How I Built A 'Bible Based' Church - And Why That Was Wrong

From time to time well-meaning Christian brothers and sisters hear my story, and feel sorry for me. They think I was just unlucky in my legalistic church experience, and go on to inform me that they are part of a Bible based church – ah yes, Bible based…

I normally smile, and politely decline their invitation to join one of their services. You see, this was exactly what I would have said when I was still a senior pastor. My church was a “Bible based church” and I said this with great satisfaction. Upon reflection I realise I was absolutely right – for all the wrong reasons.

My church was a building where everyone would come to once a week to worship God – just like the Temple in the Bible.

I encouraged everyone it was God’s will that they bring their tithe to this building – just like the Temple in the Bible.

I organised musical worship, that placed God high up in heaven and the rest of us far away on earth – we were always ‘reaching up to him’ – just like the Temple in the Bible.

Ah yes, we were certainly Bible based – that was the problem, and it was a big problem. It pulled everyone, inch by inch, into the Old Covenant mentality.

What a church really should be is gospel based, not Bible based. Not everything that is in the Bible is the gospel. Most of the Bible is the Old Covenant, and we, as Christians, are not part of that covenant. When we fail to understand that, we cause a great deal of harm to our church community. But, well, you know the tithe is part of the Old Covenant, and that one law is probably responsible for more pastors wanting to keep things ‘Bible based’ than allowing the community to be ‘gospel based’ than any other. I understand why. You need a lot of money to keep a Temple running… but again, should we even have a Temple-like-building to begin with?

Jesus did describe what the Church looks like, did you know that? He talked about the community who were born-again, that of course being a reference to the body of Christ, the Church. How did he describe the Church then? He compared it to the wind. He said:

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

This is what I realised was my major mistake. My church community was meant to resemble the wind, but instead I worked hard (and made others work even harder) to make the church resemble the Temple. This to me now is shocking, but back then I honestly didn’t see a problem with it. I though it was commendable even! The Church was meant to seem invisible, and yet I was actively spending huge amounts of money on publicity and advertisements, doing everything in my power to make my church known, famous, “here we are: we are the church, look at us!!”

I don’t blame other pastors for doing the same things I did. I understand it’s not done with a false motive. It’s done with zeal, with passion – but, I also believe it’s done with a wrong understanding. Like the Apostle Paul said,

For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Romans 10:2

So, how can we as a church community move away from the Old Covenant ‘Temple’ model and start living int the New Covenant ‘Wind’ model of church life? … well, that’s something I’m still trying to figure out myself. It’s a walk of faith, and I’m just taking it one step at a time.

Jacob Heretics

Acts 17:24-28King James Version (KJV)

24 God
that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

This verse has challenged me greatly with regards to worship. We have limited knowledge of true worship in spirit. All I know is it’s NOT sing-a-long worship as we know it. Maybe the secret lies in surrender/death to self and gratitude, to name but a few. As much as I regret having to post this here, I am compelled to share my heart; Religion as an institution has become a substitute for the yearning God has to be one with us, truly one in spirit. Religion in any form does not liberate the spirit, it binds it and in coercion with guilt ENSURES we do not become one with God.

People worship the Bible and it’s ethics, and forget that God is so alive He wants…us.

One step at a time…one step at a time. I’m walking this with you Mick.
Mandee

My husband and I are walking with you too, brother. Profound and WONDERFUL share! It’s been really hard to understand the other side of things, but this brought a little understanding as to why things still are not transforming for the glorification of JESUS alone. I pray the full Body of Christ would come into the mature knowledge of who we are IN HIM and how to be the “ekklesia” that Father has called us to be … WIND. One step at a time we walk with JESUS and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are ONE in Him … of one Spirit, one mind, and one body. Thank you, JESUS, for brother Mick. I give ALL glory to you Jesus! Yes & AMEN.
http://www.facebook.com/jamesppesch James Pesch

I love this. I just started a meetup group for people like us.
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http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/X2MF7YIYWACZGIJWJVRIZG2F4I Patricia

Beautifully said.
JimRobbins

So true, Mick. Most sermons on spiritual growth seem well-intentioned; yet behind them is a need to keep the religious machinery running. Give people a sense that they are not what they *should be, or that they aren’t volunteering enough, serving enough, and you’ll soon have an army of pressure and guilt-driven robots doing your bidding. The leadership never stops to think how building Kingdom communities looks different from building the Borg Collective.
http://www.facebook.com/jackie.doss Jackie Doss

Everytime I’ve read that passage before, I’ve thought of it as referencing how we experience the Spirit, not how we are to BE. Wow. I love it when my paradigm shifts!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608801477 Bruce Draganjac

I went through exactly what you’re going through many years ago. I applaud your willingness to re-examine the church culture and unlearn the concept of organized religion.
When you said “we must be born again”, see if this thinking changes things about who is, and who isn’t, the church even further. What if Jesus wasn’t referring to something each individual must do (placing the responsibility on the individual), but instead was talking about something that would come to past? I believe all of humanity was “born again” along with Christ on that cross. That was one of the great significances of the Cross-event-revelation. Paul made the observation that Christ took into his body both Jew and Gentile (at the time, that was everyone), and along with them, was reborn into the new revelation of total love and acceptance. Granted, knowing we were all born again opens our lives in a whole new reality, better able to experience the fullness of life outside of fear, guilt, and shame. But, not realizing it doesn’t change the fact that we are all included in the “born again” experience. He included us all, and the good news is just that. When he said to go preach the good news, could he have meant that we should simply tell people that because of Christ, we are saved? Not that you need to DO something to be saved, but that it is simply a fact? That indeed, is good news!
Because of the cross, you are saved from your fear, guilt, and shame. It doesn’t matter if you want it, believe it, deny it, or curse it. It is a fact. You can either live in that mind-blowing revelation, or continue to live the way you choose. It doesn’t change how God sees you, it only changes how you see God. His love is unending. He accepts us with no conditions, requirements, or expectations. That is true love, and He knows we will respond to true love because that’s the way he made us.
James

Instead of being a Bible based church or even a Gospel based church, how about being a Jesus based church.

The Bible is worshipped too often, Don’t make the same mistake with the Gospels.
Mal

Nice to hear from a fellow traveller on the journey with Jesus outside structured christianity. In my country, New Zealand, census statistics over the past twenty years show that the fastest growing group of christian believers is made up of people who have opted out of the local church to passionately follow Jesus in their communities.
http://twitter.com/sosfour9 Shannon Byous

Good stuff to hear about. I always wonder when people still call their church, “The Lord’s house”. We’re so immersed in old school, it’s not even funny. We’re his house, not a building…but I’m not actually sure we believe that. Certainly don’t live like it. Well, I do now, but have a lot more baggage to rid myself of. Thanks for the interesting and thought provoking post.
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http://www.facebook.com/maddyeline Maddy Floss

And to further define on what it means to be ‘Gospel-based’ it is to perceive the Word of God through the lens of Grace because that is who Jesus is and how the Word should be meditated on. So even with the issue of tithing..I do believe tithing is one of the many practical (and gracious) channels for the church to keep their activities going however it should be done with the awareness that God is the supplier of the sower; the ability to tithe still comes from Him. And it should be a gracious act of giving because the Grace of God made it possible for them to give. The motivation to give should always be esteemed from the awareness of His Love for us which produces the Love for His House and people. Tithe not because you are told to but you genuinely want to based on the knowledge of His abundant Love for you.