The future church

The other night my wife taped a message by a famous author and speaker on a message of what the future church would be like. This being a subject we are interested in we both sat down and watched it the other night. There was no real definition given of what the church is so I guess we weren't too surprised when we heard things that he was describing that seemed to have little relevance to who she might be. There were many good points made in his message but we sensed there were many contradictions in what he was saying.

For instance one of his points was that leaders according to Eph.4 are to equip the body that the body may do the work of the ministry. then later he made the comment that some are more annointed to do the work of the ministry and others have jobs that help support these annointed ministers. We paused the message and said what? And how does this seperation between the clergy and laity bring in the unity of the faith described of in eph.4? He went on to describe how the future church will have the youth involved. By involved he seemed to indicate active in the ministry of the meetings which without a definition of the church seemed to be where the church was. The youth are going to be involved in the worship, as ushers and even as parking lot attendants. Another pause on the tivo. And we said to each other and how is this equipping the church for the work of the ministry? Later one of the points was purpose driven which related to the mission going outward.

I guess we wouldn't have been so shocked except this was coming from a guy who speaks at many of the huge church conferences and churches around the world. We didn't hear him say anything of what God's eternal purpose is for the church. It was all about what we should be doing or involved in etc....

So what is my take on the future church? She is a bride without spot or wrinkle. She hasn't always been that way. God is perfecting her through manifold trials and tribulations. she is and was created to be a habitation for God and God is a habitation for her. There will be no clergy laity in this church. it has different functions and giftings but the individual members are not identified by these but by there relationship to the other members and to Christ.

In 1980 the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the Russians in what is arguably the greatest upset in sports history of the last century. These amatuerers defeated the best pro players in the world. I knew one of the U.S. players. At one point lived within 2 blocks of his family. was in the same grade and school of his older brother. played hockey with his brother and his dad was my track coach. So I knew this guy. To say I was surprised when they beat the Russians was an understatement. There was no way these young guys should have beat the Russians.

The difference was the coach. He got the players to function as a team which worked together as a unit. He got them to shake their identity with their former team and who they were etc... and had them take on a new identity related to the team. Yesterday read an article about the Yankees as they are going to demolish the old stadium. One of the players that played with Mickey Mantel talked about him. He said he was the best guy in the club house he motivated and encouraged the younger players. At one point the team said to Mickey hey you are the captain. He replied I don't know how to be the captain. They said just keep doing what you are doing. He said well I can do that but I know nothing about being a captian. I thought how prophetic. This is what the future church will look like. Lost in the character and fruit of Christ but unaware of individual giftings and titles etc... How can there be a unity of the faith when we hold onto so many other identities? There must be a shaking of all the old identity for this unity to bring the church together as a team or body that becomes the habitation of God.