gifted with the ability to lead. And because the church is an organism, then the ability to lead the church AS AN ORGANISM. This organism leaders is invariably different with organizational leaders, as its different kind of authority and focus. Authority of an organism leaders comes from zoe life, while the authority of the organizational leaders come from their positions in the structure. The organizational leadership puts very emphasis and focus on the ability to make planning, organizing, directing and controlling, while the organism leadership focused on building the relationship in the zoe life context, so that the church grows in zoe life. It means the church is increasingly closer and knows zoe life who is Jesus Christ Himself. The organizational leadership is goal oriented and people oriented or their combination, while the organism leadership is Christ oriented.
The leaders of early church are organism leaders. Peter, Paul and John were the very Christ oriented leaders, and focused on the zoe life growth. All of them did not build an organization, and neither lived or serve in organizational context. Some say that Jesus was an organizational leader as He has a treasurer named Jude. If it was true, then Jesus was a very bad organizational leader, as He did not let His organization's money stolen continuously by the dishonest treasurer Jude. It is ridiculous! Some say that Acts 6:1-5 is the confirmation and approval of the early church leaders on the need of organization, to handle the offering distribution to widows. But if considered thoroughly, Acts 6:1-6, does not talk about organization at all, but only job sharing in organism. Just like hand and foot have their own tasks and functions, the same with this member of community [church in Jerusalem] had their own functions. In Acts 6:1-6, functions of each member of community were clarified and distributed, in order to handle existing problem. A par of organism members function as the table servant, some others function as preachers. So Acts 6:1-6, does not talk about an organization at all but functions. Even actually the term of organization is not found in the Scripture. This term comes from the man governmental system, not God's. So all the leaders of early church were the organism leaders. All of them applied the organism leadership principles.
Thus far has been explained the meaning of organism and leadership terms. Now will be explain the meaning of network term in its relation with organism leader. The network meant is connected system. The organism leadership is a system. Meaning that all things conducted by organism leadership team, either in literature, teaching, and visitation, retreat, seminar, training, or implementing "tent making" projects [as Paul the Tent Maker]interrelated and was a unit, became a leadership system, with the purpose to impart the vision, mission, and zoe life spirit for the church for his growth. But it is necessary to remember that the organism leadership system is a related system, in the meaning that between one organism leadership team and other organism leadership team, have an organic relationship and interrelated to be an organism leadership connected system. For instance there is organic relationship [fellowship] between "Paul" [in Antioch] leadership team and "Peter" [in Jerusalem] leadership team, which they confirmed by hand shaking [Galatians 2:9]. Certainly still there other organism leadership teams, but they have organic relationship one another.
So the term Organism Leadership Network is a relationship organic in nature, between one organism leadership team and other organism leadership team. This relationship is very important to the growth of The Body of Christ, as shown in the relations "nerves and joints" as meant in Colossian 2:19 namely relationship supporting and binding to be one.
"Stars" Woman Revelation 12.
As stated before that the final destiny of the church as symbolized by the woman Revelation 12 is delivering matured Sons of God. What kind of church, or more precisely, what kind of community, which finally can produce matured Sons of God.
As we know that Revelation reveals that something with the symbol language, the same with this woman Revelation 12, full of symbols revealing the kind of community intended to. In Revelation 12:1 says: "Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a women clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars." What reality is revealed by sun, moon, and especially these 12 stars?
If we look at back to Malachi 4:2 there written, "But to you who fear of My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise ......." As community symbolized with woman Revelation 12, can be called the community who fear of Lord Name, and sun our true truth is Christ, then can be concluded that the sun in Revelation 12, is Christ, as the light for the community who fear of His Name.
While light of the moon is the reflection light. It means the light of moon, only the "shadow" of the true sun light, as revealed through Torah with all its laws. Because in Colossians 2:16-17 there written, ".....in food and in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbath. Which are the shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ". So moon in Revelation 12, can be understood as Torah, complete with all its law regarding food, drink, festival and so forth.
Symbol of woman in Revelation 12:1, clothed with sun, where the moon is under her feed. It means that community symbolized by this woman, abundantly filled by Holy Spirit, so she does not live in the "shadow" realm of Torah with all its laws. When the church started to fall and Christ's reality increasingly faded away, then the service patterns in The Old Testament entered. Church was increasingly busy with "worship" routines of Old Testament style, while experience with Christ disappeared. Even the fundamental experience, such as rebirth also departed the church.
Furthermore, this woman crowned with 12 stars on her head. Then this stars symbol, explained in Revelation 1:20; where the stars mean the angels of the congregation. The angels here should not of celestial beings, as the true mean of angels here are messenger. As the seven epistles in Revelation chapter 2 and 3, especially addressed to these "stars", then can be concluded that the "stars" meant here are the leaders of congregation.
While number 12 in the Scripture refers to divine government. By 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of the Lamb, and 12 gates of New Jerusalem and 12 angels on her, all these reveal that 12 is concerning the divine government.
Community symbolized by the woman of this Revelation 12 is under a divine leadership. Though this community is a divine organism which all its members are directly under the control of the Head, but it does not mean without man leadership. Only it needs to be remember that the man "stars" are not organizational leadership, and do not take authority on the congregation because of their positions in an organization. Community symbolized by the woman of this Revelation 12 is not moving and living in organization realm, as she is a divine organism. So this "stars" control his leadership on the community of "woman Revelation 12", with divine authority, and not organizational authority.
How this "stars" human get his divine authority? By these "stars" unite such so they form a crown, meaning that the unity of these "stars" result in divine authority. The organism leaders move and control their leadership in team, where each its members has organic relationship one another. It is the organic relationship among these organism leaders that produce authority to serve the church. If the organic relationship among these leaders changed to organizational leadership, then divine authority existed among them will loss.
This organism leadership is a team leadership in the mean of egalitarian, namely all its member are equal. There is no term of senior, the first among equals, team leader, team coordinator, or the like. These terms only applicable and exist in organizational context, not in organism context. It does not mean there is no organism leaders who more gifted, more matured in the zoe life growth, more experienced, more knowledgeable from others. But this means all is fellow brethren in real meaning, and become servant one another, and mutually equipped, and there nobody dominated, controls, more than anything else to take advantage of others for his benefits.
The impact of this organism leadership is very great namely the delivering of matured sons of God "who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron..." [Revelation 12:5]. This organism leadership that will present the kingdom of God on the earth.
Form of Cooperation
Cooperation meant here is necessary to understand in its ideal form, and also in its form which in process toward its ideal form [still in its original form]. It is true that perfect cooperation form will occur naturally, if the kind of organic and egalitarian relationship, as well as the unity among these organism leaders have achieved their ideal form, as symbolized by "the stars" in Revelation 12. If its ideal level achieved, then the cooperation form among the organism leader has been like "hand-foot" relationship in the one body. The cooperation of "hand - foot" so harmonious, flowing, and perfectly mutual equipped. But it is necessary to consider that the ideal form of cooperation like this "hand - foot", is not possible to achieve without a process. So it needs to understand its ideal form. And also its form which is in process.
What described here is the cooperation of the organism leaders in its original form. In fact the spiritual leaders today have possessed their own ministry they opened. Or if this community we call house church, then each leader has had their own "house". How should be the initial form of cooperation among the leaders having their own "house", in order that each leader does not feel his house interrupted or suffers loss ? As we are convinced that the cooperation in the Lord should produce additional benefits, as it is written, "..... one chases a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight ..." [Deuteronomy 32:30]. So the additional benefits as the result of two persons cooperate, according to this verse, is eight thousand. Then the cooperation in the Lord, surely makes each part to enjoy additional benefits, and nobody harmed.
Here will be suggested a initial form of leader cooperation in order that it always produces additional benefits. The first needed is the existence of round table meeting, namely a meeting where each leader can share the words and experiences, without no body to "dominates". This round table meeting performed according to joint agreement, either time, place or other things. Besides this round table meeting, the leaders are better as frequently as possible communicate, either through telephone, sms, email, or maybe group email. Through this sharing process, the leaders are expected to grow in a unity, egalitarianism, and in building organic relationship one another. Maybe also, two or several leaders run a "tent making" project as Paul and Akwila did in Corinthians [Acts 18:3]. All these can become a means to achieve the ideal form of cooperation among the organism leaders.
If we lend the term of IGMN [Integrated Global Mission Network], actually we are building a cooperation form of "fish net" [centerless) and not "spider web" [center]. It means every leader can cooperate, without a central leader who controls. But form of cooperation of the organism leader (Organism Leadership Network], but is different with IGMN model. This existence resulted in IGMN model exists in organization context, while OLN exists in the organism context or body.
Finally, we need to always remember it in order that we continuously is not in its initial form and experience stagnation. As our purpose is to achieve its ideal form, in order that the church in the end of this age may produce mature sons of God, and to reign with Jesus Christ on the earth for the glory of the Father. Echoes From Zion Ministry.
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