Myth #2 – Organic Church is a New Movement
This is a very popular misconception about organic church life. Many people think that because they have never heard of this before, it must be a new thing or even, a new movement of some kind. Actually, it’s the oldest “kind” of church there is. When we use the term “organic church” we only do that to differentiate between that which is based on the eternal purpose of God and the life of His Son flowing through His people, and that which is based upon man’s system of religion. Man’s system of religion is based upon man’s ideas and methods and not upon the divine life of God in Christ. This system is often referred to as the institutional church. The New Testament reveals to us the life and nature of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and we can see by reading it with open hearts and minds that this church is definitely not institutional, but rather organic. What we mean by the term “organic” is something that is based upon life and not man made mechanism.
So we can see by the scriptures that God’s church is something that is founded upon none other than Jesus Christ Himself and not all of man’s ideas about Him. So it’s very clear by these definitions that actually the new movement is the institutional church itself, not the organic church. The organic church is the attempt of modern day believers to return to their “roots” in primitive Christianity. These “roots”, of course, are nothing new, but rather a return to something very ancient. In organic church we could even say that we have a three-fold witness.
The Three-fold Witness
1.) The Scriptures Themselves
As stated above, the New Testament is very clear about the nature and life of the Church of Jesus Christ. It is an organism, not an organization. It is the embodiment of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, not a collection of doctrines and theology. It is the New Creation, the New Man, the New Israel, and the Image of God, not a reflection of the old nature in man. It is a Bride, a Body, a living Temple, a Vine with Branches, a Shepherd and His Sheep, a Family, etc. All of these being organic images, not mechanical.
2.) History
Things started getting out of whack in the church during the second and third centuries. But when that started to happen, God immediately began to raise up groups of believers who would continue the testimony of His true Church. As early as the third century there were groups who stood outside of the institutional system of man’s religion. Many of these groups were given names by their persecutors such as: Pricillians, Paulicans, Bogomils, Waldenses, Albigenses, Lollards, Hussites, United Brethren, Anabaptists, Pietists, Plymouth Brethren, Little Flock, etc. All of these groups throughout history were an attempt to return to the purity and organic life of the early church. You can read about their history in such books as The Pilgrim Church by Broadbent and The Torch of the Testimony by Kennedy.
3.) Our Own Experiences
Not only do we have the testimony of the New Testament church and the history of the groups who stood outside the system, we also have our own experience. My co-workers and I have been pursuing, living in, and planting organic churches for the last 23 years or so. We also know others who have gone before us and a few of them are still alive, though they are very old.
We have (and continue to) learn from all three of these “witnesses” to organic church life. As you can see, this is definitely not something new. Also, it is not a movement. It is simply God’s eternal purpose being fleshed out in this world. It is a move of God, but it is the same move and purpose that God has always had since before creation, that is, to make His Son the All in all and the sum of all things. See Ephesians 1 & 3 and Colossians 1.
Bill D. said:
I agree with you that true NT body life is not a movement (call it what you will). I think “organic church” has been equated with a movement not because of the people who are living it outside of the public view, but more so by the popularity of books and authors who claim to have the true answers on how to do it. This movement perception isn’t helped by men stating it has to be done a certain way or it is just a “house church” or a “bible study”. These books are revered as essential reading on par with the Bible, else one will not fully grasp “organic church”. Groups that don’t have a sanctioned apostolic worker from a certain camp are told that they are not a true organic church, and it order to be one they must read aforementioned books on organic church and invite one of the sanctioned apostolic workers to their group.
The more elite those within the “organic church” circle become on how it must look, get started, and be expressed, the more the natural body life born out of fellowship over Jesus Christ will be put on a back burner for a more definable method. Hence the perception of a man led movement instead of Spirit-led community focused life together in Jesus Christ.
Milt said:
Bill,
I agree with you on some fronts but not on others.
I agree that people who say that you must read their books and have workers come from their own camp are false. That is elitist and sectarian and should definitely be rejected. I personally know of groups who believe (and state) that unless you work with them you are not a legitimate organic church. This is an obvious deception and falsehood in opinion. Whenever a group of believers say that they are the only ones doing the work of God on earth I shiver. They should be avoided for sure. No book is on par with the Bible. God always has many groups that are working according to His purpose and way and that leads me to the disagreement I have with you.
God does have a way of doing things. If you read and understand the story (the contextual narrative) of the New Testament Church, you will see that apostolic workers were sent out by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel (Christ) and plant churches. That is undeniably true. If you don’t believe that, then you will need to rip out most of your New Testament since it was mainly about the movements of such “sent ones” or written by them. As you said, no book is on par with the Bible. So let’s lay down our own agendas and mindsets to see what God really says in the record.
Of course, just because some people have been elitist and have abused those terms and ways of God doesn’t mean it isn’t still His way.
Seth said:
Thanks for addressing these myths bringing clarity to this vitally important subject. There is so much noise today it is difficult to hear the simplicity of the life of Christ and what that means concerning His church and the eternal purpose of God.
We are forever standing with you.
Jamal Jivanjee said:
Great article Milt! This is a very common myth indeed. Thx for addressing this.
Miguel said:
Quick question: Would those already practicing Organic Church say that those who are practicing Institutional forms are in sin?
Andre van der Merwe said:
Awesome article, loved it!!!
Jamal Jivanjee said:
Great post Milt. The myth that you talk about is widespread. Thx for writing this brother:)
John Wilson said:
great read brother! Loved this quote: “…actually the new movement is the institutional church itself, not the organic church. The organic church is the attempt of modern day believers to return to their “roots” in primitive Christianity. These “roots”, of course, are nothing new, but rather a return to something very ancient.” As I read the New Testament and see the terms of falling from the faith or departing from the faith, truly it is falling back to religion and institutionalism from organic church life. Organic church life is the original life of His body, Christ Himself! If all of God’s people could see this.
R.C. Babione said:
To answer Miguel, one can be in sin no matter what form of church he “practices.” To be in sin is to be outside of Christ. A believer who is in Christ, cannot, by the very nature of being in Christ, be also in sin. I, myself, came to Christ within the institutional form of church, as have countless others. Therefore, as one who “practices Organic Church”, I cannot say that those “who are practicing Institutional forms are in sin” just because they are not in an organic church. And on the flip side, I cannot say that those who “practice Organic Church” are not in sin just because they are in organic church.
Thank you, Milt, for this series of posts debunking the myths of organic church. I appreciate your willingness to build with Christ, for He is Life. Love you, brother!
Paul Dames said:
Perhaps the invasion of institutionalism in Christianity can be likened to Israel’s exile to Babylon. “There we wept, when we remembered Zion.” Institutionalism has caused a lot of weeping and stress for the body of Christ, and it has been fueled by lies and pagan customs. When we remember our organic origins, and we start listening to what our own DNA in Christ is telling us, that is when we return to our homeland of happiness.
Steve Simms said:
Organic church is ekklesia built by Jesus rather than an organization built by men. And indeed, as you pointed out, Milt, this is nothing new. Matthew 16 makes that clear. Oh that believers would again allow Jesus to build us together into His habitation and not build things for and by ourselves. We should follow the old, original way of church and let Jesus, Himself, be the builder.”
Milt said:
Paul, well said brother! That is the premier illustration we have in the Old Testament.
Matt said:
One thing that we have to remember when using the Babylon captivity picture is that in Israel’s exile to Babylon it was God who told them to go there with King Nebuchadnezzar. God told them that if they didn’t go, they would be die of famine if they stayed in Jerusalem. If they tried to flee the city in advance of the invasion, they would be attacked and killed. Fast forward to their time in captivity and there were false prophets who were telling the Israelites that they could leave the captivity after only 2 years instead of the 70 years that God told them that they would have to be there. In Jeremiah 29, God tells the exiles to “Build house and settle down” while they are there and to “increase in numbers” and to pray for prosperity of the city. My point is that it was God’s timing that dictated the exiles return to Jerusalem, not man’s desires. He ordained it in advance, much like he ordained the salvation of a majority of modern day Christians through the traditional church system.
When you parallel this to the institutional system we HAVE to understand that God is the one who brings folks into maturity and a greater understanding – all on His timing, just like it was with Israel. He had to awaken in me a desire to pursue Christ and his body in a more active and communal way, and it happened when he wanted it to happen. The resources that are out there are great for those who are searching, but attacking those who don’t know better and who have not been spoken to by the Lord to move is the same as attacking a new Christian who has a desire to work extra-hard for the kingdom instead of working out of a place of rest in Christ. We are to bear with them in love, come along side them, try to walk with them, and show unity towards them – not put a foot on their throat. Those who are truly acting according to the Spirit towards the church will promote love and unity among ALL of the brethren, regardless of difference and church practice. Let us put down the personal pride that comes with thinking that we have been revealed the “true” way when just a number of years ago we were in the same unrevealed state of those very Christians we are criticizing.
Milt said:
Matt,
I totally agree with you that we should never step into a critical attitude towards our brothers and sisters in the institutions. We all belong to the same Body and the same Family!
Matt said:
Amen Milt. Unfortunately this was something God also had to reveal to me – my first couple of years into this expression of church was not handled that way and he had to bring me out of it.
Last night we had dinner with another Christian couple that we know who are part of an institutional church. They know that we don’t view church the way they do, but we had a great time together and sought Christ in each other, as far as we could go. Yes there was plenty of talk of pastors and worship leaders and all of that, but it wasn’t the time to educate them on how there is a more excellent way or point out all the flaws in their church method. God through the Spirit may prompt me to do that at some point, or he may not. But that shouldn’t stop my ability to be united with them over the person of Jesus.
When we read Romans 14 and recognize that freedoms and convictions can also apply to church practice, we realize that my desire to meet “organically” can be both a freedom and a conviction. On one hand I could say that I was freed from the guilt of having to attend a traditional church meeting and sit in a pew idle and non-functioning (in the meeting). On the other hand I could state that I have been convicted that organic church is what God’s best is for me, a more excellent way. What it is interesting is that my freedom or conviction should not be used as a stumbling block or a judgement on someone else. Paul says in chapter 14 that we should do what leads to peace and building up of the body, and that way is acceptable/well pleasing to God. If we can understand that the body God is referring to here is not just our small organic church group but also all of the other living stones who have Christ living in them in our area, then we can sacrifice our freedoms and convictions when needed to ensure peace and building up of the body.
I feel that if the organic church camp can fully embrace this reality (including myself), then we will witness even more amazing things as love and unity and the freedom in Christ is grown “organically” across denominational lines through one on one relationships among believers. If we keep the “patent” to ourselves and our circle, however, we end up just another denomination, my 2 cents…
Matt said:
I should rather have used the comparison freedom vs. restriction – both can be convictions…
Hannah Sanders said:
Milt
I am wondering about your statement that the church is the new Israel. Do you believe that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan?
Milt said:
Hannah,
I have been asked similar questions before. Then, I found out that there is a whole system of theology which teaches that Israel (the Jewish nation) has been replaced by the Church. Personally, I do not agree with this theology. I guess you could say that I don’t believe that the New Testament Church is a replacement for Israel but rather a fulfillment of Israel. If you read the New Testament carefully you will see that it teaches that the Messiah – Jesus Christ would fulfill everything we read about in the Old Testament, including the nation of Israel itself. Books like Hebrews, Galatians, and Ephesians make this very clear.
Christ Himself is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament shadows!
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day–
things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Col. 2:8-17
Josh said:
Very good article, Milt. Indeed this is a popular and growing myth. But like you said, just because misconceptions abound and certian terms and truths have been abused by others, this cannot stop us from going forward in what we know of God’s purpose and His way! Let us plow forward together!
Hannah said:
Thanks Milt. I was relieved to read your clear and thorough response.
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