Like the swinging of a pendulum, it is my observation that those gifts which have been overemphasized in the institutional church have been under emphasized in simple church. Because these gifts have been expressed in the institutional church as the participation of the few with a room full of passive participants, I believe it is difficult for us to imagine them any other way. So when we create gatherings that emphasize participation, we have sidelined these gifts not because of biblical guidance, but perhaps more a lack of imagination.

The two types of gifted people I’ve seen that struggle most in simple church are those passionate about teaching and those who love to lead music. For me it’s very personal. My close friend left simple church to become a pastor, I think in part so he could use his gift of teaching again. My wife worships through music in a powerful way, and like many I’ve talked to miss the experience of a gathering of many souls lifted in song.

In discussions recently in our church, we’ve also seen some interesting anecdotal evidence. Those who grew up “in the church” do not miss the sermons in institutional church, as it became a stale monologue that cultivated spiritual passivity. Those who did not grow up “in the church” miss sermons greatly, as they long to understand the great stories of the Bible, the context of books of the bible, and teachings that challenge them spiritually.

Hear are the questions I have formulated, and I would love to hear your input

• How do we see the gift of teaching exercised in the NT? How about music, what role does it play in gatherings?
• How does your church provide opportunities for these to be expressed?
• Using biblical guidelines and simple church philosophy, what are creative ideas on how we can allow our gifted teachers and musicians to bless the greater church body in Denver?

For those who want to dig deeper, here is some of the research I’ve done in scripture so far

Teaching

Scripture does not place teaching as the primary purpose of our gatherings, but it certainly is part of church life. From scripture, what is the role of teaching in church gatherings?

• Ephesians 4 tells us what all the gifts were intended for: ” ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
• In Acts 13, Barnabas, Saul and others were called prophets and teachers. What if any difference is there? “  ¹In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
• 2 Timothy 4: ” ¹In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ²Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
• We can also see how seriously the apostles took this gift of teaching. 2 Peter 2 is a seething condemnation from the heart of a protective spiritual daddy: “¹But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ²Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

Music

Worshiping God through singing is a central thread through all of scripture. In fact, there is an entire book of songs, Psalms, which contains some of the most heartbreaking laments and soaring cries of joy in all of scripture. What are some examples of song at the center of our community experiences.

• 1 Chronicles 13 contains record of a cacophony of worship. It seems in simple churches, unless you play acoustic guitar you are out of opportunities to make music with God’s people: ” ⁷ They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. ⁸ David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.”
• Psalm 47 contains one of countless calls to worship for God’s people: ” ⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises;
  sing praises to our King, sing praises.”
• In a chapter that calls us to live as children of the light, Paul encourages us in Ephesians 5: “¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Colossians 3 continues in a similar vein: ” ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

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I recently posted this on my personal blog and thought it would be good to share here. ~Rose Starr

Some of you may know that we are a part of a house church network. Desi, my husband is a pastor/house church coach/mentor here in Denver. We have had a very interesting journey these past 4+ years in this lovely city. We came out as inner city missionaries to start a traditional church. After meeting in our home weekly for awhile (doing house church but not calling it that!) we ended up being given a large donation from an anonymous donor and began renting a small chapel. Although we had a sizable core group, we didn’t grow. We moved to another location and again did not grow. I struggled with not enjoying Sundays at all. It was so much work to haul tub after tub of stuff only to go through these church motions and then have to clean up again. We moved to another location and started meeting on Sunday nights. Again, no growth…people left instead! It was discouraging. We felt like we were wasting God’s resources and after much prayer and about 6 months at that location we went back to Sunday mornings at a house.

We decided to pray and seek God and His will for our group which had grown and shrunk and grown again with people leaving and God bringing us together with another small group. Turns out we had the same vision and heart for the city as this other group who joined up with us before we moved to Sunday nights renting space at a local church. Desi and Bruce (his ministry partner) along with Carrie (another inner city missionary) began to meet/pray regularly and in earnest. I’m not sure how, but we heard of a large house church conference that would be in Denver that summer that was put on by House 2 House. We felt led to go and wouldn’t you know it, that was our start into house church gatherings. We had a lot of ‘traditional mindset’ to re-think as we searched the Scriptures to see what ‘church’ was really about. We discovered some simple and profound things: That were two or more are gathered in His name, He’s there and really that is church…the believers…we are His bride…the church is people and when we are together, we are doing church! Now this may be too liberal a definition for some folks, and that’s ok, but we love it!

Our group met on Sunday mornings at one house for about a year, getting used to being a part of something so different than most of us had been a part of. We began to minister to one another in beautiful ways. We used resources to give to the needy in our own group as well as in the city. We grew in friendship, love and life. We saw some leave and many more come. We joined up with large traditional churches for outreaches and VBS’ in the summer. We prayed that God would send laborers for the harvest and He did! Story after story of how He grew us and brought new people. I love it! Near the end of last year, we realized our core group was getting too large for the house we met in. We all began to pray and ask God to lead us, to move in our hearts and give us a desire to multiply in order to grow and continue to make disciples.

Since then, we have grown into a network of five house churches. One meets Sunday morning, two on Sunday nights (alternating between two houses), one Tuesday night and one Thursday night. Each church looks and feels a bit different, but each is active, alive, nurturing and growing. Desi and I are hosting every 2nd & 4th Sunday evening partnering with another couple who live about a mile from us who host the 1st and 3rd Sundays at their house. It’s nice to start off just every other week and share the hosting and cooking. At our Sunday evening gatherings we share a meal at 5:30 and have our gathering after the meal. Our first gathering was last Sunday. I felt led to have us do an activity I found in a book about Lent for kids. It was a family tree where we all drew/cut out a symbol with our name to represent our branch. We then wrote on leaves qualities that we saw in others that were a blessing and glued the leaves to their branches. It was a wonderful way to start off our gathering and include our 4 kids. We then moved into a time of sharing while we sipped tea and after a little while the kids retired to the basement for a movie. We adults continued to share and fellowship till almost 11pm!

Here’s our Family Tree

Our gatherings will be a bit ‘loose’ as we seek to listen to the Spirit’s leading. Our desire is to encourage spiritual gifts and give place and time for those gifts to be shared. We want to come together with something learned from the week that we can offer to each other. We desire transparency, honesty, respect, to honor one another and to grow in relationship with our father God. We will invite neighbors, friends and whomever God leads us to with no expectations other than to see what God has for us.

Our network will plan regular large gatherings, outings, trips, parties, outreaches, celebrations, ect…in order to stay connected with one another. Desi and I will host a game night once a month with the invite open to all the house churches and our neighbors. We are praying about various VBS’ put on the the various house church homes/neighborhoods for this summer to reach kids and neighbors with God’s love.

I wanted to share what we were doing and how blessed I am to be a part of something that has helped me grow in my spiritual walk more than ever before. I have been challenged to be an active participant in every meeting. To be open to different views, different people, different ways of interacting with God. We still have much to learn, will probably make mistakes, will start something- realize it doesn’t work- and change our plans, and that’s ok! I have so much to learn as a daughter, wife, mother, friend and neighbor. I am learning to be ok with the process, to enjoy the journey, to see events in my life as a small piece of a much larger picture, to see God’s hand of grace in every aspect of my daily life. It’s mind boggling really.

~Rose

A note from Brian: whether or not you agree with this book, it raises important questions that need to be discussed. So leave a comment to this post and join the discussion.

A heart-felt “thank you” to all of you who have written me such encouraging emails and letters regarding the new book, “Pagan Christianity.” I’m so glad it’s having such an impact on so many people.If you’re following the Blogosphere, you are aware that many are writing great reviews on Pagan Christianity while others are doing their dead-level best to prevent people from reading it. (Some of which are by people who haven’t even read the book.)
Right now, some people are saying ( rather loudly) that they want this book to “go away” and “disappear.” And they are working hard at persuading people NOT to buy the book. There are even rumors about book-burnings afoot. George and I have been called a few names, including “anti-Christs” by some who hate the book.

***A Very Important Request***

Those of you who support the book and its message can help off-set the movement to discredit the book by doing something very simple. Tyndale House has suggested the following and we are asking for your help on it:

1. ORDER THE BOOK FROM AMAZON.COM on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12th. Please mark this down on your calendar so you won’t forget. (If I don’t write something down on my calendar, I’m prone to forget. Perhaps you’re like me.) Here’s the direct link to the book at Amazon.com (or go to Amazon.com and type in “Pagan Christianity”) If you don’t want to order online, order the book from a Borders or a Walden Books near you on that day. It’s important that you order only from these bookstores if you can’t order from Amazon.

We ask that even if you have a copy of the book (the new OR old edition), that you buy a copy from Amazon.com or Borders/Walden during this week. Why? Because this will help the Revolution tremendously. Orders will be counted that week. And the more orders, the more the publisher will support the book. That means, more people will read it and hear its message.

If you can’t order the book from Amazon, Borders, or Walden on February 12th (if you didn’t get this email in time for instance), then please order it from one of these stores between Wednesday, February 13th to Sunday February 16th. Again: That’s Wednesday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, Feb. 16th.

We want to see the Amazon.com rating get below a #100. The more people who order it on Feb. 12th, the better the chances are for that. If the book drops below #100, then the book will gain much more support by the publisher and from bookstores everywhere, which is what we want.

Click here for the direct link to the book at Amazon.com (or go to Amazon.com and type in “Pagan Christianity”) Our goal is to have 5,000 people order the book on TUESDAY, February 12th. And 10,000 orders from February 12th to the 16th. So please join us in this effort.

2. Encourage all your friends via phone and email to buy the book from Amazon.com on Tuesday, February 12th. If not, then have them order it Wednesday, February 13th to Sunday, February 16th.

I’ve been told by detractors that those who agree with the book are “a tiny number of disgruntled souls who have been hurt by some pastor. This book will not do well at all.”

What would happen if thousands of people bought the book from Amazon or Borders/Walden between Feb. 12th and Feb. 16th? For one thing, such statements could no longer be made. And the Revolution would pick up major momentum. We wrote “Pagan Christianity” for this very reason. To help foment a Christ-centered Revolution in the Christian faith.

Finally, if you’ve read the new version already, please send your feedback to Jeanette at PTMIN@aol.com. We’d love to hear how the book is impacting those who read it. And if you write a review for your web site or blog, please let us know.

Thanks for your help and support in the Revolution. I’m deeply appreciative. And I look forward to seeing what the Lord will do in February. I shall keep you posted!

Your brother in the forgotten quest,

Frank

Popular Reviews and Audio Interviews

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**New*** Download the free discussion guide at www.paganchristianity.org/pcguide.pdf

Ex-Pastors Web Page

If you are a former or struggling pastor, visit the new Ex-Pastor’s web page. The site contains stories from ex-pastors who have written about their journey of leaving the pastor-system. These stories include the challenge of following their conscience at the expense of losing friends and the struggle to find new employment. It also includes an “Ex-Pastor’s Survival Guide” to helps pastors who have little to no employable skills to find work outside of paid ministry positions.

The season leading up to Christmas, which has already begun for this year, is an opportunity to celebrate, ponder and engage a little-talked-about Truth. In our dash toward Christmas, we race right on by a power-full rest stop – one that is good for our entire life. This is the Truth of the Incarnation!

IN-CAR-NA-TION: (noun) “assuming human form or nature”

As Followers of The Way, we do not accept just any “incarnation.” A careful reading of the key teachings of other worldly religions reveals an awareness of “incarnation,” often under the idea of “reincarnation.” In fact, not long ago, because of the power of incarnation to move people, the Chinese government passed a law that no one can be re-incarnated without their permission! Tibetan Buddhists acknowledge incarnation. You’ve probably heard that various factions of Islam are also awaiting yet another “incarnation” of one of their great teachers.

As Jesus-followers, we believe The Incarnation. This is the teaching, or doctrine, that the second Person of the Holy Trinity assumed human form in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the God and man – fully God and fully human – a Divine Person intimately and permanently united to a human nature with a human body. And, he needed no one’s permission to be so!

For years, I have quietly pondered the Nicene Creed’s confession: “Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.” Too bad we read this so quickly thinking we have confessed this transforming Truth. Here, we believe The Incarnation is for the purpose of our salvation – rescue.

The Incarnation of the LORD causes me to pause for it speaks of the condescending nature of our God: “he came down from heaven.” So many want a God who is larger, bigger, stronger, above it all, what we call “transcendent.” Yet, in The Incarnation, He comes to us! He enters into the world he made! He takes on the human form designed to bear the Image of God! He becomes the servant among us … living as we live … speaking as we speak … learning as we learn … working as we work … laughing as we laugh … crying as we cry! In a specific place and within time, God the Son empties himself, submitting to all things and everything human – being tested in every way as we are – even to death. Too many people still overlook this mystery of Grace; this God-coming to us as we are – and for our benefit!

What could happen today if Christians believed The Incarnation? I know, many read the Nicene Creed and claim to agree with what it says. Others will take the less-than-thoughtful position “the Bible teaches it; I believe it; that settles it.” Still others will say “I’ve been to pastor’s bible study on incarnation and I believe what he taught” or “I’ve read the textbooks on the topic.” My question is “So?”

What this exposes is a faulty understanding of “believe.” To “believe” something – like The Incarnation, let’s say – is not so much being able to agree with the doctrine, studying it, intellectually assenting to the teaching or even accepting it as true for those who believe it. When I listen the conversations many “believers” have nowadays, I regularly hear “belief” is what I can agree with, understand. Too many overlook this mystery of Grace because they think they “believe” it.

Here is where it is helpful to move beyond the Hellenized world of our culture and enter into the Hebraic world of the Incarnate One. Jesus did not live in a world where to “believe” something primarily meant you agreed with it. He served in a world where “to believe” meant you drew strength from what you “believed.” Since words tell stories, the Scriptural words for “believe” tell the story of “one who is weak drawing on and from the strength of one who is strong.” In other words, what you “believe” is fully relational and life transforming!

Consider the man whose son is healed and blurts out “I believe, help my unbelief.” This grieving father’s confession rarely impacts our lives. Most of us think the man was saying to Jesus “I agree with what you’re saying/doing, please help me to overcome my ignorance.” That, to me, would seem an odd way of hearing what this father was crying out for. Consider the alternative: “I have drawn strength for living from you, but I still need your help in drawing strength further so that I can continue to live.” I like that a lot better!

OK, so you say “I believe in the Incarnation.” My question is “really?” Do you mentally assent to the doctrine or do you draw strength for daily living from this even-now Reality? Do you claim to know what this means or do you recognize the Life-Changing Truth offered to you? Just imagine, if we “believed” The Incarnation, how this transforms everything about the world in which we each live. The Living God has honored my human nature, my human body, my human vocation, my human living of life! And, “Faith” is not so much agreeing with the teaching of such-and-such or so-and-so, but is the daily drawing of breath and strength, vitality and hope from the One who knows – really knows – what it is to live in this world!

So, back to my question, what could happen if Jesus-followers “drew strength for living” from the Incarnation? While I suspect there is likely a multi-faceted response to this question, let me suggest at least one opportunity: Jesus-followers would themselves be “incarnational.”

IN-CAR-NA-TION-AL: (adjective) “the act of assuming the form or nature of a local neighborhood.”

I so appreciate the paraphrase of John 1:15 from The Message: “The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.” That Jesus – the fully Incarnated Son of the Living God – “moved into the neighborhood” is a pretty good understanding of what the Spirit moved John to record for our learning. The original text says that The Logos came to “tabernacle” among us. He was the mobile Presence of the Living God! This highlights that Jesus lived the human life as we do, that he used human language, that he developed human relationships, that he learned to speak, read and write as we learn, that he faced temptations as we do, being as we are. To meet Jesus is to meet the Living LORD!

This short verse unites the reality of the Incarnation (the Word became flesh) with the life-focus of being incarnational (moved into the neighborhood). As I suggest, to “believe” the Incarnation leads to incarnational living. We draw from Jesus the pace and direction of our lives as his apprentices.

Jesus-followers are like a van load of people on tour observing him in the local culture while learning to live as he says is best. We “move into the neighborhoods,” placing our lives alongside the mission of Jesus to the people of the world in the places where they live, work and play. This is certainly a multi-faceted, life-on-a-mission approach. Using our sanctified imagination, engaging our creative gifts with a life toward loving God and our neighbor, the incarnational life opens many possibilities for Jesus-following in the local places of life where he is already active.

Consider: “as the Father has sent me (Incarnation), so I am sending you (incarnational).” Suddenly, Immanuel – God with us – is real! Being incarnational is stepping out of our safe places and engaging people and neighborhoods around us as Good News. Francis of Assisi reminds us: “preach Christ often, sometimes use words.”

“Drawing strength” from The Incarnation makes possible the life that is Incarnational. Not automatically, however. Sure, you can agree with the doctrine of Incarnation, you can even know what “incarnational living” might look like in your community. There is no end to the conversations that could be had if all you do is talk about what Jesus says is best. What must take place at some point in your journey with Jesus is choosing to become an “incarnationalist.” And, as part of your choice, you must take action – “you” being plural!

IN-CAR-NA-TION-AL-IST: (noun) “one living an incarnational life”

Frankly, I’m not even sure if that is a word regularly used by Jesus-apprentices, but it does seem to capture one aspect of our privilege in life today. Being an incarnationalist asks that we move from our understanding of Incarnation and beyond our agreement with incarnational living to the actual, everyday being with Christ and living along the relational contours He offers. Up to this point, learning to live as Jesus says is best keeps us in the house with our buddies doing the necessary study to make sure we’ve got it right. Becoming an incarnationalist moves us from being a living-room learner to one who lives what we believe (remember what “believe” means?) in the places where people live, work and play – where Jesus already is.

As I consider this call upon our lives, I realize the unique way each of you will bear witness to the Incarnate One. It is within this marvelous diversity of living that the “nations” (local cultures) of our world can be shown a glimpse of the Life our Lord gave his life for us to have. My dream is for this “glimpse” to become an “apprentice” of our Master, and a community without walls.

Enjoy your time with family and friends, with your local church as you are equipped, graciously living with gratitude “for you and for your salvation.” Then, quietly ask for guidance as you’all “draw strength” to live as an incarnationalist in the coming … If we can help, let us know.

Craig W. Henningfield, M.Div., D.Min.
Missionary – Coach
The Church Without Walls
craig(AT)thechurchwithoutwalls.info
303-725-6760