The Metro model for urban churches, which I worked on extensively before Seattle Metro Church really got started, has lain dormant for over a year. I haven’t opened the intricate little diagram with its text boxes and symbols to tweak or rename anything. If anything, I’ve realized in recent months that my model didn’t exactly work itself out. But I think it’s time to start looking at what church might look like if we start with theology rather than tweaking current practice. This is what I’ve obtusely called a theologically congruent ecclesiology - a way of doing church that truly reflects the content of our faith.
Theological starting points:
“Whenever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with them” - sometimes, without any larger organization or planning, church just happens
Creation
Crucifixion
Ephesians 4/fivefold ministry - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers
Eschaton
Fivefold leadership paradigm of Ephesians 4 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers)
Great Commission Jesus gave to the church
Holistic 24/7 faith
I don?t think church structure or ecclesiology has to be the big deal we often make of it. It?s probably just a small part of what God really wants church to be. The bulk of the work is loving God, loving each other, walking in faith, walking in power, and studying God?s word. It might sounds overly simple, but we just have to go out and really do it.
Identity of the church as the called-out people of God
In but not of the world
Incarnation, and the corresponding need to contextualize the Gospel
Inherent unity of the church universal
Kingdom-now message of Jesus
Leadership model of shepherds under the Shepherd
Light of the World/Salt of the Earth
Meeting people where they are, but not leaving them there
Missio Dei
Missional vocation of the church in the world
Peoplehood
Prayer & spiritual disciplines
Priesthood of all believers
Prophetic visions & injunctions toward social order & justice
Release for the prisoners, sight for the blind
Resurrection
Resurrection, and the identity of the people of God as a Resurrection people
Sacrificial life of Jesus
Signs of God’s future breaking into the present
The distinct differences between Christians & non-Christians
The Kingdom of God
The need for leadership; differential roles, gifts, calls
The need for long term interaction for conversion
The not-yet/already paradox of the kingdom
Treating the Needy as Jesus
Trinity
Unified, cross-cultural local character of the church modeled in scripture
Unique gifting and calling of each Christian to ministry
Only God knows who are His
The lack of physical wealth in the NT church
Deep Ecclesiology (Andrew Jones)
Conregational vs. trans-congregational
NT city-church model
The spontaneous expansion of the church / rapid multiplication expected
Church is something beyond us, that is out of our control, and is only in God’s control
(more were suggested here)
So…above are some starting points. Where do we go from here? How do all these emphases inform a real-world church?
