What is the purpose of the gathered local church if the marketplace is where ministry is to happen?

The gathered local church: From Acts and moving through the letters to the churches in the NT I see a pattern that emerges for the gathered local church. The pattern was that they gathered to be equipped to go and live (learning from Scriptures, the apostles and each other), they prayed together to move God’s hand to act on behalf of other believers, people within the community, and the advancement of the gospel and Kingdom of God, to fellowship with other and be encouraged as they advance the Kingdom, and to worship God collectively (through songs, hymns, tithing, prayer and learning). In the American church we have become more like social clubs gathered together to make ourselves feel good about our religious behaviors, worship God, and listen to someone tell how things can be better if we would just follow God more (again religious behavior). I cannot and will not categorize every church in this manner, but the evidence in statistics and through experience clearly points that this is the status quo for most.

Leadership Network is a community of thought leaders that are right on target Biblically and culturally. Reggie McNeal is the leader in “missional renaissance” and I would highly recommend anyone reading him and learning from him. I was trained in “church growth” and the ideas emerging from this missional renaissance movement resonate very well in my heart. I believe they are Biblical and should be guiding all the churches across the globe. Jesus came to serve humanity first through his death burial and resurrection, but while he was on earth he demonstrated his heart for humanity by serving their needs. He gained an listening audience as he served them. He went “out” to where people were and cared for them. He did not sit in the temple everyday and expect people to come to him (although he did this on occasion) – he went to them.

The purpose of the gathered local church is to be equipped and encouraged through fellowship, prayer, worship and study, so that we can be effective in leading people to Jesus (not church). The church is defined as a group of gathered believers. What is the overall purpose of every believer? Advancing the Kingdom through the gospel. So let’s meet together to get what we need to be reenergize and equipped to go and do it again.

I hope this clarifies my thought even more. I’d love to continue to visit as well.

Sheep to the Slaughter

Proverbs 24:11 says, "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter." As I read this passage this morning I laughed. I thought of all the young men wanting to go into full-time vocational ministry. In many ways they are being led away to death by slaughter. Now I know this sounds bitter and cruel coming from a former pastor but let me explain because I really believe that God is doing something marvelous in our world today.

I had breakfast this morning with one of the pastors at my church who went into full-time vocational ministry after he had been very successful in the marketplace. He and I discussed that the real work of ministry happens in the market place. His leadership position with our church is to train, mentor, and lead the people in our church to identify their ministry in the marketplace and minister there and not at the church building. He admitted that he sometimes feels ineffective not being in the marketplace on a regular basis, but we acknowledged that he is helping many people in the marketplace by mobilizing our church members to be equipped where they work and live.

My passion is to lead men and women to stay in the marketplace and engage with the lost and hurting where they are. I want to encourage them to not ask people they are around to come to a Bible study or worship service but to take their Bible to work and disciple them there. Demonstrate how real Jesus is and he can transform their life right where they are. "Go into all the world and make disciples."

So when I laugh at Prov 24:11 it's because so many people think that "real" ministry is working for a church. WRONG and SAD! Real ministry is in the community. I hope that people feeling God call them into ministry will realize that what he is calling them to is not full-time vocational ministry, but full-time marketplace ministry. To leave the world you live and work in to isolate yourself inside the traditional organization of traditional church work will lead you to be ineffective. I laugh at the "sheep to slaughter" idea because in a traditional church setting you will most usually be slaughtered by the wolves in sheep's clothing within the church. They want you to take care of them, not the lost and hurting of the community. I laugh because it's all too real and true.

The greatest joy is taking care of people at work, your neighborhood, and in your own home. Find your best ministry by lifting up your eyes seeing who needs Jesus right now. In our world today I believe God is stirring the hearts of ministers, pastors, and marketplace believers to be the church in the work place and the community not inside the walls of a church's buildings. God is calling us back to a Biblical authentic expression of what the Church is supposed to be and do. We are called to go. That going today means going back to the places you live and work and minister to those people and not try to bring them inside the walls of a building.

Deconstruction

Hello, my name is Tracey Jines and I'm a recovering pastor. I entered my 12 step recovery program voluntarily on January 1, 2008. Not to belittle the great and wonderful recovery programs that are available for people with serious addictions, but I was a pastor for 10 years full-time and part-time and as a volunteer 8 years before that and I need to recover from this experience. I left full-time vocational ministry because I believed I could be more effective in the marketplace than inside the cocoon of the church. I was also tired of being a babysitter for religion and religious people. I say I am recovering because I did not fully understand the "Deconstruction" I needed in my life to rid myself of all the sense of entitlement, selfishness, and sin that existed in my life as a pastor. No horrific sins according to worldly standards, but sins of pride, selfishness, entitlement, and materialism. I have grieved and I am still grieving the "death" of who I was as a pastor and experiencing the "deconstruction" of the life "I" built. Now I am seeking to live a life that Christ builds.

I am recovering from myself and the addiction to self that I had and still have. I am recovering and will continue to deconstruct the self I created so that Christ can build Himself in me. Christ's ways for me are better. Simply living in Him through His Spirit brings far greater peace and joy than living "for" him as a pastor.

Today I am a business consultant and life coach. That's a big fancy way of saying I want to help people make great decisions and I really completely and totally rely on Jesus to provide for my family and me. Specifically I recruit for engineering, environmental, and renewable energy companies. I also assist individuals and companies on putting business deals together. This new life also affords me the opportunity to be a life coach for those who need some guidance to find hope and peace. I have found it in Jesus Christ.

I wanted to establish this blog to share my story of "Deconstruction" with others, particularly pastors, ministers, and others who are thinking of entering the "ministry." I want to share my thoughts about how much more effective followers of Jesus can be in the marketplace and not inside the bricked walls of a church. Seminary may "train" you (I have all the advanced degrees) but they cannot replace good old fashioned life and marketplace experience combined with a love for Jesus and people.

Jesus said to go to the people, not ask the people to come to you, your church building or a pastor. He commanded we go...so I have gone to the marketplace and I invite you to either stay or enter the marketplace as well. Lost people live in the market - let's tell them about Jesus while they are there.