THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE EMERGING KINGDOM

(Michael W. Niva)

We live in an age in which Christianity is struggling to keep pace with the growth of the world's population and that of other religious ideologies. Churches everywhere, especially in the western world, are taxed in every way; praying, seeking, strategizing, fund-raising, outreaching and head scratching their way into a rather uncertain future. Most sincere Christian leaders merely want to see the faith of their own community be effectual in the present world culture. For all of our best efforts, westerners from the ages of 18-24 barely appear on the radar screen of church attendance. Most recent statistics place their involvement between 5-20% depending upon whose figures you consult. Is it merely spiritual indifference, or is there within these troubling statistics a call of sorts for a wide-reaching reformation of the way in which we practice our faith? Is there a way to capture the millenial generation and its vibrant excitement for living life to the fullest?

BACK TO THE FUTURE

I want to propose that it is time for us to reach backward to the very roots of Christianity in order to gain insight that leads us to the greater fruits of our Christianity. I firmly believe that a return to the simplicity and pracitcality of first-century Christianity is the answer for a floundering 21st century faith.

Most institutional churches (my own included in much of the past), have focused largely on teaching. Teaching tends to focus almost entirely on content; i.e. knowing the right answers, understanding basic church doctrines, etc. This applies from kindergarten all the way through to adult Bible studies.

INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH - TEACHING - CONTENT

The ministry of Jesus, early apostles and the first-century church also had a focus on teaching. However, their teaching was only a part of the equation and not necessarily the most important part. In our quest for doctrinal purity or accuracy, we put teaching at the forefront of almost all of our efforts. I'm sure that most of you who have been involved in church for any length of time would admit that this is true. Jesus, His disciples and the early church focused on all of the following:

JESUS, HIS 12, THE EARLY OR APOSTOLIC CHURCH

TEACHING - FOCUSING ON CONTENT

TRAINING - FOCUSING ON TASKS

EQUIPPING - FOCUSING ON THE PERSON

Before proceeding any further, it is important to note that churches centered on buildings create severe limitations upon the training and equipping aspects of raising up mature Christians, if we allow the church's location to define the scope of its ministry. These limitations are easily seen;

SPECIAL LOCATIONS - SPECIAL TIMES - SPECIAL PEOPLE

In sharp contrast, the apostolic or Kingdom-oriented church is either much less concerned with buildings and locations, or does not rely upon them at all. The word apostle literally means "sent one." From this observation alone, we see that apostolic or Kingdom ministry thrives upon going into the world, not upon coming to a fixed location at a certain time. If a church's location ceases to be a place where there is a gathering that has been enlarged upon throughout the week by going, it will probably soon stagnate and more closely resemble a very private organization than a life-giving, world-changing organism. the apostolic or Kingdom church, one which focuses on going before coming will be freed to live in a perspective of:

ANY PLACE - ANY TIME - ANY PERSON

A paradigm of special time, place and people creates a more or less top down approach to ministering life. We have a relatively small team of special people serving the rest of the body in a special place at a special time. A Kingdom perspective frees us to see the world as our church, our mission field, our place of service. In this way, entire bodies of Christains can be freed to serve their world on Monday through Saturday, coming together on Sunday to celebrate the results of a week lived for Christ and for others, if they have a Sunday meeting time and place at all.

WE COME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE

Scripture tells us that the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Since Christian literally means "little Christ," our mindset ought to be similar. In order to produce mature Christians who serve out of love for Christ, it is imperative to add training and equipping to the teaching that we have become so adept at doing. It is impossible to do this while remaining fixated on a building and a once-a-week service as our platform. We must move into an any time, any place any person mentality.

WHERE WORLDS COLLIDE

The illustration at the beginning of this article will hopefully serve to show that we as Christians really belong, like Jesus, at the intersections of society, not just in the sanctuaries or parking lots of our churches. The power and glory, the love, compassion and mercy of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are made most real and available at the place where Kingdom, world and church meet.

Let's move out from special places, special times and special people in order to lovingly engage the world as servants: any place, any time, any person. By the grace of God, I will meet you there!