DOES THE CHURCH REQUIRE ANOTHER REFORMATION? Part 5 – “What’s Next?” by Glen Iverson

Over the past 4 sections in this series, we’ve looked at the characteristics of the Laodicean church, popular church trends that embrace money, self-serving practices, and experience over substance and the Word of God.

So what’s next?

This series wasn’t simply an analysis of trends and hypothetical solutions, this has been a personal walk for my wife and I.  We’ve left a large church that was embracing elements of the New Apostolic Reformation and placing value on mystical experiences.  I contributed my story of that experience to Amy Spreeman’s website: Berean  Research in March 2017 as she was looking for stories of people who have come out of such churches.¹

We have also left a small church that had toxic and dishonest leaders causing division.  The term for this is ‘Spiritual Abuse’ and this is a far more impacting trend that infects all church denominations, not just the trends embracing bad doctrine.  Many who leave church due to abusive and toxic leadership have their faith shipwrecked due to betrayal of one who is perceived to be a shepherd.

There are reasons to leave the church, either due to the ‘wide gate’ mentality, appeal to an experience over what the Bible states as well as toxic situation.  But then comes the question of what next?

Where do you go?

What do you do?

The idea of home fellowships began to be popularized by author: Frank Viola in his book Pagan Christianity back in 2008.²  Viola points out the Pagan influences on church traditions, logical problems with responsibility being given to paid professionals (pastors) and a majority of money going to funding the building and staff costs at the local church.  These are valid observations.  He is advocating for home fellowships that are ‘organic’.  A place that is interactive where each member can use their spiritual gifts.  It sounds great on the surface, but this just brings up a number of different problems that are just as troubling as the reasons to leave the institutional church in the first place.  Viola isn’t the only author advocating for this model.

I’ve read different books and blogs about leaving the denominational church and various “buzz” words are common. Some of those being: “authentic”, “organic”, “organism”. The problem with buzz words is that they may sound clever in a blog or a utopian ideal of an “authentic, organic gathering where all of the spiritual gifts are being used as an organism”, but it makes literally no sense. Authentic to whom? What is an “organic organism”? It sounds like bacteria. It has no context or definition. If the goal is a community such as the 1st century early church, this is unattainable. The early church was under persecution first from the Jews and then from Rome. They lived in community and walked everywhere. The cities were small and walled in. The old city of Jerusalem is very tiny by today’s standards. If you want to recruit people to live in community, seriously, good luck. Only those with a strong trust with each other would consider pooling their money and resources. Who then would manage the money, food and accommodation? Where is the accountability? It’s not a reasonable expectation for the vast majority of people frustrated, leaving or have left the institutional church. Such communal situations often lead to abuse of power for the people in control of finances and also can develop into cults if there is no proper accountability and review. The individuals that lead such an en-devour have the danger of becoming the system that they have been fighting against. The only thing that would lead to actual community living with believers is heavy persecution where this is the only option available to survive.

If the idea is a ‘church plant’, such as a home study that can eventually expand, one needs a core group of committed people to start with.  The core group would need to be fully committed to the church plant and be willing to work at it for years to see growth.  It is not easy to find such a group of people and this has to be an endeavour that God is specifically calling you to do.

The other group embracing the ‘home church’ model in North America is the Hebrew Roots movement.  While I will post future blogs on this trend, the problem is that it’s inward focused.  Many ‘Hebrew’ leaning groups go into detailed debates on how to keep Torah, how to keep the Sabbath, how to keep the Appointed Times.  While it’s very important to remember the Hebrew roots of following Yeshua, this as well can get one side tracked.

With all of its faults, historically the Protestant evangelical church has done an amazing job in going out and evangelizing.  Through the church, outreaches are organized, volunteer work is organized, and mission work is organized.  During the 19^th century, the world had the largest missional growth bringing many to Christ in previously inaccessible countries such as Africa.  Scholars refer to the 19^th century as the ‘Philadelphian church age’.  Most Christians do in fact have a desire to be a part of a church community, and much of the community is organized through a local church.

For the individual, I can’t stress enough how important Christian community and accountability is.  If you’ve left a church for a valid reason such as the church following ‘wide gate’ trends or toxic leadership, is there another church that you can join?

Not every church is on jumping on board these trends, though many are.  Check your community to see what is available.  Call up and interview not only pastors, but other people that attend.  Ask specific and pointed questions on what direction they are going and why.  Ask what books they read, what speakers they listen to, what missionaries they support.  Check their social media and website, do your research.  If a pastor won’t take the time to meet or dodges specific questions, that should be a red flag.

Pray that God leads you to the group of people that He wants you connected to.  Prayer works and God works in mysterious ways.

Whether you’re frustrated to the point of being one of the ‘dones’ or ‘unchurched’, being in regular study with other believers is vitally important.  The responsibility is on you.  Take action.  While it’s not one’s fault to find oneself in a difficult situation, one should not stay stagnant in a bad situation.

Dan Stolebarger has stated in a previous study:

• The Church is not a business.
• The Church is not a corporation.
• The Church is not brick and mortar.
• The Church is not programs and outings.
• The Church is not a Prophecy Conference.

We Are:

• A redeemed people who have been purchased, gifted and commissioned. We are “NOTW”!
• We started in homes and one day we will probably end in homes!

Acts 2:42

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,  in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Are we Doing it?

I know that you all know this stuff, but one thing I have learned …

Knowing and Doing are two different things!

• Are you DEVOTED to the WORD of God?
• Are you DEVOTED to the Brethren?
• Are you DEVOTED to PRAYER?

Holy Ground Explorations is a Jesus-centered ministry devoted to equipping Believers by teaching the uncompromised Word of God, prayer, and small group fellowship, as well as supporting and exploring Israel.  How can Holy Ground help you with starting a small group fellowship and starting a Bible study?  What questions do you have?  Feel free to reach out to Holy Ground and we’ll help you to the best of our ability.

1. Iverson, Glen, and Amy Spreeman. “Leaving the NAR Church: Glenn’s Story.” Berean Research,

bereanresearch.org/leaving-nar-church-glenns-story/.

2. Viola, Frank. “Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola Author and George Barna.” Pagan Christianity by

Frank Viola Author and George Barna, www.paganchristianity.org/.