Embrace the Chaos! Finding Order in the Midst.

 

Embrace the Chaos! Finding Order in the Midst.

Chaos. It's a word that often carries a heavy, negative weight. We associate it with disorder, disruption, and even destruction. But let's be honest, if you've ever been part of any community – a family, a neighborhood, a church – you know that chaos is inevitable. Life is messy. Issues arise, plans derail, and things get… complicated.

Sometimes, that chaos even feels necessary for growth. Think about it: how often have we learned the most from navigating difficult situations? How often has a community been strengthened through overcoming adversity? The truth is, while no one welcomes chaos, it's a natural part of the human experience, and even a catalyst for positive change. It is time we embrace the chaos!

However, just because chaos happens doesn't mean we should embrace it as a permanent state. God, in His wisdom, desires order amidst the mess. While He doesn't advocate for rigid control by a single individual, He does provide a framework for structure and leadership within the church.

God's Blueprint for Order: Elders and Team Leadership

The New Testament provides a clear picture of how God intends to bring order to the church: through the appointment of elders. We see this in Titus 1:5, where Paul instructs Titus to "put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you." This wasn't a one-time instruction; the concept of elders leading the church is echoed throughout the New Testament (Acts 14:23, 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-16, 5:17; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

This model stands in stark contrast to the often top-down, staff-centric approach prevalent in many North American churches today. In the New Testament church, leadership was a shared responsibility, not the sole domain of a single pastor.

Jim Tomberlin, in his exploration of church structure, points to the Antioch church in Acts 13 as a prime example. This wasn't a church led by a single charismatic figure, but by a diverse, "rag-tag" team. Think about it: a Jewish rabbi (Saul of Tarsus), a Jewish marketplace leader (Barnabas), a North African (Niger), a Jewish aristocrat (Manaen), and a cosmopolitan Roman (Lucius). This diverse group, representing different backgrounds and perspectives, formed a powerful, world-changing leadership team.

Beyond Staffed Positions: Embracing Biblical Leadership

This model highlights a crucial point: biblical church leadership isn't about filling staffed positions. It's about recognizing and equipping God-given leaders – elders – to shepherd the church. This team-based approach, demonstrated in the Antioch church, allows for a wider range of gifts and perspectives to contribute to the church's mission.

So, let's embrace the chaos. It's a reality we can't ignore. But instead of fearing it, we can embrace the biblical model of leadership, trusting that God's design for order through elders and team leadership will guide us through the challenges and ultimately lead to growth and transformation.

Let's strive to move beyond the chaos, not by seeking control, but by embracing the God-given structure that fosters unity, strength, and a powerful witness to the world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Grammys, Community, and the Church: A Reflection on Family

The Grammys, Community, and the Church:  A Reflection on Family My wife and I found ourselves watching the Grammy Awards red carpet arrivals tonight. It's not usually my cup of tea, but there it was, playing in the background. As I half-watched, half-listened, something struck me. The language being used by the artists, nominees, and winners was overwhelmingly communal. There was a real sense of shared passion and understanding that music is more than just an industry; it's a community. The emphasis on the MusicCares Fire Relief, supporting Los Angeles communities affected by the fires, further reinforced this. One interviewer even called the event a "family reunion," a time for the music community to come together, encourage each other, and celebrate their shared love of music. It was, in a way, a beautiful thing to witness. And it got me thinking. Why don't we see this same level of unity and community within the church? Of all groups, the church should ...
Read more

The Sleeping Giant: Is It Time to Wake Up?

  The Sleeping Giant: Is It Time to Wake Up? The Sleeping Giant is more than just a catchy phrase; it's a powerful idea, and it's about  you .  It's about the potential within each of us, and within the Church as a whole, to rise up from a state of apathy and embrace a life of purpose and power. The Sleeping Giant is... the Church! But not in the way you might be thinking. It's not about buildings or rituals. Those things can actually contribute to the "sleep." When we talk about the Church, we're talking about Ecclēsia – the people called out from the world and to God. It's the community of believers, the body of Christ. And right now, too much of that body is slumbering. The truth is, many Christians agree that the Church needs to wake up, but they're unsure of how, or worse, unwilling to do what it takes. I've seen two major roadblocks hindering this awakening: religion and cost. Religion: We've inherited a certain idea of what ...
Read more

Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical?

Image
 Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical? We've all been there. The flutter of excitement when an invitation arrives, the subtle sting of exclusion when it doesn't. From childhood birthday parties to adult gatherings, the desire for inclusion runs deep. We're taught that inviting others is a good thing, a way to build community and share experiences. But is this always true, especially within the context of the church? Today, I want to gently challenge the conventional wisdom of "invite everyone to church." It's a practice so ingrained that we rarely stop to question its effectiveness or its underlying motivations. Let's take a closer look at the different groups we typically extend these invitations to: Believers Not Part of a Church Body: Why aren't they involved in a church? Do we really know, or do we even care beyond the surface-level invitation? A casual "You should come to our church sometime!" often overlooks the complex and pers...
Read more