Emerging Africa

At times the gap between what we imagine church can be and what it has become is so frustrating. There is so much going on in church that is driven more by an industrial-modern model than an organic way of being church. Church has bought into the concept of consumerism – offering products and spiritual goods for spiritual clients. We are so far away from really being communities of Jesus’ disciples who is out to change the world. We are happy enough just to attend church on Sunday, get our “fix” and “go on” with our lives. How can we get people to really follow Jesus, to be radical followers of Him?

Another way I think we have bought into the industrial model is that we think that a one church can be adequate for very different people. Because we few church from a purely organizational metaphor, we believe that a church can grow without any end. When we think of church in terms of an organization we assume that a church can continue to expand as long as it has strong leadership, healthy finances, etc. A company (or church) can expand its numbers with more and better products, services and programmes for potential consumers. As long as there is a demand, the company can expand. And the thinking goes that one size fits all.

The metaphors the Bible use to describe church is that of a body and of family. It seems to be more organic metaphors. When we think of church in terms of these metaphors, then our thinking changes. Lets take the example of a tree. A tree has a certain maximum capacity that is can reach. With the right amounts of water, sun, soil and nutrition, can the tree grow big and strong. There goes a time however when no amount of sun, water, etc will grow the tree bigger or produce more fruit. What will we have to do to get more fruit? Simple – plant another tree.

My experience is that when people usually plant a new church these days, its often out of rebellion and not necessarily that a congregation motivated and helped the person to do it. Shouldn’t it always be in the back of a church’s corporal mind that someday we will plant another church? This could entails that a relationship of trust and mentorship remains between the churches – not ones of control.