ecclesia maximus

April 13, 2006

We are continuing to lay down the foundation for relevintage’s identity on the blogosphere.

We have outlined the overaching vision for this blog: resourcing the cultural redemptive in and outside the church. We have delved into value #1: the Bible as the source of cultural redemption. Today, we are going to look at value #2: the local church as an agent of cultural redemption.

Let’s begin…

What is a local church? It is understood that all believers in Christ are members of the one universal Body of Christ. But the basis of the local church is what is called the ground of locality (sometimes called “localism”), the belief that in every city or locality (that is, town, village, etc.), there is to be a local church or churches.

In other words, a local church is made up of Christians in one geographical area. Note that the church is the people that make up that church. The word “church” in the New Testament never refers to a building or a place. It always refers to a people: either the total number of believers who have ever lived, or a local group of those believers. I love that!

What are the minimum qualifications of being a local church? In his published sermon, “The Local Church: Minimum vs. Maximum”, pastor and author John Piper says “a local church is a group of baptized believers who meet regularly to worship God through Jesus Christ, to be exhorted from the Word of God, and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper under the guidance of duly appointed leaders.”

Well then, what makes a maximum church? Piper continues:

The most common N.T. answer to the question, “What makes a maximum local church?” is good deeds: doing good things for other people. Keep in mind that the question now is not, What is the ultimate goal of the church?…the ultimate goal of the church is to …live so that people can see that God is real. The question now is: What does that life look like?

Jesus said, for example, in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Are there any deeds that you have planned into your life which you think it would be reasonable for people to look at and then conclude that because of your deeds God deserves their praise? Or is your life made up only of deeds which don’t take any power beyond human nature?…Therefore, if maximum church means maximum glory for God, then maximum church must also mean maximum good deeds.

According to Ephesians 2:10 the church is “God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus for good deeds.” God made us to do good deeds. We exist as Christians for that purpose. In Titus 2:14 Paul teaches that Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” When a local church is busy thinking up creative ways to do good to people, then Jesus has not died in vain and the wisdom of God is being displayed.

So what does this look like in a local church? I would like to turn the ‘good deeds’ concept on its head. In today’s evangelical church doing ‘good deeds’ is often called doing “random acts of kindness.” This is usually meeting a practical need for an individual or individuals outside of the church [washing cars for free; a cup of cold water at a fair; landscaping for a elderly person]. Another way this plays out is in supporting notable causes like World Vision, Compassion International, denominational offerings, missionaries, etc.

Though that is definitely important, because I work IN the church, I am acutely aware of the need to do ‘good deeds’ WITHIN the four walls of the local church as well. In fact, any ministry-related function within the church [corporate worship, counseling, prayer, etc.] needs to have the heart of honoring the culture [both believers and unbelievers] that is found within it. By this, I mean our passion should be what Piper said earlier, deeds that would make it reasonable for people to look at and then conclude that because of our deeds, God deserves their praise.

As a pastor on a church staff and a more specifically, a Worship Arts pastor, I want to help resource my fellow co-laboror IN the church, as well as the worker outside of paid ministry, to do ‘good deeds’ to those they minister to.

relevintage will have content that relates to the congregant but it will also have material that is seen through the lens of a pastor, as well as through the lens of a Worship Arts pastor to further the dialogue of how to best minister to our postmodern culture. This will range from the global [should you marry a couple who are unequally yoked?] to the practical [Grace's current master worship list]

Can the church be maximized? This is my prayer:

Lord, I know that the church’s primary Biblical mission isn’t to create culture but to be faithful in serving You. But I believe in serving You, the church will regenerate and testify to the glory of God. Help us be faithful so the church will, indeed, rejuvinate culture. Amen!

Posted in relevintage, vision