Thinking Outside the Box About Ministry and Church

Several interesting questions - not really any answers, but trying to think outside the box.


(NIV)2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. [9] We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate."


I was just thinking about that final statement that Paul makes "... in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate." I was thinking about how the normal church experience is based on a model that has been passed down, one of the professional minister. I certainly won't deny that model for its biblical basis, or effectiveness, but Paul clearly operated on a different model, one of being bi-vocational. He clearly worked so that he could minister effectively, and I think be a better model to those that were in the same boat. He worked, but his life and focus was ministry. Because he did this, he was able to move where ever, and support himself for long periods of time. I believe that this also is an example to the church, of their own ability to be effective ministers. This model calls people into a place of responsibility, and ministry. As I have said before, in this model, you don't ever really retire, you just retire into full-time ministry.


I also started thinking about the whole model of how we do church. Its generally so formal, and liturgical. What would it be like to have a church that was more informal, one where things were more spontaneous, where we valued relationships above religion, where praise and worship flowed out of the joy of being together, sometimes just breaking out spontaneously as good music played? What if there was a place where healings and miracles and testimonies were experienced and celebrated regularly?


One wonders how many people go to church for the social interaction before and after the service? What would happen if a church 'service' was actually mostly that - social interaction? One wonders how many people go to church, just to feel God do something? What if the main draw of the service was the presence of God and He just did stuff, and we celebrated it as He did it? This really gets under my skin, because I like plans and schedules and order and logical flow, and control. What if that's not what the Lord wants?


Thinking outside the box here, thinking outside the box of what we have learned as the model for church. What if the pastoring was done by everyone? What if the majority of the church walked in a ministry mind set and understood they were active ministers? What if the message that was delivered was short, powerful, and left the people wanting more, and that more was available online..? What if there wasn't a focus on presentation and performance, but rather participation?


What if the culture of the church was modeled after the ministry of Jesus, valuing what He valued, ministering like He ministered? Again, not saying the present model is bad, but opening the door for some new, or really old thinking on the subject. Jesus' ministry times don't seem to be so much planned events, but rather the result of crowds gathering, or entering into new territory or towns. Ministry seemed to be accomplished at a personal level, in the midst of the crowds. Surely hundreds and thousands were drawn to Jesus, and He healed them all, and the model we see represented was that of one-on-one ministration - but we also have the example of people being healed from afar, or without Jesus explicit knowledge, or conscious thought. Also, its clear that Jesus had heart for the poor, downtrodden, sick, sinner, and needy, really everyone that is usually less than desirable.


Jesus delegated authority and responsibility to his disciples and apostles, people were ministered to by them, as well as by Jesus. Much of Jesus in depth teaching happened in the private 'small group' meeting following the public gathering. Here Jesus passed on the understanding and knowledge to the disciples. It was in this private setting that He firmly established in His disciples the teaching of the Kingdom, which he demonstrated in the public settings. Clearly he also taught the masses, but he used the private sessions to make sure the disciples understood what He was really saying.


All this is really more questions than answers, and it has me thinking, just looking at things and wondering how it could be different.


Lord, we look to You for wisdom and understanding and direction! We want to see You glorified in all the world.