Christ establish the church, but people create and operate its institutional form. A church is an autonomous spiritual body under the leadership of Christ and governance must provide for ascertaining the mind of Christ. All members have equal rights and privileges in a church, therefore the church government must not obscure the unit of the body of Christ by allowing superior/ subordinate relationship in the structure. Organisation but relate persons to persons and persons to tasks in orderly ways that meets needs, helps persons grow, and facilitate achievement of a church's mission. Church government must provide for both long term and short term activities. Considering the principles and application stated above with regard to church governance, the congregational model of church government would seem to work best and most effectively in the local church.
Congregational church government stresses the role of the individual christian and makes local congregation the seat of authority. At the heart of the model is the belief that the local congregations are to govern their own affairs and this stands in contras to both Episcopacy and Presbyterianism. Two concepts are basic to the congregational model i.e. autonomy and democracy whereby the local congregation is independent, self-governing and has a voice in its affair.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Role of the Church in a Pluralistic Soceity
"When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must e treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God". (NIV- Lev19:33-34)
Today's church is surrounded by a plurality of races, languages, custom, cultures, colors and religions. A pluralistic society is one in which diverse ethnic, racial, religious and social groups live and maintain an independent participation in and development of their culture within the confines of a common civilization.
The purpose of the church is that of reaching people of all nationality which is the great commission of our Lord. We as a church must rise above color of a man's skin, is language and accept him as an equal brother in the church that reveals the love of Christ. God's purpose throughout all human history is that forming a new people of all ethnicities, culture and nationalities under Christ's sovereignty. The instrument God uses are us of all cultures working together for this one purpose, thereby uniting and enriching the church.
To be the effective church in a pluralistic society means that we rise above the nationalism, the ethnicity, the language and cultural church separates and that we deliberately incorporate people of divest ethnicities into our fellowship- "Be a church to the world".
The call to evangelise is a command. Having accepted Jesus as Lord, the disciples had brought themselves under His rule and obligated to do whatever He asked. If we truly love the Lord, we should carry out His call to evangelise. Therefore, if a church is to be faithful to the Lord and bring joy to His heart, it must be engaged in bringing the Gospel to all people. It is no more an option but a must for a church to evangelise to everyone.
God Bless...
Today's church is surrounded by a plurality of races, languages, custom, cultures, colors and religions. A pluralistic society is one in which diverse ethnic, racial, religious and social groups live and maintain an independent participation in and development of their culture within the confines of a common civilization.
The purpose of the church is that of reaching people of all nationality which is the great commission of our Lord. We as a church must rise above color of a man's skin, is language and accept him as an equal brother in the church that reveals the love of Christ. God's purpose throughout all human history is that forming a new people of all ethnicities, culture and nationalities under Christ's sovereignty. The instrument God uses are us of all cultures working together for this one purpose, thereby uniting and enriching the church.
To be the effective church in a pluralistic society means that we rise above the nationalism, the ethnicity, the language and cultural church separates and that we deliberately incorporate people of divest ethnicities into our fellowship- "Be a church to the world".
The call to evangelise is a command. Having accepted Jesus as Lord, the disciples had brought themselves under His rule and obligated to do whatever He asked. If we truly love the Lord, we should carry out His call to evangelise. Therefore, if a church is to be faithful to the Lord and bring joy to His heart, it must be engaged in bringing the Gospel to all people. It is no more an option but a must for a church to evangelise to everyone.
God Bless...
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