posted
I am just a wee dab confused about the popular term 'Relational Church' and 'the church is about relationships'.
Are we talking about the purpose of the church here? When the above terms are used, what is envisioned as the meaning of the word church? I already know that, for the most part, people participating in this discussion list view the church as the people and not the institution or structure. Quite often, however, the conversation bend back around to a 'the church the institution' mentality. It's common to read a post that says something like "doing church" or similar. The church can't "do church", it already IS the church.
My understanding of the church is something like this: God is calling and gathering together unto Himself a vast group of people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is to be the absolute center of everything His church exists for. He teaches those He has gathered together to obey Him and hear His voice. They become truly led by the Spirit. As a part of or by-product of God's purpose we learn to become conformed to His image through the relationships we have with each other. We encourage, uplift, support, care for, and admonish each other, but always with the purpose of pointing our brothers and sisters toward Him. If the relationships become the main purpose, then we have just built ourselves another golden calf that we worship instead of the one true God. There are many types of golden calves.
posted
Bobby, Your definition of church focuses on what is to take place among believers in our journey toward being conformed to the image of Christ. Relationships are absolutely important as God has placed us together as members in a Body. (The Body of Christ.) A body can only function properly as members are rightly related to each other and to the Head.
You are right that if our focus is strictly on relationships with one another, we have missed the whole point of taking our direction from the Head! But on the other hand, if we are truly Christ centred, relationships with our brothers and sisters will be vitally important. (Notice all the N.T. commands and intsructions to "every man" (the generic term, not "males"), "every one", and "one another".
In large gatherings where only one is allowed to "minister", where people stare at the back of heads in front of them, and have no opportunity "in the service" to minister and be ministered to RELATIONSHIPS ARE THWARTED NOT FOSTERED!
Yes, if our focus on "housechurch" is just another method, or "way of doing church", we may as well be another denomination! But if our focus is on Christ and ministering to others as he intended and as the N.T. portrays early church gatherings, we will be intimately involved in the lives of small groups of people in our communities in order that all may go on to maturity in Christ.
Email this page to someone.
