The Open Church:
Rediscovering the joy and fulfillment of the New Testament style church.
By Benjamin C. Stegman
All scripture quotations are from the Amplified version of the Bible.
©2001 Zondervan Publishing House
Where should we be?
Lets begin by looking at some church history. Much of the traditions we are used to today can have their roots traced directly to the era in which Constantine ruled. After Constantine's conversion he made Christianity the state religion and began to erect buildings in which Christians could worship. Unfortunately, when they built those buildings they borrowed heavily from pagan temples and religious practices. After all, they needed to have buildings fit for an Emperor! There are many credible sources that speak of Constantine’s tendency toward Magnificence, as shown in his assuming the diadem and his dress in general, in the splendor of his banquets, his desire to do on a large scale whatever he did, whether in the building of cities or splendid houses of worship, or in book-binding with ornamentations of pearls and gems (taken from the “early church fathers web site”). Probably the most unfortunate aspect of this change toward magnificence was that as the church became an organization and an institution, open worship was very quickly replaced with a closed worship format where people became spectators rather than participants. As time passed, the church strayed further and further from the original concept.
In the last century especially, clergy (I refrain from the word “pastor” here for reasons that will become apparent later on), priests, lay ministers, and programs of all shapes and sized have become commonplace in churches everywhere. Youth groups that separate and isolate easily molded young adults from their God given mentors (their parents) have become standard fare.
The second point that I would submit is that priests, including pastors, ministers, clergy, etc. in the roles we know them to fill them today, under the new covenant, are extra-biblical. We are all priests. In Revelation 1:6, we find that we, in Christ, are formed into “a kingdom, priests to His God and Father”, further in 5:10 we read that we, as followers of Christ, have been made “priests to our God” again in I Peter 2:9 we are a “royal priesthood” that offers (vs. 5) “spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.” Moreover, in I Timothy 2:5 we find that “there is only one God and only one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (Emphasis added). Thus we can draw the conclusion that we are priests unto God, under our High Priest, Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 7:26).
One may say that this speaks very clearly to the issue of having a priest, but what about a minister?
Usually, when a man or woman feels “called” to be a pastor, they are understood by most, to have a unique call. Indeed they do, but not as it is traditionally perceived. I would pose the question; what, specifically, does a pastor or minister do that the body of Christ, and especially fathers should not? Preach? In light of Mark 16:15 and Acts 1:8 we, as Christians, are all called to preach. Heal? In Mark 16:17 and 18, everyone that is a Believer shall “lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” Visit the sick, the elderly and infirm? Jesus, in Matthew 25:46 makes no restriction on whom should be doing the visiting, feeding, etc. Only that whatever we do for someone else, we are doing it unto him. In-depth study of the Word? In II Timothy 2:15 we find the exhortation to rightly divide the Word of Truth. This pertains to all Christians, but especially fathers. What about disciplined prayer and fasting? I Thessalonians 5:17 commands us all to “pray without ceasing”. How about the counseling of people (especially young people) in the wisdom of the Lord? Proverbs 8:14 says that anyone who has wisdom also has “counsel and sound knowledge”.
Who is able to get this wisdom? Only pastors/professional counselors? Not according to Proverbs 9:10; anyone that fears the Lord is able to receive his wisdom. I could go on and on.
So where does this leave those who feel called to “shepherd the flock” or “evangelize the world” or prophesy? The answer, as always, lies in God’s Holy Word.
I will quote Ephesians 4:11 and 12: “And His gifts were varied; He Himself appointed and gave some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors, and teachers.”
Herein lies one of the most beautiful aspects of Christ’s church. Through the diversity that is found in the body, every member’s needs are met. People who have the gift of teaching are free to do so, those with the gifts of pastoring, (that is encouragement, edification, etc) are able to grow and flourish. Those who are called by God to be fiery evangelists (even traveling ones) are backed and encouraged 100%. No one is excluded; everyone’s life is a ministry. In I Corinthians 12:12-28 we see that we, as the body of Christ, have many parts (vs.12); we are all equally necessary (vs.21 and 22). That “there is no division or discord or lack of adaptation of the parts of the body to each other, but the members all alike have a mutual interest in and care for one another.” (Vs. 25) and that we “are Christ’s body and individually you are members of it each part severally and distinct- each with his own place and function.” (vs.27). In verse 28 we find the same concept as in Ephesians 4, that God gave each person individual gifts for the purpose of building the body of Christ. So we find that a person who is “called” to the pastorate, for instance, is, in all likelihood, actually experiencing the Spirit stirring their God given spiritual gifts as they mature in Christ. (Hence so many young people who are “called”).
This area is one of the biggest contradictions to scripture we in the body of Christ have ever perpetrated. Look at our average church services. The pastor goes up to lead singing as the music starts (the gift of encouragement). After singing a few songs he says a corporate prayer (the gift of leadership/pastoring). He then gives the message (the gift of prophesy, teaching, exhortation, and admonition) and says a final prayer before dismissing.
Therefore I would pose a question: How have we distorted God’s beautiful church concept to this place where we force one man to bear the entire church’s responsibilities, and reduce the body of Christ to mere spectators? To expect one man to exhibit the gifts of the entire body is completely unnatural and absolutely unbiblical. (The reason for burnout).
We are called to so much more. Once we allow each member of the body to grow and flourish in their gifts, there will be no room for the mediocre Christian. As we move towards God’s leadership by ridding ourselves of unbiblical leadership in the church (and thus freeing “pastors” to fulfill their true spiritual gifts- whatever they may be), we will find the God given leadership arising, seemingly out of the woodwork. Without “Reverend so and so” spoon feeding the words of God to them, the members of the body will either get serious with God and get into the Word, or they’ll get out. I know this sounds quite harsh, but the benefits are great. Fathers will again be free to fulfill the duties fitting for patriarchs, modeling Christ’s love for the Church (Eph. 5:25). (Just on a side note here, it’s interesting to note that through history at the same time as pastors and ministers became more popular, fathers began to abdicate their God given responsibilities leading to the breakdown of patriarchy that we see so prevalent today. Could there be a correlation?) Those who will be called Christians will be those who are exemplifying the mind of Christ in their lives, or at least showing signs of active work toward that end.
Let us, as per the exhortation in Hebrews 6:1 and 2:“go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ, the Messiah, advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belongs to spiritual maturity.”
So if there is no minister, where does the responsibility of church leadership lie? We have only to look again to scripture for our answer. The first and foremost authority in and over the church is Christ. Ephesians 5:23 says that Christ is our head. (An interjection here; when a group is small, authority other than Christ and fathers is not an issue. I don’t believe there’s a set “amount” of people that constitutes “large”. Elders seem to emerge as they’re needed; in fact elders are rarely recognized as such, they just “happen”. So bear that in mind as you read further). After Him comes the elder. Now you may ask, what is an elder? The first and somewhat defining characteristic of an elder is the literal meaning; (let me interject here that this is not a requirement, God has given many young men wisdom, consider Solomon) older- and thus experienced, and thus usually wise (Proverbs 20:29). All through the Old Testament there are examples of the leaders of Israel consulting the elders for advice, such as I Kings 20:7. Continuing on in I Timothy chapter 3: (another, almost identical, list of requirements can be found in Titus 1:6-10). The elder of the new covenant is a man who is exemplary in conduct (vs. 2). Is exhibiting the characteristics of Godly patriarchy, having a well-ordered family and household, and Godly, disciplined children (verse 4 and 5). Is not a “baby Christian” (vs. 6, which discourages young men from being elders). Is an example of honesty, having an excellent reputation among both believers and unbelievers (vs. 7). Under the elders are the husbands and fathers in the body (Ephesians 5: 24 and 6:4 I Peter 3:7).
So we’re clear on the fact that the Bible does not sanction ministers, in the traditional sense of clergymen. Now what? Without a pastor delivering the “message” every meeting, it would seem that it would be a pretty dull time, and definitely a quiet one! Enter the open meeting. We again return to scripture to find the way the church started out.
Several places in scripture give clear representations of what early church meetings were like, and what they should be today.
The first we will consider is found in I Corinthians 14:26:
“What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.” Again in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word [spoken by] the Christ, the Messiah, have it’s home in your hearts and minds, and dwell in you in all it’s richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom in spiritual things, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs making melody to God with His grace in your hearts.” And yet again in Ephesians 5:19 (don’t worry, I won’t quote again, just look it up for yourselves).
Here we find the ideal situation. When members of a church group meet together, everyone jointly shares the load of teacher, preacher, exhorter, etc. The meeting proceeds without boundaries or constraints, free to be lead by the Holy Spirit. I think what one of the biggest challenges the body of Christ faces is the temptation to organize. If we can get back to our “roots”, where the Holy Spirit can have His way with us, then will we find the revival and renewal we so desire and need in America today. The church was never meant to be an institution; as shown in scripture, the Church… is within us.
My family has been part of a New Testament style open church for more than five years now; I can’t begin to express how much of a blessing it has been to us so far.
I don’t expect that everyone will find enough faith to move to the open church. However I would encourage you anyway; have faith, forsake “tradition” and follow God to His best for your life.