Loving One Another

During my faith walk I have been involved in many different churches. I have been involved in country churches. I have been involved in city churches. I have been involved in small churches. I have been involved in big churches. In the last 4-5 years I have also had ‘limited’ involvement in a couple of ‘emergent’ style churches which I have thoroughly enjoyed and have and still do enjoy many close friendships with people that are experimenting with church. Currently I am involved in a small, country church. Throughout this time I have been involved with many highs and have also been involved with many lows in church life and it is from this background that I share the following.

I believe large churches have a very important part to play in the church landscape. I believe that large churches are specifically placed and grown by God. I believe that without large churches, small churches (and new churches) wouldn’t have the same impact as what they can have when supported by larger churches or denominations.

It pains me, as part of a small church, to see so much negativity thrown the way of large churches, both in Australia and around the world. In Australia part of it could be attributed to ‘tall poppy syndrome’ but that doesn’t account for the same mentality that seems to show itself in other countries.

Now please understand that I do NOT subscribe to the theory that as Christians we can ‘never’ disagree and ‘shouldn’t voice our concerns about particular practises that are maintained by churches. I whole-heartedly agree that the church IN GENERAL is NOT living the mission of Jesus as it should. I definately subscribe to the idea that if the church WAS then there would be less poverty, less broken and hurting people, less sickness and more people following Jesus. There can be no doubt that we, as the church WHOLE, can do a lot better. What I have trouble with is the assertion that, because large churches have more resources (which they do), that they must be to blame for this lack. It is ofen said that if churches spent less on themselves, and more on the poor and hurting that we would have a better world and let me say, there is also truth in this statement.

It is at this point that I want to raise what I believe is part of the problem, but in raising this I find myself guilty also, with this very post. I believe that the church has a serious problem with ‘generalisation’ and a severe lack of making comments based on relationships.

2 cases in point, 1 that is very close to my heart and 1 that i have some credibility to comment with.

Subiaco Church of Christ, my previous church home, is what would be described as a ‘larger’ church by Australian standards, with a regular attendance between 700-1000 people. It has large facilities, has been considering a ‘building program’ for some time, owns about 5 projectors, has a very large budget, believes in the ‘buy-in’ factor, often utilises marketing idea’s for church growth, and basically does a LOT of other things that are generally complained about regarding large churches. Subi church has also hurt people, has driven some people away from the faith and is generally far from perfect. However, Subi church is making a significant difference to the lives of MANY thousands of people around the world and I have a very difficult time when I talk with people who opening try and pull down this faith centre.

If you were to visit the slum baptist church in Maurirui, Kenya, and ask them what they think of ‘Subi church’, they would most likely tear up when describing the great depth of thankfullnes that they hold towards Subi. When I visited in 2007 they were in the process of looking at a church plant, which they were wanting to call ‘Mount Subi Baptist’ or something like that. 2 members of our team who had visited Maurirui 2 years previous were deeply moved when they saw how much Maurirui Church had changed their slum because of the support they receive from Subi. Another praise story for Subi would be to speak to the thousands (and I mean thousands) of Pastor’s in Africa who have been to a leadership conference that Subi’s Senior Pastor has spoken at, and ask them their thoughts on him and Subi church and, once again, you would see grown men tearing up because ‘someone’ took the time to care about helping them, in their struggles, to pastor their churches.  

These are but two of MANY stories that I could share about the difference Subi church is making GLOBALLY, without even mentioning the local difference.

Another example of a large church, which I comment on THROUGH RELATIONSHIP, is Metro Church in Perth (and more generally the Christian Outreach Centre denomination). Metro Church is definately one of the bigger churches in Perth, which is involved in the evil of televising it’s services! (note SARCASM!) It is also the lead church regarding the Red Frog Crew in WA. The Red Frog Crew in WA are a leavers support agency that goes to all the hot spots around the state to care for and comfort leavers, accomodation providers and local people throughout the leavers celebration period.

Recently a conference was held regarding the running of leavers. In attendance were head police offices, government officials, health care providers, local shire representatives and other support agencies. One person commented to another member involved in running leavers ’I don’t know why they bother, this red frog crew…they don’t help’ to which the leadership member responded something like ‘anybody who would even CONSIDER trying to run leavers WITHOUT the Red Frog Crew have rocks in their head, I would certainly not want to be involved. You have been misguided greatly.’ Generally, the Red Frog Crew (and other Christian agencies such as Baptist Youth and Drug Arm) are seen as ABSOLUTELY pivotal to the reduction in problems at Leavers, and the Red Frog Crew only operate as effectively in WA because of the support of Metro Church and the COC denomination. Through the Red Frog Crew, MANY people (leavers, accommodation providers and other leavers agencies) have had their distorted views of faith EXTREMELY challenged, many of which have commented how much differently (and better) they view the Christian faith BECAUSE of the relationships formed with Red Frog Crew people.

Currently I am involved in, and love, the small country church I attend. It is very different to the Riverviews, the Metro’s, the Subi’s and the Whitford’s (although at the same time it is more like them than many of ther other local churches) and nor should it be. It is unique. It also carries a LOT of weaknesses. There is a lot going on that is NOT good. But it also is making a difference, in different ways.

I suppose the crux of this discussion for me is that I am very quickly getting tired of so many people of faith (note my guilt in generalising here) that are so convinced that bagging churches that are DIFFERENT to the style they feel best encompasses the mission of Jesus, is supportive to the overall growth of the Kingdom. I am not saying we can’t ‘discuss’ the weaknesses…and look to rectify them. As I said above CLEARLY, the church as a whole is NOT as effective as it should be at being the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, so ‘something’ is wrong somewhere…but when we comment about weaknesses can we please do so from a heart that is positive, and not negative?

I guess some of this comes to mind because of recent difficulties I have see in churches. Sometimes legitimate weaknesses are discovered by people who are hurt…but sadly these weaknesses are then raised from a hurt heart in a negative manner. The weaknesses are legitimate, but because of the method chosen to raise these weaknesses, the end result is not the correcting and edifying of the body, but the pulling down of the body of faith. Can we please, when we note a weakness, consider how to both objectively and lovingly work out how to raise said weakness…rather than commenting out of the hurt that we feel? Because THIS is something that causes stumbling to EVERY kind of church, small, medium, large, missional, incarnational, attractional, whatever.

My final word. People in small churches, stop looking up to large churches as if you must be like them. Many of the churches that I see making the most difference in their community are VERY, VERY simple and small churches, it is just they know what they have in Jesus and know who they are. Get out their, work for the Kingdom with the means you have, seek earnestly the heart that God has for your area, and LOVE people.

Large churches, support small and new style churches. Its not an ‘us vs them’ but a we, it has to be! Don’t assume to have all the answers because God has blessed you with a multitude of believers. Motivate your troops to continue to make more and more difference. The measure you have received means, i believe, that you will be expected to do more and it is from this calling that you will answer to Jesus.

New style churches, rather than commenting on the weaknesses of large churches (which are many any varied), get out into the pubs, clubs, cafe’s, whatever and reach the people you feel called to. Work in partnership with your fellow brothers and sisters for the greater good.

And fellow Brothers and Sister who have been hurt (by whatever type of church) please, deal with your hurt and build relationships with fellow brothers and sisters of many and varied styles. If you see a genuine weakness with a group you are in relationship with, your comments are more likely to have a positive outcome than generally flinging stones at groups you have never been involved with.

John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”