I recently had a conversation with a friend who was praying to see if God wanted them to start a church in their city. My immediate response?
God’s answer is…“Yes.”
There are two points that need to be made here: One, there’s no need to ask God if He wants you to start a church. He does. Secondly, we need to adjust our paradigm of “church.”
Photo Credit:SilentShot
Don’t Ask. Just Do it.
God doesn’t need you to ask. You don’t need an answer. We should be building The Church everywhere we go.
Our family should be a church.
Our circle of friends should be a church.
The coffee shop or pub where we hang out should be a church.
So yes, we should start a church… in our home, so that it is inviting to non-Christians and Christians alike, where the conversation flows easily and the food is flavorful. Where people can share their pains in a safe atmosphere, and where people can learn about an abundant, excellent life. Where you rejoice in the victories, and offer a shoulder in the failures.
Where people are taught, led, stretched, encouraged, fed, loved, disciplined, hugged, and inspired. And everyone has a role and a gift.
God will never say no to that. Trust me.
Start thinking outside of the box.
So, maybe we need to change our paradigm when we say “church.” Do you mean an sound and video system, interlocking cushiony chairs, a paid staff with offices, and a children’s program? Okay, then you might want to pray about that. In about 5 years.
I’d love to know what you think… Are there situations where God would ever say no to this prayer? Or do you think a church needs a separate building and a paid staff to function?
Thanks for the insightful post, I’m really enjoying reading your thoughts on leadership and faith. I do however, strongly disagree with this post– and might even think it could be damaging more than helpful.
We tend to polarize everything and every thought/principle we stand for, inevitably throwing out the baby with the bath water. In this case, I think our reactions to the unfortunate circumstances taking place in the “modern church”, almost cause us to demonize it’s structure. There are good things taking place in buildings that have resources many “anti-institutionalized church” structures have going for them. It’s not either/or, it’s BOTH, But that’s another discussion for another day…
In regards to the post, we have a Very clear example of men seeking after God in Acts 13. 5 men gathered together in prayer and fasting over the strategic direction of God’s will for the early church… Where should we go? Who should we strategically reach? These are men who desired nothing more than the authentic body of Christ being more than a “building”, and yet they earnestly sought after God’s direction… If they had simply taken the Great Commission and ceased to seek God, how foolish these men would have been.
It’s both. We need to seek God, but also take responsibility for the relationships in our own neighborhoods and community…
I never want to stop asking God for direction… Even in the obvious things.
Keaton-
I think you’re right… it seems these days that it is cool in Christian circles to “church-bash” … that’s not what I want to do.
My point was that God wants us to BE the church, wherever we are. We shouldn’t have to pray about whether God wants us to start “a church”.
What we *should* be praying about is the “How” … How are we going to create church around us: What form is church going to take and who we are reaching, like you mentioned.
I definitely don’t mean that we shouldn’t be praying about how God wants to use us.
Thanks for an excellent comment.
I get where you are swinging from. I find myself standing in direct opposition towards a lot of my peers stuck in indecision, masked in “seeking” direction. I’m all for patiently praying through a situation but never at the expense of progress towards that which God has already stated as good. In our brokenness we remain in motion. In defeat we stand still, waiting to die. A life lived in stillness is a life close to its end.
I say, Go! Do the thing!
If we miss the mark and act out of turn, to the drawing board of repentance and brokenness we retreat. Not for the purpose of being placed in park but intent on moving again.Great post Dave.
Brian-
Thanks, man. You put it really well. We don’t have to pray for things that have already been promised to us… and have already been commanded to us!