What if the Church Was Invisible?
What if we, as the church, were invisible? What if we had no church buildings? No signs declaring a church location? No denominations or headquarters? No mega weekend gatherings? No Christian radio presence? No Christian stores? No Christian bumper stickers or other outward personal identifying stuff? What if the Yellow Pages didn’t have a “church” category and if you Googled “church” it came up with no search results? What if there was no such “thing” as the church? Would there still be a church?
What if we, as the church, were invisible? What if we simply lived the life of Jesus, speaking and displaying his love to the people we knew and came in contact with on a daily basis? What if we as followers of Jesus simply did just that? What if we gathered quietly in homes to break bread and encourage each other in Christ; where our goal would be to simply live as agents of God’s restoration, serving God and the “other” in real and tangible ways? What if church were not a weekend thing, but a people who radically lived behind the cultural scenes bringing God’s kingdom to earth?
What if God’s church was more like a tiny mustard seed instead of trying to be the biggest oak tree on the hill? What if Jesus’ church was more like a tiny amount of yeast…itself unnoticed, yet quietly transforming and restoring people and, in turn, culture? What if the Holy Spirit’s church sought to be the last and the least—a servant? What if the church daily sought self-death—dying to itself and loosing its life in order to find it—instead of doing all it can to save its life? What if God’s church chose to sit down in the least honored seat of society and culture, instead of clamoring and fighting for the most prestigious one? What if the church “thing” disappeared and all that was left was the church—people who realize they are forgiven and loved by God and who actively want to be a part of his restorative and healing work in lives of other’s?
In other words, what if the church was invisible—or even better: visible, yet invisible? What if?
About The Author
awesome, nothing to say but awesome.
Very thoughtful. Perhaps a tad bit scary for most. Without church buildings/staffs, Christian radio, bumper stickers and the three worship chords, many would be left without any “symptom” of their faith. Left to ourselves, sans establishment, we may be forced to love, forgive, restore and sacrifice without being prompted or coerced. We would have to listen to what God is saying to us, instead of what others say He is saying or has said. Besides, how could we live in a world without “Testa-mints”? http://www.testamints.net/ (John MacArthur uses ‘em!)
~ Mr. Bellator: I must say that the only thing better than the three worship chords (G-D-C [and the occasional Em]…correct?) is chompin’ on three Testamints. LOL…I never knew they had their own website! Suddenly I am very self-conscious of my breath…thanks a lot!
Jeromy, I don’t say this lightly as I’ve read thousands of emerging posts over the years, but this post is the most engaging, thought provoking, and inviting that I’ve come upon. Let’s go live the “What if?”
Thanks Jon…and I don’t say that lightly.
Nice bro.
If we were invisible, then everyone could see us. It would change the world.
~ Jonathan: Thanks.
~ Nator: Great wordplay. It got me thinking…if the church were invisible, some would choose to disappear completely from it, while others would choose to live more visibly because of it and others would not be effected at all because they are already living invisibly-visible. I think I fall somewhere between the last two groups. Where would you fall?
Indeed, I too believe the world might be changed.
Wow. I don’t know what to say that those above haven’t already said but ‘Wow.’
I haven’t been to church in years and I think that perhaps because of this I’m seeing the bible and the words of Jesus with fresh eyes, without the preconceptions that I used to have. It seems to me that this idea of ‘invisibility’ is obvious in the Gospels, but maybe not. Why don’t more see it? (No pun intended.) Is the idea not as overt as it seems to me?
Great food for thought!
Did my last comment get marked as spam by any chance?
It did…that darn Akismet. Thanks for catching it.
“I’m seeing the bible and the words of Jesus with fresh eyes,” . . . liberating, isn’t it!! His burden is indeed light!
great post, jeromy…i think the world would be changed if this were the case, really changed. all the energy we spend on being visible could be spent on loving and relationships and caring and helping and boy is that a lot of energy & resource to pass around.
A LOT of energy, indeed.
Could you imagine if the church building was the most simple and worst looking building in town, and the poor areas were breathtakingly beautiful because we died to ourself—corporately, as a church—and used the bulk of our resources to serve others? I agree with you…the world (ours and theirs) would change!
Jeromy -
Would you mind if I added this as a guest post on seekingabove? I get a whole different circuit of traffic over there. I’d obviously name you as the author and link back here.
Tony, thank you, it would be my honor. I’ve sent you an email with the HTML for the image-link as well. I’m glad it spoke to you…
Hey Jeromy, is it alright if I repost this at my blog?
- mooney
Yea, feel free too. Thanks for asking…
I found this post through Seekingabove.
“What if God’s church was more like a tiny mustard seed instead of trying to be the biggest oak tree on the hill?”
Beautiful! Inspiring! I am speechless. amen.
What if …
Thank you Brad. What if, indeed.
As a little reminder to all of us, Jesus did not give any commandment to build a building, to name it “a church,” to decorate it lavishly, to gather in there once a week, to pass opulent ceremonies, to play music or anything like that. These are only products of our will not God’s, and consequently have nothing to do with the Teachings of the Doctrine. The only thing we were supposed to do is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS OURSELVES. That is it. Since we do not do this (none of us, including myself) we have come up with all the above mentioned things (which I am sure are abominable in His eyes) to create an impression of spirituality around us aiming to cover up our wickedness. Wickedness is not a strong definition. Taking Christ’s name upon us (hence, Christians) and not keeping His commandment TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER makes us worse than that, it makes us hypocrites. As you may have noticed hypocrites were the only ones with whom Christ was angry with (lawyers being part of the group). He was not angry with thieves, prostitutes or anybody else but hypocrites, i.e., those who proclaim to be something but in reality are something else.
[...] You can also read another good post by Jeromy entitled “What if the Church was invisible? HERE. [...]
I’m sorry, to me it sounds a little like John Lennon’s Imagine. I know imperatives are sort of taboo, but doesn’t Jesus instruct us to be kind of “visible” in the Great Commission at the end of the book of Matthew?
Greg, thanks for swinging by.
A people (church) like this would indeed be visible (as mentioned in the last line), but they wouldn’t be visible because of the in-your-face kinda ways we’ve been known for for the last 100-1,500 years, but because of the love we show and live, thus helping make disciples of Jesus (the great commission). I agree. The church should be visible, but for the right reasons. And perhaps by being “invisible” (see post) it would help us to be visible in a better, undercurrent kinda way.
I’d like to propose a new metaphor. What about the Ninja Church. Mythically invisible. nd like the Kingdom, the ninja is a modern day ‘thief in the night’.
Maybe it isn’t technically invisible, but, like a ninja, it’s learned the benifits of a smaller public persona and operates best at the edges, the dark and forgoten places. You may not be able to see it, but the presence is surely felt.
Derek, I like it. Perhaps Ask a Ninja could be our pastor?
We could have a saturday morning cartoon as well. TNMA! teenage mutant ninja apostles. Instead of italian art masters, they could be mathew mark luke and john. Fighting the villainous Megachucher! It will also add a whole new dimension to the Pirate vs Ninja debate that is tearing many churches apart. the posibilities are endless…
BTW Derek, did you get my email about next Thursday?
I did. I work 1-10pm every thursday night. It’s pretty lame. I’m sure we can figure something out one of these days. And I’m willing to head out after work as well.
I once read something along the lines of: its no use doing something because of Jesus unless they know its because of Jesus. So invisible is good, but not too much.
I think love is “of use” and always worth giving, regardless, because that is what Jesus does—loves. But that's the thing, though I personally do not feel the need to post stamp every loving act I do with “Jesus”, I will not think less of those who feel they are so led. We all need to follow as the Spirit leads.
If we take the story of the good samaritan as an example, we see that the samaritan acted without even saying a word to the injured man, let alone explain his reasons for helping. Jesus tells us to “go and do likewise” to our neighbors. I say if acting in such a fashion is good enough for Jesus than its good enough for me.
[...] - What If the Church Was Invisible? (This was personally a hard month to choose from…March was a pivotal month for me. Here were [...]
. . this is not as far-fetched as you may think.
Something very similar is happening here in the Washington DC area.
Today’s Washington Post (by reporter Michelle Boorstein) features an article that describes a church that may disband once the pastor retires (The Church of the Savior), and be absorbed into the faith communities it helped midwife with a mission towards social justice. It is not a new church, but it has purposedly stayed small, under 200 members, and has no pews as it meets in an old Victorian house that is now for sale — yet it has spawned health clinics, job assistance programs, affordable housing organizations, services for the homeless, etc.
It begins: ” The Church of the Saviour was never a conventional church. It has no pews, no Sunday school, not even a Christmas service. Instead, for 60 years this small, unusual group based in Northwest Washington has quietly fueled a revolution in faith-based activism.
Thousands of people are served by dozens of organizations started by the church, part of the intense social justice work mandatory for members. One of its programs found jobs for 800 people last year. Another provided 325 units of affordable housing. There's Columbia Road Health Services. Christ House medical services for the homeless. Miriam's House for women with AIDS. And on and on.
But now the grass-roots orientation that has animated the church for decades might lead it to disband. The church always has favored small groups over large and has been wary of entrenched institutions. So as it loses two of its own bedrocks — its founder and its longtime headquarters — and opts, for now, not to replace either, the church is asking itself questions about its very existence.. . . “
In case the link no longer works when you read this, google Washington Post and Gordon Cosby and Church of the Savior.
Activist D.C. Church Embraces Transition in Name of Its Mission: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...
Saul, thank you for sharing this. And see what happens? The world notices love and selfless service when it sees it. What if every church did this, or something like it?
Awesome. Lately I've told people I am sick of me and my friends “talking about” Jesus. I am challenging myself and them to BE Jesus to those in need. That being said, I want to open a mission for people to get a hot meal physically and spiritually on the south side of town. All of the support services are on the north side.
You'd enjoy my book on worship, inspired by the Lord to help educate non-worshipers about worship as an intimate and personal experience. Plugging Into Real Worship is the title and is available at http://www.aplogansr.com. Reader comments are also available on my the blog at pluggingintorealworship.wordpress.com.
Andy Logan
All Nations Word and Worship Center
Corpus Christi, TX
Read a few more comments and felt another comment coming on…Re: the mega-churches. I have nothing against them. I just think the Biblical model was to 1) start with a few 2) invest yourself personally as much as you can in them.
I've decided that if I only have 12, that's good enough. After all, look what Jesus did with 12.
Andy Logan
All Nations Word and Worship Center
Corpus Christi, TX
Ive recently written an article on my new blog : http://www.churchontheotherside.blogspot.com - entitled what is church? In which I've linked this article.
when Christ said, “Rebuild my church,” to St. Francis at the Church of San Damiano,
He was, in part, rebuking the ostentatious, overbearing social institution that the
Catholic Church had become… that was in the 1200’s… St. Francis was criticized
as “holier than thou” for promoting a vow of poverty among the brothers… when
asked by the church hierarchy to produce a rule of life for his order, he handed them
the Bible… Francis, who referred to himself as God’s “worthless servant” opitimizes
what Christ intended the church to be… however, to deny Christ intended the Church
to be a tangible reality is to deny the gifts God Himself left to his people… St. Paul,
in describing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, instructs us that he who has been given
the ability to preach must preach… if St. Peter had preached only in homes, surely the five major churches of which he was bishop would not have come together… we, as a people, are built to form community… the Trinity itself is community… St. Justin Martyr in 150AD speaks of how the faith of every Christian community in every part of the world
is identical: cherished and safeguarded in the same form passed down by the Apostles… had their been no community, who would have identified inconsistencies in
Church teaching… had each been left to fend for himself, interpreting the Gospel as
he saw fit, how could any Church be fully unified in doctrine… the Tradition which produced the Gospels and which now protects the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass would never have been saved… “you are Peter and on this Rock I build my Church. The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it”… that same Rock is the foundation and first bishop of five separate Catholic Churches, all of which share and preserve the one true faith… to claim the Church is invisible and only invisible is to deny 2,000 years of Tradition, inspired interpretation, corroborated wisdom, and selfless martyrdom all of which have formed and protected the faith given us by Christ Himself…