What Makes a Church a Church
We kicked off a new series this weeked titled Chapter Two. Just thought I'd post my introduction online.
One week ago, Lora and I were in Italy celebrating our anniversary. We spent a few days exploring the Eternal City--Rome. Like most tourists, we hit all of the "must-see" places like the Coliseum, the Forum, and the Vatican. But one of the highlights was a little church that was off the beaten path called the church of San Clemente. It was named after the fourth pope, San Clemente, who was martyred for his faith. He was thrown into the sea with an anchor tied around his ankles. The church wasn't real impressive from the outside, but what made this particular church unique was the fact that it has three layers of history.
When you walk into the church, you're walking into a 12th century church that is remarkably preserved with frescoes and altars and statues. But for an extra five Euros you can take an underground tour. I don't know how or why they did this in ancient Rome, but they built stuff right on top of other stuff. The Emperors would actually tear down their predecessor's palace and build their own on top of it. Same with a lot of the historical sites that we visited. And what is so cool is that you have the remains below. So you have multiple layers of history in one place.
That is what the church of San Clemente did. We walked down several flights of stairs and back in time. The 12th century church was built right over the 4th century church. And the 4th century church was built right over some ancient catacombs where they believe that some early Christians worshipped God in secret before the practice of Christianity was made legal in 313 AD by Emperor Constantine.
As we descended into these catacombs, it was like peeling away the layers of history and walking back in time. And in those catacombs you had what I would describe as the primal practice of Christianity.
That church is a picture of what Chapter Two is all about. Every once in a while we need to peel away the layers of history and go back to square one. We need to remind ourselves of what makes a church a church.
Over the last 2000 years, the church has evolved in some pretty amazing ways. We added church buildings. We added pews and pulpits. We added choirs and organs. We added sermons and worship bands. We added creeds and canons. We added steeples and bells. We added bulletins and Sunday School. We added offerings and 501 (c) 3 status. And there is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. But none of those things are primal. They aren't what makes a church a church.
Let me take it a step further. I love the way we do church at NCC. And one of the core convictions that drives us is: there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet. I really believe that every church is a unique expression of the kingdom of God and our creativity glorifies God.
I love our graphics, our website, our videos, our atlases, our outreaches, our locations. But those things aren't primal. They aren't what makes a church a church.
The church was birthed in Acts 2 when God poured out His spirit. Nothing has changed. You don't need a building to be a church. And you can have a building, but without the Spirit, you don't have a church!
The longer I pastor the more I realize that the simple things are the important things.
We need all the creativity we can get. And I'm all for systems and technologies and strategies. But what we need more than anything else, if we're going to have the kind of impact the 1st century church has, is the Spirit of God.
No one can convince me that we need the Spirit of God any less than the Apostles!
That is what Chapter Two is all about.
One week ago, Lora and I were in Italy celebrating our anniversary. We spent a few days exploring the Eternal City--Rome. Like most tourists, we hit all of the "must-see" places like the Coliseum, the Forum, and the Vatican. But one of the highlights was a little church that was off the beaten path called the church of San Clemente. It was named after the fourth pope, San Clemente, who was martyred for his faith. He was thrown into the sea with an anchor tied around his ankles. The church wasn't real impressive from the outside, but what made this particular church unique was the fact that it has three layers of history.
When you walk into the church, you're walking into a 12th century church that is remarkably preserved with frescoes and altars and statues. But for an extra five Euros you can take an underground tour. I don't know how or why they did this in ancient Rome, but they built stuff right on top of other stuff. The Emperors would actually tear down their predecessor's palace and build their own on top of it. Same with a lot of the historical sites that we visited. And what is so cool is that you have the remains below. So you have multiple layers of history in one place.
That is what the church of San Clemente did. We walked down several flights of stairs and back in time. The 12th century church was built right over the 4th century church. And the 4th century church was built right over some ancient catacombs where they believe that some early Christians worshipped God in secret before the practice of Christianity was made legal in 313 AD by Emperor Constantine.
As we descended into these catacombs, it was like peeling away the layers of history and walking back in time. And in those catacombs you had what I would describe as the primal practice of Christianity.
That church is a picture of what Chapter Two is all about. Every once in a while we need to peel away the layers of history and go back to square one. We need to remind ourselves of what makes a church a church.
Over the last 2000 years, the church has evolved in some pretty amazing ways. We added church buildings. We added pews and pulpits. We added choirs and organs. We added sermons and worship bands. We added creeds and canons. We added steeples and bells. We added bulletins and Sunday School. We added offerings and 501 (c) 3 status. And there is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. But none of those things are primal. They aren't what makes a church a church.
Let me take it a step further. I love the way we do church at NCC. And one of the core convictions that drives us is: there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet. I really believe that every church is a unique expression of the kingdom of God and our creativity glorifies God.
I love our graphics, our website, our videos, our atlases, our outreaches, our locations. But those things aren't primal. They aren't what makes a church a church.
The church was birthed in Acts 2 when God poured out His spirit. Nothing has changed. You don't need a building to be a church. And you can have a building, but without the Spirit, you don't have a church!
The longer I pastor the more I realize that the simple things are the important things.
We need all the creativity we can get. And I'm all for systems and technologies and strategies. But what we need more than anything else, if we're going to have the kind of impact the 1st century church has, is the Spirit of God.
No one can convince me that we need the Spirit of God any less than the Apostles!
That is what Chapter Two is all about.
4 Comments:
Great post Mark...wonder if there is a new way of getting back to the basics.
I think what happens to most churches is that we really have gotten to a good place and don't know how to evolve or believe that we don't need to evolve. Wonder if there is a way to re-evolve.
Wow - Wonderful post P. Mark! You really hit the nail on the head with this one. It's all about the basics. "Great things" happen when we are focused on the "little things." That shouldn't surprise us, but too often it does! Be blessed!
You've certainly stripped all the trappings away to highlight the most fundamental of the basics: God with us, among us, in us-- God the Spirit. Nothing of value happens apart from Him. Hearing you say this makes my Pentecostal heart sing!
After a conversation with a friend today I was left asking 'what makes a church a church'. Just wanted to post a few thoughts and see what people thought to see if they could add anything or offer a different perspective.
I believe that the church is the body of Christ and as a result everything that we call church should be emersed in the teaching, behanviour and person of Christ. The church must look like Christ. and it should take on His mission.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Many see worship as an important aspect of church. Worship might be singing and choirs today, and social action tomorrow. It won't always be the same thing. You can see that with burnt offerings in Old Testament times.
Jesus reminds us that the most important commands are to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our mind, and with all our soul. There is a danger that the things we do as part of church become just mere routine and the way we have always done things, and not because we are doing them in accordance with the Jewish Sheema.
A 21st Century church might discover that DJ worship really helps their congregation connect with God in a new way - but there is a danger that they see that as a method as a universal method for all time. It is about the attitude of our mind, heart and soul as we approach the activies we call church.
Communication with God also has to be a must. Again not out of just routine, but to continually find the Will of God.
These are just some immediate thougths after the conversation with my friend today. It's not an exhaustive list and I would be encouraged if people wanted to add to the list, take away from the list etc. I'd like to hear what you guys thought.
Jay T
Post a Comment
<< Home