My journey from inherited church to biblical church
Gary Ward
Doing something different for church, even because the scriptures tell you, is only half the story. The real challenge to anyone wanting to do what God says is our own transition from being part of the system to being free. If anyone recognising they should be following biblical directives doesn't have a personal revolution in their own hearts, they will still be all that works against the Lords will. The whole point of reforming our practice is to give freedom to brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore the personal revolution is paramount. There's no 'how-to' involved with this simply because only God can work with your heart. The 'systemectomy' can be so difficult that many do not complete it. This involves the cross and the first stage is realising the extent to which we endorsed, embraced and entertained the system.
In 1998 I was in Australia and I spoke a message to a youth group called 'Are you a human being or a human doing?' This reflected the birth of some realisations going on in my life as I worked as an evangelist in a Pentecostal church in the UK. I struggled with the leadership's attitude towards those who weren't as 'useful' as others. Using 'service for God' as a benchmark for suitability, a system of membership was used to reflect commitment to the leader's vision. As a leader amongst this system and other abuses, I struggled to see how the leadership team were serving the people. Of course many hours of work was put into the leadership roles for sure, but the fact remained that no matter how much actual work was done, they were in a system that placed them ranked above the regular brothers and sisters in the church. Jesus told James and John that they should not be concerned about superior placing but those who are the greatest are servants. This has nothing to do with putting a 16 hour day in, it is everything about superior and inferior placing amongst brothers and sisters where Jesus said "Not so among you..." Eventually this and other observations about church per se led to an inner conflict. The general party line from church leaders was under scrutiny and it conflicted with God's word/will. After some time I felt God telling me to leave that church and the reaction of the leaders to this confirmed how man-led it really was. It needs to be stressed that we never sowed discord among the church over this. I had no plan 'b' so we went to another similar church which, in time, bore similar characteristics to the one we left.
Meanwhile I was able to step back from the system and it was then God was able to show how church history, human wisdom and hierarchical leadership structures is keeping most of the Church in inherited dimensions rather than scriptural directives. Reduced in effect, it is the lost who pay the price of the man-led church system.
I had to repent because I had also enjoyed my position at times. I was faced with the fact that I too enjoyed the trappings of leadership. This was a time of great breakage. Most people would not say they want to be over people in leadership and many say it goes with the job. However, we are all subject to a fallen, floundering heart. Unless we acknowledge and actively work against this, we gravitate towards wanting to be over people. Is this just me? No... it is in all people because being superior is one of the foundational elements of sin. The root of pride is wanting to be over, Satan tried to raise his throne above the Almighty. Being a Christian does not solve the deeper heart motivations. Some people enter ministry because they genuinely want to help mankind but at some point everyone involved in ministry will entertain what I call 'the King thing.' This is the fallen desire to rule and reign in some capacity on earth and it comes straight from the pit of Hell. This unchecked heart motivation has hindered the church for centuries. It is exampled in the Roman Catholic Church with explicit ranked leadership. Its effects can be seen in the local church where the 'king thing' heart motivations are less explicit yet still present.
Here's a test. How did you react to what I just wrote? Like me I'm sure you want to become all you can be for God. I'm certain that like me you have had things in life to remove and things you need to add as God reveals our hearts. What I have just wrote above is scripturally possible yet the reaction from many is absolute outrage. We will fight tooth and nail to protect our position and status but this is a strange reaction to the suggestion that something hinders The Lord! Wouldn't we want to investigate? I have had the full spectrum of reaction at this biblical suggestion but curiously no real biblical refute. It is a scathing comment on our present condition and instead of responding with rational enquiry, it causes reaction. It can be repented of.... only if someone can acknowledge the scale of the problem and then work against it by practising church. God's design gives little chance for our hearts to buy into 'the King thing.'
On my journey I came across some good people who put flesh on the bones to my experience. I read some good books and also found that some of the authors had bought into 'the King thing' again but this time in the name of biblical church. Its a subtle thing that needs thorough acknowledgement or we will find another way to become the 'King.' I'm guessing that few ministers begin with pure motives but because the ministry is ranked in leadership, few will escape the lure and grip. Even someone reading this and being aware will not stop it. It needs to be taken to the cross and that means repenting. This, in turn, means partying to something that does not give opportunity for the heart to again buy into the King thing. You need to count the cost. It is not your fault or mine that we inherited systems and structures for church. But it is yours and my responsibility to become free from it all when we learn its length and breadth.
The transition time took a while and there are no charismatic fixes to this. We need to allow 'ministry' to bleed out of us and lay down our callings. Don't worry, the world will not go to rack and ruin! Jesus is in charge. He is more interested in your freedom than your feelings so be ready to face some truths about the general state of being and also things personal to just you. You'll know when the enemy is in on the act because you will feel accused as opposed to loved, nurtured and sustained. Jesus knew this time would come where he can take us to a deeper knowledge of himself and be part of the church as found in scripture. There are no dangling carrots here! No promises of millions flocking to biblical churches! It is a hard road with no ego-reward. This thinking is so new it may take hundreds of years to become the mainstream. But when the heart is dealt with, our involvement with church become about truth, love and serving Jesus alone. Much of how we were driven for God's Kingdom you will find is tinged with our own desires and need for notoriety. With the Kingdom safely placed back in Jesus hands, we can then see what his leading is, free from the auto-suggestions of the system. Your calling may have been valid but it needs to take place in the right environment, a biblical one, not a post-Roman Catholic system.
The following are a few things to observe and think through whilst moving from inherited church to biblical church:
- You would do anything for Jesus. Can you do 'nothing?'
- Others may not be ready to see what you see.
- Don't isolate yourself.
- Meet like minded people, we can help with that.
- Don't return fire on the mockers.
- Its not the people that are at fault. Love people.
- The system defined some of your experience.
- Others defined their experience through you.
- The system is not the Devil.
- The Devil uses systems.
- In this world 'being' comes from 'doing.'
- In God 'doing' comes from 'being.'
If you can genuinely see this through you will experience one thing: the truth. This is only about truth but there are a growing number of people who believe and are acting on what Jesus said to his disciples about following him. Its time to lose our own lives, what we have bought into in our Christian lives. No more forging out our notoriety or fame. This was about Jesus Christ only and his Glory. Step aside, let Jesus lead his church again. For more on this read the blogs or contact me by comment.
Gary Ward
Brother in Christ
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