Several years ago I wrote a book entitled Revolution that suggested a new wave of faith expressions was becoming increasingly popular in America. One of those expressions was faith-centered gatherings at places of work. The popularity of such meetings has continued to grow in recent years.
An article in the Wall Street Journal published earlier this month pointed out that there are now thousands of businesses who employ chaplains to facilitate on-premises faith activity. While some of those chaplains serve primarily as on-site counselors, a large share lead groups of employees in times of worship, Bible study, prayer, and service activities. One of the reasons that businesses foster the blending of faith and work is that it produces a better work environment, higher productivity, and a deeper sense of team engagement. These outcomes, of course, enhance the bottom line, causing many business leaders to conclude that a faithful workforce can be a more profitable workforce. Organizations such as Tyson Foods have led the way in this regard, employing about 120 chaplains to minister with Tyson’s 117,000+ employees across the nation.
One of the controversies, of course, is whether or not a group of believers meeting together during their lunch hour to worship, pray, study and share their lives constitutes a “church.” Some say it is simply an addendum to participation in a more conventional form of “church life,” others argue that such meetings are the church in practice, and many people avoid the conversation altogether, not sure what the Bible says about what it means to be the Church.
The fact that such activity in the marketplace even raises controversy speaks to the shallowness of our understanding of concepts such as the kingdom of God and the body of Christ. We often seem to let traditions define our activities and standards, without exploring the genesis of those traditions and seeking to disentangle tradition from biblical mandate.
I am encouraged by the existence and growth of marketplace ministries of all sorts, ranging from the kind of corporate churches led by chaplains to the presence of ministries happening on sports fields around the nation. Some critics contend that these groups cannot be considered genuine churches because of various factors: no formal membership is required, there is no set time for their meetings, they lack an identifiable pastor, they do not engage in the standard series of conventional church activities, etc. But it seems that the New Testament provides a less complex standard for us to meet than we have set for ourselves. I guess your reaction to organic forms of church depends on where you draw your criteria from: scripture or tradition.
Other critics of marketplace ministries (as well as other non-traditional, more organic forms of church) opine that the leadership and teaching provided in such churches is inadequate. While our research certainly shows instances where house churches, marketplace ministries, and other organic church forms lack solid biblical teaching or effective leadership, the research also shows that such cases are not the norm. A different way of looking at the matter is to recognize that thousands of conventional churches also suffer from poor teaching or mediocre leadership. Organic churches do not own that market!
Would you agree that God is less hung up on the form of our meetings and means of engagement with Him than we are? The scriptures give us tremendous latitude in methods but little if any in the message. The current agitation among many conventional church leaders about the existence of non-traditional forms of spiritual community suggests that is not a popular perspective, whether it is biblical or not.
July 28, 2010
Acts 8
[26] And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
[27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
[28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
[29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
[30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Be it by a chariot , on Mar’s Hill, by a well in Samaria or on a mountain..whatever works.
“A different way of looking at the matter is to recognize that thousands of conventional churches also suffer from poor teaching or mediocre leadership. Organic churches do not own that market!”
AGREED and in my opinion most are doctrinal deception centers.
If the word doesn’t get out because of hostile (Rom 8:7) preachers, the rocks and stones will spread the gospel.
George, can you share what issue was the main challenge or Flak to your book Revolution ?
July 29, 2010
Jim, there were actually several common criticisms of Revolution. The first was that my definition of “church” was wrong – my position being that when two or more are gathered in Christ’s name, that is the Church assembling. I also argued that the practices we rever today are generally man-made, not ordained by the scriptures. (That argument was expanded in Pagan Christianity?, co-written with Frank Viola.) A second frequent criticism was that the gathering place and the specific activity undertaken in that place and the nature of the authority overseeing the activity determine whether or not a meeting of believers constitutes the church. Many critics contended that alternative models – house church, cyberchurch, marketplace church, etc – were not legitimate forms of church. A third was that those alternative forms were not growing; that was either attributable to my imagination or to bad research. A fourth common critique was that revolutionaries are angry with the Church and are too independent. Often, that issue of authority came up, mandating the leadership of some ordained person. A fifth complaint was that a true revolution must start from within the conventional church and spread outward. Some suggested that even if the Revolution brought people into the kingdom, that would not constitute valid “revival” because it wasn’t facilitated by the true Church.
I appreciate the concern that many of my critics had for doing the right thing. I’m still of the opinion, however, that most of them missed the main point: Christ called us to BE the Church, not to go to church, and millions of people are actively searching for a more vibrant experience with God and His people, whether it occurs in the marketplace, in a “church” building, or at a concert. I think Jesus is willing to be glorified wherever we are, no matter how many of us are gathered.
July 29, 2010
Surely where two or three are gathered together, and He is among us constitutes church, under atree, in a factory canteen, around a desk in the office, in a restaurant with our friends in Jesus. In this context we can do everything to build up the body-as opposed to sitting passively in a Sunday “service”, although that too, is church.thank you for pushing us onward Mr Barna!
July 29, 2010
I would like to think of church more as a state of mind, worshipful to God, than a location. Bringing Christ into the workplace allows us to be ministers for the Lord who happen to have a secular means of supporting ourselves and our families. But it gives the fullness of our activities the firmness of keeping Christ the central focus and core of our being.
August 1, 2010
George-
It was great to have you speak at our RightNow Conference last year. Its exciting to see you talk about Faith and Work, I often find myself blogging about it because I feel like one of the most overlooked opportunities in the church. We have some of the most gifted CEO’s and business leaders on the pews of the church. They love Jesus but they don’t realize that its possible to be unleashed to use their time and talent that they have in the business world. For far too long they’ve thought they have to be a singer, preacher or teacher to be used by God.
But I’m incredibly encouraged to see churches beginning to tap into the abundant potential that exists in the 2,000+ hours each year for their people to make a difference in their workplace.
Would love to see more talk about this and some of the research you’ve found on it. We have about 5,000 business leaders on our email list and I’d love to link them to any articles or further research you share on the topic.
Justin
August 2, 2010
George, I have not yet read Revolution but am looking forward to grabbing a copy. I completely agree that our man made version of church misses the very basic, and beautiful scriptural definition – where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. We have used the church building to insulate us from the world, it has become a barrier rather than a welcoming place for the lost. When we allow church to arise wherever we are we truly are being the church, bringing Christ to the need rather than making the building the entry point.
August 2, 2010
Church is people – people who have gathered in the name of Christ. Regardless of where or how long.
The real thing essential to any gathering of the church is the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This rich volume is the tool of the Holy Spirit to grow His church (individually and corporately).
As long as the Scripture has the preeminent role we need not worry.
In my opinion a lot of the criticism of these gatherings may stem from jealousy.
God is Sovereign and He will do things His way regardless of our hallowed traditions.
August 9, 2010
I’ve been in the Marketplace Ministry myself for almost a decade now. I’ll tell you that Marketplace Ministry altogether shatters the age old tradition of what church should be. It is not about being in a church but being the church. It’s not just about being a Christian only on Sundays but being Christians in the workplace where they learn and apply the principles of God and truly be the living testimonies of Christ to their customers, suppliers, contractors. And it doesn’t stop there but they carry the discipline as a lifestyle even to their respective homes and to the whole community out there.
August 16, 2010
I totally agree that George and many others need to continue to remind us all that “Christ called us to BE the Church, not to go to church”. But why does “going to church” have to be such a bad thing? O … I can already hear the response of all those who’ve been legitimately hurt by the “church”. Is it really too late to fix it? Do we all have to give up? I’ve been a big BARNA fan for many years – quoting BARNA stats and statements probably more than I should (got a BARNA reputation). And as a church pastor, you have to understand why we all get defensive about church at work, and church at home, and church in the marketplace … as the result might put us all out of work!! That’s not a good excuse for our defensiveness but it is probably the reason. At our church, we’re trying to put it all right – please, George, don’t give up on us!!
August 16, 2010
Quick question:
How do you address theological accountability and leadership in small cell groups? A reference would be fine.
Thanks.
August 17, 2010
Skyler,
Explain “theological accountability” as you see it?
Explain “leadership” as you see it?
IMHO
Leadership is supplied by a plurality of Elder/Shepherds. They are known by a group of believers by their life as observed by the group over a long period of time and function in that capacity because they quite naturally “ELD” as an expression of who they are, not because they were placed by a hierarchy in office.
Accountability comes about over a period of time as a group of believers come to know one another intimately socially in relationship in one anothers lives daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, of constant fellowship and involvement. This is impossible to attain this type of intimate fellowship and brotherhood just doing a normal twice a week for a couple hours type deal. They went about from house to house daily breaking bread and fellowship and prayer and studying the Scriptures.
Accountability comes from that type of relationship. It revolves around trust, and brotherly love.
August 17, 2010
First I must comment on the book “Revolution”.
It is one of the most important books in Christianity in the Western segment of the Church. It was as much Revelation as “Revolution” for me. This book is a Paradigm Shift, Worldview changer. Along with the book “Pagan Christianity”, they are life and church changers freeing the mind and soul and spirit.
The Holy Spirit dwells inside of men. Wherever that Spirit is present within the spirit of man things are going to happen or should be happening. Since you are the Church, Church should pracitically naturally work itself out around you as a natural progression of your life. It can’t help but be so, don’t try to suppress it it might just explode. Let it happen Brethern.
Religious Tradition is a particularly harsh taskmaster, or can be. We have a loose model in the N.T. but basically God, is drawing all men to Himself, all who will heed the call and respond wherever and whenever. He owns it all anyway so who are we to tie His hands, if you will. Far be it from me to put the Holy Spirit in a box, or a particular kind of building, or a particular place, or a particular type of setting, He would just leak out anyway. He is Omniscient you know and doesn’t sit around doing nothing until Sunday morning from 10:00 til 12:00 and Wed eve from 7:30 til 9:00. We mortals seem to get tied up in the form, losing sight of the big picture God has.
God has given gifts to men, not, God has given gifts to just Pastors, asst Pastors, Worship Leaders, Childrens ministers.
You are seeing everyday believers with the Holy Spirit indwelling them working itself out in a very natural everyday kind of way as it should and will.
Now, if it can be expressed as it was in the first generation after Pentacost by the Apostles in small communities of believers all functioning all contributing by the Holy Spirit in the presence of gathering around the person of Jesus Christ we will have got it. The Holy Spirit is bringing it around full circle to Antioch Syria, Patmos, Ephesus, Galatia, Corinth, etc. Full expression communities, and work place gatherings around Jesus Christ and other believers is a natural outflow of it.
People don’t want to go to a particular special place at a particular special time, and hear a particular special individual, with particular types of music performed for them, as a mute observer.
As is true with the internet, they want to participate on a world level themselves with the gifts and talents that God has given to them. Sitting a mute observant of a written in stone Liturgy doesn’t get it anymore. They want to be an active free participant. God is telling them things and doing things in and through them and around them in their life daily.
Faith at work is just happening and it should not be hindered or made light of.