-Alan

We are planting a house church network, with the concept of planting a network in major metro-areas, so instead of retro-fitting the concept of a city church, we are just starting one from scratch. Honestly, it’s utopian to think that we could cause churches to come together, outside a miraculous act of God. But, there is a generation coming up that has very little use for traditional churches and church structures. It’s not they are irrelevant, but they are largely irrelevant to this generation. So, the current “irrelevance” is an opportunity for a change, but to force the change would be to put new wine in an old wine skin. Start with the new wine and put it in the new wine skin.

I have enjoyed your post and the discussions in response.

I believe we need to be careful about definitions which can be interpreted so differently by individual. Maybe it may well be that I don’t understand the term “city church”, as you folk are using it.

As I understand the term, it simply refers to all who believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work, in any given location. The only problem I see is when we don’t simply accept the fact, but try to identify, quantify, or label it any further. I think the true city church is a lot like the One whose home it is,indescribable, but very evident when not quenched.

For many years I ministered in, so-called “full time pastoral ministry”, in smaller country towns, where different denominational groups combined to present the Gospel several times per year. There were times when invitations were given for sharing with another for special times in our church year. We tended to refer to each other as “brethren”, regarding ourselves corporately as “the church in ——” whilst accepting there we had differences, which, at times were the cause of some corporate chuckles.

What you expressed is the necessary humility for us to recognize ourselves as one church. We can talk about logistics and planning and leadership all we want, but until we accept one another as brother and sister in Christ simply because God has accepted us and in spite of our differences, we will not know the unity that Jesus prayed for and we will not recognize ourselves as part of the church in our city. Thank you.

-Alan

Sorry for the (no completely) off-topic comment, but if I may address ded for a moment, I simply wanted to say thank you for your comment on this post. It was a word that has spoken to my heart and soul in a wonderful way and it has encouraged me GREATLY in my walk with Christ right now.

God bless you, brother. Thanks again!

Your comment is something everyone needs to read here and meditate on. I believe you have spoken the truth.

The first use of doctrine in NT Greek is –

Mt 15:9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
Spoken by Jesus to Pharisees.

The Greek word translated “doctrine” just means teaching or instruction. That’s it. We are the ones who determine what we teach from the Word and the interpretation it is given. Cults use the written words of the Bible and call it doctrine. We can call anything and everything we teach from Scripture “doctrine.”

So whose “doctrine” is going to apply to all of us? Here is where humility is called for desperately. Isn’t humility part of the NT teaching concerning godliness? Much scriptural evidence supports this conclusion.

If I accept humility as part of godliness, how can I reject being humble about anything including what I believe from the Scripture? What’s more, to separate from others in direct violation of Jesus words about unity and brotherhood demands by Jesus own words in Matthew 5-7 from the Sermon on the Mount, that I expect to be judged myself in a like manner. Ouch! Thank you, Lord, for the “hard” word that does not give us self-righteous wiggle room!

When the Scripture is so completely clear about the nature of love (I Cor. 13) and the consequence of hating one’s brother (I John 4:20) how can anyone choose not to fellowship with believers outside their denomination?

Refusing to fellowship with brethren who proclaim clearly the Cross of Christ (His blood atonement thus fulfilling God’s righteous judgment against humanity)and His Resurrection (upon which the wonder of regeneration by the Spirit is fulfilled) is to completely fail accurate discernment of the Body of Christ, His Holy Bride.

Denying to accept unity of brethren for which Christ prayed in John 17, reduces all doctrines upon which such division is based to nothing more than the doctrines based on the precepts of men which are warned against by Jesus and associated with Pharisees.

I realized years ago that I belong to the church in my city. Period. I am brother to all who live here and proclaim Him the Crucified Lamb and the Resurrected First Born among many. They may reject me for various reasons. That is on them. I love them all and we would enjoy communion with each, should I be given the opportunity.

I submit this observation humbly and for review by others, but such is my “doctrine.”

Resurrection of the City Church: Who Will Move the Stone?