OrganicChurchNOLA’s Blog

What is the Organic Church Movement? Thursday, Apr 23 2009

Church Bob Kuhn 5:07 am

There are probably as many definitions for “organic church” as there are for “church” itself. Like any movement or expression, there are those who like what they think it is, those who hate what they think it is, and those who think it’s cool just because it’s different. For the above mentioned reasons, I feel it is important to communicate what I “think it is” - or more specifically - what I mean when I use the term “organic church.”

In order to better understand the term as it is most commonly used, I appeal to those who have practical experience in the movement and have written extensively on the subject. The following quote is from George Barna and Frank Viola:

An organic church is a living breathing, dynamic, mutually participatory, every-member-functioning, Christ centered, communal expression of the body of Christ. (xxxi)

Neil Cole writes:

What is consistent in both Organic Church and Organic Leadership is my belief that the kingdom of God is relational, spiritual, and natural – without all the artificial stuff we tend to use to prop up our ministries today. It is not necessary for people to work as professionals in the church to make it happen. When church and her leadership are natural and organic, they reproduce spontaneously and movements will result.(15)

So, you may ask, “Well … what do you mean by organic church, Bob?” I’m glad you asked. By “organic church” I mean an expression of the church that involves communities of growing and reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ who function as a body with the living, resurrected Christ as their only head.

This implies a very flat organizational structure, with every member having direct access to the head: Jesus himself. Every member is both being discipled, and discipling others. Every member participates in the worship, teaching, and ministry of the community. Every member is involved in God’s mission to this world. Every member is encouraged to hear directly from God and to share what He is saying.

The commitment level is high, but never forced; it is a commitment of desire, not of obligation. There is leadership, but it is relational leadership, not positional leadership. There is submission, but not to any individual leader (except Jesus) or to any hierarchical group of leaders, but one to another. There is mutual respect, one for another.

An important element of the organic church community is its desire to have as much “substance” with as little “form” as possible. Some “formal elements” will be added as needs arise, but only those elements that are necessary (or at least conducive) to the central mission of becoming and making disciples of Christ.

I know this description of the organic church is far from complete and I am sure there will be many questions and comments regarding this particular expression of the church. However, I hope this is a good starting place. Please feel free to share your thoughts, encouragements, questions and concerns.

Peace,

Bob

Works Cited

Barna, George, and Frank Viola. Pagan Christianity? – Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale HP, 2008.

Cole, Neil. ORGANIC LEADERSHIP: Leading Naturally Right Where You Are. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009.

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What’s Missing Sunday, Nov 15 2009

Short Stories/Parables and Uncategorized Bob Kuhn 4:05 am

WHAT’S MISSING

(First published as “The Missing Book” on www.faithwriters.com 05/03/06)

“It’s not really what you think.” As Jonathan stared at a tall, fully stocked bookshelf in the corner of the office, he repeated, “It’s not really what you think.”

Sharon, still baffled, looked at Jonathan intently. “How do you know it’s not what I think? I haven’t told you what I think.”

“I’ve been dealing with you way too long, Miss Landers. I know what you’re thinking. You think I’m afraid to make a commitment because of all the stuff I’ve been through. Well that’s not it at all.”

Sharon looked away from Jonathan and over at the bookshelf upon which his gaze was fixed. She smiled sadly at the irony. Jonathan had no idea that he was staring at the very books Sharon once thought contained the answers to every problem she would ever encounter as a Social Services Counselor. Yet, Jonathan’s situation was not addressed in any of them. It almost seemed as if a book was missing. One that could explain why a thirteen year old boy who was orphaned at three, then shuffled from bad foster home to worse foster home for nearly ten years, would turn down an opportunity to be adopted by a family who genuinely loved him.

“I’m confused. I thought you really liked the Church family. You spent the whole summer with them. What’s changed, Jonathan? If you’re not afraid of commitment, then what are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything. I know the Church family loves me. They were real nice to me this summer. Mr. Church would always take me fishin’ and bowlin’ and stuff, and Mrs. Church was always fixin’ treats for me, huggin’ on me, and tellin’ me how smart I was.”

“Well, was it the boys? Were you able to get along with them?”

“Yes indeed, Miss Landers. We were real good friends. Deacon, the one who’s my age, is really cool. He got me to join his baseball team, and even gave me one of his old gloves. We’d play video games and watch TV till late at night. And Evan, his little brother, liked me too. He said he wanted to grow up to be just like me. He would draw me pictures and tell me jokes. You see what I mean about getting along with them?”

“Of course I do. But I must say, Jonathan, that I’m more confused than ever. If they loved you so much and treated you so well, why did you turn down their offer to become part of their family?”

“The Church family just doesn’t seem real.”

“What do you mean by real, Jonathan?”

“One day, we were having dinner. Everybody was treating me real good as usual. Evan wanted to sit by me; Deacon gave me the end piece of the meat loaf even though it was his favorite; Mr. Church bought rocky road ice cream for desert cause he knew I liked it; and Mrs. Church kept asking me if I wanted more. Well, all of a sudden, Deacon asked Evan to pass the salt. Evan didn’t hear him, so Deacon reached for it across the table and accidentally spilled his milk. Mr. Church slapped Deacon in the face and yelled about being careful. Evan started to cry, and Mr. Church yelled at him to stop. Then Mrs. Church yelled at Mr. Church for yelling at the boys, and then started yelling at him for stuff that happened years ago. Mr. Church walked out of the room. Mrs. Church left too. Deacon looked at Evan and said that it was all his fault for not passing the salt. Evan stopped crying, but I could hear him whisper that he hated everybody.”

“Oh, I see. You love the Church family, and they love you, but you don’t see them love each other.”

“That’s right Miss Landers. You can know a family is real by their love for one another. Who wants to join a family that loves everybody else, but not one another?”

“Well, Jonathan, this has been very enlightening. I’m sad that you won’t be adopted, but I do understand why. You will know them by their love for one another. I read that somewhere.”

“Oh yea? Where?”

“In a book about love.”

After the session with Jonathan was over, Sharon looked at the bookshelf once again. She decided to add one very special book to her collection: the one that seemed to be missing.

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MAKE THE BIBLE WORK FOR YOU Monday, Oct 19 2009

Satire Bob Kuhn 6:28 pm

{This is a modified version of an article first published on the now obsolete Religious Humor & Satire site of Suite101.com}

An infomercial for Christian television.

The program opens with flashing scenes of smiling people in everyday situations, such as a young couple sailing, a family going to church, and some teenagers at a football game. In the background, lively contemporary music is played, and the booming voice of an unseen announcer is heard.

Announcer: Imagine being free from the needless guilt that often accompanies trying to live a righteous life. Picture what it would be like to have an answer for all your friends at church when they try to point out flaws in your walk with God. Just like these people shown here, you too can be a happy Bible believing Christian without the added pressures of conviction and repentance. Now, the secrets that used to be owned by ambitious denominational leaders, institutional church political types, and Christian special interest groups are available to you. These secrets can be discovered through the new, life-changing course called, MAKE THE BIBLE WORK FOR YOU.

The music hits a crescendo as the final scene fades out. Simultaneously fading into view are two men and one woman, all in business attire, seated in a semicircle of office chairs in a room that resembles a pastor’s study. The room is complete with walls of shelved books, several framed diplomas, and a large screen TV. The announcer’s voice is heard once again.

Announcer: And now — the creator of MAKE THE BIBLE WORK FOR YOU, Dr. Lou Dicrous, along with his special guests, Charlotte Tann and Cal Usbrain.

Dr. Dicrous:Well, after your guaranteed thirty day trial period, tell our viewers at home what you think of my Bible study system.

Charlotte: Please let me begin. I found it to be awesome. I never dreamed the Bible could be so accommodating to the lifestyle of a career woman like me.

Dr. Dicrous: How so?

Charlotte: Well, I was caught in a moral dilemma at work. My immediate boss was spying on my superior boss by breaking into his office and reading his e-mail. One day, the big boss called me into his office to ask me if I knew who was using his computer. Let me tell you, I was scared. I want to be a good Christian, I teach Sunday School and all, but I didn’t want to turn in my immediate boss. Thanks to your course, I used a technique from the third lesson, and was able to justify lying. I used Rahab as an example, reasoned that she lied to protect the spies in Jericho, so it must be OK to protect a spy with a lie. I lied to my boss’s boss, saved my boss, and never once felt guilty, because what I did was BIBLICAL.

Dr. Dicrous: That’s great. But why were you so interested in saving your immediate boss?

Charlotte: Because my immediate boss and I are having an affair. And, you’ll be happy to hear that I used techniques from lesson one to justify that little problem.

Dr. Dicrous: Wonderful! Well, how about you Cal? You were quite the skeptic.

Cal: Yes, I was. I felt there was no way that my problem could be justified Biblically. I just knew I would have to choose between my Christian fellowship and my sin. But thanks to you and your program I am now happily addicted to heroin, without the guilt, and still able to Pastor my Church full time.

Dr. Dicrous: Tell me about it.

Cal: For years I struggled with my habit. I felt that the Bible spoke against drug use. Then, after taking your course, I realized that anything can be justified. I saw the passage in Ephesians 6 regarding bondservants being subject to their masters, and applied that to my drug addiction. The Bible tells me to submit to my master. I am a slave to heroin, so heroin is my master. Applying that Biblical principle to my situation, I don’t have to seek help. I just need to accept myself as I am and submit to my master, as the Bible says.

Dr. Dicrous: Excellent use of lesson number two.

Cal: Well, enough of our stories. Tell us how you came up with such a brilliant system.

Dr. Dicrous: I would love to, Cal and Charlotte. One day, I was facing a problem myself. I was torn between the worldly practices of the church I pastored and the obvious principles of leadership taught by Jesus. While watching the news, a report came on about a major denomination going against long held biblical values in order to accommodate an increasingly popular social condition. As I watched the hierarchy of that denomination use scripture to condone its new position, I realized how easy it would be in my case to do the same. Then I began to study other organized religious groups and saw the same principles at work. By taking standard hermeneutical practices and using them to extremes, one could Biblically justify any practice. Why — prosperity teachers have been doing it for years, and now mainline denominations are using these methods too. Now, I have made their secrets available to you. All you have to do is order my course.

Announcer: And here is what you will receive. Seven lessons on CD or DVD:

· Lesson 1 – Finding secondary meanings in Greek and Hebrew words

· Lesson 2 – How to strictly interpret, then loosely apply the Epistles

· Lesson 3 – Turning descriptive passages into prescriptive doctrine

· Lesson 4 – Using cultural differences to nullify universal principles

· Lesson 5 – How to make eisegesis look like exegesis

· Lesson 6 – Mixing unrelated verses to change the intent

· Lesson 7 – Using the Judge-Not line of reasoning for every argument

And if you order now, you will receive Dr. Dicrous’ special Bible interpretation software. It slices, mixes, chops and twists scripture into any shape you want it to be. You get all this for the low price of $39.95.

The picture switches back to Dr. Dicrous and guests.

Dr. Dicrous: How about hearing from some other satisfied students?

Cal: That would be great Doctor.

Dr. Dicrous turns on the TV as his guests watch the screen. Three students appear on the screen, two male and one female, to give a testimonial.

1st male student: I use to think becoming a devil worshipper meant I would have to leave my Christian church. But thanks to Dr. Lou’s course, I was able to justify my divided loyalty. I always knew that scripture refers to the devil as the enemy. But then, thanks to Dr. Lou, I also saw, in Matthew 5:44 that Jesus commands us to love our enemies. So I reasoned that loving the devil was OK with the Bible. Now I can sing in the choir on Sunday morning, and go to my Black-Mass on Sunday night without guilt. Thanks to Dr. Lou, the Bible works for me.

female student: I wanted to divorce my husband so I could marry a coworker. The problem was that I had no Biblical grounds for divorce. Then I ordered MAKE THE BIBLE WORK FOR YOU. Using techniques I found in lesson six I was able to combine Matthew 5:28, where it says looking at a woman lustfully is committing adultery in the heart, and Matthew 19:9, where it implies that adultery is grounds for divorce. Knowing that, at least once, my husband looked at another woman lustfully, I was able to divorce him and not go against my Bible. Dr. Dicrous made the Bible work for me.

2nd male student: I have a problem with overeating. It is nothing severe, and everyone has problems, right? Yet many people, including my doctor, told me that I was dangerously obese and could have a heart attack any day. So I tried to diet, but that got me depressed. The only thing that got rid of my depression was eating. I would tried to read the Bible for encouragement, but the passages of scripture regarding gluttony would get me even more depressed. So I ordered Dr. Dicrous’ course. Boy, what an eye opener it was. Utilizing the methods of lesson five, I applied the principle I found in First Kings 19, verses 4 through 6. I read that when Elijah was depressed, the Lord sent an angel to him with the command, “Arise and eat.” I reasoned that if it was good enough for Elijah’s depression, it was good enough for mine. Now whenever I get depressed, I get up and eat. The depression goes away and there are no guilty feelings to deal with, because I made the Bible work for me.

The picture switches back to Dr. Dicrous and guests.

Dr. Dicrous: Well, those were amazing testimonies, as were yours, Cal and Charlotte. And thank you for joining me.

Both Cal and Charlotte: It was our pleasure.

Scene switches to same pictures and music as in the show’s opening. Announcer’s voice is heard.

Announcer: This opportunity will not last long. Please call the number at the bottom of the screen. You only have sixty seconds left. Until next time, goodbye, and good Biblical living.

Scene fades as the music ends.

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Are You Living In Rebellion? Friday, Oct 2 2009

Church Bob Kuhn 6:05 am

As stated in the previous post, I still have many questions regarding God’s delegation of authority, but I have arrived at one firm conclusion:

Jesus is God’s delegated authority for the church, and all of its members have equal access to him. There is no hierarchy of revelation. There is no hierarchy of leadership. There is no hierarchy of authority. We are all called to submit to him, and to one another. (Eph.5:21) There are different functions and gifts within the body of Christ, but only one head.

However, just as questions beget answers, answers beget other questions. How do we practically function in our day-to-day life submitting to one another? What does it look like? How does submitting to one another correspond with the passage of Hebrews 13:17 which admonishes us to obey our leaders and submit to them? If there is no hierarchy of leadership, then who are the leaders we are encouraged to obey? How do we identify them within the family of God?

Let me begin by addressing the latter questions. First, how does submitting to one another correspond with Hebrews 13:17? Well, I believe the answer greatly depends on the way the passage is viewed. If interpreted as a command to practice strict adherence to positions of authority within an institutional church, it seems to contradict the idea of mutual submission. If, on the other hand, it’s understood as an exhortation to be persuaded by leaders of a community, then the passage fits mutual submission like an indispensable piece of large puzzle. Frank Viola writes:

The word translated “obey” in Hebrews 13:17 is not the garden variety Greek word (hupakouo) that’s usually employed in the New Testament for obedience. Rather, it’s the word peitho. Peitho means to persuade or to win over (297).

Look at a previous passage of encouragement from the same chapter of Hebrews:

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 NIV)

The Hebrews 13:7 passage tells us to “consider” and “imitate” our leaders. This seems to be more in line with a “be persuaded by” concept than a “mindlessly obey” notion. It also suggests that one of the qualities of a leader is to speak the word of God. If we believe we are members of a larger community (the church), and our desire is to submit to the authority of God through Jesus, and we recognize that all of the members of that community have equal access to God, then imitating those who display leadership qualities, and allowing ourselves to be persuaded by the word of God spoken by them, seems to be a natural way to fulfill that desire.

So who are the leaders, and what are those leadership qualities by which they can be identified? I believe the answer, in part, was given when Jesus addressed the question of hierarchical authority in the passage below:

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant …” (Mt.20: 25-26 NIV)

Here lies the paradox of kingdom leadership. Jesus says, in contrast to the way the Gentile world operates, true greatness is accomplished by being a servant. The very opposite of being the highest in rank is what makes you the highest in rank. To identify true leaders, look for those who are willingly submitting to, and serving everyone else. Look for servants.

Since servants are under their master’s authority, we could push the above stated principle to its logical extreme and conclude that to be in authority you must be under everyone else’s authority. Since a true leader is servant to all, then we should eagerly desire to submit to those who desire to submit to us. By doing so, we all submit to Christ. That is one reason why the “body” metaphor for the church (I Cor.12) is such a powerful one. Each member of the body is directly under the authority of the head, just as every member of the church is directly under the authority of Christ. Yet, each member of the body submits to each other member in order to fully obey commands from the head. Not submitting to one another is not submitting to Christ.

Watchman Nee puts it this way:

Yet, right here lies the common fault of God’s children. We need to recognize in other members the authority of the Head (80).

How often do we fail to recognize the authority in each other? The problem with hierarchical authority structures and positional authority figures is that they lack the practice of mutual submission. For example, if I believe that those who rank under me should submit to me, and that I should submit only to those who rank above me, then I will not practice submission to those who I believe rank under me. I become concerned with how to prove, exhibit, and exercise my authority over others. I teach others that it is rebellious to disobey my authority, just as it would be rebellious for me to disobey the authority above me. I practice control and teach dependence. I have no desire to seek the permission or advice of those under me; I only seek their approval, for approval strengthens my authority.

As well, many Christian communities often fail to acknowledge the authority of those in other Christian communities. It always amazes me when an organized church that stresses submission to authority chooses to totally ignore other churches in the same area. If there is one Christ then there is only one body. To ignore any member of that body is to miss the full abundance of Christ.

Watchman Nee goes on to say:

We ought not refuse the function of any member. If the foot should reject the hand, it is the same as rejecting the Head. But if we accept the authority of a member, it is the same as accepting the authority of the Head. By way of fellowship all other members can be my authority (80).

If we’re not willing to submit to each other, we’re not willing to submit to Christ; and if we are not willing to submit to Christ, we are living in rebellion.

So how do we practically function in our day-to-day life submitting to one another? What does it look like? I believe it looks like a body. All members receive instruction from the head and submit to it; but in so doing, it is essential for all members to equally submit to one another. There will be roles and gifts of leadership displayed. The eyes may take the lead in one situation with the rest of the body responding in submission to what to what the eyes have seen. Each member receives instruction directly from the brain regarding the specific role to be played in response to what the eyes have seen. At the same time, the eyes equally submit to all other members in similar fashion.

The same is with the body of Christ. Some with specific roles and gifts of leadership will take the lead, and we should recognize this and submit to their leadership. At the same time, those in leadership are constantly seeking to serve and submit to the rest of the body. All of the members are constantly striving to promote, serve, support, and submit to one another, while receiving instruction directly from the head, who is Christ. It is not the individual member to whom we are ultimately submitting, but Christ in that member.

Again I’ll say that I still have many questions regarding submission to God’s delegated authority, but of this I’m sure. If we are not striving to submit to one another, we are living in rebellion to God.

Sources Cited:

Viola, Frank. REIMAGINING CHURCH: PURSUING THE DREAM OF ORGANIC CHRISTIANITY. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008.

Nee, Watchman. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY. New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1972.

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Delegated Authority Tuesday, Sep 8 2009

Church Bob Kuhn 5:02 am

It is a given that we must submit to God’s authority, and that all authority has been given to Jesus. (Mt.28:18) However, I’ve been reading Watchman Nee, and he raises the issue of delegated authority. He states, “Just as the delegated authority follows God, so those who are subject to authority should follow God’s delegated authority” (30). I agree with the idea, but I have many questions regarding the practice. Here are some of the questions:

What or who determines delegated authority?
Can we choose which authority we’re under?
Since there is only one God, why do different Christian groups submit to different Christian authorities?
Can Old Testament examples of authority be applied to New Testament Christians?
Is there a difference between submission to worldly authority, family authority, and “church” authority?
How do we identify God’s delegated authorities?
Can a person be voted into, hired for, or appointed to a position of authority?

Initially, one may be tempted to give over simplistic responses to the above questions, like:

God
No
‘Cause we’re all called to different places
Yes or Maybe sometimes
Yes and No or Maybe sometimes
They are the people who hold the title or position of authority.
Yes, it happens all the time.

But, if we push it to the next level, or to the logical extreme, we may realize it’s not so simple. For example, we know that God determines whom to place in authority, but how does he accomplish it? Is it through succession, where one authority places his authority on another? Is it by popular opinion, where God allows a person to be voted into an authority position? Is it by force, where God allows a person to seize authority? Regarding government, all of the above could be true. Some governments are ruled by people who have succeeded a former ruler, others are voted in, while still others take control by force. The New Testament seems to teach that God, somehow in his sovereignty, has established all government authority which should be obeyed (Rom.13:1-7), unless it involves disobedience to a higher authority (Acts 4:19). Yet, regarding the church, Jesus tells us we should be different: “Yet it shall not be so among you …” (Mt.20:26 NKJV)

So how should we view delegated authority within the church? The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox religions have it easy. They believe and teach that authority is passed down from Jesus to the apostles, and then passed on by the apostles to others, then by those others to still others all throughout history. These are the only two groups that have a legitimate historical claim of apostolic succession. Their answers to the first three questions would likely be:

God establishes authority through succession.
No, you’re under whomever we say you’re under.
There is only one authority & it is set up as a visible hierarchical structure.

The rest of us (protestant, evangelical, non-denominational) have no such claim. In fact, if we believe in any type of “appointed position of authority by a higher authority” at all, we’re forced to admit that the “original appointment” of authority either began as an act of rebellion against an already established authority, or that it was just started out of nowhere. If we look at delegated authority from a hierarchical perspective, the idea of established authority within the church can only go back so far.

How about voting for a delegated authority? If this is how God’s delegation is determined, through an election of sorts, then it’s possible for one to “run” for delegation. It may work for many organizations, but establishing church authority through a popularity contest is hard to find in the New Testament scriptures.

Does God establish “positions” of delegated authority within the church which can be occupied by anyone deemed qualified? Should we place ads in the help wanted sections of religious periodicals and web sites in order to hire someone to fill a position of authority to rule over us? Is that what God intended? Again, seeking professional authority figures may be the way worldly institutions operate, but it lacks biblical precedence for the church. It also seems awkward to be able to “hire” someone to fill the position of God’s representative. I know it’s not the same, but hiring a person to fill a created position for the purpose of submitting to that person reminds me of pagans who create an idol out of wood and stone for the purpose of bowing down to it.

So where do we turn for answers? What about the Old Testament; should those examples of authority being applied to the New Testament church? And what about the family? There seems to be a clearly defined authority structure within it, and Paul compares it to the church. (Eph.5: 22-32) Shouldn’t the church follow the same pattern of authority as the family?

The problem with seeking answers from the Old Testament does not lie with principles of authority and submission, but with misapplication of those principles. Principles of submission to delegated authority figures, such as Moses or David, have been applied to modern elder/pastoral positions. The problem is that Old Testament authority figures are not meant to be types of modern day elders and pastors, but types of Christ. The same misapplications occur with parallel comparisons between the family and the church. The husband/father authority of the family is often compared to the elder/pastor authority of the church. However, scripture clearly parallels the husband’s authority in the family with Christ’s authority in the church: “For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church.” (Eph.5:23 NKJV) The authority of elders and pastors within a church is more like the authority of older siblings within a family.

While I still have questions regarding God’s delegated authority, I have arrived at one main conclusion: Jesus is God’s delegated authority for the church, and all of its members have equal access to him. There is no hierarchy of revelation. There is no hierarchy of leadership. There is no hierarchy of authority. We are all called to submit to him, and to one another. (Eph.5:21) There are different functions and gifts within the body of Christ, but only one head. Submission to one another is real submission to God’s delegated authority. It may look different at different times, because the practical application of submitting to one another depends upon which specific gift is being used to fulfill a specific purpose. However, it all depends upon every member submitting to the head, who is Christ.

So, if Christ’s intent was to establish an institution with positions of delegated authority, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches are the only ones who have it right. But if he intended to establish a growing, reproducing, organic body of disciples, we need to begin functioning like one. With that in mind, I’ll allow Neil Cole, founder of Church Multiplication Associates, to ask the final question: “Who’s in charge here? It is either Jesus, or it is not. It cannot be Jesus and our designated leaders” (94).

Sources Cited:

Cole, Neil. ORGANIC LEADERSHIP: Leading Naturally Right Where You Are. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009.

Nee, Watchman. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY. New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1972.

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“What is the one thing Jesus absolutely had to do before God could raise him from the dead?” Thursday, Aug 20 2009

Church christian, Church, organic church, resurrected life, the cross Bob Kuhn 5:08 am

“What is the one thing Jesus absolutely had to do before God could raise him from the dead?” That’s the question I asked to begin a sermon preached in the now extinct St. Thomas projects of New Orleans. (Yes, I did a little street preaching in my younger days.) The responses varied. Some said, “He had to live a sinless life and obey God in everything.” Others responded, ”He had to work miracles and set a good example.” Then one young man in the middle of the crowd answered, “He had to die.” That was it. Everything else in Jesus’ life was significant and necessary for many things, but the one thing Jesus absolutely had to do before God could raise him from the dead was to die.

I then had a follow up question: “What is the one thing we absolutely have to do before we can live the resurrected life of Christ in us?” The answer is the same. There would have been no resurrection of Christ if there was no death on the cross; and there can be no resurrected life for us if there is no crucified life in us. Paul addressed this very thing when he wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal.2:20) In order to have Christ live in me, I must die to my self.

“Dying to self” has become a Christian buzz phrase of sorts, but what does that mean on a practical level? Well, I think it means we commit our lives to Christ, no longer claim our lives as our own, and fully surrender to his lordship. We acknowledge that we are no longer living to serve ourselves, but we’re living to serve him. We exchange our control of our life for his control of our life. That is “being crucified with Christ” and dying to self.

The problem with many Christians (and I use the term loosely) is that they have not changed who they serve, but merely changed the way they serve themselves. People who desire to be first, to be in control, to always be right, to be noticed by others, praised by others, and admired by others can be seen in the church as well as the world. The difference is, those in the church tend to put a religious spin on their self-interests. I know, because I use to be one of those people, and in some ways, I still am. The trouble with a crucified life is that, although the commitment to be crucified is immediate, the death process can be long and painful.

But God is faithful and patient. Over the years he has gently and lovingly pointed out many areas in my life that needed to be surrendered. There were self-centered areas in me to which I was totally oblivious; now, they seem embarrassingly obvious. These were areas which God had to reveal. I couldn’t see myself; none of us can truly see ourselves. The following stories are just a few examples of how God has worked in my life.

I always loved to preach. I would spend hours on end preparing a sermon. One day God spoke to my spirit and asked, “If I told you to record every sermon, and also told you that no one would hear them while you were still alive, or would ever know who preached them, would you still put as much effort into preparing them?” I’m not sure how I answered, but I’ve never preached the same again.

In the same fashion, another time God asked, “If I told you to always give anonymously, and never tell anyone what you give or that you give anything at all, would you still give as much?” This question changed my whole attitude toward giving. Please don’t ask me how it has changed. I’m not allowed to tell.

On another occasion I was forced to make a decision between my desire (and it was a strong desire) to be in the “professional ministry” and what I knew was best for my children. I could have easily justified my desire to pursue my “ministry” career as doing the work of the Lord. Only because of loving conviction from God regarding areas in my life that needed to be crucified was I able to make the right decision. It was painful at the time, but I’ve never regretted it.

In our church meeting last Monday night the subject of suffering was brought up. One of our members was reading the account of Jesus’ prayer before his arrest: “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Mt. 26:39) He realized that the way of God’s will can be a way of suffering. It’s not that God wants us to suffer, it’s that he wants us to die. Dying can be painful, but it is necessary if we want to rise and live that glorious life of Christ in us.

You may be wondering what all this has to do with the organic church, or the church in general. Well, the church is about being and making disciples. In order to be a disciple, one must commit to following Jesus to the cross. Jesus himself said, “… anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk.14:27 NIV) If we miss this vital element of being a disciple, we probably miss it when making disciples. The result is a social organization of individuals trying to serve themselves in religious fashion, complete with political power plays and agendas. Such a group needs to be controlled by a hierarchical authoritative leadership structure.

However, when a group of people who are dying to their own desires while surrendering to the lordship of Jesus come together, the result is quite different. It shapes itself more like a functioning body than a rigidly controlled organization. Problems can still arise. Dying is a process; but it is a process headed in the right direction.

Peace,

Bob

2 Responses »

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?” Wednesday, Aug 5 2009

Church Bob Kuhn 3:47 am

Several months ago, our home church community (when we were still part of an institutional church) dedicated one week to pray for direction. We each agreed to set aside a portion of time during that week to individually seek an explicit word from God, and then share it with the group. As I prayed, I asked God to give me a word directly from the scriptures so that I could be assured it was from him. Immediately, the passage from Luke 24:5 popped into my mind: “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” The thought was so sudden and emphatic it shocked me. The fact that I was surprised to have such a quick and obvious answer to prayer should have been conviction enough, but when I considered the implications, I was extremely humbled.

Not wanting to miss, or misapply, what God was specifically saying to me, I went to the original context of the statement. That particular passage in Luke describes women who were looking for Jesus; but they were not looking for a living Jesus. They were looking for the Jesus they saw die on a cross. They were looking for the Jesus they buried. They wanted to honor him by properly preparing his body according to Jewish tradition. They wanted to honor the memory of his life. They were looking to honor a great leader and prophet who was; they were not looking for one who is.

I began to see that we do the same today. We look for the “historical” Jesus: the Jesus who was, not the Jesus who is. We study the things he taught, make pilgrimages to the places he dwelt, and marvel at the stories of his life on earth; we look for the Jesus who was. Now, I believe these things just mentioned are good and profitable, but only in the context of his present life. Paul clearly states in Romans 10: 9 that if we if we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. It is the LIVING Lord we should be seeking. We need to live what we believe in every aspect of lives. We need to live the living Jesus.

We somehow feel that we, like the women at the tomb, need to honor the memory of Jesus. We want to be his living legacy by carrying on his work. Noble as it sounds, I don’t believe it is what God desires. God doesn’t want us to be Christ’s living legacy, but the living Christ’s body. We, the church, should be acting like a body controlled by a divine living head. Instead, we act like an organization, complete with business plans we call mission statements, CEOs we call senior pastors, and marketing strategies we call outreach programs.

Neil Cole writes, “In many of the churches in the West, ministry is done for Jesus, but not by Jesus-and therein lies a big difference.” (pg.54) Can you imagine what would happen if we stopped doing things for him and began allowing him to do things through us? Can you imagine if we lived life in total awareness of and surrender to the living Christ? Can you imagine?

Works Cited

Cole, Neil. ORGANIC CHURCH: GROWING FAITH WHERE LIFE HAPPENS. San Francisco : Josey-Bass, 2005.

6 Responses »

Do You Want To Be Ordained? Thursday, Jul 30 2009

Church Bob Kuhn 5:20 am

I was ordained in 1986 (yes, I’m that old) by The Irish Channel Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational Christian church located in the heart of New Orleans. My official certificate says that I was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry. There were no exams that needed to be passed, nor were there any diplomas that needed to be earned as a prerequisite. All that was needed was recognition. The members of The Irish Channel Christian Fellowship recognized my work with the inner-city youth of the area and wanted me to continue doing what I had been doing for the previous three years, but on a full time basis. I could have been hired without being ordained, but the elders of the church felt the recognition of “being set apart for a particular work” was important. So, after a rather ritualistic type ceremony, the elders laid their hands on me, prayed for me, and I was ordained. The Sunday morning church bulletins listed me as Reverend Bob Kuhn. It seemed a little uncomfortable at first, but I began to like it after a while.

One day, about a year later, I was driving with a traveling evangelist who was preaching a week long revival service at our church. He began to ask me questions about my ministry at the church. When he asked me from what seminary I graduated, I honestly replied that I was still in seminary. He was surprised and said that he thought I had been ordained. When I again honestly replied that I had been ordained, he became upset and went into a mild tirade about the problems with non-denominational churches ordaining “untrained” people. He asked me how I could possibly feel equipped for ministry without the proper educational credentials. I, once again honestly, told him that I didn’t know what proper training or credentials were, but all I knew was that one day I was the manager of a parts department and the next day I was working for a church and being called Reverend. He became very quiet and seemed to pout a little.

I’ve often thought about that evangelist and wondered why he was so upset. The only reason I can think of is that my ordination somehow, in his mind, minimized his. He was ordained into the Presbyterian Church. In order to become a Presbyterian minister, one must have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from an approved seminary before becoming a candidate for ordination. Then a grueling series of interviews by a group of senior Presbyterian ministers takes place, and if approved, the candidate then qualifies to be ordained. For someone to just walk off the street and get the same type of certificate he had framed in his office at home must have been depressing. And what does all that mean regarding my ordination? Is it real, or just pretend?

Well, I’m not called Reverend anymore, but I must confess, I like my ordination certificate. I think it’s a cool representation of the fact that a body of believers whom I love and respect recognized God’s call on my life. But, everyone has a call from God on their lives. They may not all be the same, but they’re equally important. My ordination certificate is like my Father’s Day cup from my kids. I like it, not because I think I’m the only father in the world, or some kind of super special father, but because I am a father, and that’s special enough for me.

So, how about giving every born again believer an ordination certificate. All Christians have a special call on their lives. Let’s recognize that special call and ordain them. Those of you who believe in a clergy/laity distinction, please don’t get upset. I’m not proposing that we honor you less. I’m just saying that we should honor each other more.

If you want to be ordained into the ministry of God, come to our church fellowship on Monday nights and we’ll be sure to accommodate you. For more information on being ordained, becoming a priest, or being a disciple of Christ, please post a comment on this blog.

Peace,

Bob

8 Responses »

FROM ETERNITY TO HERE Blog Circuit Tuesday, Jun 9 2009

Blog Circuit Bob Kuhn 4:34 am

The following questions were asked of Frank Viola regarding his new book “From Eternity to Here”:

Since the church is a result of the mission of God and not the other way around, why did you choose to write PAGAN CHRISTIANITY and REIMAGINING CHURCH before FROM ETERNITY TO HERE?

One reason is because deconstruction should precede construction. If a building has a faulty foundation, it must be torn down first. Then a new one built in its place. Pagan Christianity deconstructs. Reimagining Church constructs. Then From Eternity presents the big, sweeping epic picture explaining why the church is so important to God in the first place. And how He views it. How He views us. Getting behind His eyes is life-changing.

Do you think that FROM ETERNITY TO HERE gives more clarity to PAGAN CHRISTIANITY and REIMAGINING CHURCH? And if so, would you recommend that readers revisit your earlier works after reading FROM ETERNITY TO HERE?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, I’ve received numerous letters from people who didn’t know what to think about Pagan Christianity (after reading it) or who were deathly afraid to read it (based on ominous warnings from people). Then, after reading From Eternity, they said Pagan Christianity made sense to them. It gave them a larger context to fit it into and to understand the spirit in which it was written. Incidentally, I’ve explained on my blog recently how all my books work together.

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OTHER BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN THE “FROM ETERNITY TO HERE” BLOG CIRCUIT

Enjoy the reviews and the Q and A:

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Out of Ur – http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2009/05/viola.html

Shapevine – www.Shapevine.com (June newsletter)

Brian Eberly – http://www.brianeberly.com

DashHouse.com – http://www.DashHouse.com/

Greg Boyd – http://www.gregboyd.org/blog/

Vision Advance – http://vision2advance.blogspot.com/

David Flowers – http://ddflowers.wordpress.com

Kingdom Grace – http://kingdomgrace.wordpress.com