Myth #7 – Organic Church is All About Eating Granola and Cage-Free Eggs!
I decided to use this somewhat humorous subtitle to make a few points. The main point being that many people have many strange ideas what we mean when we use the terms “organic church” and that usually leads to some very strange, albeit popular, beliefs and practices.
A Quick Background
First of all, let me give you a brief history on that term “organic church”, and why I use it.
There was an author-speaker who lived in the last century from London England by the name of Theodore Austin-Sparks. Most Christians today have never heard of him. He was a prolific writer and speaker and traveled all over the world speaking at conferences. He was also a good friend and associate of Watchmen Nee in China. Some say that Nee considered Sparks to be his mentor. At any rate, this brother was used of the Lord (among others) to bring back the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ into view. He also spoke much about God’s eternal purpose and the Church. You can view most of his writings and audios on this website: http://www.austin-sparks.net/.
Sparks was the first one (that we know of) who used the term “the organic expression of the church” in his speaking and writing. If you read any of his works you will quickly discover how and why he used that term.
What It Isn’t
The term “organic church” has now become a buzzword in our generation. Many people are using it to mean many different things. Almost everyday I hear of another group claiming to be “organic” and I just have to wonder about all this. I have visited many of these groups that are calling themselves organic and I just know that ole’ Sparks would rollover in his grave if he knew people were using that term so lightly. So I am going to make a quick list of how I would categorize many of those groups who think and say that they are organic. These ideas are coming from my own study of scripture, history, Sparks himself, and my own experiences. Then, I will explain as best I can what Sparks (and others) have taught about “organic church”.
The Glorified Bible Study
Many of the groups I visit who claim to be organic are simply a rehash of the John Darby/Plymouth Brethren style of studying the bible. For those of you who don’t know, conventional bible study the way it is normally practiced today is only about 150 years old. John Darby in Plymouth England gathered believers together to study a book of the bible together line upon line using exegesis and hermeneutics. There was always a bible “teacher” who would take the group through the lessons. But the bible was always the central focus of the meetings. Sometimes there would be discussion about what was taught, sometimes not. In some of the current so called “organic” groups someone brings a theme or a passage of scripture, they all study it the prior week and then discuss it in the meeting. This is just a more open and interactive version of Darby’s style of bible study.
Support Groups
These groups think they are organic because anyone can discuss their personal problems at any time in the meetings. It’s basically a “spill your guts” session where people share their personal struggles (with whatever) and then ask for prayer and advice about these problems. Everyone throws in their “2 cents” and what usually comes out is a great big ball of confusion! Many will contribute their own versions of ‘pycho-babble’ along with very trite pat answers from the bible, teachings they have heard, or books they have read. Usually the cure is much worse than the disease.
Bless Me Clubs
These groups usually have a charismatic bent and are into such things as: healing, prophecy, end times, inner healing, intercessory prayer and the like. It’s all about gifts and the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The problem is that it’s all very much skewed to fit the charismatic mindset and background. What if a Southern Baptist were to walk into that meeting? Would he feel a bit weird? You know he would! This is not the Body of Christ. Rather, it is a weirdly distorted group of believers who have specialized and (like the Jews of old) have gone seeking after signs (1 Cor. 1:22).
Mini Church
This is just a downsized, living room version of the institutional church. Everything is pretty much the same with only the venue being the difference. There is a definite pastor, though he/she will probably not be called that (a rose by any other name). He is the one who organizes, facilitates, and teaches the group most of the time. There is usually a “worship leader” who leads the singing with a guitar or keyboards.
Most of the groups that I have visited over the years will fall into one or more of these categories. But would any of this fall into the genre of “the organic expression of the church” as Mr. Sparks would call it? No, I’m afraid they would all fall way short of that high calling. Let’s see what Mr. Sparks would consider to be organic church.
The Centrality and Supremacy of Jesus Christ
This was one of the flagship messages of T. Austin-Sparks. In fact, he wrote a book with the same exact title! If the church is anything, she is centered completely on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! Not just teachings or doctrines about Him. Not even His own teachings. But the Person, work, and life of Christ Himself as He is right now; as the crucified, resurrected, ascended and glorified Lord.
“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” (Col 1:18)
The Church does not specialize in anything other than the Lord Himself! He is her Lover, Friend, Lord, Companion, Husband, Center, Life, All, and Everything. She (the Church) only has eyes for Him. She will not allow herself to be distracted with other, lesser things. She is here to express Him and ONLY Him. She is the Body of Christ, the Church. This is not only true of meetings but in all of her corporate life outside of meetings.
The Only Mission of God is His Purpose Hidden Before the Ages
“…that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:26-27)
Mr. Sparks really highlighted what Paul called the purpose of the ages, or the eternal purpose of God. He wrote an excellent book about it called “The Stewardship of the Mystery”. In my mind, that is the only reason for a “church” to exist. That Christ would come to the forefront and be expressed in all of His fullness.
The Church is the Dwelling Place (or House) of God
The Church is not just some institution, club, meeting house, building, event, or system of doctrines, programs and activities. The Church is the Body of the living Christ! This means that He lives inside of her and she expresses Him freely and fully. That is what a body does for a person. It expresses the life inside of it. It embodies the character, life, and nature of the One who dwells within. The church expresses this Life 24/7 365 days a year, not just on Sunday morning. She is a community of saints who are always sharing their common Life in Him.
“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Eph 1:22-23)
Sparks wrote many books on the house of God, the spiritual temple, and the dwelling of God.
This gives you a brief summary of my view of the organic expression of the church. If you don’t agree with this view, well, that’s your prerogative. But you will have to take it up with the man who coined the term “organic church”, Mr. Theodore Austin-Sparks!
Jim Wright said:
Milt, good blog.
I 100% agree as far as you go, but I think the rest of the passage from Col. 1 is too often missed by the organic church community – which seems fixated only on the part that we claim talks about us, to the exclusion of the whole epic:
“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:18-20 ESV)
Christ is preeminent in us, His Body, for a purpose – to be active participants in Christ being preeminent in “everything” – NOT just the church. Furthermore, God reconciles through Christ “all things” to Christ and so as to make peace with His creation (as to which Jesus has ceded no authority or jurisdiction) through the cross.
Sometimes I fear, we become so focused on Christ being preeminent in “us” that we forget the rest. The Grand Epic depends on the Church but, but the Church isn’t everything and Jesus’ purposes don’t stop with us or even with Christ in us.
I think Col. 1:18 is a critical starting place and foundational for the Church. But we omit Col. 1:19-20 at great peril.
David said:
That is awesome! Me thinks some have spent too long answering the question: How do you DO church, and only skimming over the question: What IS the church? I have read Sparks books the Stewardship of the Mystery and The Supremacy of Christ and I can’t recommend them enough. Thanks for illuminating us on what the church IS.
Larry Aubry said:
Spot on Milt. Over the past 3 1/2 years I have experienced 3 of the 4 types of ‘organic church’ that you described. I’ve spoken with others across the country and they have echoed the same experiences to me. I really wonder why do these types of meeting formats keep popping up? Is it because they are similar to the church format that we are so used to experiencing?
Larry
schellerjazz said:
Amen Milt!
miltrodriguez said:
Larry,
I believe that is exactly why these types of groups keep popping up.
It takes a major shift in our thinking and in our experience to see something come to fruition that is outside of the box (system). Detoxing is definitely part of that journey.
miltrodriguez said:
Jim,
I agree that He is definitely to become preeminent in ALL things, not just the church. I have not forgotten the complete scope of the epic. However, the emphasis in letters like Colossians and Ephesians is the Church because it is through the Church that Christ will accomplish all things becoming subject to Him. This is the clear message in Ephesians. Colossians emphasizes the Head and Ephesians emphasizes the Body. Together you have the full picture; the One New Man – Christ and the Church. It is THIS corporate Man (Head & Body; Vine & Branches; Bridegroom & Bride; Shepherd & Sheep; Foundation & Living Stones) that will accomplish the completion of all of God’s purposes.
Matt said:
Hi Milt-
I’ve enjoyed reading your articles on organic church. I know many who practice this type of church state that most of the life and growth takes place outside of the “church” meeting. If that is the case, why do you think folks tend to place so much emphasis on how that meeting looks? I understand that the meeting will likely be a microcosm of the relationships and focus of the group, but couldn’t a body of believers have a true NT body life that is “organic” outside of the meeting? I havent read any T. Austin sparks so I don’t know if in his books he defines how an “organic church” meeting looks, nor do I think he should be the determinant of it if he did, but I think that a group that is yielding to Christ as head and practicing mutual submission will likely have a meeting that is more determined by the Spirit’s direction and the dynamics and fidtings of the believers in that group and the season that they are in. I think that if the group feels that the Lord is guiding them to study a passage of scripture together for a time, that is what they should do. The more we make prescriptions on how a meeting has to look the less we may allow Christ to change things up when needed.
Also, what is your thoughts on using musical instruments in the singing time of a meeting?
Lynn Wenzel said:
Jesus must reveal Himself individually and corporately, for without Him we ALL fall short of His glory! I believe it is “through/by Christ that ALL things are accomplished, being preeminent over the body and yet being One, in union together! He uses those that are called and called out for His will to be accomplished. Christ being the Head, He does not share His glory with another including the body, whom receives the gift of Himself to the bride and yet HE is glorified in what HE produces within the body that reaches out! Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there “in the midst of” (NT 3319 in the middle) them.” Jesus comes in the middle of where ever 2 or 3 are gathered (minimum) in His name within relationships within the body with the greatest being LOVE so that NO man can receive any glory.. When Jesus “manifests” Himself, He Himself is “made apparent’ that which is His glory coming in power……so it really comes down to NOT I/you, but Christ in the midst….just what I have come to ……
Michael Young said:
Milt,
Thanks. Being a person that gets really agitated with rhetoric, I’ve mostly quit using “organic church”. Lately, I’ve been using “the body”, or “the ekklesia”. I know it’s all semantics, but sadly many people have misused “organic church”. I often find it funny that there are websites that actually advertise their “organic church”, they have a name and everything!
miltrodriguez said:
Matt,
Thanks for your comment. I think that I see a few questions there:
“why do you think folks tend to place so much emphasis on how that meeting looks?”
” couldn’t a body of believers have a true NT body life that is “organic” outside of the meeting?”
Of course “body life” or “community life” is very important and is absolutely necessary for being the church. Church is the life of Christ being lived out in and through His people. By that very definition, that will happen in a healthy local expression of the Lord. But meetings are important too. If they weren’t then Paul would not have corrected the abuses in the Corinthian meetings. We meet for a very high purpose. It’s to express the Lord and edify the Body, who is Christ (1 Cor.12:12).
“Also, what is your thoughts on using musical instruments in the singing time of a meeting?”
First of all I don’t believe that the “worship leader” is a viable calling or ministry in the Body of Christ. Everything done in the Church is according to the “one anothers” found throughout the New Testament. When Paul discussed singing or music in the church it was always in the content of “one anothering” (Eph. 5:18-21; Col. 3:16).
Therefore, the goal of the singing time is the Body expressing Christ through music (singing) and declaring Him. The Lord Himself is the worship leader and indeed is worshipping the Father through the Church (Heb. 2:12). So the singing and music happens through the one anothering of the Body. It takes a group of people a while to learn how to function this way and it usually happens with the help of a church planter equipping them. Once the church takes “ownership” of the singing, then musical instruments can be introduce as long as they do not infringe upon the corporate leadership of the body. In other words, the musicians should follow and accompany the church, not lead it!
Jim Wright said:
Milt, in your response, you state: “Together you have the full picture; the One New Man – Christ and the Church. It is THIS corporate Man (Head & Body; Vine & Branches; Bridegroom & Bride; Shepherd & Sheep; Foundation & Living Stones) that will accomplish the completion of all of God’s purposes.”
I have read your various blogs, and here’s what I’m trying to understand as it relates to you, Frank Viola and Jon Zens. How, exactly, do you three (or maybe just you personally) think that looks like (i.e., how does the Church accomplish the completion of all of God’s purposes)?
That may be worth a new blog by you, because i think that’s where some of us are growing increasingly concerned, especially as we see how anemic much of the organic church community is and as we read studies that confirm it’s introspection. What you say sounds good, and maybe it is good, but statements like your response above are very ambiguous.
If you are saying the Church itself is the fulfillment of all of God’s purposes, they by implication you are saying the Church embraces all of creation. That’s a very scary and theologically dangerous position, as history amply shows, because there are only then two practical conclusions: (1) We retreat from the rest of the world and stop being engaged in reconciling all things to Christ, because we are all things and nothing else matters; or alternatively, (2) we are called as the Church to run society and everything.
I challenge you to find a single period in church history where the Church is everything position did not lead to one of those two profoundly disastrous errors, leading to wholesale death on national scales.
If you are saying that the church “accomplishes” everything (rather than being itself the total fulfillment of everything), then I think it is incumbent on those who advocate that view to flesh it out. In reality, that could be a perfectly appropriate view, or it could be really dangerous – just depending on what you mean by it in practical terms.
So, what does that look like, in the life of the fellowships you related to and have influence with?
What does that look like from the bigger standpoint of history, leading up to Christ’s return?
BTW, I truly don’t know if we agree or disagree, although I grow troubled by blogs (like some of yours in the past) that vocally tell us that we should disengage – like, for example, retreating from civic and political involvement as believers – so this is nothing more than really trying to understand and hoping you provide some clarity.
Clarity will help avoid needless disagreements due to ambiguous but good sounding statements.
I, and I think a growing body of opinion, view this as a critical issue facing the organic church community in the West.
Thanks in advance for any clarifying response.
MichaelO said:
Milt,
Good blog. I am familiar with Sparks and Nee’s writings. I agree with your assessment of what church isn’t. I also agree with the centrality and supremecy of Christ as our specialty, but don’t we have an additional specialization also? Everything starts and finishes in Christ, He is all in all. You quote Col. 1:26-27 to support your statements of Christ being the “ONLY” reason for the church to exist. But aren’t we neglecting the other aspect of Christ talked about by Paul in that text? The first chapter of Colossians is about the nature of Christs lordship. 1:3-8 Paul gives thanks for their faith in Christ. 1:9-14 prays for their growth in Christ. 1:15-19 he teaches Christ as Lord 1)Lord of creation 2)Lord of the new creation. 1:20-23 he then teaches Christ as God’s reconciler 1)Reconciler of all things 2)Reconciler of the Colossian believers. 1:24-27 Paul expresses that he is Christs minister of reconciliation. Paul later expresses that we all are ministers of reconciliation. The statement supported by Col 1:26-27 that: “…in my mind, that is the only reason for a church to exist.” Is to neglect half of what Paul is saying.
Verse 27: “To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery AMONG THE GENTILES, which is: CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.” This “mystery” is Jesus Christ reconciling and working reconciliation not only through the Jews, but now through the Gentiles also, that the Gentiles have been grafted into the fig tree, equal to the Jews in sharing Christ.
This was a major battle first century, and it is a major battle today. The battle was and is this: yes you need Jesus Christ, but you need the traditions of the elders also. You need Jesus AND
Judaism/Catholicism/Protestantism/Evangelicalism/Pentacostalism
/Charismaticism/etc,etc.
John 3:17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world. but that the world should be saved through Him.”
Here we see why Jesus was sent.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Here we see that we are sent also.
The whole reason for the Church presently is 1)Love Him 2)Love and reconcile the nations to Him.
Your message seems to leave us in church worshipping Christ?
What of the reconciliation half of the text you used as support?
Christian community is not the end.
Christian community is the means to the end, which is the agent reconciling the world to Christ.
Again, degrees of emphasis.
Stephan said:
Milt, it was good meeting you and welcoming you to Switzerland this last year.
I love the discussion on what it means to be organic. I came accross this term quite independently of any one else by experiencing that the church is a living organism with the DNA of Jesus. Then, for me the term is born of the organism that we cannot and should not control – but let live. This is how I have come to enjoy such an organism here where we live. It has been a great struggle to let go of any headship and leadership and control that I grew up believing was necessary for order in the organized church.
Now we are experiencing the work of the Lord in and through us and we have no control over it. It is not our organism that we could in any way clone and duplicate for our own purposes. This is what organized religious institutions have done well, some that I have been a part of in the past.
Now our gatherings happen around the table with our host, Jesus, the risen One, present in our home. We share in this foretaste of the wedding feast of the lamb together with whomever God invites to the table. Most if not all, we have not invited!
We share with non-believers, refugees, broken and hurting souls, Southern Baptists, Swiss Reformed, Roman Catholic Priests, Greek Orthodox, Russion Orthodox, Fundamentalist, Evangelical and guests from around the world. And they keep changing, based on the immediate need of the people at the table of healing.
May Christ, his Father and the Spirit of God, be praised for the work they are fininishing through the living organsism of the church today!
Jamal said:
This is very valuable! Thank you Milt for writing this.
miltrodriguez said:
MichaelO
I think that you have misunderstood what I said.
First of all, it’s impossible to say everything about a subject in one or two blog posts. It’s even impossible within a series of blog posts as this “10 Myths” one! I am making specific points based upon misunderstandings that I have heard about regarding the term “organic church”. These posts were never intended to be comprehensive by any means.
I agree with everything you say in this comment.
It’s not a matter of being exclusive or inclusive here. I am not being exclusive of God’s full purpose by stating the importance of the Church. Rather, it’s more a matter of “first things first”. God has an eternal purpose and He also has a plan (administration or economy) of how he is going to fulfill that purpose. In Ephesians chapter one Paul is giving us the purpose in one very concise statement:
“to sum up (or head up) all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth”
Eph. 1:10
This is the very all inclusive statement. This includes the reconciliation that you referred to in your comment.
Then Paul tells the believers that they have been given an inheritance – or allotted portion. And he prays that they would see with spiritual eyes and receive the revelation of the fullness of this wonderful Christ who is to be the sum total of all things.
Then, at the end of the chapter, he tells us the way (or plan) by which God will fulfill this lofty goal:
“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
(Eph 1:22-23)
He actually calls the church (which is His body) the fullness of Christ!
It is through this Church that He will reconcile, head up, and sum up all things to Himself.
Brother, I am definitely not saying that God doesn’t care about the world! Of course, He loves the world. But He has chosen to bring His love and grace to the world by means of His Body. So, if we just have a dangling arm reaching out to people and there is no body, what will we bring them into?
My ministry and the ministry of many others today is to go back to our foundation. We must begin with Christ and the Church. When we have that flowing in His life then all else will follow.
miltrodriguez said:
Stephan,
Thanks for your comment brother. Where do you live in Switzerland?
MichaelO said:
Milt,
Oh!
Just checking brother, just checking.
I figured you were just not covering the whole enchilada, in one gulp, if you will, as we say in Texas.
Natalie said:
I had a question where you mention the bless me club. I think I understand what you are saying, in that if the believers are only focused on signs or miracles, they would be missing the point of an organic expression of Christ. I believe the gifts of the spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 are needed for the body and I was curious how the gifts are embraced and expressed in an organic body. Thanks Brother!
Stephan said:
Dear Milt,
We live in the mountain community of Leysin, above the end of the lake of Geneva, where once Gandhi and many others came to be cured of physical illness (tuberculosis) by the abundance of fresh mountain oxygen-rich air and the light of an abundant and warm sun.
Now, by the grace of God, we are becoming a place for a different kind of rejuvenation. A spiritual one. A place and community where and in which the TriUnity of God can rejuvenate the soul with the fresh oxygen of their living Spirit (the breath of God) and with the abundance of light from their Living Word (the light unto the world).
During the first week in August (3-5) this year we are planning our 6th annual retreat in Leysin. Wow, how great it would be to have you and your wife join us and share in the organic nature of the church organism of our Father. All to the praise of His glory!
I love your meaningful work and humble spirit brother!
Stephan
Steve Simms said:
Austin-Sparks doesn’t have the right to a monopoly on the use of the word “organic” among believers. Nicholas Arseniez, an Orthodox professor, said: “We must become an organic member of the Divine Reality: ‘I am the Vine, you are the branches.’”
Individuals and churches desperately need the life of Christ, not just the form of godliness. There can be various forms, but what makes a body of believers “organic” is the living Presence and active leadership of Jesus Christ.
Nicholas Arseniez also said: “The whole Gospel story may be considered as a witness of a Presence, of a transcending, sanctifying, unique Presence.” It is that holy Presence of the living, resurrected Jesus that makes a church organic.
When Christ is actively in charge (not just in theory), He will direct the believers without the need for human control and He will bring about different forms and meeting styles as He desires. If Jesus is not directing the meeting, we will fall into a dry rut, no matter what name we use for our meeting.
miltrodriguez said:
Natalie,
Thanks for your question. I’m sure there are others who are wondering the same thing.
Yes, the gifts of the Holy Spirit that Paul discussed in 1 Corinthians are definitely part of the body. And it’s very interesting in that passage how Paul shares about the gifts. He shares about the gifts in the context of the Body! In other words, they are just a part of who Christ is as He is expressed through His Church, the Body of Christ.
Here again, it’s a matter of first things first. We, Christianity at large, have tried to restore and practice and understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit outside of the context of the body. But the gifts are just part of the body. They come with the body. It’s a “package deal” so to speak. If we have the life of the body flowing freely then we will experience the gifts.
In the 1970s my wife and I were involved with a movement called “the Charismatic Movement”. It mostly came out of institutional churches with an idea of restoration of the gifts. The problem was that body life was never restored! If you don’t have the body then you won’t see the gifts. At least not in their true expression. They will be at the very least limited and at the very worst mutated. Much abuse of the gifts ensued, just as Paul wrote about to the church in Corinth.
So you may be asking: “what is required for the life of the body to freely flow?”
The main thing is the Headship of Jesus Christ!
Without the Head in His proper place, the life from the Head will never flow into the Body (see Col. 2:18,19). If there is a man, a group of men, or an organization that has usurped the place of the Head, then we will not see the Body, and therefore the true operation of the gifts will not be present.
I have been a part of and helped to plant groups of Christians that have made Jesus Christ the Head, Life, and Center of the group and amazing things happen! The gifts look nothing like they did in the “charismatic movement”. They are much more natural and totally without fanfare. They are just an expression of the living Lord who lives in each member of the Body!
linda said:
Hi Milt:
I have spent a couple of days reading all of your posts. I am enjoying and agreeing as I read.
I have visited many living room, organic, house church functions in the past four years. So far they differ is some ways, but, I find some things hold true for almost all. They do tend to be a smaller version of Wednesday, Sunday gatherings. Three songs, a prayer or two, and a pastor (lay leader) facilitating. All of the people have been friendly and warm. but!!! Once the planned time is over its; ” That was great, see you next week”. Any conversation there is to be had is very superficial empty talk that has no depth and certainly not centered on Jesus. Our very breath.
Oh how I hunger for people who would be courageous and hungry enough to truly live this out.
I do believe you are right about Father giving some gifts to plant. He very strongly corrected my that I was not the one and He also reminded me his word says “I will build my church”. I have come to the conclusion some are left to pray. A lot!
I did experience the real deal in a location quite far from my location. I know there is nothing that can compare to the sweetness and unity of those who truly give all to live life together centered on Jesus, Our precious Lord. It still brings tears to my eyes.
I thought maybe, sometimes its good to take a break from analyzing all the details and think about what the fruit would be like.
I will keep reading. I encourage you to keep writing.
Michael Fleming said:
Great post! A couple other contributions if I may….
Personality Cults – the church gathers for a specific human, to hear them teach or preach or whatever. Unlike institutional churches who would just replace a pastor that left, these groups fall apart as soon as the main figure is not present.
Social Clubs – they get together to “have church,” but all they really do is hang out and have fun. This is what most single’s groups or youth groups are essentially.