Charting the course for Journey
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be writing a series of posts on ecclesiology, or “the theology of the church”. Journey is now over 3 years old and has matured to a point where a discussion of it’s future is important. This is a definitely an important topic for me. I took my first step in ministry over 20 years ago. I first became a green church staff member for the first time 19 years ago as the “Youth Director” of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. (Anyone know where that is?)
Since then, I have given my career and much of my heart to the ministry of the church and to the church. To say it is dear to my heart would be an understatement. I love the church and believe that it is the single most important body of people on the planet. I have watched it suffer and struggle, expand and triumph, fight and bicker, embrace and forgive. I’ve watched as trends come and go. Leaders take center stage and then disappear into the background as new leaders step forward with new ideas and goals. But through it all, I’ve had the privilege to be a part of the body of Christ all over the world as a member of God’s family. Yeah, to say that the church is important to me is quite an understatement. That’s why having a good foundation in studying the church is so vital in continuing the long line of the community of faith in Jesus Christ.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting several articles on the basics of a biblically based ecclesiology as well as questions I have and directions we are going. Along the way, you’ll see a discussion of church purpose, goal, structure, and vision. All of these come together to form a biblical basis for the Body of Christ as God intended it to be. We’ll find that some areas are prescriptive, or mandated, while others are descriptive, or “a” way of interpreting and practicing biblical principles in the church. I’ll warn you now, some of the blog posts will be lengthy and are not for the faint of heart. If you are ready for the challenge, though, feel free to comment or ask questions along the way!
