The ideal church

Dave Black offers what he would consider the perfect church (2/22/11 6:04 AM)

Today, my paper perfect church would be an elder-led, age-integrated congregation that met in a rented facility (no mortgage) and paid no salaries. Instead, offerings would go to the needy and missions. 501(c)3? Out. Self-supporting missionaries? In. So, which is it? The traditional church, or the paper perfect church? Frankly, I think the question misses the point. Jesus promised, "I will build my church." Even imperfect churches. Even churches trapped in tradition. (See Rev. 2-3 for examples of churches that were far from perfect and yet were considered, by Jesus, to be true "churches.")

That sounds pretty good. Where we have been meeting sort of fits that bill except that the local group owns the building rather than renting. There is a huge urgency to evangelize, more so than anywhere else we have met. I think that is in large part due to the fact that almost everyone we gather with is a first generation convert to Christ. These folks did't grow up in safe, comfy evangelical homes where many things were assumed. They came to Christ as adults and at great cost and it is that experience as first generation believers that provides extra zeal. At least that is what I think.

Dave offers an important qualifier and this is where I think we can miss the boat on the gathered church in our consuming desire to see us meet "the right way"...

I do have one piece of advice, however. Put the Great Cause first (Matt. 28:19-20). I cant believe it's God's will that most young evangelicals should spend their lives in the pursuit of "doing church right" when God wants to send people where they're needed most.

That is so easy to miss and yet it is so pivotal, in fact it is the whole purpose of the church in the first place. It doesn't matter if you have a great community, a home fellowship, a church committed to expository preaching that can check off all of the 9 Marks. If you miss this, you miss the whole point. The purpose trumps the form. Of course there are forms that help us achieve our mission and others that I believe impede it. I have come to the point in the decade that we have been Christians where I believe that the traditional church is generally an impediment to the Great Commission focus of the church by emphasizing the gathering instead of the going. That doesn't mean that God is not using Christians in house churches, simple churches, traditional churches, high liturgy churches and no church at all to accomplish His purposes. His purpose and His will overcomes all of our clumsy and error filled efforts.

If we don't have the Great Commission as the overriding purpose of our gathering, something is wrong. As someone who spends a lot of time thinking and writing about "doing church right" that was a welcome and needed reminder that we can miss the big stuff worrying about the smaller stuff. The best way to do church right is to keep the Great Commission at the forefront and then to make sure everything we do is done to meet that calling.