My Definition Of ‘Organic’ Church and How It Is Different To ‘Institutional ‘ Church?
Someone recently asked this question on Facebook. I thought it was a good question because there’s so many different types of gatherings that are calling themselves ‘organic’ which clearly are not. And so this was my reply with some added thoughts based on my experience and understanding.
To me, true and authentic organic church is simply, Christ. In ‘organic’ church, Christ is the Head and the life of the church. That’s what organic church is – His life.
It is the expression of Christ moving and expressing Himself, revealing the Father, the Father revealing the Son, the Holy Spirit administering the gifts amongst the priesthood of all believers as they are each functioning and being built together by the Lord Himself. It is a community of believers learning to live by Christ’s indwelling life. A community whose love for one another astounds the world and reveals Jesus Christ as God’s Son.
Any kind of structure that exists is there to support the body, not the body supporting the structure.
It is birthed by the Spirit and has God’s DNA in it because it is Christ in His body.
To me, it is The Way, as the believers in the New Testament called it. As believers lay down their soul lives for Him and one another Christ is being expressed in and through His body as He pleases – the most beautiful bride ever to exist!
It is simply, Christ as one with His own body.
😁👍🏼
5 thoughts on “My Definition Of ‘Organic’ Church and How It Is Different To ‘Institutional ‘ Church? ”
A wonderful summary, if I may say so, Donnalee. I resonate with each bit. Thank you.
Some years ago I read Frank Viola’s definition, which doesn’t compete with your understanding of organic church but I think confirms it, just from another angle: “By organic church, I mean a church that is born out of spiritual life instead of being constructed by human institutions and held together by religious programs. Organic church life is a grassroots experience that is marked by face-to-face community, every-member functioning, open-participatory meetings (as opposed to pastor-to-pew services), nonhierarchical leadership, and the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ as the functional Leader and Head of the gathering.”
You and I and increasing numbers around the world, by sheer grace alone, have tasted something of this and been ‘wrecked’/’spoilt’ for good. Humbly we long that many more may discover/rediscover JESUS and the life that is in him.
Oh yes Errol, we do pray for the enlightenment of the eyes of hearts to truly know this hope to which we’ve been called. That we would all know Him more and grow up together in the fullness of the knowledge of Christ. Thank you Errol for your affirming comment. Bless you, my brother 😀
Yes and amen! This is why we fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the source, the life, the everything to and for the church!
Reblogged this on Christ of the Church and commented:
This is a wonderful definition of “Organic Church.” Simple, yet profound.
Thanks very much for your encouragement 🙂