Within the last month some gossip was spread about me questioning my stability in Church membership... who spread these false rumours and why does not concern me... However, it has provoked some deep thought over what it means to be "rooted" at a Church fellowship and the differences between that and "Church Hopping".
Firstly, I want to share my views on what I define as being "Church"... many people today (in particular, those who do not share in the Christian faith) believe that the Church is a building where Christians meet and do Christian stuff such as worship, pray and eat bread and drink wine. Unfortunately, there are also those who say they are Christian, yet share the very same view.
It seems that today, the word Church is used by many people to refer to a building comes from the Greek word "Kuriokos" which means "House of a Lord". Whilst in itself, is largely correct when using the word Church in a descriptive form in reference to the building in which Christians meet. Indeed this also concurs with some Christians who will use the phrase "House of God" to refer to the building.
However, like it or not, it goes far deeper, in English translastions of the bible, the word Church is used often... even in the Gospels, Jesus mentions the word Church.
A question that would raise itself here is whether Jesus is referring to a building? The simple answer to this question is actually no... The use of the word Church actually comes from the Greek word "Ekklesia" which is an assembly of people. So in a simple sense, the Church is the people... not the building...
A foundational belief in Christianity is that there is only one church... this literally means one people. However, within the Church (and denominations are still part of the one church) there are multiple fellowships; this is where the word Church is very often used as a reference.
So, with this in mind, is it possible for someone to "Church Hop"? A "Church Hopper" is a term often used to describe someone who is not rooted within a particular fellowship, has no spiritual accountability or is someone who frequently moves around fellowships. Firstly, I firmly believe that to call someone a "Church Hopper" is actually making a judgement against them and the word very clearly states that we must not be judgemental.
This mainstay of the gossip regarding my circumstances was that I had been part of four fellowships in the past few years. I have learned some hard lessons that's for sure as I initially left St. Andrews half a year after returning from York out of being rebellious and selfish. However, I felt called to go back and I repented of being rebellious. Unfortunately, leaving the fellowship I had joined was not easy and the departure was hard. I continue to hope to be reconciled with the leader.
I was a member of The Ark in York whilst away with YWAM for best part of a year in 2007. Whilst I was a rooted member of this fellowship - I was at the time also still firmly rooted with St. Andrews back home. The Ark is a fellowship I still feel very close to, even now despite not being in York (obviously, I do visit York occasionally and attend services at The Ark).
The other fellowships I have been said to have been a member at were based on the assumption of attending a single or multiple service(s) they run... I know some people have very narrow views on this, but attending a service at another fellowship in my mind does not make you a "rooted" member of that fellowship.
In fact, I attend other fellowships on regular occasions out of support as well as those fellowships often hold services which they invite Christians from all over to attend... particular examples here are every month on the third Sunday evening I will attend Stoke Holy Cross' evening celebration service along with others from the fellowship I am rooted at. Does this make me a member of Stoke Holy Cross? The last time I checked, it doesn't.
Another example, my fiancée works for the Norwich Family Life Church's pre-school. Within this role she has made some excellent friends amongst the NFLC fellowship. On occasion we will both go and worship with them on a Sunday evening... does this make me... or my Fiancée a member of Norwich Family Life Church? Again, the last time I checked, it doesn't.
I consider myself a member of the Church... rooted within the fellowship of St. Andrews, Gorleston. I will not be offended by being false accused of being a "Church Hopper"... but at the same time, I feel blessed as this has provoked my thinking and reinforced what I already knew of what the Church is.
Now, there are those "Christians" who will refuse to root themselves within any fellowship and often wonder from fellowship to fellowship for whatever reason. Indeed, many of them hold the same views that the Church is the people...
Now, with what I earlier in this post, it raises the question of whether "church hopping" is possible?
In theory, Church Hopping is actually impossible as there is only one church... however, I do feel there is reason to be greatly concerned with not being rooted at a fellowship.
The main reason being authority, it is very important to come under and submit to the authority of a leader. Submitting to this authority enables you to receive teaching, ministry as well as be accountable to others. It is also a necessity for undertaking any form of outreach.
As a co-ordinator of a local night time outreach project, I have turned down applicants who were not rooted at a fellowship. I'm in no ways being judgemental of the person in question, but the reason is simply that they have not submitted to the authority of a leader let alone the accountability with leaders and others within a fellowship in a spiritual sense.
I believe this is important because to be effective in any form of ministry, you have to be accountable and also be backed by the church. The question is can someone be effective in ministry without being firmly rooted to a fellowship and under the spiritual authority of a leader?
I'm not saying it is wrong to move from one fellowship to the other, in fact it is commonplace that Christians feel called to be somewhere else... but that's another topic.
The one thing I will say is that the phrase "no such thing as a perfect church" is absolutely true... whatever fellowship you belong to, there will be issues, as Christians we just have to work through these issues as best we can.
I do feel strongly that one thing is for sure and that is no matter what fellowship we are in, we have a duty to be outward looking and welcoming to others by promoting a vibe of "belonging"... at the end of the day, we are one people of one church no matter what our theological views and/or denominational differences may be...
Firstly, I want to share my views on what I define as being "Church"... many people today (in particular, those who do not share in the Christian faith) believe that the Church is a building where Christians meet and do Christian stuff such as worship, pray and eat bread and drink wine. Unfortunately, there are also those who say they are Christian, yet share the very same view.
It seems that today, the word Church is used by many people to refer to a building comes from the Greek word "Kuriokos" which means "House of a Lord". Whilst in itself, is largely correct when using the word Church in a descriptive form in reference to the building in which Christians meet. Indeed this also concurs with some Christians who will use the phrase "House of God" to refer to the building.
However, like it or not, it goes far deeper, in English translastions of the bible, the word Church is used often... even in the Gospels, Jesus mentions the word Church.
A question that would raise itself here is whether Jesus is referring to a building? The simple answer to this question is actually no... The use of the word Church actually comes from the Greek word "Ekklesia" which is an assembly of people. So in a simple sense, the Church is the people... not the building...
A foundational belief in Christianity is that there is only one church... this literally means one people. However, within the Church (and denominations are still part of the one church) there are multiple fellowships; this is where the word Church is very often used as a reference.
So, with this in mind, is it possible for someone to "Church Hop"? A "Church Hopper" is a term often used to describe someone who is not rooted within a particular fellowship, has no spiritual accountability or is someone who frequently moves around fellowships. Firstly, I firmly believe that to call someone a "Church Hopper" is actually making a judgement against them and the word very clearly states that we must not be judgemental.
This mainstay of the gossip regarding my circumstances was that I had been part of four fellowships in the past few years. I have learned some hard lessons that's for sure as I initially left St. Andrews half a year after returning from York out of being rebellious and selfish. However, I felt called to go back and I repented of being rebellious. Unfortunately, leaving the fellowship I had joined was not easy and the departure was hard. I continue to hope to be reconciled with the leader.
I was a member of The Ark in York whilst away with YWAM for best part of a year in 2007. Whilst I was a rooted member of this fellowship - I was at the time also still firmly rooted with St. Andrews back home. The Ark is a fellowship I still feel very close to, even now despite not being in York (obviously, I do visit York occasionally and attend services at The Ark).
The other fellowships I have been said to have been a member at were based on the assumption of attending a single or multiple service(s) they run... I know some people have very narrow views on this, but attending a service at another fellowship in my mind does not make you a "rooted" member of that fellowship.
In fact, I attend other fellowships on regular occasions out of support as well as those fellowships often hold services which they invite Christians from all over to attend... particular examples here are every month on the third Sunday evening I will attend Stoke Holy Cross' evening celebration service along with others from the fellowship I am rooted at. Does this make me a member of Stoke Holy Cross? The last time I checked, it doesn't.
Another example, my fiancée works for the Norwich Family Life Church's pre-school. Within this role she has made some excellent friends amongst the NFLC fellowship. On occasion we will both go and worship with them on a Sunday evening... does this make me... or my Fiancée a member of Norwich Family Life Church? Again, the last time I checked, it doesn't.
I consider myself a member of the Church... rooted within the fellowship of St. Andrews, Gorleston. I will not be offended by being false accused of being a "Church Hopper"... but at the same time, I feel blessed as this has provoked my thinking and reinforced what I already knew of what the Church is.
Now, there are those "Christians" who will refuse to root themselves within any fellowship and often wonder from fellowship to fellowship for whatever reason. Indeed, many of them hold the same views that the Church is the people...
Now, with what I earlier in this post, it raises the question of whether "church hopping" is possible?
In theory, Church Hopping is actually impossible as there is only one church... however, I do feel there is reason to be greatly concerned with not being rooted at a fellowship.
The main reason being authority, it is very important to come under and submit to the authority of a leader. Submitting to this authority enables you to receive teaching, ministry as well as be accountable to others. It is also a necessity for undertaking any form of outreach.
As a co-ordinator of a local night time outreach project, I have turned down applicants who were not rooted at a fellowship. I'm in no ways being judgemental of the person in question, but the reason is simply that they have not submitted to the authority of a leader let alone the accountability with leaders and others within a fellowship in a spiritual sense.
I believe this is important because to be effective in any form of ministry, you have to be accountable and also be backed by the church. The question is can someone be effective in ministry without being firmly rooted to a fellowship and under the spiritual authority of a leader?
I'm not saying it is wrong to move from one fellowship to the other, in fact it is commonplace that Christians feel called to be somewhere else... but that's another topic.
The one thing I will say is that the phrase "no such thing as a perfect church" is absolutely true... whatever fellowship you belong to, there will be issues, as Christians we just have to work through these issues as best we can.
I do feel strongly that one thing is for sure and that is no matter what fellowship we are in, we have a duty to be outward looking and welcoming to others by promoting a vibe of "belonging"... at the end of the day, we are one people of one church no matter what our theological views and/or denominational differences may be...
2 comments:
Good post Steve...I agree completely with what you're saying.
When I was in Great Yarmouth I'd have called myself a member of Park Baptist (not in the way baptists mean 'member' though) yet I went along to After 8's at St A's, tab youth group at the tabernacle and occasionally went to Proclaimers evening service in Norwich (before it went a bit odd/biblically inaccurate).
Whilst I was rooted at Park Baptist going to these other churches didn't make me a member of them but really helped me as a Christian. All of them had different emphasis and whilst some swung too much in one direction for example too much 'you must speak in tongues' and too little teaching it's given me a broader view of Christianity.
I firmly agree with you Mark that these experiences of other fellowships actually broadens one's view of Christinaity as well as enahances it with variety...
My time in York allowed me to blossom in terms of experiencing different fellowships but also allow me to discover and embrace new ways of worshipping God.
Post-York, I found these new worship ways were met with hostility from some... and unfortunately, I rebelled and ran rather than brush it off...
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