“Covering”… that word has been so abused, it now makes me cringe. 😬 Love the challenges at the end. I think if we had more households doing those things, we’d see a real change in our faith practice and communities.
I think it took some time for them to get it, but I am pretty certain that today the Sons of Thunder would fully affirm what you wrote. Thank you for your writing and may God continue to bless you in it.
That is what we have been trying to do at our home, but most if not all of them belong to a very malnourished church with a pastor who is charismatic. He has a weird relationship with congregation which in many ways, people feel sorry for him and dont find courage to tell him the truth, thinking it might break his heart. Those who did, were either excused to come or they just lost heart to go there. It is a very sad situation. thanks for your input below.
“The idea that one man stands closer to God than the rest of the room…”
Is there a better example of that than watching people’s behavior change when they find out there’s a pastor in their midst? Even if they’re non-believers! Or how about the COVID days, when church members were so anxious to curry favor that the one family you KNEW always had food and toilet paper was the pastor’s.
I like how you point out the structure is to blame. Few churches are immune to it. Many pastors secretly relish it.
The plural leadership point nails something most churches quietly avoid - when one voice becomes unchallenged, accountability vanishes and the shepherd model gets replaced by something closer to CEO. I've watched congregations where elders are just advisors to the senior pastor rather than co-responsible leaders, which defeats the whole struture. The "not so among you" frame shouldnt be inspirational, it should be structural.
Thanks, Cathy. I’d say plurality is clearly biblical (shared elder/overseer shepherding, not a ladder). “Five-fold” can fit if it’s treated as functions that equip the saints, not offices with titles or rank. In other words: plurality is the shepherding/oversight structure; five-fold (at best) is an equipping ecosystem serving under that—never a chain of command.
Agreed with many of your points, but how do you go about bringing people from churches that are truly malnourished for years? The minds have been formed to a system... Such teaching (which I truly believe is the only solution to modern-day church system, requires much more than just introducing people to "True Shared Community". Do you have an example of one that has being formed and being operational? I knew of a few out of states but nothing in my state/city.
Agreed. People aren’t just hungry they’ve been trained by the system. So it’s not about “starting a home group,” it’s retraining believers back into shared life: table, Scripture, prayer, mutual discipleship, needs being met. Last night we met at the youngest couple’s place newly married, barely any furniture and it was perfect. We ate, we talked, we laughed, and it felt alive. That’s what we’ve been missing.
“Covering”… that word has been so abused, it now makes me cringe. 😬 Love the challenges at the end. I think if we had more households doing those things, we’d see a real change in our faith practice and communities.
I think it took some time for them to get it, but I am pretty certain that today the Sons of Thunder would fully affirm what you wrote. Thank you for your writing and may God continue to bless you in it.
That is what we have been trying to do at our home, but most if not all of them belong to a very malnourished church with a pastor who is charismatic. He has a weird relationship with congregation which in many ways, people feel sorry for him and dont find courage to tell him the truth, thinking it might break his heart. Those who did, were either excused to come or they just lost heart to go there. It is a very sad situation. thanks for your input below.
“The idea that one man stands closer to God than the rest of the room…”
Is there a better example of that than watching people’s behavior change when they find out there’s a pastor in their midst? Even if they’re non-believers! Or how about the COVID days, when church members were so anxious to curry favor that the one family you KNEW always had food and toilet paper was the pastor’s.
I like how you point out the structure is to blame. Few churches are immune to it. Many pastors secretly relish it.
Amen
The plural leadership point nails something most churches quietly avoid - when one voice becomes unchallenged, accountability vanishes and the shepherd model gets replaced by something closer to CEO. I've watched congregations where elders are just advisors to the senior pastor rather than co-responsible leaders, which defeats the whole struture. The "not so among you" frame shouldnt be inspirational, it should be structural.
This unpacking hit me right when I needed it. God is good! Your writing is always simultaneously edifying and convicting. What a blessing!
Very good! Would you consider “plurality” to be Five-Fold? (Not the current title-heavy definition but as a working model in the early church.)
Thanks, Cathy. I’d say plurality is clearly biblical (shared elder/overseer shepherding, not a ladder). “Five-fold” can fit if it’s treated as functions that equip the saints, not offices with titles or rank. In other words: plurality is the shepherding/oversight structure; five-fold (at best) is an equipping ecosystem serving under that—never a chain of command.
Agreed with many of your points, but how do you go about bringing people from churches that are truly malnourished for years? The minds have been formed to a system... Such teaching (which I truly believe is the only solution to modern-day church system, requires much more than just introducing people to "True Shared Community". Do you have an example of one that has being formed and being operational? I knew of a few out of states but nothing in my state/city.
Agreed. People aren’t just hungry they’ve been trained by the system. So it’s not about “starting a home group,” it’s retraining believers back into shared life: table, Scripture, prayer, mutual discipleship, needs being met. Last night we met at the youngest couple’s place newly married, barely any furniture and it was perfect. We ate, we talked, we laughed, and it felt alive. That’s what we’ve been missing.