November (Web-only) 2002

ARTICLE TOOLS

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The church is a body, not a machine or a corporation. The church is not an army of Christian soldiers. An army functions by forcibly restricting the complexity of human interaction and programming it into a strict chain of command. An army is an unnatural community—very effective for one purpose, but not for building a healthy community. [38]

The church's fundamental mission to God is worship. This truth, however, can become a cliché that actually subverts mission. Worship, so-called, can become a diversion from mission, especially in postmodern North America, where "worship" may mask considerable self-centeredness. Too often worship is more consumer-centered than God-centered. [50]

[T]he New Testament says nothing about "joining the church." When the Bible speaks of being a part of Christ's body, the emphasis is not on the individual's action but on God's action as he joins us to Christ, makes us part of the body, and adopts us as his children. [52]

[T]he theological richness of the church's great Trinitarian hymns is one reason why vital churches need the church's historic hymnody as well as contemporary praise songs. [55]

How do we know when a congregation has grown too large? Try the name-tag test. When you have to have name tags to know everyone, the church is too big—and probably community is too weak. [65]

Historically, … "dead" structures have often proved to be the incubators of fresh forms of renewal. Renewal movements do not spring from nowhere; they arise from within (though often at the periphery of) the "institutional church." [69]

[B]usiness models have very little, if anything, to teach the church as church. It is important to note, however, that creative, effective business organizations do have a lot to teach ...