Written by Nate Krupp, this short and easy to read book has practical guidelines for simple church. The excerpt below is from a chapter called Questions Answered. What do you think about the last section, making decisions?
What Should We Call Ourselves?
One of the first things most Christian groups do is to give themselves a name: First Christian Church, Men With Vision, Reaching Children, etc. But why do we do this? Usually it is to bring attention to ourselves, that we are distinct in some way from other groups. Taking a name divides the Body; you are either part of that group or you are not. Jesus came to initiate one new man, not 20,000 denominations. (That’s right, there are over 20,000 denominations around the world plus thousands of independent groups and para-church groups.) Why are we not content to just be followers of Jesus doing whatever He has told us to do? We encourage you not to take a name. Be content to just have His Name! Be content to just be a child of God, a follower of Jesus. Fellowship with all believers. Work with all believers with whom the Lord links you.
What About Incorporating?
Most Christian groups think that they must incorporate in order to be legitimate. We disagree. Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). There are areas of our lives into which government (Caesar) has a right to be involved: our obeying legitimate laws and our paying legitimate taxes. But our religious life is not the concern of the government. It is between God and us. When you incorporate, you give the government legal right into your religious affairs. It is none of their business! And, remember, government blessing today usually means government control tomorrow. We encourage you not to incorporate. Be content to be just a group of believers doing whatever Jesus is showing you to do to obey and exalt Him.
What About a Statement of Faith?
Most Christian groups find it necessary to have a list of their beliefs, usually called a Statement of Faith. But such a Statement usually brings division to the Body. It usually makes an issue out of some doctrine, i.e., is the rapture before, during, or after the tribulation?; is speaking in tongues the initial evidence?; etc., etc. It results in some people being able to join that group because they agree with the Statement of Faith and others not feeling comfortable about joining because of something in the Statement that should be added, deleted, or changed. So why have a Statement of Faith?
Our fellowship should not be based upon doctrinal agreement. Jesus has told us as His followers to lay our lives down for one another.’ We have no alternative but to accept, love, fellowship with, work with, and lay our lives down for all who know and love Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we recommend that you have no Statement of Faith. Whatever home church or church group you are a part of, you are simply believers in Jesus and as such are part of the Church of your city and the world-wide Body of Christ.
What About Membership?
Most Christian groups have a practice called membership, when one officially joins the group. We do not find this practice in Scripture. As believers, we are all “members one of another.”
As with the Name and Statement of Faith, it means that some people are in and some are out of the group. Jesus wants us to gather with any and all believers, on the basis of the cross alone, at any time and in any place. We encourage you to not have membership.
How Should Decisions Be Made?
Most of us are used to making decisions either by dictatorial rule, i.e., the one in charge makes the decision, or by democratic principles, i.e., a vote is taken and the majority rules. But in His Church, God has a different method whereby decisions are to be made. In the church we are to wait upon the Lord, hear His voice, come into unity, and be agreed upon any decision which is to be made.”
We have heard of several situations where a group of elders were seeking God about a matter, and were all agreed, except one. They were tempted to proceed, based on majority rule. But they were committed to being in one accord, so they didn’t. As they continued to seek the Lord, they actually all ended up agreeing with the lone brother. God was using him as a check. How important it is to wait!
The other ways might seem easier on the surface, but God’s ways are always better in the long run. What a delight it is to walk in unity, hear from Him in unity, and make decisions in unity!
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