What's wrong with the Church? Organic Church reviewed

Neil Cole's 'Organic Church' asks crucial questions of the Church in today's society.

Bluntly, he writes that to most non-Christians, church is where you get married and are buried, and people are desperate to avoid both. He also points out that an incredible amount of effort and resources are expended for one hour a week. Jesus commissioned us to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28), and we've turned it round, expecting the world to come to us.

Cole points out that the Church belongs to Jesus, and He is our key team player! We need to trust Him more and be prepared to go into scary places to find the 'good soil' of people waiting to hear and believe the good news. The Gospels make it clear where the most receptive people are: they are the outcasts of society, the prostitutes and low-lifes, they are in the places no one respectable wants to go to. If we want to see the church grow, we need to get out of our comfort zone and into the tough places!

Cole also argues that we need to stop allowing people within the church to be passive. New converts do not need to be 'trained' to reach others- look at how Jesus sent out Legion straight after healing him! Ultimately, instead of drawing people out of community, Jesus' plan is to inject the Gospel into existing communities... so that the members become a church themselves.

In short, we need to strip down all our requirements for church that aren't biblical- such as owning a building, running large services and organising rotas - and focus upon what really matters: close relationships that reach out to include anyone, no matter what their past or present situation is. Above all, as Christians we need to show others how Jesus has changed our lives... and show others how He can change their lives too.

17 Again

All I can say is: Wow!

I dragged my husband along to see 17 Again, the new film with Zac Efron (High School Musical) and Matthew Perry, not particularly expecting anything amazing. It was awesome! Not only was it hysterically funny, but it had a brilliant message.

Most films which involve time-travel or transformations centre around the protagonist going back to change the course of history, to improve his life for the better. Back to the Future is the classic example. 17 Again opens with a scene from 1989: a basketball game that could give Mike O'Donnell a college scholarship. His girlfriend tells him that she is pregnant, and he leaves the basketball court to run after her. He marries her, and then 17 years later their marriage is on the rocks, because he has resented her for the way his life has turned out. I felt apprehensive that this film was going to chart the breakdown of a marriage, or worse, a fairy-tale change of history. I was wrong!

This film is really about Mike's realisation that his decisions were not wrong; the way he dealt with them was the problem. The film is about how he faces up to his responsibilities and realises what he has in his wife and children. Not only does it promote saving marriages, but it also promotes saving sex for marriage. I was impressed!

I thoroughly recommend this film. It is thoughtful and has something relevant to say about family life in today's world. With increasingly depressing statistics about marriage and families (in The Daily Telegraph today they quote the Office for National Statistics' figures that more under-25s give birth than get married, and an average marriage lasts 11 years), it is great to see a film affirming the importance of not taking your relationships for granted, and working at them. Going through a wedding ceremony does not make a marriage; giving birth to a child does not make a successful parent-child relationship. We need to stop kidding ourselves that these things happen 'naturally'.

The Bible tells us frankly that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). If we spend all our efforts on our career or 'me-time', we are not going to enjoy close marriages or really know our children. How refreshing to be reminded by a secular film that people matter more than getting your own way, or getting more stuff.

Searching for Jesus' worldview

Reading a book called 'Culture Changers' this week, I was struck by the writer's point that as Christians we need to be imitating Jesus, and this should profoundly affect our worldview ('the lens through which we see life and the universe'- Matt Bird, p83). He suggested an exercise of thinking about the worldview Jesus had, with the aim of identifying where our thinking is influenced by the world rather than God. I read through the gospel of John in one sitting and made the following notes on Jesus' worldview. I hope as you read them, like me, you'll be challenged about ways of living and thinking you need to change.


Eternal 'In the beginning was the Word' (1.1)

Humble 'The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us' (1.14)

Open 'They said, "Where are you staying?" "Come," He replied, "and you will see."' (1.39)

Inviting "Follow Me" (1.43)

Social 'Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding' (2.2)

Respecting God above men 'He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area... "How dare you turn My Father's house into a market!"' (2.15-16)

Prioritising salvation 'no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' (3.3)

Worth telling people uncomfortable truths 'whoever does not believe stands condemned already' (3.18)

Disregard common prejudice 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (4.9)

Show people the way to true satisfaction 'whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.' (4.14)

Highlight sin 'Go, call your husband.' (4.16)

See the needs of others, physical and spiritual 'look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.' (4.35) 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' (5.8)

Never panic, trust God 'Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.' (6.11)

Keep a right perspective 'Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life.' (6.27)

Always remember that God is in control 'No-one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him.' (6.65)

Don't seek fame 'after His brothers had left for the Feast, He went also, not publicly but in secret.' (7:10)

Work for God's honour, not your own 'He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth.' (7.18)

Encourage people to judge themselves, not others 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her' (8.7)

Do everything to please God 'I always do what pleases Him' (8.29)

Understand that true freedom is being free from sin 'everyone who sins is a slave to sin' (8.34)

See the devil for what he is: a liar 'there is no truth in him' (8.44)

See God's glory in tough situations '[Lazarus' sickness] is for God's glory' (11.4)

Mourn with those who mourn 'Jesus wept' (11.35)

Hold your life loosely for God's glory 'the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.' (12.25)

Be a servant to others '[Jesus] began to wash His disciples' feet' (13.5)

Subject yourself to God's refining 'every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful' (15.2)

Love others 'Love each other as I have loved you.' (15.12)

Remember you don't belong on earth 'you do not belong to the world... That is why the world hates you.' (15.19)

Be unified with all believers 'May they be brought to complete unity' (17.23)

Go God's way, even if that means suffering 'Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?' (18.11)

Remember God has ultimate authority 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above' (19.11)