This blog post has been revised and turned into a chapter in The Rethinking Series.
The series includes each book in PDF, Kindle, and Nook formats.
Click here to view the Table of Contents for each book and how to get it
About Frank Viola
Frank Viola is a best-selling author, blogger, speaker, and consultant to authors and writers. His mission is to help serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. To learn more about Frank and his work, go to 15+ Years of Projects. To invite Frank to speak at your event, go to his Speaking Page. Due to a new problem with persistent spam that we haven’t figured out how to control, comments are closed for the present time. To contact Frank, use the “Contact” page in the top menu.
An Open Letter to Rick Joyner
Hey Frank, I don’t see how any of the references you have for *bride* are about the Church as the bride of Christ. I don’t see any *bride* at all in Ephesians or 2 Corinthians. And the the bride in reference to Rev. 21 is a description of the New City that comes down from heaven. Maybe I’m missing something.
Pete: My book “From Eternity to Here” develops the Bride theme from Genesis to Revelation, and connects all the dots on those texts and more. Remember, this article was part of that book. It was actually the appendix. So the book gives the previous context.
Particularly like: “We are ‘regenerated’ or ‘born anew’ into the blameless Family of God.”
The word blameless is so significant, here, I think. We are not ‘faultless’ – that would point to our ability to remain free from sin, which we can’t do. But we are ‘blameless’ because of what Jesus has done for us. “He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.’ 2Cor5:21 What a Savior!
This post does encourage as well as challenge me! I sadly agree that too many of our churches would get a failing grade in some or most of these areas. I confess I have been a “church jumper” because of the desire to belong to an authentic and fully functioning body of Christ. But praise the Lord my search has ended, and I have found a spiritual home that does exhibit this criteria.
Thanks for sending us the lost chapter it was very useful. Several of us here in Carroll County, MD are gobbling up your books but more importantly we are also being driven even more to scripture and Christ. Are you familiar with christian author Lawrence O. Richards? We have a devotional/commentary book by him that we have owned for many years. As we were looking through it recently we stumbled upon his description of the early church (commentary on 1 Cor. 14:26-40) and how we should try to find that kind of experience today. Pretty cool from someplace I wasn’t expecting! Thanks for your ministry and also the Billy Graham book excerpt the other day. Keep goin.
There are times when we may think we know all until we hear what we know from another vessel. Not that I take pride on what my local church has taught me, but I rejoice to hear the same message being preached from far away. This is a confirmation that we are one in Spirit and in the Lord. I believe the Lord is revealing the message of unification of the church all over the world. I may have some unlogical questions on how His church will come together and be one as u have also illustrated but I believe God is doing one thing in all His churches and that thing is the one that will realy unite us. Lastly I have loved you when you said Jesus came as an endangered species. Thank you I will come back for more.
Frank, every aspect of your masterfully written article encourages, inspires and challenges me. The organized church I once belonged to failed all 14 tests miserably. When it pleased God to reveal His Son in me, I stepped away from ten years of organized ministry. The Anatomy of The Church reads like a glorious menu. I’ve got my grace utensils ready. I want it all!
Well, I agree with Frank on alot of what I have read. I am so lost that where I am (Africa-South Africa) right now we dont seem to see this happening. The hunger is there but we dont seem to find help….We desire to be what the Lord wants us to be (his body). Having said that, one is stack when they are not able to find any people living body life so they can be added to such an experience. What we have read in the books and the blogs feels so real. But where in Africa is this happening or should we have to come to Europe and the US and Cananda and Australia. Well, that is the challenge we deal with daily as we read and admire what we read. Thanks
Well it is two days later and I am still chewing on this! I am enjoying the comments from around the world and the desire of each individual expressed. I must say that the task before us seems rather daunting! The 14 images are so foreign to the overwhelming monolithic image dominating the concept of “church” presently that we are involved in culturally. I am wondering if others feel as I, in that it seems that we are faced with a similar landscape as was Paul and the boys? But with an added degree of difficulty. The present influence of a 2000 year old christian culture in place that is upside down from those 14 brilliant Scriptural images above of Ekklesia. I have confidence in Jesus Christ that He has a plan. But I must say that standing here on the edge of the abyss looking out, we (the key word we) have our work cut out for us. In mulling this over and thinking back over the past 37 years of my experince, my impression is that we can not nor should we attempt to change the status-quo. As was true with the first century saints, this is a whole life encompassing endeaver. Many will have to move location to join with other like minded. We are willing to do that for employment purpose, we should for community also. Some will have to plant a community.
Frank, please name the biggest problems you see with us realizing those 14 images of Ekklesia?
Is the first Mark 8: 34-38?
I was encouraged by reading the article. And I am encouraged by reading the comments of all those people searching for true body life. Sometimes I want to give up, because I think it is not possible here in Belgium. But it is not my idea, it is Gods IDEA!! Thank you for this article.
I can’t imagine why this chapter was not included in the original book!?! It would have been the most practical and challenging chapter! Thank you for sharing it with us, Frank. I agree with what another person said–this would make a great workbook. I live in a country I was not born in for the purpose of reaching others. I LONG for this kind of Body life, but sadly, it is very hard to find. However, I will be sharing this chapter with others and hope they will be stirred up by it as I was. Living in a different culture than what I grew up with, I wanted to shout “Amen!” to what you said under both the New Race and Holy Nation headings. The goal of most cross-cultural workers these days (in my observation) has been to avoid giving others the wine of Christ in our old Western wineskin (great) but rather to run to the other extreme of trying to pour the new wine into THEIR leaky wineskin (as if that is going to work better!). People going into new cultures despirately need to know God’s eternal purpose for His Church (not the American Church, South African Church, Chinese Church, Brazilian Church…). Frank, I don’t know if you have talked to many people in my line of work (I met you in Las Vegas last year) but though churches may be planted in homes in other countries, almost all of them have the same maladies which you have described elsewhere (institutional church in a home or glorified Bible study). As to which image of the Church struck me most: I did a double take when I read the Army image. I have NEVER heard anyone say that Ephesians 6 was talking about anything other than the individual believer, but you are absolutely right (the language is all plural). Why would we think it was any other way when the whole rest of the book is corporate?! Thank you, Frank, for a very useful chapter! One question though: I agreed intuitively with your statement that “the more maturity in spiritual life that a church experiences, the more spiritual authority the church wields” but I am trying to think where the Word actually says that. Can you help me out?
I’ve not attended a congregation for over two years. Reading this
Makes me doubt that I will find these qualities any place. I don’t want much to do with anything else.
Good word about condemnation, Brett. Christians are not under condemnation and we are not to seek a “perfect” church because it doesn’t exist.
At the same time, the Lord will always open a door for us to be part of the fulfillment of His eternal purpose, which is always corporate, if we truly desire His best and highest and are willing to take the plunge to participate in it no matter the cost. We don’t want to fall off the other side of the horse and neglect God’s purpose, of which He burns and is looking for those who are willing to pay the price to fulfill it.
So no condemnation; yet truly seeking the Lord *means* seeking what is utmost in His heart — His ultimate passion. Such a word will strike different people differently depending on where they are at.
Just wanted to say thanks to the poster Brett, for his comments above. What you had to say really ministered to me, as someone who has been searching for a local community but not yet finding it. I started out a year ago in June full of passion and excitement for seeing this church life in reality, but in the time that’s lapsed, I feel myself drying up like that raisin. Thank you for reminding me that as a member of the Body of Christ, I AM connected to the vine. I know I need to not try to build MY church, but let Christ build his, in his timing. It’s just a really hard process to be in the middle of waiting.
We have so far to go. And sometimes the building hurts. These past few days have been so difficult and we’ve failed many of those tests. I have so many questions on how to handle this.
I’m most inspired by the collective life in Christ connections. I am studying a foreign language that uses the plural you. Hearing my brothers and sisters read from the epistles in this language has been an eye-opener for me. I was constantly reading “you” in the English and applying it to myself, but it should be You All, the church together!
I think it needs to be said that the Kingdom of God is within you. If you are a believer, Christ dwells in you and through you. You ARE connected to the “tree” or the “vine. ” And as you reach out in your daily life in service and ministry (in love) to others; family, friends, coworkers, and strangers, it can hardly be said that you are “journeying alone.” Fellowship comes in many forms. Practicing simply hospitality can bring deep fellowship. While true bodylife in a committed community of believers is a pearl to be sought and hopefully found, at any cost, don’t let anyone put you under judgement or condemnation if you can’t seem to find it. God knows and He will prepare your way. Seek Him, not “church,” because you will never find Him seeking the perfect church.
Having been in an organic church for a little over a year, I think I’ve seen all of these illustrations at some time. They are all really interconnected around the two things you pointed out in the beginning: Jesus as Head, and corporate life. It is beautiful that Jesus and His bride are all of these things at the same time, kind of like one prism displaying many colors. And of course, Jesus and His bride are so much more. I am humbled beyond words to have experienced it.
Would someone help me know what this actually looks like lived out? All that i know is “church” outreach and to be honest, i don’t feel like reaching out right now. I just want to know Christ with some other people. (Yes, i know knowing Christ includes making him know.) So… ready Go.
From “A Vinyard.” “The unveiling of Christ comes from the whole cluster. The individualistic Christian who is journeying through life alone is a “raisin Christian.” In addition, the branches of a vine extend out as the tree grows. So long as the tree is growing outward, it will live and continue to grow. But if it grows inwardly, it will eventually die.”
Joe: Read the discussion I had with Neil Cole on this blog. I give many present-day examples (see the front page for it). Also, I’d encourage you to read REIMAGINING CHURCH which is an up-to-date description of church life that fulfills God’s eternal purpose, both from Scripture and contemporary examples. http://www.ReimaginingChurch.org
This is great Frank and looks like a useful tool for church analysis. Maybe a workbook?
Thanks Frank for this great chapter. I think it would be a great book with a title “The Anatomy of the church”.I have some thoughts on expanding the idea into a workbook for churches.
Many of us have left the institutional churches long ago and have learned these truths by the Spirit as Frank has, and have been seeking ever since, and not finding true expression. This does not make us “raison” christians; it is not a comentary on us, but on the modern church. Be at peace and trust God to bring forth His Church in His time and plan; pray and follow His leading and minister and serve others at every opportunity and prompting. He will build His Church, not you.
For me, the truth of these “14 Steps” inspires and leads beyond anything that is written in them. If these things are real and true, think on what they really mean in the context of worldly citizenship, military service and State killing, political activism, legal coersion, personal finance and property, divorce and remarriage in Christ, abortion, poverty, etc., etc.. What is the Church’s real identity and witness in this world? Let the truths of these steps lead you to a higher vision of the Church’s witness to a dying world. Then be prepared to pay the price. It’s easy to talk about these things.
Great Article Frank.
Like always it’s a breath of fresh air.
We need to get you on a Webinar.
Keep them coming.
one of my favorite texts too, Frank.
I am inspired most by the lampstands. They give light to the one in the midst of them Christ thereby revealing Him and letting Him be seen. The lampstands in the tabernacle were to be made of one piece of gold and hammered into shape. That shape looked like a flower bearing fruit of another flower bearing fruit of another flower until it gives light at its height. there were seven branches on the lampstand all of one piece of gold.
I am inspired because of our God who so loves to use images and pictures to speak to us, and you have written some beautiful ones here. I especially love the “sheepfold” picture after having read the first section of the book “Scouting the Divine” by Margaret Feinberg. It brought me to tears, and I would highly recommend it to any believer.
These are great questions. It is difficult to find a church or Christian group that can answer many of them yes. I am fortunate to be a part of a pioneering group in Nashvile that is seeking to let God build a body that can say yes to these. Here is a link to a national magazine article about our group:
Tim: thanks for commenting. Our help is the Lord. We’re all frail and seeking, but I do believe He has promised to meet us, in His time. I love that song – You make all things beautiful in your time. The waiting, however, is the hardest part (as one lyricist put it).
Jim: thanks for the kind words.
Rose: thanks for sharing yet again. I appreciate what you say here and to my mind shows a heart that wants the Lord’s best. I know the wilderness myself and it’s difficult. Thanks again for sharing your heart and thoughts with us.
Michael: May your tribe increase! Let’s pray for an increase of body life all over this earth.
There’s no perfect church, but we can seek to hit the high watermark. At least we can fail trying.
Yes my heart does yearn for true body living. It just seems to be elusive. I’v enjoyed it in the past and hope to find it in the future. Frank you have ways of making me think. Causing me to examine my heart again. It may be that what I looking through is my own lens instead of the lens of Jesus. Great post.
Darryl: I’m humbled, bro. I’m a nobody writing about Somebody. It’s just nice to see that He’s coming through in some of it despite the vessel. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. A favorite text of mine.
I’m a leader in what you’d call an institutional church. This hit me between the eyes. I found it very insightful and challenging.
Great article. I do agree with others though, that it also reminds me of the yearning I have for this kind of community near me. I’ve read Finding Organic Church, but I haven’t “Found” a healthy, growing “Organic Church” that desires to have Christ as its head near my area yet either. We’ve attempted to connect with several believers, visited some groups that claim to be “Organic” but are little more than either social clubs or small institutional churches. Since leaving The System a year ago in June, we’ve been doing a lot of wandering in the Wilderness, it seems. If I lived an hour north or south of my home, I know there are active organic congregations (in fact Milt just visited with some in Cinci just a couple months ago). But here in the center of the state, it’s dry, dry, dry.
Or if there is life happening somewhere in Columbus, we sure haven’t stumbled upon it yet. Certainly not for want of trying.
It’s a frustrating place to be, knowing what could be but not finding it.
Debby: make plans to come to Threshold 2011 next July. Lots of folks are getting connected that way. And I’d encourage you to look again through the ideas of what to do when alone in FINDING ORGANIC CHURCH. Some of them may be worth praying over and trying.
In the Organic Church I’m part of, I feel as thought I can say “yes” to almost all the above questions. Jesus is amazing.
This certainly does challenge me and humble me at the same time. The congregation I pastor seems so far from passing the tests as you lay them out. I see much truth in your observations here. After almost nine years in serving this church I find myself at a loss as to know how to move them toward a more authentic image of the body of Christ. I understand Sybil’s feelings very well.
Thanks for your honesty and transparency, Randy. One of the groups that I wrote FINDING ORGANIC CHURCH for is pastors who wish to make the transition. So you may find the book to be help.
Frank,
There is so much here that I find myself drained from exhastion just reading it and digesting it. I am happy, sad, and angry all at once. As an extension of yesterday’s topic of an open letter to Rick Joyner of just another prophetic conference of old wine skins. This makes me angry, from the standpoint of where are the so-called Prophets? You have just drawn attention to the 900 pound gorilla sitting on the stage of the proverbial prophetic conference in everytown western church. We are hearing about the coming WWIII epic battle in the Valley of Jezreel at the crossroads. And the great catching away in just the nick of time. When the Lord of Lords is quietly, lovingly, making a family. And the so-called Prophets are completely missing it right under their noses? Or are they?
I am sad because I naturally walked into the above 14 point experience in 1973, until I and the Brethern were told by the so-called Apostles and Prophets that you have to have the clergy covering. Then everything fell apart, everytime we used the old wineskin.
I am happy because of voices such as yours and others are becoming louder and louder and more numerous, and my long held convictions were confirmed, with substantial documentation and footnotes.
I like this above anatomy.
I must agree with some of the others. The article did more to make me realize that I’m still in the wilderness looking for all that you mentioned and yearning just continues to grow. I can say this, the churches I attended would have failed almost every one of your points.
Great article! I think every church should use it as a guage for their progress. Sybil, I agree with Frank. That audio clip is awesome. I would also recommend From Eternity to Here. That one set me free from all the guilt and feelings of unworthines I’ve carried around for many years. It’s an amazing book.
I am a “grape” alone – being led by God to leave organized church for good this time. I desperately want to be involved in all of these metaphors. I want this story to play out in Vt, USA.; I want to be a part of this story here. So I hang close to Jesus, read your blog, pray earnestly, and wait. I don’t feel like a raisin?! I don’t feel like I’m in the wilderness?! Frank – do you think I am??? I feel I’m connected to what Father is doing. and I’d like all these “feelings” to become “knowings”!!!
This article has dragged up feelings of inadequacy and I bet others feel the same.
Sybil: one of the things the content of this article does is produce a hunger and thirst for the Lord and an experience of His body. I believe that’s what you are describing here. I’d encourage you to read the exchange that Neil Cole and I had (on this blog) and listen to the short audio clip that’s linked in one of my answers. Find out what others have done who were in the exact situation that you’re in now.
I think I’ve always yearned for this and found glimpses of it occasionally, by chance. Now, I feel like a lone sheep, who’s bleating for his shepard. “Where does my help come from?”