by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Addressing the current imbalance

Even amongst many who have fled the ranks of the extended Dark-Age church, there is quite a bit of confusion and imbalance; this oftentimes proves to be equally as damaging as the failed system they are fleeing from. Many have swung too far on the proverbial pendulum, from Constantine’s courts of control to independent, Lone-Ranger status; which turns out to be equally imbalanced and unfruitful. Many who have left church institutions still lack clear direction and biblical foundation pertaining to the ‘how to’ of Christian connectedness. Without this biblical foundation, all sorts of humanistic mindsets arise, causing all sorts of false, self-justifiable behavior. It is crucial we refrain from straying beyond the boundaries of the Word of God. It seems that more people would be willing to trade their extra-biblical structures for a biblical one if only they were provided an unambiguous operational example which made apparent the biblical prototype.

Although there is an abundance of grace in this transitional season, it is about time we found the biblical balance of gospel community and begin to live it. There is no place in New Testament Christianity for independent people: ones who continue to be disconnected from the local Christian community. Neither is there any form of ongoing New Testament existence outside of accountability to the brethren, the local elders (proven mature examples) and true foundation ministers. The epistle to the Hebrews reminds us that we should “Not [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” (Heb 10:25) While it is factual that the bible tells us to get together with other saints, it does not paint the picture of most of our modern meetings. Surely there is a biblically-sound middle-ground that allows us to obey the Hebrews’ exhortation to assemble ourselves together, while remaining spiritually organic and outward focused, fulfilling the greatest of all commissions.

No such thing as a church

Throughout this chapter, we will examine the New Testament for information pertaining to the saints “assembling” themselves together, and more particularly, their daily existence and mission. In order to do this we should first arrive at a truer definition of “church” than what the majority of modern Christendom is used to. The fact that the word ‘church’ is most commonly misused in reference to a building and/or an organization, is not merely an immaterial misnomer, but rather is indicative of our current chaos. Our inaccurate terminology has been just one of many threads in the western church’s bed quilt, which has allowed it to slumber quite contentedly, while life and lost souls pass it by.

The New Testament word for church is ekklesia which is derived from the word kaleo- to call; it means “the called out ones” and so is a depiction of the people that God has called “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Pet 2:9)

If we are going to use the word church in a correct context then we must accept its reference to the called out saints; not a building, organization or meeting.

Here are some scriptural examples of how the word is used; we shall look at them using the more accurate terminology for what church is:

…the Lord added to the church (the number of called out saints) daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47)

…there was a great persecution against the church (called out saints) which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad… (Acts 8:1)

…he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled [sunago – collect or convene, come together, accompany] themselves with the church [called out saints], and taught much people. (Acts 11:26)
(Not a church or many churches at Antioch but the Church, the called out saints at Antioch)

…Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the Church [called out saints] that is in their house. (1 Cor 16:19)
(Not a house church but THE church - the called out saints who met in their house)

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. (Acts 12:1)

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together… (Acts 14:27)

As we can see, church is used in reference to people. The magnitude of this truth is enormous, as it will cause us to see the church and its function as God sees it: a body of people flowing throughout society. This is very different to the way in which man’s shortcomings have led us to see it.

Retarding the saints for the work of the monastery

As we have previously noted, God has used ‘extra-biblical wineskins’, albeit in a limited capacity. This will continue for a short season. Although there has been a degree of fruit produced from saints in denominated churches (named congregations), we surely do err if we continue to rest on our laurels, settling for anything less than God’s best for this, our age.

While we continually place the emphasis on our modern monasteries (the growth and accomplishments of our congregations and buildings, etc) we tend to put the success thereof before the equipping and growth of God’s people. The “come to church” mentality retards the masses rather than equipping and releasing them. Many fine leaders have fallen into the Saul-like posture of being threatened by outward-focused people, despite the fact that they know Jesus said “go”. (Mark 16:15) If you have a company, which is exactly what most churches are, you must service the needs of that company. It becomes all about the saints equipping “the church” for its advancement, rather than the leaders equipping the saints to advance throughout society in every day life.

I must reiterate that many leaders in the extra-biblical style of congregational church are wonderful people with a true heart after God, but the majority, if not all, fall at least partially into misguided motives and injudicious goals, not to mention being burdened by fabricated expectations. False foundations often impose elements of compromise on these fine people, which breeds corruption and confusion amidst God’s body.

Throughout this chapter we will identify a biblical blueprint for New Testament community and an amended ambition for the church. This, coupled with true New Testament, underground leadership is paramount in seeing God’s best flow to, and through, His church. This is not a suggestion to rigidly duplicate a format, nor is it a draft or run sheet for church meetings, but rather a biblical blueprint for life. Blueprints are not the external structure nor do they give the full picture. Blueprints are like a skeleton of the structure, providing a sure framework to work from.

 

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 27th, 2006 at 10:17 pm and is filed under Biblical Leadership, Brett Jacobsen's teaching, Church Structure, House to house community, Living Christianity, Reformation/ Revival. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.