A Halloween Manifesto

I have a confession to make.  

I'm nervous about Halloween.

Not tonight, or even October 31 next year.

I'm nervous about having to answer my son's questions about Halloween a few years from now. 

Right now he's tiny and cute and innocent and literally knows nothing about the world. But as he grows up, he's going to be faced with a lot of things - good and bad. And it will be my responsibility, as his mom, to help shape his worldview and form his faith. To teach him which category this day fits into, or if it is maybe not as black and white as that.

Which is why I'm writing this post.

I have no idea where I'm going with it but I decided to start it anyways, mostly for my own good. Like a good piece of Jazz music, it will likely be left unresolved, but I decided it's the process that counts.

I have friends and family all over the spectrum - those who, every year on October 31st, carve pumpkins, dress up their kids and go door to door asking for candy; others who dim the lights, lock their doors, and remain silent; and still others who choose 'alternative celebrations.'

But this post isn't for them.

Nor is it for you. Well, perhaps you can get something out of it or contribute to the discussion...but this time it's for me. I have titled this ''A Halloween Manifesto'', which basically means a declaration, a formulation, of my own thoughts and beliefs. I'm writing as a Christian, a believer, a Jesus-follower. I can't say what other people should or should not do, nor can I judge unbelieving friends and neighbors (like I once heard, why should I expect people who do not know God to act like those who do?). I do, though, welcome your input and would love to hear your experiences and perspectives.

Okay, here it goes...

Here in Germany, Halloween isn't quite as big of a deal as it is in North America, but it's becoming more of a 'thing.' In our small village we don't get trick or treaters, but I met a girl today from our neighborhood who is planning on going to a Halloween party tonight and is dressing up as a zombie.

Personally, I have different Halloween memories from my childhood. There are pictures of me dressed up as a nurse, preparing to go trick or treating with other neighborhood kids. Another time I remember going to a church-hosted party with costumes, candy and games. (Actually it isn't so much the party that I remember, but the fact that on the way there, we ran out of gas and my dad had to hitch hike back to town to fill up a container while my brother and I waited in the car with my mom. Must have left more of an impression on me than the church event!)

And tonight, what will I be doing? Either going to bed early after I put my baby down to sleep, or maybe watching a movie with my hubby (and arguing over whether the popcorn should be sweet or salty =D)

Trying to find out the origins of Halloween is nearly impossible. There are those who claim that it is a pagan, dark celebration, other sources that say in olden times it was celebrated as the transition from summer/harvest to winter, and still others who assert that the roots are actually Christian, having something to do with ''All Saints Day'' on November 1st.

Personally, the origins aren't what make or break it for me, since the same questions and debates could and do surround Christmas and Easter. What matters to me isn't how it started, but how I respond to it NOW. 

I must admit, there are aspects of Halloween that are an obvious ''no-no'' for me since I cannot reconcile them with what I know of Jesus and His word:

• Black and darkness - when Jesus said that He, and we as well, are the LIGHT of the world
• Death and tombstones - when Jesus once and for all defeated death by His own sacrifice and offers abundant LIFE instead
• Scariness and evil - when Jesus offers His Shalom PEACE and God is intrinsically GOOD
• Witches and ghost - when the Bible clearly says to not have anything to do with witchcraft, and the only Ghost we should be filled with is the HOLY Ghost
• Pranks and ''trick or treat'' - when the Bible teaches HONESTY and condemns fools
   

Now, I have nothing against dressing up. I myself dressed up as princess on my wedding day (that's at least how I felt =D )

And I don't think it's a problem to knock on your neighbor's door. (Maybe we should do that more often.)

Candy and chocolates tastes yummy.

Pumpkins are fun and cute.

So what's the big deal?

There's a passage in Ephesians 5 that has helped form my perspective on Halloween. It says:

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

 
Certain facets of Halloween are, I believe, ''fruitless'' (or even destructive) and dark. I don't think they are worth celebrating, and I want to live as a child of light.

But in this same chapter, a couple verses later, it states:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Understanding what the Lord's will is - that's what it comes down to, doesn't it? But I have to admit that's not so simple. 

Does ''making the most of every opportunity'' also mean making the most of Halloween? Of course! 

But the question is - HOW?

Should I decorate my porch and give out sweets wrapped in Bible verses to eager children as a way to share my faith?

Or should I intentionally avoid the whole thing, using the opportunity to explain to neighbors why I don't participate in such activities?

Or maybe a few years from now I will invite my son's friends to an alternative event - fun without the dark side, if you want to think of it that way.

I don't know.

Maybe this is one issue that, as the Apostle Paul wrote, is ''possible but not beneficial'' (1 Corinthians 10:23). 

Maybe there is no right or wrong.

But either way, it requires a decision. If I say yes, it shouldn't be because I simply go with the flow and do what everybody else is doing. And if I say no, it shouldn't be because I'm afraid of the ''dark'' side of it affecting me (greater is He who is in me!).

Today, many people are wishing one another a ''Happy Halloween.'' Do you find it a day worth  celebrating? Why or why not?

What does Prosperity have to do with the Gospel?

An online Google search of the term "prosperity gospel" brings up mega-church pastors’ names such as Joel Osteen, teachings such as "believe and receive," and issues like money and self-improvement.

Depending on what you've heard about this topic, or what your experiences are, this will exert either an "Amen!" from you at this point, or rolling eyes, a groan, or a big question mark. Or, if you’re like me, maybe all of the above.

I’ve heard the discussions (and been part of them); I’ve seen quotes and read blogs and flipped through books. And of course this is a huge topic and there are many facets to it, but I would like to dedicate this post to addressing it from one perspective that is important to me.

First of all, what exactly is the “Prosperity Gospel” and what do those who adhere to this stream of teaching believe and promote? A few of the "theological pillars" associated with this movement include Healing, Wealth, Faith and the Power of Words. A common theme heard in this type of preaching is that if you “sow” financially (by donating to the ministry, mainly), God will “give back” multiple times and you’ll reap a blessed monetary harvest. It’s also believed that God’s will is to bless you with good things - therefore, “prosperity.” And this blessing can be taken ahold of through prayer, through speaking positive hopeful thinking aloud in faith, whether it be related to health, financial need, jobs, relationships, etc.

I haven’t concerned myself too much with the details, but that’s my general understanding of the direction it goes. And what are the biggest objections to this stream of teaching? Here is a quote from someone who opposes the movement, and it summarizes alot of what I’ve heard spoken against the prosperity gospel:

A columnist for the Washington Post wrote an article in which she stated,
   

        "Few theological ideas ring more dissonant with the harmony of orthodox Christianity than a      focus on storing up treasures on Earth as a primary goal of faithful living. The gospel of prosperity turns Christianity into a vapid bless-me club, with a doctrine that amounts to little more than spiritual magical thinking: If you pray the right way, God will make you rich." 

In my understanding, a lot of opposition has to do with people thinking that prosperity shouldn’t be the goal of a Christian. Followers of Christ shouldn't have big houses (Jesus didn’t even have “a place to lay his head”); and nice furniture, expensive cars, big successes, etc. are unnecessary and maybe even sinful, because "there is so much need in this world." How can it be "God's will" for us to live in luxury when so many are barely surviving? How can you say God wants to grant us health when there are innumerable instances of people (Christians, for that matter) dying of cancer, being persecuted, dealing with depression, etc.? And, how can you be sure that God blesses financially when the Bible even says that “money is the root of all evil” (or wait...isn’t it something about the “love of money”?)

So what in the world does Prosperity have to do with the Gospel?

When Jesus came to earth, when Holiness and Love Himself took the form of a human baby and grew up under the parenthood of an earthly father and mother, He made His mission as the Son of God and the Son of Man clear:

Explaining His purpose to the Pharisees who were accusing Him and to the Jews who doubted His miracles, Jesus stated that the reason He came to earth was to bring life in abundance (John 10:10).

And in Luke 4:18 He applies an Old Testament prophecy to Himself which fills in the blanks about what this abundant life looks like:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.” (Jesus quoting from Isaiah 61)

And the writer of one of the gospel books asserts: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Salvation. Life. Eternal Life. Abundant Life.

THIS is the Gospel. The Good News. The reason why Jesus came.

Is this a “prosperity gospel?” Well, by all means yes!

The reason I believe that prosperity does have something to do with the Gospel is this:

Prosperity is about so much more than money.

If we want to get into what prosperity is, we first have to consider what prosperity is NOT. What is the opposite of the Good News that Jesus was sent to preach, the reason we need the freedom He proclaims and the favor and comfort that He provides?

The reason is that we are poor.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines poverty as: "the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possession; scarcity; debility." Or from the Oxford dictionary, "the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount." Dictionary.com adds "the state of...having no means of support."

For a long time, I thought 'being poor' meant having no money. I now believe that financial means might be one part of poverty, but it's definitely not the whole picture. A broader description might include aspects such as lack of resources, lack of opportunity, lack of hope.

In fact, when Jesus said He was sent to proclaim good news to the “poor”, the Greek word translated there in Isaiah 61 is ptochos, and means “one who is destitute, afflicted, and lacking.” Basically...helpless. Strong's Concordance defines this use of ptochos as meaning: "of one who crouches; beggarly" or, in a broader sense, "destitute of wealth, influence, position, honors; lowly, afflicted."

The whole gospel is about God’s answer to our human poverty. We were helpless in our sinful state, and “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). In fact, Jesus Christ “for our sake became poor, that we might share in His riches” (2 Cor. 8:9). We lacked the means of salvation; God provided a Savior.


The bottom line? Poverty is about LACK. Not having enough money (but who defines what "enough" is anyways?); not being given enough opportunity (to study, to provide for yourself, etc.); not having the support of friends, community, government; lacking means, lacking hope.

And what is the opposite of Lack? Abundance, Provision, Enough, Plenty, Surplus.

Prosperity.

Prosperity is defined as "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition." Sounds like abundant life to me!

But don’t get me wrong.

I have been to Africa. I have seen mud huts that large families live in, without sanitation, without light, without access to clean water or food, and I’ve wondered how a culture can be so without abundance. I have been to Mexico and seen a put-together-shanty from leftover aluminum pieces and scrap pieces of wood, where children rejoice at the simple concept of a balloon because they have nothing else to play with, and I’ve felt guilty for my prosperity. And I have been to Vancouver and walked along East Hastings Street, shocked at the rawness of a life caught up in addiction and abuse, wishing I could do more to provide hope.

And, I have returned home from these places, wondering why on earth there are a billion choices of cereal in the grocery aisle, why anyone would waste money on another piece of clothing just to keep up with fashion, and not wanting to let the water run while brushing my teeth because I've seen people without access to something so basic according to my prosperous lifestyle.

I've wrestled with theological questions (and still do), such as the definition of "abundant" and what is “enough.” And at the same time I’ve wondered who sets the standard of “rich.” (By the way, did you know that in Switzerland, if you earn less than 5,000 Swiss Francs a month you’re considered “under the poverty line”?).

And how often have I thought, "Oh, I shouldn't waste this food; there are starving children in Africa..." But how much will MY eating one plate of food really help the millions of people dying of starvation? It requires more than a bad conscience to make a change. It begins with worldview, with a renewal of our thinking, and with lifestyle choices.

Jesus proclaimed, in His mission statement, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and had anointed Him to preach to the poor and bring freedom, healing, comfort, provision. And guess what? His mission hasn’t changed. Now, He wants to accomplish that purpose through us.
It's been our call since the beginning - God told Abraham, "I will bless you, and through you, all nations on earth will be blessed" (Gal 3:8). Since we are Abraham's descendants (Rom 4:16), that is God’s will for us as well.

Blessed to be a blessing.

The Bible is full of examples of abundance, stories of Jesus blessing people more than He needed to, more than they perhaps expected Him to.

• Jesus' first miracle was turning water into 600 liters of wine (the best wine!) at a wedding where people had already had enough to drink after partying for a week
• When Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 men, there were 12 baskets of bread leftover!
• "Toss your nets to the other side" Jesus commanded His discouraged disciples who had been fishing all night without catching anything. And, because of their OBEDIENCE, they brought in so many fish that the boat almost sunk!
• Moved with emotion regarding His good friend Lazarus, Jesus didn't just comfort the sisters, grieve with them, or pass on "spiritual sounding" answers - "This must have been part of my Father's will…." No, He called on the Name of His Father and raised Lazarus from the dead!
• And there are innumerable instances where Jesus healed people - sometimes because they asked and sought, and other times because He just chose to.
• Jesus also received abundantly. When a sinful, looked-down-upon woman came to pour perfume on Jesus' feet, Christ’s disciples were uncomfortable and tried to sound spiritual - "shouldn't that have been sold and the money given to the pour?" Jesus answered by saying she had done a blessed thing.
• And, as I mentioned earlier, the greatest example of all is that "He did not spare His own Son” and is still today willing to “give us all things” (Rom 8:32).

What is the purpose of Him giving us all things? What is the point of prosperity?

“You will be made rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

We know the Bible verse - "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matt 10:8).  How can we give if we have nothing to start with? How can we be generous if we ourselves are lacking?

The answer to the desperation of this world is NOT Christians becoming poorer!

Please allow me to clarify:

I do NOT believe that Christians are called to an easy life, and I am definitely not saying that our brothers and sisters in third-world nations or persecuted countries are doing something wrong because they don’t have material wealth.

I am AGAINST leaders using manipulation or anything else in order to get money, Aad my heart BREAKS when I see how many people, especially "Christian" leaders in influential positions, are misrepresenting God and leading people astray. Oh Father, help us! No wonder the World has a skewed perspective of the God/Christianity!

I think it is WRONG to try to manipulate God, or think of Him as a "heavenly vending machine" where we just get what we want out of Him (money, blessings, health, relationships, bigger houses, bigger cars, promotions, etc.) It has always been, and will always be, about relationship.

But about that relationship, the Bible says: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, will not your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?” (Matt 7:11).

God does give, and He gives generously - Wisdom (James 1), Peace (John 14), Love (1 John), His Spirit (John 3:34), Hope (Rom. 5:5), Finances (Philippians 4:19), Healing from diseases (Psalm 103), Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), Gifts and Talents (1 Cor. 12:11) and many other things.

What would it look like for the Church, the Bride of Christ, to be known for her generosity? We are created “in the image of God,” meaning with the potential to give. What if we were so touched with compassion for the broken, the down and out, those facing lack, that we were moved to action and believed that God wants to use OUR hands and feet to bring about change?

And remember, generosity is not defined by numbers, and giving is about more than finances and posessions. A person with $3,000 may be living a more disobedient lifestyle than someone with $3,000,000 if they are not sharing and investing into the Kingdom of God. And remember the story of the Widow’s Mite? Jesus said the lady who put one penny in the offering plate gave more than all the others, since she gave what she had; it was a sacrifice for her. No matter what our social status is or what our bank account looks like, we are called to give. For some that means giving of time, resources, and listening ear, a helping hand. But I believe our faith needs to reach our chequebooks as well. It’s not our money anyway! The God who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” has generosly entrusted His resources to us, and asks us to be faithful.

So what does prosperity have to do with the Gospel? The Good News is the story about God meeting our need and equipping us “with everything needed for life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3) in order that we may serve others with that same generous spirit.

----




Thoughts? Questions? Please feel free to comment and share your own struggles, experiences, perspective!

Like an Orchestra...

I love the biblical portraits of what we as the People of God are supposed to look like. The Church, corporately, is a bride, awaiting the coming of our Bridegroom. We are a body, with Christ as the Head. We are like sheep, with Jesus as our Good Shepherd. We are a temple, each of us as living stones with Christ as the Chief Cornerstone. We are a household, brothers and sisters in Christ with God as our Father.

Last night as Mogi and I watched the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra perform Beethoven's Violin Concert in a big old cathedral in Schwäbisch Hall, another analogy came to mind...the Church is like an Orchestra. 

Of course I like this analogy, because I am musical. But I think there are some pretty neat parallels that can give us a new understanding of both our identity and purpose as the Church.

To start with, an orchestra is made up of many individuals. It cannot be a one-man show, or it will not work. To be a follower of Christ means that we are connected in community––part of a body, part of a household. There are no "lone rangers" in Christianity. But like an orchestra, all the individual members must be in unity. When Jesus prayed for all those who would ever believe in him, he asked his Father, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me" (John 17:23). It is by our unity that the world will know about Jesus––wow! 

Just as there are different instruments in an orchestra, so we as Christians all have different gifts. "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Some gifts may be similar, like a violin and viola, and some people in a group may also have the same gift as the other. But the key is to know when it's your turn to play. Not all of us have gifts that are used in the limelight, like the violin soloist was last night. But his music would not have sounded like it did if he were not accompanied by other, seemingly "smaller" or "less significant" instruments such as the percussionists who played only every so often. Instead of being jealous of other people's gifts or being upset that ours aren't as "noticed," we should appreciate how God has designed us all to work together to accomplish HIS purposes, not ours. "God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other" (1 Corinthians 12:24-25).

As soon as we make life and ministry about us, we lose the unity that is supposed to define us as followers of Christ. If one instrumentalist in the orchestra decided that they wanted to show off their talent, it would have ruined the whole performance. And even in those times when we don't seem to be "playing," it doesn't mean we're not part of the team. We are always participating, even if it is sitting back and encouraging someone else who is playing. We are still contributing to the greater purpose, the bigger picture, the 'song' that God is writing through His Church to a watching and listening world.

There are those gifts though that are more often seen at the forefront. Those of us who are in positions of leadership are held to an even higher standard. In a symphony, it may be less obvious if a quieter instrument makes a mistake or misses a note. But if the main soloist messes up, everybody notices. This is not to imply that it's okay for Christians to sin if nobody notices! We should all be living righteous lives, being holy because the One who called us is holy (1 Peter 1:15). But it is especially those whom God has called as leaders that other Christians should be able to look up to, considering the outcome of their way of life and imitating their faith (Hebrews 13:7). Therefore leaders must be "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:2). As the saying goes, "With great power comes great responsibility." "Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless" (Titus 1:7). The writer of Hebrews exhorts us, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden" (Hebrews 13:17). We are ALL going to be held accountable for the way we handled our gifts and how faithful we were in participating on the team and contributing to the symphony. We want to hear the "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things" from our 'Conductor' (see Matthew 25).


But how does a group of people become unified? How can it be that individuals with different tastes, different gifts, different preferences and ideas, are able to work together and play something so beautiful? How does unity happen? Two more parallels are interesting here. Perhaps the sheet music that the orchestra uses could be a picture of the Bible...it provides the instructions for playing. Yet it is possible to follow the music and play all the notes written, but to still sound bland and boring, or for the instrumentalists to still disagree about what sounds best or what should be done. That is why there is also a conductor. Our conductor is the Holy Spirit. He adds "life" and dynamics to our music––not going against what the sheet music says, but leading the orchestra to follow the notes in a way that produces a sound which draws people in. Of course our job as the Church is not simply to 'perform,' but the reality is that there is a world of people observing us, critiquing us, watching us with keen interest, and the Holy Spirit inside of us ought to be 'enticing.' Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:38). If the water flowing from within us is not refreshing to the parched land around us, we are not being relevant and our 'music' is in vain.

Just as all the members of the orchestra must keep their eyes on both the music and the conductor at the same time, so God has provided us with both his Spirit and his Word to live by. We must worship God in spirit (by His Spirit) and in truth (according to his Word) - John 4:24. We can't have one without the other. I heard a saying the other day... "With only the word, you will dry up. With only the Spirit, you will blow up. With both, you will grow up."

As I watched the conductor last night (who, by the way, was very animated and active), I noticed that he always seemed to be just a bit ahead of the orchestra. That was important, since he was the one leading. So it is with the Holy Spirit. We are to be led by Him, as well as keep in step with him (see Galatians 5). He must be in front, setting the pace, but at the same time we need to keep up, not following along passively at a distance. Do you know what the Holy Spirit is doing and wants to do in your life, your family, your church, school, workplace, etc.? Obedience to the Holy Spirit is an incredibly exciting journey, but we will only experience it if we follow!

{So, how do you see yourself as part of this 'orchestra' which is the Church? How are you doing with following the Conductor and with following the notes––even knowing them by heart? Is your instrument out of tune, or are you taking care of it and putting it to good use?}

 From Psalm 66...

 ¹ Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
 ² Sing the glory of his name;
   make his praise glorious!
³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
   So great is your power
   that your enemies cringe before you.
⁴ All the earth bows down to you;
   they sing praise to you,
   they sing praise to your name.”
                         Selah

 ⁵ Come and see what God has done,
   how awesome his works in man’s behalf!
^...

 ⁸ Praise our God, O peoples,
   let the sound of his praise be heard;
⁹ he has preserved our lives
   and kept our feet from slipping.

...

 ¹⁶ Come and listen, all you who fear God;
   let me tell you what he has done for me.
^...
20 Praise be to God,
   who has not rejected my prayer
   or withheld his love from me!"

Corporate Worship

So I finished my paper, and I want to share what I learned! I'm so glad I did this project––it's something that's been on my mind during my four years here at Bible school.

Let me discuss a few highlights; if you want to read the whole paper, there's a link down at the bottom. Let me know what you think!

My questions going into this were: What does "church" mean? What were the reasons that the early church gathered in the New Testament? Why are Christians supposed to gather together for worship? How does God manifest himself uniquely among a group of believers?

So...The Biblical Purposes of Corporate Worship

Church matters, because our faith is not just a private thing. It never has been a private thing! Being a Christian is not only being a "follower of Christ;" it is being a disciple along with many others in the community of faith. In the Old Testament, God chose a people––the Israelites––to be set apart for Him. He used individual men and women, but the focus was on a people, a nation, being His own. In the New Testament too, God formed a new people. The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, when all the believers were together. The point of God rescuing the Israelites in the Old Testament and redeeming people like us who are under the New Covenant was for the purpose of worship.

So why is it significant that we continue meeting together today? Four reasons (besides that it is a biblical directive): first, because by participating in corporate worship we are able to reflect our identity as the people of God; secondly, to celebrate the work of Christ on the cross; thirdly, to experience the unique presence of God in our midst; and lastly, to serve and be edified by one another.

 It is important to see that the Bible never calls the building where believers gather a "church." We are the church. We are ekklesia––the assembly of the 'called-out-ones.' The biblical idea is that God's people make up the Church (universal and timeless), and it is vital that we meet together.

1) To Express our Identity
In the New Testament there are several metaphors that emphasize the corporate nature of the church. The first metaphor is that of a family (see Gal. 5:10; Eph. 1:4-5; Eph. 2:19; Heb. 2:11). We are, in a spiritual sense, brothers and sisters, fellow members of God's household. When we refer to each other as "brother" or "sister", it isn't just 'churchy' talk––it's a reflection of our very identity! And what family can function well if it is not together? We meet because we're a family.

The second metaphor is that of us, together, being a temple (Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:5). Yes, individually each of our bodies is a temple of the Holy Spirit, but also we are corporately being built together to become God's dwelling; we are living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices to God. The Holy Spirit dwells among us in a corporate sense as each living stone is in fellowship with others.

The third metaphor is that of the body. This is probably the most familiar pictures. In 1 Corinthians 12 we read that we are the body of Christ, and each of us is a part of it. Being a body implies the togetherness of all the members. We belong to one another (Rom. 12:5) and each part must do its work in order to be built up in love (Eph. 4:16).

So we meet as a reflection of who we are: a family, a temple, a body. And just by our meeting together in unity, we serve as a witness to the world. (See my paper for more comments on that.)

2) To Celebrate Christ
What do we do when we meet together then? Of course Christ should be central to any Christian gathering. It is ‘in the Lord’ that believers can rejoice (Phil. 3:1), in Him that they stand firm (Phil. 4:1), in Him that they are strong (Eph. 6:10), in Him that they were chosen and have redemption (Eph. 1) and in Him that they are now being built up (Col. 2:7). Therefore participation in corporate worship is about expressing our identity as God’s people, as well as celebrating the work of Christ. We celebrate through our singing, through our encouraging one another, through our praying, through our giving of offerings. One very significant celebratory act in corporate worship is participating in communion, or the Lord's Supper. Jesus told his disciples to eat the bread (symbolic of his body which was about to be broken for them) and drink the wine (symbolic of his blood about to be poured out for them) in His remembrance. And Paul explained to the Corinthians that whenever believers gathered to eat the bread and drink the cup, they were proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes again (1 Cor. 11:26).

3) To Experience God's Presence
Celebration and praise are important. But we can do that anytime, can't we? Aren't we called to give thanks in all circumstances? Aren't we called to daily offer our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord as acts of worship? I discovered that the New Testament writers, when they talk about corporate "worship services" or Christian gatherings, do not use the typical language of worship such as "offering," "sacrifice," etc. They use those words when referring to an individual's relationship with God (such as Romans 12:1) but never in the context of corporate worship. Christ should always be central, yes, but there's a reason beyond praising Him for which he calls us together. God does something unique in the midst of his people when they worship together. Here are a couple examples:

In 2 Chron. 20 we read the story of King Jehoshaphat, who when faced with a vast army coming against him proclaimed a corporate fast for all of Judah to seek the Lord for help. He prayed in the midst of the assembly, and then “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel” (v. 14). God spoke specifically to Jahaziel in this corporate context, giving instructions for the people and telling him to remind them that the battle was not theirs; God would deliver them. They next day they set out for battle, and Jehoshaphat appointed men––at the head of the army––to sing to the Lord and praise him, saying “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” Verse 22 recounts, “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” The men of Judah, led by Jehoshaphat, returned to Jerusalem and praised the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets (v. 28).
The Lord, in the assembly of his people, had revealed his plan, and through corporate worship, victory was granted to the people of God and they were preserved!

A similar story, though on a smaller scale, is found in the New Testament. The corporate praise of Paul and Silas brought about great victory as well. After casting a fortune-telling spirit out of a young girl, these two men were flogged and thrown in prison. Acts 16:25-26 tells the story of what happened next: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” All the prisoners were set free, and even the jailer asked how he could be saved! Truly where two or three come together in Christ’s name, he is there with them (Matthew 18:20). God honors the meeting together of his people, and as they celebrate Him, he reveals Himself in power!


4) To Serve and be Edified by One Another This is, I believe, one of the most important points. I say this because I think it's where, in so many of our churches, we are getting it wrong. As I mentioned before, in the New Testament, corporate gatherings are never described specifically as "worship times," nor is worship even mentioned as the reason for gathering. The terminology that writers such as Paul do use though, is that of "up-building" and edification. Examples of this are found in 1 Corinthians 14––”strengthening, encouragement, and comfort….that the church may be edified….try to excel in gifts that build up the church” and Ephesians 4:11-16––“so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith….we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head….the whole body….grows and builds itself up in love.”

How does edification happen then? To a large extent this is the purpose of spiritual gifts. But how many believers actually know what their spiritual gifts are, or have the opportunity to use them on an average Sunday morning? Corporate gatherings should be times of participation. In most of our services, it is easy to go in the morning, sing a few songs, sit through a sermon, and leave, without having even contributed anything or said hi to anyone. This isn't what the New Testament church looked like!

This leads into some suggestions I have for those who are involved in planning corporate gatherings. Firstly, I believe that the New Testament encourages extemporaneous input by believers in corporate worship. Yes, “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40), but this does not negate the possibility of individuals not “on stage” to speak up during church services.
 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that when believers came together, each one had a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. This is powerful! Every part of the body, each living stone, and every family member was able to participate. In our services today this may look like a time of open testimony, an opportunity to hear what God is doing in our midst.

The second challenge is to grow in prayer. We see that the early church met quite often to pray––they gathered in homes (Acts 12:12) on numerous occasions to pray, as well as a variety of other contexts. We are told of corporate prayers for guidance, meetings to give thanks for deliverance from persecution, prayers for effectiveness in ministry, leaders' meetings to pray for those beginning a new ministry, and a church meeting to pray for the release of Peter from prison. In the churches that I have been part of, prayer is given such a minute role. It may happen at the beginning or end of a service, in between a couple songs, and before the offering. But I believe God is calling us to a higher level of intercession––praying for the needs amongst ourselves, praying for our cities, praying for the world. He has given us the authority, and if we want to see Him move, we will have to step it up!

The third suggestion is to have a stronger focus on small groups (or cell groups, Bible studies, whatever you want to call them). This is probably the closest representation of what "church" looked like for the earliest group of Christians, as they met in people's homes, and occasionally all the home churches in a city met together to pray or hear Scripture read. Many of the actions of worship that may be difficult to implement in a large corporate setting may be done in a small group. These include everything from sharing meals, singing, and praying to teaching, prophesying, and fasting.

Dan Kimball, who wrote a book about emerging worship, states that to most people, "church" (as in the Sunday-morning version) involves only 1.8% of their time and facilitates only about 20% of their spiritual formation. Why, then, as church leaders, do we seem to put 80% of our time, effort, and resources, into something that produces such little long-term spiritual growth? We need to begin focusing on small groups, relationships, discipleship, mentoring, and leadership opportunities outside of once-a-week gatherings.


So...church. What has your experience been? What are your thoughts or questions?

Oh, here is the link to my full paper if you're interested: The Biblical Purposes of Corporate Worship: By Kristyn Mogler

Thanks for reading this! I'd love your comments and discussion.

Your sister and fellow living stone (not sure what part of the body I am :-) ),

Kristyn

What do you think about church?

I'm in the middle of writing a paper about church, and I'd like your opinion! Whether you've grown up in the church or never attended a service, let me know what thoughts or questions you have.

I'm focusing on the corporate aspect of church, and not necessarily on what it means to be a Christian and follow Christ.

Here are the questions I'm hoping to tackle:
1) What, biblically, constitutes 'corporate worship'? Is it a Sunday morning church service with 500
people, or a group of two or three people praying together, or everything in between?
2) What were the purposes for which the church in the New Testament (the early church) gathered? How do they set an example for us?
3) How/why does God uniquely manifest himself to a group of believers in a way that is different than he does for, say, my own times of prayer and Bible reading throughout the week?

So...what do you think? I'm just in the beginning stage of this paper so my thoughts aren't fully formed, but next week I'll share some of what I'm learning and thinking about. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to have some discussion about our church experiences (good or bad) and what you think God's purposes are for his people to meet and worship together.

Loving being part of the community of God's people,
Kristyn