Church vs. Parachurch…I shouldn’t have to say this…
Posted by Aaron Reddin | Posted in Christianity | Posted on 06-10-2009
Tagged Under : Christianity, Church, Delegation, Faith, God, Gospel, Homeless, Jesus, Management, Ministry, NPO's, Outreach, Poverty, Teaching
I read something today that really agitated me, on one of my favorite ministry blogs. The author says that he is always hearing people talk about their “outside the church” ministry. He then assumes that since they are involved in ministry outside the church, that they do not give, serve, or even care about the local church. That is absurd! I have people who serve at the parachurch ministry where I’m employed that are deeply committed to the local church, and to assume otherwise is just plain wrong.
He goes on to declare that he will cast such a vision for the local church that their hearts would be drawn BACK to the local church.
To assume that someone’s heart is not in the church, because they are involved outside the church is offensive. This really bothers me, especially considering where it came from.
Parachurch organizations are involved in things that the local church CANNOT do. Local churches are involved in things that the parachurch organizations CANNOT do. That’s why they are PARAchurch organizations. Para….you know…from the word parallel.
Dictionary.com defines parallel this way:
1.
extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never converging or diverging: parallel rows of trees.
2.
having the same direction, course, nature, or tendency; corresponding; similar; analogous: Canada and the U.S. have many parallel economic interests.
Here’s my point: Churches should never discourage people from being involved in parachurch organizations. NEVER! Unless that church has a shelter, rehab, prison ministry, single mothers ministry, homeless ministry, clothing ministry, food pantry, soup kitchen, orphanage, maybe a dream center…..
What churches need to do is stop wasting so much time and money trying to develop their own programs/ministries like these, and embrace the parachurch organizations that are already doing these things!
Encourage people to go and serve food in a shelter, unless you have a soup kitchen. Encourage people to go and tutor kids in a domestic violence home, unless you have your own. Encourage people to give to outside ministries, unless your church building is in foreclosure.
We can NOT divide churches and parachurch ministries. I can’t believe I have even had to post about this. This really is sad, and counterproductive in regards to the advancement of the Gospel.
WOW – This is a real problem and I can not tell if it is because of bad Ecclesiology (that’s the doctrine of the church for those of you in Rosalinda) or just out and out jealousy. Serously, para-church ministry done by Christians is church ministry. This guy needs a kingdom mindset!!!
This is someone who I thought had THE kingdom mindset…it really shocked me…
I tend to go for “roots” Just my training. So have we really openly dealt with the nature and metaphor of the Body and Bride that Paul and Jesus speak of? We give folk Myers-Briggs tests (hey my undergrad degree is in psych) and do not help them disciover what the Holy Spirit alone has chosen as calling and gifting. Any wonder we have bureaucratic battles? Try questioning your liver on what it wants to do rather than what it does.
Yes, it is sad. A Kingdom reality would be for pastors to help members of the Body find where they fit in the Body regardless. A Pastor at a Calvary Chapel slightly north of here sat with me and after we spoke and prayed he said “you would be too much for our folk..llet me suggest some churches where your gifts my best be used.”
Let me tell you, we had great fellowship and he could use the help. But he has kingdom eyes.
Aaron, from what little I know so far of what yiu are doing, I love it. And Shane knows I love and support all The River Church is doing. In fact, I am redundant here on paper. My response? Worship, support and wait until God reveals what He wants. Till then, relax.
I am relaxed and content.
Dude! I love having your input, and have had a blast interacting with you here and on FB….and you’re right, we gotta do coffee soon! For real. Too often I say that to people and don’t follow through, so let’s actually connect soon.
I don’t get what he is trying to say. Appears to me he is making a claim just to make his voice be heard.
In my humble opinion, the parachurch, megachurch model is deteriorating and true life is the local, smaller bodies. How can one live, be real and authentic with their brothers and sisters, confess sin and serve in community if there is the ‘high’ church mindset. Service to GOD comes in the humdrum of life, where its dirty, greasy, bloody not in large auditoriums, where everything is pristine and ‘high’ churchy.
I s’pose you agree with this…