Appreciate your clear distinctions... I was at a conference recently where I saw a list of all of the meanings the New Testament has when it uses the word "church". Everything from a very specific house church, to a network across a city, to the universal church.. and more. These are good things to clarify as we pursue making disciples of all nations.
Ted, are you aware of any article or book-length commentary on this from the majority world, or written in a majority world language and translated to English?
No, I don't. About the closest thing regarding sending structures that I have seen from the global south is Dave Matthew's (founder of Reflejo) book “Cómo Enviar 100 Misioneros” but it is not exactly what you are asking for.
I have been assigned to a country (then extend into other nations) upon which the assignment is to see the local church breaking out of the church building walls and begin to establish house churches with their local communities. I find this insight empowering towards understanding the relationship between the local church and its missions involvement.
True, true, so very true. As one serving in Youth With A Mission, I have only seen blessing when we understand our partnership with the local church and the nature of walking hand in hand together to see the kingdom come.
The Bride of Christ. One bride; she is not divided. But she has a DNA, as every living thing has a DNA. And every DNA is comprised of a double helix, the modality and sodality. Neither can say that it has no need of the other. One Bride. One DNA. In every part, a pair of helices. Is this so strange? We already have the revealed truth of "male and female," one image of God. One image of God. A pairing to make it known.
Thanks for putting your thoughts into writing, Ted. I have appreciated your dialogue on this topic. I won't respond in full here, because you know my thoughts. You are right to highlight the need for careful biblical exegesis and to begin with a solid ecclesiology. The distinction of what is and is not a church is a very important foundation. My position simply put is this: local churches are the only biblical prescribed institutions that display the reality of the body of Christ (the universal church). The local church has a very clear biblical prescription for defining it's existence, including being organized for the worship of God, the Great Commission, devotion to the Apostle's teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, the prayers, and church officers. Any organization that does not have these essential elements cannot rightly call itself a church. Thus, terminology, like "parachurch", that distinguishes an organization as something that is not a church is essential. Otherwise, we will be confused as to what a church is. As many organizations have done over the years, they start to act like a church and downplay the necessity of membership in a local church. Because many organizations do not rightly distinguish themselves as not a local church, there has been much confusion about what a church is and does. Terminology like this brings clarity. The Bible is clear about what constitutes a church. And calling something a church that is not a church brings confusion.
Appreciate your clear distinctions... I was at a conference recently where I saw a list of all of the meanings the New Testament has when it uses the word "church". Everything from a very specific house church, to a network across a city, to the universal church.. and more. These are good things to clarify as we pursue making disciples of all nations.
So grateful for your biblical perspective on this important topic. We want the whole Church to bring the whole world gospel to the whole world
Ted, are you aware of any article or book-length commentary on this from the majority world, or written in a majority world language and translated to English?
No, I don't. About the closest thing regarding sending structures that I have seen from the global south is Dave Matthew's (founder of Reflejo) book “Cómo Enviar 100 Misioneros” but it is not exactly what you are asking for.
I have been assigned to a country (then extend into other nations) upon which the assignment is to see the local church breaking out of the church building walls and begin to establish house churches with their local communities. I find this insight empowering towards understanding the relationship between the local church and its missions involvement.
True, true, so very true. As one serving in Youth With A Mission, I have only seen blessing when we understand our partnership with the local church and the nature of walking hand in hand together to see the kingdom come.
The Bride of Christ. One bride; she is not divided. But she has a DNA, as every living thing has a DNA. And every DNA is comprised of a double helix, the modality and sodality. Neither can say that it has no need of the other. One Bride. One DNA. In every part, a pair of helices. Is this so strange? We already have the revealed truth of "male and female," one image of God. One image of God. A pairing to make it known.
Thanks for putting your thoughts into writing, Ted. I have appreciated your dialogue on this topic. I won't respond in full here, because you know my thoughts. You are right to highlight the need for careful biblical exegesis and to begin with a solid ecclesiology. The distinction of what is and is not a church is a very important foundation. My position simply put is this: local churches are the only biblical prescribed institutions that display the reality of the body of Christ (the universal church). The local church has a very clear biblical prescription for defining it's existence, including being organized for the worship of God, the Great Commission, devotion to the Apostle's teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, the prayers, and church officers. Any organization that does not have these essential elements cannot rightly call itself a church. Thus, terminology, like "parachurch", that distinguishes an organization as something that is not a church is essential. Otherwise, we will be confused as to what a church is. As many organizations have done over the years, they start to act like a church and downplay the necessity of membership in a local church. Because many organizations do not rightly distinguish themselves as not a local church, there has been much confusion about what a church is and does. Terminology like this brings clarity. The Bible is clear about what constitutes a church. And calling something a church that is not a church brings confusion.