People Under Construction
By Juleun A. Johnson, D.Min.
I have a true confession for you. I love church. I enjoy the music, the fellowship, the preaching, and the worship experience. I am a Seventh-day Adventist preacher’s child that became a pastor. Matter of fact, recently I realized I have been working for the church for 15 years. But what is the church? How should it function? What would the ideal church look like? What changes should it take what problems should it address? What pitfalls should be avoided? I would like to offer a perspective of what I feel that the church can do to continue to remain a strong voice.
The church is a group of people that claims the name of Christ. A more formal definition of the church comes from fundamental belief #12, The Church. It says:
The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to humanity, and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel.
This is a great insular definition. It reveals the nature of the church being for us and not so much others. Is it possible that this definition of what the church is creates an atmosphere of what the current state of the church? This definition uses doctrine as a basis for inclusion in the church as the body. By doing so the definition allows for seeking, finding, and searching for faults of others based on not living up to the “standards.” I do not deny that churches need structure and organization to survive but what about people in this post-millennial society that look at structures as obstructions to life? Churches in western society are dying left and right. Some churches are on life support, others are in the intensive care unit, others need serious urgent care. I couldn’t resist I am a healthcare chaplain.
I have served as a rural, suburban, and urban church pastor. I have come to find that there is one note that rings true with many church people. Many have stopped short of conversion. Many outside people are convinced that there is something to spiritual things and God, Jesus Christ, and some other mystical being. Many well-meaning Christians by birth or association have been convicted that they like Paul much change their worldly ways to follow God wherever God leads. However, I would dare say that many people have fallen short of true conversion, which is necessary for the church to be empowered to function at a very high level.
Convinced people are very warm and welcoming and are looking for evidence that the talk matches the walk. Convicted people over time can lose their Ephesian first love to a Laodicean slumber. Converted people do not need affirmation or approval to love unconditionally all people for whom Christ died. In short, the church in a way is suffering from a power failure. Our Methodist ancestry ensures that structurally we will have challenges with power. Following the Methodist hierarchy we have duplicated system of church governance that keeps us in a circle of committees, possibly losing touch with contemporary needs of local environments. However, the most powerful entity on the planet is the local church. It is a group of diverse people, by way of age, nationality, gender, education, and occupation who come together to encourage one another on a weekly basis.
In my clinical training, my supervisor assigned us to go Alcoholics Anonymous. If I didn’t have your attention before, I sure have it now. Reluctantly, I went, partially because it was a requirement. But something happened to me in the meeting, I began to cry. Tears flowed as I realized I was around people who were honest about where they were in their lives and the help they needed. I heard the 12 steps being repeated and I realized if church went like this it could revolutionize the world. We have a liberating message at times offered in a stifling package. As soon as I had that experience…I went to church. I told my church about my experience at Alcoholics Anonymous. They looked at me like I lost my mind. I had. I was and still am crazy enough to believe the church must be a place of transformation.
In order to remain transformed the church must continue to rely on its most powerful asset. The members in the pew. Seventh-day Adventist Church members are the most powerful group of church people. How should the power be used? The power of the church must be used to reinforce the idea of transformation. The transformation that occurs must be as a direct result of a continual encounter with our Creator. The stories of that transformation are what provide the power and impetus for change and growth. Do you know how the people in your church joined the church? Beyond a flyer, seminar, or Bible study what was going on in them that they knew that needed to change? What if every month you heard the stories of how people in your church came to the Lord? The Sabbath reinforces the idea that we must commune with God in order to keep a strong connection. If the only thing that happens is a rehearsal of what happened 20 years ago. Something is wrong. God’s blessings are new every day. If the blessings are new, but the stories are old, something is wrong.
If your church only attracts people of the same demographic something is malfunctioning. The gospel is for everyone. If your church is satisfied watching the news versus making news something is wrong. If your church is into self-preservation as opposed to love empowered action something is broken. In order for your church to get out of second gear it must take an honest and candid look at itself. Do the systems and structures of the corporate church fit my local need? Thom Rainer in his book Simple Church gives a very clear four part method for church effectiveness: clarity, movement, alignment, and focus (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2011). Does your church have a clear form of communicating? Are you moving together? Is there alignment between the pastor and board, and member to member? What is the focus for this year or the next five?
To merely desire new baptisms and people is like desiring a new car or new shoes. Many people want the newest car and newest fashion if money were no issue. However, what are you doing with the car and clothing items you have? Church and conference rolls are over run with names of people who may or may not be attending. One conference president I worked for did a membership audit. The numbers of the actual members was astounding. What if we kept the people who were kids? What if we discipled those who were baptized? We can’t use rotary phone methods in an iPhone society. For too long the emphasis has been on right living as a product versus a process of development. Plastered on the church walls should be a sign “people under construction.” Think about it. How long did it take the church to come up with a set of beliefs and standards to operate? Several years. In 150 plus years of existence of the church it was recently 5 years ago voted to have a doctrine on Growing in Christ.
Imagine how much more full the church would be, how vibrant the witness if the emphasis was on growing vs. being an adult. Currently, one must agree and have a general knowledge of most doctrines before getting baptized. Paul even says that new babes in Christ need milk; our church does better! We give steak as prophecy and unlocking seals. Is this wrong? No. But if I don’t know myself, and am learning about Jesus why is the emphasis on John and Revelation? Give me Jesus!!! Let me grow up to learning about other things of importance. Let me continue growing because sanctification is a process of daily spiritual construction
Creating a shift in focus for the church requires a shift in attitude of churches themselves. The church can no longer be a country club for former everything’s. It has to be a community of transformation for people who have issues, burdens, problems, and victories. I would like to offer my definition of the church. My definition: The church is a community of people who are being transformed by the character, life, and stories of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Who can’t belong to this church? It gives an opportunity for people to go through their own process.
In order for there to be a shift there must also be a change in emphasis. Every TGI Fridays is not the same size. They tailor make their locations to meet the dimensions of the space. Despite size challenges they serve a product that is consistent. The challenge for each congregation is that it must determine not to water down the gospel but serve it in a way that it can best be received in that community. Dave Browning’s book Deliberate Simplicity (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009). speaks about building a network of reproducible and predictable churches that invest themselves in the community for the upbuilding of the cause of God. How can this idea influence the way church happens now?
Some places may not need the existing church. There are not enough people, key families have left, children have grown up, and patriarchs have died. Churches in many cities and towns are struggling to pay utilities and conference remittances do not necessitate the need for a full-time pastor. Districts are growing larger and the patience of faithful members is shrinking. What should happen? Some churches need to merge, some need to close, others need to be buried, while some can be resurrected.
I would offer that every area needs the presence of God’s word and power. To accomplish this task of fulfilling the gospel commission I would encourage another level to the system in place. As it stands we have missions, companies and churches. I would offer that we need lighthouses. These lighthouses would serve well in rural areas where you need a presence. They include doing mission projects: reading classes, financial seminars, feeding programs and bible story hour, just 2 days a week. Any 2 days. This can be done in already existing buildings enlisting the aid of the community associate members to help.
I believe that the greatest days of the church are ahead of us. To become ready for the great out pouring of the future more prayer is needed, more collaboration is needed, more power is needed. I long for the day where technology, innovation, and a deep spiritual walk are synonymous with every believer. As the church and community moves through the advances of society one thing remains, Jesus is coming again!
Juleun A. Johnson is a chaplain at Florida Hospital in Orlando. He is a graduate of Oakwood University and Andrews University, and earned a D.Min. from Claremont School of Theology in Spiritual Care and Counseling.
Chaplain Johnson makes some helpful observations and brings us to a deeper spiritual understanding of the often frustrating, but sometimes joyful and enriching relationships we find among the fellowship of those who follow Jesus. The local church as we know it today is largely a creation of the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago and the development of modernity since that time. It looks a lot more like a self-governing club or association than the original congregations described in the New Testament. The issues described here are, among other things, shaped by the extreme individualism that society has developed compared to the social context of 2,000 years ago. Regardless of context and specific issues, I appreciate how Chaplain Johnson helps us think about the fundamental principles that Jesus expects of His followers.
It is my hope that more of this spirit can be exhibited in the comments section of the Adventist Today web edition. We need to write from a welcoming, supportive and caring perspective. I appreciate how this article reinforces those values.
Thank you, Monte. I agree. I wouldn’t say this is an entirely new note that we’re hearing sounded, but it certainly seems to represent almost all of the people Juleun’s age and under. What I don’t know is how this is going to translate at the denominational level.
Loren,
At an administrative level, it may get some lip service in the same way that trends of thought get reflected. I think the real question is if the concept of adapting the Gospel to meeting people where they are will be understood by the members. I do not expect those who have been schooled for many years in the model of single-method evangelism will understand it, but those who have had to struggle and find how to adapt the Gospel to their life in the modern world will understand it intimately. The real test is in applying it in a church devoted to single-mode evangelism because it means stepping away from the norm and learning to operate directly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
William, the church I grew up in worked pretty hard to translate the gospel into the cultures in which people lived. Thousands of Adventist missionaries would justifiably be hurt and insulted by the canard that the church has been insensitive to the cultures in which it has witnessed. Let’s see…the gospel transforms. But don’t dare try to export the cultural transformation God has wrought in your life. That’s cultural imperialism! I am really quite sick of “liberal” reformers in the church trying to impose their cultural value norms on “mainstream” Adventism, while insisting that the church must anonymously, disinterestedly and non-judgmentally satisfy the needs, wants and feelings of the objects of its mission service, without attempting to transform the culture or values of those it serves through the religious, Biblical foundations that vitalize the faith community.
It appears as though the editor was perhaps taking his sabbath afternoon nap when this was posted.
” Is it possible that this definition of what the church is creates an atmosphere of what the current state of the church?” – What?
“Many well-meaning Christians by birth or association have been convicted that they like Paul (much?) change their worldly ways to follow God wherever God leads.”
“The transformation that occurs must be as a direct result of a continual encounter with our Creator.” – Awkward
“Following the Methodist hierarchy we have duplicated system of church governance that keeps us in a circle of committees, possibly losing touch with contemporary needs of local environments.” – More awkward
“If the only thing that happens is a rehearsal of what happened 20 years ago. Something is wrong.” – Good grief!
There’s more, but you get the point. An otherwise fine article marred by sloppy writing and editing.
So, I guess, it doesn’t matter that it’s a “fine article.” sigh
Maybe you could gift us with your reasons why it’s fine?
Juleun,
You have definitely given us some deep things to consider and described a challenge to keep before our thoughts as we see how we relate to each other in the church. Thank you.
Realizing the need to understand a person’s spiritual state and to nurture them from that point changed my attitude toward ministry and I have seen God blessing much more since that time. One of the things I have learned along the way is that the Holy Spirit is amazingly capable of guiding and giving me the words to share spiritual principles to meet a person where they are. So it is an amazing thing watching how He works and being a partner with Him.
I’m having a difficult time making sense of this Commentary. I mean, sure, I’m all for a vibrant, growing church. But the farrago of church growth bumper stickers you offer, Juleune feels just a bit jejune (pardon the pun).
You sort of wordsmith your way to straw man rhetorical distinctions between what the church is and what it should be. (We have missions, companies and churches; we need lighthouses. We are convinced and sometimes convicted; but we need members who are converted. We need to emphasize love-empowered action instead of self-preservation.)
You denigrate the definition of church set forth in F.B. 12 as insular. It describes a community of confessing believers who join together for sacramental worship, service to humanity and proclamation of the gospel. That seems pretty good to me. I don’t see what’s so insular about it. Nevertheless, I eagerly wait to read your profound improvement on this “insular” definition. What is it? “A community of people who are being transformed by the character life and stories of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit.” Huh??? That’s it? And the definition in F.B. 12 is insular? Is your definition all that distinct? Concepts like”confessing,” “sacraments,” “mission,” and “proclamation,” add powerful Christian content in F.B. 12 that is missing from your definition. Both the church you demonize and the church you idealize are present in every believer to one degree or another. How are rhetorical abstractions…
Nathan,
Paul said,
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Elder Johnson would have written a stronger essay if he had focused more on what he has done to imitate Paul, the servant unto all, rather than get bogged down in the abstract explanation of what the church might do. He is headed in the right direction, but gets sidetracked in prescriptive hypotheticals instead of describing what is being done.
Elder Johnson wants the church to be all things to all men so that by all means it might save some. The missionaries I know would not be hurt by the charge they have been insensitive within the cultures where they witness. They know how easy it is, in ignorance, to offend. But the missionaries’ problem is sin is so pervasive in all cultures that it is impossible not to be insensitive. By definition, a missionary is an iconoclast.
Left the SDA church to find the true gospel. The leaglism is rampant. The Sabbath is a condition of salvation. A religion of works. White is evil. Adventist are just like the sadducees and Pharisees. Heard a prison minister who refused to baptize inmates because they drank coffee. Just imagine an alcoholic. Wish all my old Adventist friends would see the truth about this cult.
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