Thursday, October 19, 2006
Movements & Multiplication--Two Different Things, or Related?
Been thinking a lot--why are cell churches here in the U.S. and cell churches overseas so different. I think I have a possible answer. When faith first comes to a previously unreached area, it engages society first through normal means of society, i.e., work, art, science . . . An initial group of people find faith and it begins to spread. Everything is new. It begins to multiply and then it turns into a church--initially cell, usually. A movement is underway now. Hopefully, it becomes a massive movement. Then, churches grow, buildings are built, the institution comes (which isn’t all bad). At first, multiplication continues, but then slows to starting—and, then, very few churches are started and you wind up with a big old dying--at least decaying--institution.
Picture the process like this with one thing moving to the next:
Gospel->Society->Evangelism->Movement->Multiplication->
Established Churches->Church Starting->Institution->Starting a Church->Decay
It is out of a "decaying institution" that many people in the U.S, not all, start a house church. A movement church historically is made up of new believers that are closer to the DNA of the original church--thus more powerful. No one is gripping about what was--it’s what is. Our U.S. house churches are generally led by people fed up with the traditional church or building church. Thus, two different reasons for house church makes all the difference in the world why one is effective and one is not. One says "I can’t get enough of this." The other says, "I’ve had enough of that!" Two motivations and two results.
Question. Is there any movement that spreads to a people group that’s been repeated? I can’t think of or find one. I can find instances of revival or movements within existing movements, i.e. Campus Crusade for Christ or Azusa Street Revival and the Charismatic revolution.
What if God uses movements for initial aggressive penetration into a nation and after the seed is planted--it’s then multiplication. I’ve been thinking movement here in the U.S. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s multiplication. Maybe this is a good thing and activity because the reality is no one can make a movement.
Thus, in the U.S. today so many young guys and gals going into the ministry are thinking of tying into church plants. What if this desire is God’s awakening of us and we need to throw gas on it like crazy. Multiplication is one step removed from movement. Movement is where the DNA is first initiated. The way to release the DNA in a purer and more powerful way may really be multiplying churches. That could be the missional impulse. Confused?!!
Picture the process like this with one thing moving to the next:
Gospel->Society->Evangelism->Movement->Multiplication->
Established Churches->Church Starting->Institution->Starting a Church->Decay
It is out of a "decaying institution" that many people in the U.S, not all, start a house church. A movement church historically is made up of new believers that are closer to the DNA of the original church--thus more powerful. No one is gripping about what was--it’s what is. Our U.S. house churches are generally led by people fed up with the traditional church or building church. Thus, two different reasons for house church makes all the difference in the world why one is effective and one is not. One says "I can’t get enough of this." The other says, "I’ve had enough of that!" Two motivations and two results.
Question. Is there any movement that spreads to a people group that’s been repeated? I can’t think of or find one. I can find instances of revival or movements within existing movements, i.e. Campus Crusade for Christ or Azusa Street Revival and the Charismatic revolution.
What if God uses movements for initial aggressive penetration into a nation and after the seed is planted--it’s then multiplication. I’ve been thinking movement here in the U.S. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s multiplication. Maybe this is a good thing and activity because the reality is no one can make a movement.
Thus, in the U.S. today so many young guys and gals going into the ministry are thinking of tying into church plants. What if this desire is God’s awakening of us and we need to throw gas on it like crazy. Multiplication is one step removed from movement. Movement is where the DNA is first initiated. The way to release the DNA in a purer and more powerful way may really be multiplying churches. That could be the missional impulse. Confused?!!
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