Let’s talk about Parachurch
First of all, what is “parachurch?” The Greek word “para” means “alongside.” So the idea is that there are services by groups who are not specifically The Church, but exist to support the work of The Church. These are categorized as parachurch. They come alongside to help The Church. A good example would be organizations like Campus Crusade For Christ, or Food For the Hungry. These are not churches, but the efforts of Christians who are part of The Church, the Body of Christ. They believe they are called to focus on things like sharing the Gospel on college campuses, or feeding people in poorer countries in the love of Christ. Other known parachurch ministries would include Celebrate Recovery, which focusses on the needs of people who are recovering from “hangups, habits and hurts,” and even the more recent efforts to share the Gospel through the making of high quality movies like “The Chosen,” and “The House of David.”
From the beginning there were practical concerns that required some organization. In Jerusalem the church grew rapidly to about 5,000. In Acts chapter 6, the need arose for seven men to be chosen to oversee the care of the widows. It should not surprise us that over the centuries the need for other practical services would arise. From the New Testament we also see that men like Barnabas and Saul (Paul) had to leave the comfort of their local church when the Holy Spirit sent them out to the greater Mediterranean world to preach the Gospel of Christ. While they did receive support originally from Antioch, it is evident that they were on their own much of the time. Paul actually had his own trade which provided for his needs and those of his companions (Acts 18:3, 20:33-35, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8-10). While missionaries like Barnabas, Paul, and Silas are not known as “parachurch” ministries, it is helpful to view them as “workers” whose extended reach is distinct from that of the local church setting.
Two thousand years later and around the world, the concept of parachurch ministries has proliferated. Ideally these should not compete with The Church of Jesus Christ. However, some church leaders are concerned that this competition might exist at times. At this point I am going to suggest something that might be even outrageous to many. One of the greatest hindrances to the vitality of the real Church of Jesus Christ, the community of born-again believers in the world today, can often be our understanding of the many institutions we call churches!
Please understand that I am not challenging the need for organizations and even denominations. Many of these have a purpose in God’s plan that I do not need to understand. They have served the needs of people for hundreds of years. However, the bible is very clear in describing the Church of Jesus Christ and how it functions.
The word that is translated “church” in most of our English bibles is from the Greek word “ecclesia,” or “assembly.” In New Testament times this word often applied to regular official gatherings (Acts 19:39), and at times agitated crowds that have gathered for different reasons (Acts 19:41). The first mention of the church in the New Testament is in the Gospel according to Matthew:
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
NKJV (Matthew 16:13-18)
The building that Jesus is referring to is not composed of brick, mortar, or wood. It is composed of individuals who are supernaturally joined together in Him! (Ephesians 2:18-22) It is founded upon the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Only individuals who have repented and are born again by faith in Jesus are members of this living organism called the Body of Christ! (Acts 2:38, 47, Ephesians 1:20-23) By One Spirit they are baptized into this One Body of Christ! (1 Corinthians 12:12-14) Only Jesus Himself is the Head of His body and He lives His life within each individual for His Eternal Purpose.
He has placed servants in His assembly whom He has prepared to lead by the example of their godly lives. Their devotion to Him and His people qualify them far more than their education and human abilities. They are more like fathers and mothers than CEO’s of corporations. The Church is their family, addressing one another as brothers and sisters, equally important in the eyes of God their Heavenly Father.
This is the Real Church.
In his book, “The Community of the King,” Howard Snyder puts forth the proposition that everything that is not of the essence of the Church as the redeemed people of God should be acknowledged as parachurch activity. He makes the outlandish suggestion that all institutions, including denominational structures, interdenominational structures, and non-denominational structures be included in the above category of parachurch organizations.
Personally, I have struggled with the very existence of Institutional Christianity in all of its forms. But after reading this book and also after serious observation, I believe that a paradigm shift such as the one Snyder proposes could be the solution to many of our problems today.
We love to quote the “Solas,” of the Protestant Reformation: sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). At the same time we have forgotten where the Scriptures, Christ, His grace, and faith would lead us— to a better understanding of the character and nature of the Church of Jesus Christ, His Body and the precious members of that body. This better understanding, and the genuine practice of this understanding, would certainly bring glory to God alone!
This building is made of up of living stones who make up a spiritual house, and a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5-9). These precious believers are not simply “butts in the seats,” to supply “bucks” in the offering plate, to build fantastic edifices and empires for the glory of Christian super stars! However God wants to use these things, they are not the Real Church, the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all!
Wow, this is interesting. I had given no recent thoughts to the parachurch concept. I looked around for my well-worn copy of “Community”. But to no avail.
I was trying to think how I might explain the parachurch concept to the guy on the street. Coming up short.
For me, every Christian should be welcome wherever other Christians are gathered. Unity in Christ should be the overarching principle.
Brother, I have always believed that non-traditional church people should join in with traditional church wherever possible. But there are practical limits which eventually come into play.
I recall in the ancient past how Israel had to network with their heathen neighbors in order to sharpen their metal tools. Apparently the neighbors were more advanced in this field. And, in the construction of the temple, the talented neighbors came through again: None could hew wood like the Zidonians.
As more people come to the USA – this means more opportunities for personal evangelization. They are mostly ignorant of the parachurch concept and are unaware of the sometimes checkered background and disunity of the Christian Church. That is sad.
As for Snyder, he is a great university professor with a large following and influence. This suggests that parachurch ministry has its proper place. We knew that already.
By the way, in the past, several churches had huge debates concerning the legitimacy of mission agencies. Mission agencies vs. the local church in sending out missionaries.
Could the early table servers of Acts 6 come under the umbrella of parachurch? Was it a city wide-ministry or limited to a single church? Where did the house churches come into the picture with regard to the hungry widows in their city?
Regardless of that. account – the methodology seems to be that if there is a need – just try fill it. Regardless of what the ministry is called or what category it occupies.
I don’t see a lot of bureaucracy in the Acts 6 account. Nor do I see endless commitees. Nor people waiting around for approval from others.
As for good entertainment, that is an important part of life. And a great instrument to present the truth. Thankfully, Christians seem to be gaining some real ground in this area. More to come I hope.
In recent news, many areas were devastated by once in a life-time floods. First boots on the ground were those of Samaritan’s Purse. Interesting.
The word from our Lord is that we are the light of the world. Reflecting his light, of course. As individuals and as specialized groups. Are not we still surrounded by needy and hurting people?
Will they look at the Christian community and say: Behold how they love one another! I desire to be apart of such an authentic and caring community…
I’m just rambling around today. Blowing off some steam. We definitely need to pursue these ideas.
David, thanks for the balancing thoughts. My interest in Howard Snyder’s thoughts are his unwillingness to dismiss the good that is accomplished by the churches that are part of a greater organization. You and I know of those who would accuse those churches as being part of “Mystery Babylon, mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth,” as described in the book of Revelation.
Snyder’s book focusses more on the bigger picture, The Kingdom of God. That excites me!
Copy that, my brother in Ohio.
As for parachurch ministries – the biggest disaster of all is the modern protestant seminary. Very few of these institutes for high learning now hold to their original charters or to their original core beliefs. Pretty much blind leading the blind.
Harvard University, for example, and in the news this week for its open toleration of Jew hatred.
Their original plan and purpose nwas to bring everything aspect of life and learning under the canopy of JESUS CHRIST.
Every thought captive to him! And in all things having the pre-emminence!
Oh my, how the mighty have fallen….