Milt Rodriguez writes that itinerant workers are needed to securely plant a relational gathering. Starting a gathering is one thing, planting is another. Milt’s book Starting Organic Churches, expresses this concept in detail. Written in 2016, it’s a short book and most of the links are broken. I don’t agree with everything in the book but overall it has some good insight. The excerpt below is about Detoxing Together From The Religious System.
As stated previously, the religious system is simply a sub-set of the world system. Man has taken hold of the “church” and tried to turn it into something for himself, for his own benefit and glory. This doesn’t set very well with our Lord. He has his own kingdom (church); and make no mistake about it, there (among those people) he is completely Lord and King! So here is the problem at hand in a nutshell.
Most of us who are seeking an organic expression of the church are coming from the religious system.
This system has been developing for over 1800 years. That’s a lot of system! That’s a lot of man’s own building his own tower of Babel. So, this presents a huge problem:
How do we, the church system refugees, leave that system and then not proceed to just build another system in a living room?
The answer comes to us in one simple word: detoxification. It’s best to explain this by a comparison with our physical bodies. Because of the air we breathe, the processed foods we eat, and the general negative effects of the world system around us, our bodies become toxic. So, we need detoxification. There are many ways that we can be free of these toxins but whatever path you choose it’s not going to be easy. It usually involves a major shift in diet, exercise, and exposure to healthy ways of thinking and living. In others words: “you will need a major shift in the way your think and the way you live!”
This also has happened to us believers throughout the centuries. We cannot even begin to talk about a return to the organic way of being the church unless we are willing to go through a detoxification process. What this means begins with a willingness to be detoxed by the Lord so that he can get what he wants, his eternal purpose. It means humbling yourself and emptying yourself so that God can get what he wants.
Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! (Mat 5:3)
Brothers and sisters, if you will humble yourselves and lose your lives, then God will set you free from the effects of the religious system that are inside of you. Believe me, many of those effects you are not even aware of. But others will see them. And the closer you get to other saints in community the more they will be seen. But that’s okay. Let yourself become vulnerable. This is the pathway to growth. This is the pathway to true freedom! We must be willing to let go and forsake all of the mindsets, paradigms, and religious baggage that gets in the way of Jesus Christ being the Center, the Life, and the Head of the church.
Of course, the development of a close knit community of believers presupposes the fact that these things will come out. We also (as workers) will suggest exercises that will help accelerate this process.
Suffice it to say for now that everyone needs detoxing. Even people who have never been involved in the institutional church or religious system need detoxification. How do I know this? Simple. If you live in this world, you have been exposed to many unhealthy things physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The key here is to embrace the cross in humility and not to engage in self defense or shutting out your brothers and sisters because they see some of these things in you. Of course, we are not speaking about being hurtful or damaging to others in any way. But God will use our fellow citizens to sharpen our iron.
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2 replies on “Church Detox”
I so agree with you on most issues. However, it is kind of hard to “trust” a supposed church planter when they often like the leaders of the Babylonian church, still have had problems with taking advantage of those under their care. I am content to just see what God does without me intervening. I am here, Lord if you choose, use me.
I wouldn’t trust a supposed one either but a real one, sure.