So in part 1 I talked about how the American Church is not a high functioning body because it wasn’t listening to Jesus, who is the head.  I want to talk about what it might look like if we started to really act as if Christ is the head of the Church.

First, it would mean that everyone’s opinions, biases, desires, and knowledge are in submission to Christ being the head.  In other words, what you think doesn’t matter in relation to what Christ thinks.  How would this radically change the average leadership meeting?  We generally run them according to Robert’s Rules of Order and believe that the majority rules.  Basically, we make decisions the democratic way.  One problem: the Church isn’t a democracy.  It’s part of a kingdom, which means the king rules and reigns.  It’s not up to us to decide what the Church should do.  Jesus already knows what the Church should do and it’s up to Him to tell us and up to us to listen.

It would also mean the body submits to each other.  Paul commands the Church to do this in Ephesians 5, but what does that look like.  I’m sure whole books have been written on this so let me say it like this: it means that I would value another brother/sister in such a way that I wouldn’t automatically assume that I’m right if we don’t agree on something.  Paul asks the Church in Philippians 2 to have the “same mind”.  How is that even possible?  We all have different personalities and experiences so how can that happen?  It can only happen when we agree that Christ being the head is more important than me getting my way.

So how would this really work in a local church?  Our church is really in the beginning stages of working this out, but here’s some thoughts.

1. Those entrusted to make decisions wouldn’t vote in a democratic way, but, instead, pray, listen, discuss, and come to unity on the matter.  That may happen in 5 minutes, but it may take 5 months or longer.  Why is it important for the body to be unified in where it is going?  Just imagine a body where one leg goes right and one goes left or doesn’t go at all.  Guess what?  That doesn’t happen because the head doesn’t give mixed signals to the body.  If the head tells one leg to go right, then the rest of the body gets the same message.  If we’re hearing different things, it means somebody either isn’t listening or is hearing incorrectly.

I think our meetings should be a lot less talking and a lot more praying.  After all, it’s not important that everyone is heard; it’s important that God is heard.  Some decisions won’t require much listening because God’s already lined out what he thinks in Scripture.  But there are a lot of decisions that have to be made that Scripture doesn’t speak directly to.  At that point, we lay down what we want and we seek what God wants.  They may be the same thing, but if so, then it’ll be obvious when there’s unity around it. 

2. It would mean that a high level of trust would exist between the members of the body.  If there’s fear that one or more members aren’t submitting themselves to the headship of Christ, then you have a dysfunctional body.  I think trust is basically time x shared experience x honesty/selfish acts and attitudes.  The more time I spend in relationship, doing ministry with someone and sharing our crap with each other, the more I trust them.  This is why community is so vital in submitting to each other and Christ.  If you want leaders who will be willing to submit to each other, you have to have an environment where confession is not just allowed, but encouraged and where ministry is shared and done together.

Here’s a practical example of how this might work.  Our church recently had to make a financial decision that directly affected the personal finances of another family in the church.  We discussed the matter and came to a decision in about 20 minutes.  Later that day, something in me didn’t feel right about how we came to the decision.  I think the Holy Spirit allowed me to see that we had talked for 20 minutes and decided something that affected a family to the tune of a couple thousand dollars without ever taking the time to seek him.  I felt that we should go back and do it differently.  What we’re doing now is taking a couple of weeks to really pray and seek the Lord on what we should do.  We may realize that our first conclusion was right, but even if we do, we’ll know that it’s what God wants. 

On issues like this, it is far too easy to let our own opinions about money or our own personal financial situation (whether its perceived to be better or worse) to be the motivations for making decisions.  Once again, it’s not important that everyone’s opinion is heard.  What’ s important is that God’s opinion is heard.

I realize that all of this might sound strange, weird, and uncomfortable.  I would agree.  It doesn’t just sound that way, it’s still that way when you try to actually do it.  It’s awkward and clumsy at first, just like my daughter trying to walk, but it’s worth it, especially when you consider where the alternative currently has us.

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