Let's Build a Church_Part 2

   Last week we presented some of the facets of the contemporary non-biblical church model. This week we'll be looking at the biblical church model as presented in the New Testament.
   It is important to note that, without the Holy Spirit's presence, no church model will ever work. If we were to simply try and copy-cat this New Testament model we would just end up with another empty form of a Christian social gathering. On the other hand to have a basic, certifiable biblical setting where the Holy Spirit feels comfortable to move and minister is a huge step in the right direction.

The Biblical Church Model

•  A N.T. (New Testament) styled church was automatically birthed when a group of Christians simply, and very naturally, met in some basic location such as a home in order to celebrate Christ together.
  
• This N.T. Church did not have a name. The churches in the New Testament were known by where they met. Ex: The church that meets on Main Street at John Doe's house (not "The 5th Street Baptist Church"). The average size of a group of believers would be perhaps fifteen or so folks (not two to five hundred). It was a simple family styled church that would occasionally gather together with other such small churches to celebrate Christ together (Acts 20:20;12:12; Rom 16:5, 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Philemon 2). Note: as soon as the Church is given a name it inevitably becomes sectarian and a wall of separation (division) is established. The result of this is called denominational-ism.
  
• The N.T. church is the people and not the building.
• The biblical church is designed by God to be a spiritual church; birthed, operated and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Birthed: Acts 2:1-4 Operated: Acts 8:29; 20:28; Rom 8:14 Empowered: Acts 1:8; Rom 15:19; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Cor 12)
  
• This biblical N.T. church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20-21).  
• The church is to be made up of living stones; you and me (not bricks and mortar): (1Pet 2:5)."
• We are all to be baptized into one body of believers. There is only one body of true believers on planet earth (1 Cor 12:13-14)."
•  The Church of the N.T. was overseen by a plurality of elders (not by the single super-hero we have come to call the "Pastor"). Acts 14:23; 20:17; Titus 1:5; Jas 5:14.
• The N.T. Church was gifted with a five-fold ministry (Eph 4:11-12): "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Please note that in this verse the goal of the ministry is that all would become equipped to be ministers.
• A pastor's role in the N.T. church was not that of an office (like the president of a corporation), but rather a natural function. He was not the person that everybody idolized and placed above everyone else. The word pastor simply means shepherd, or one who has a heart for, and gently cares for the flock. Psalm 23 gives great insight into the role of this function in the church.
• There was no head elder in the N.T. church, but rather elders (plural) (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil1:1; 1 Tim 5:17; Titus 1:5). These elders submitted to the Holy Spirit as to direction for the church. This eliminated the impulse leading by one person to do whatever, whenever he wants to do it.
• Each local gathering was autonomous (independent and self-governing, like a family) while at the same time connected to the whole collective church through the Holy Spirit that birthed them. Rev 1:4;  Acts 14:23
  
• The elders did not control the meeting; the Holy Spirit did through the various spiritual gifts and callings which He distributed to the believers. The elders bore  responsibility for, and gave spiritual oversight and direction to the local church (1 Pet 5:1-3).
• People participated by: "letting  the word of Christ dwell in them richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Col 3:16)." A reading of chapters 1 Cor 12-14 will give a clear sense of a N.T. meeting. Add a love feast and the Lords supper to this, as led by the Holy Spirit, and you'll never want that contemporary thing we now call "The Church" again. 
• There were little or no expenses incurred because the church met mostly in homes, with the exception of the collective gatherings which may, or may not have incurred expense. 
• Everyone shared what they had. "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need (Acts 2:44-45)."

    Well, there you have it, a quick overview of the two different church models: The one in the previous Blog  ("Let's Build a Church Part 1") is contrived (artificial; labored) by men and the one in this Blog is profoundly spiritual. We can clearly see the simple, natural beauty and potential for individual growth the N.T. model affords. It seems clear that the church the Holy Spirit birthed was to be primarily spiritual where everyone could participate!
   This is very unlike the Pastor controlled contemporary church model which we are so accustomed to. The church is not meant to be man inspired, man led, or man controlled. The church, to be effective, must be Spirit-birthed, Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered!
    Bearing all this in mind the question really becomes: are we willing to pay the price (in terms of persecution from the contemporary church) to give the reigns back to the Holy Spirit.
    I have to sadly say that, up to this point in time, the majority of contemporary Christians I have shared these biblical truths with have responded just like the picture of this ostrich. Although they agree biblically and know it's true, the weight of change is too much for them. I know first hand, for I too, knowingly, held out for many years.
   There is however a new wave of God coming and when it fully hits it will shake the contemporary church tree and many believers will fall from its branches and will be the fruit of  this new spiritual awakening. 
   Even now many younger Christians simply refuse to play church. They are tired of going to the Christian theater each week and just watching the show. They clearly see the biblical inconsistencies of the contemporary church and stand ready for change; a change based on the biblical model of the Church. Perhaps they will be used to spearhead this new revolution on planet earth.

.   Who's up for a Spirit-led, New Testament style Reformation? 
Are you?

    As always, I welcome your comments ...