Forever? What About Just a Really Long Time?

My Dad attended Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower, California when he was a young boy. Over the years, his family moved, he joined the Navy, started his own family and eventually settled (lit is probably more like it...my Dad was/is part Gypsy) back in Southern California in the mid 1970's. We attended Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower. And to his surprise, the lady that taught him in the 4th grade Sunday School class was now teaching my younger brother in the same 4th grade Sunday School class.

Ileen and I have been a part of several church start-ups...not necessarily the very beginning but early on when those that were active in the functioning of the church wore many hats. "All hands on deck" was the call and those that answered were given a wide variety of responsibilities and chores to take care of.

We've also attended churches where you learn the family's number before you know their name...You know..."We're the Smiths, the 7th family on the roll".

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 NLT
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

So why do I relate these three separate stories? As I was reading through 1 Corinthians this week, Paul called out the church in Corinth for being controlled by their sinful nature. In particular, he chides them for identifying themselves as "Followers of Paul" or "Followers of Apollos". It made me think. We church folk like to identify ourselves in such a way that it gains us status, don't we? Personally speaking, I have "casually" referenced my presence or participation in various ministries, especially the early days of now large and well known ministries, in hopes of getting a little ego boost...maybe an increase in status. I think there is just something about tenure or longevity that causes us to esteem those that have it. We assign value and prestige to Sunday School teachers that have been teaching the same class for 40 years, to families that have been there since the beginning and to those that are seemingly tireless in performing many and varied tasks within the church. Don't misunderstand...I am not inferring that there is something wrong with the doing or the being. But just as Paul pointed out that he was simply planting and Apollos watering, I think we need to evaluate our thoughts on both side of the equation. Are we assigning status to those that have served faithfully? Are we seeking status for our longevity? Our service?

The simple church structure can alleviate some of these issues and in a couple different ways. First, we meet under the headship of Jesus Christ. There is no pastor or figurehead to be placed on a pedestal, either by design or involuntarily. Secondly, the nature of simple church is intimate. Eventually, we all get to know each other, warts and all. It's hard to look up to (or down on) someone when you know and are known. Finally, there is a temporal nature to simple church. We intentionally meet to disciple and be discipled and to multiply. A core group of 20 today will not be a megachurch in five years...instead, we hope to have multiplied into 4, maybe 8, simple churches in that time. Planting and watering...planting and watering...and praying that Father will give the increase! That is the absolute beauty of the Simple Church...If God doesn't do it...it won't get done! He deserves all credit and glory which is ultimately what Paul was saying to the Corinthians. It's not important who does the work, what's important is that God makes the seeds grow.