A friend asked me an interesting question tonight.

It was something along the lines of:

"Do you think that the model Jesus set out for us includes Church as it is practiced today?"

I gather from additional comments that she and her family are considering no longer going to a standard institutional Church with "members" and a "pastor", and are drawn to the idea of being involved in a home church, or in more community centered Christian life.

She paid me the compliment of saying that she valued my opinion, and what did I think?

Well the question sparked alot of thoughts that have up until now resembled ping-pong balls in a metal walled room. But I feel some semblance of cohesiveness beginning to emerge...

So here goes. 

 "Do you think that the model Jesus set out for us includes Church as it is practiced today?" (So loaded!!)

No. But to be honest, the thing that grates me most is the word "model" itself. I feel that it presupposes so much, and leads to religion. But that is my deal.

The more poignant question that I have is why do we need to be sure that this "model" is wrong, and this "model" is right before we are willing to take a risk and follow conviction?

Truthfully, I think she already knows what she is going to do. If the question is that developed, then the choice is to maintain the status-quo is already nearly impossible.

In a broader sense, I am excited about this. But then, I might not be the best person to ask about this topic as I have a tendency to be....pro-decentralization. In my experience, there is a momentum in large centralized church structures that becomes very specific, and runs rough-shod over different, and experimentation. I believe that experimentation in the life of a believer is infinitely more important than conformity. Conformity is external pressure that modifies behavior and rarely does anything positive for the heart. It produces regurgitation of phrases that rarely carry the weight of personal experience and conviction. Experimentation is often much more painful, but when it is done in the enormous saftey of Grace, and in the leading of the Spirit, it leads to unshakable faith.  Its also seems so much easier to hide in a Church. If you mimic the external signs of that churches sub-cultural momentum, you can wind up in leadership positions without actually having any root in yourself. We dont have to look very far to see tons of examples of what happens as a result of this, or that it happens often.

Momentum appears to produce some positive things as well. At least on the outside. I am not entirely convinced that this is always good though. I think that Church momentum can be similtaneously one of the most powerul, and yet tyranical things in the earth....responsible for the tearing down of strongholds, and the initiation of Crusades.  Especially when that momentum is accompanies by signs and wonders. When there are signs and wonders, there is a tendency to almost always assume that the underlying theology is correct. Then judgement follows, and  uses peer pressure to punish those who exert pressure in another direction....the rebellion label is often used.

But these are just my pingpong balls in a metal room.

I guess the answer would be, "what is the Spirit telling you, and are you willing to risk being wrong to follow Him?"