In his book, “Draw The Circle,” Mark Batterson wrote, “Every generation needs a reformation.
For years, I prayed for, preached, studied about, and expectantly waited for revival to come to our local congregation, hoping that genuine revival would drastically change the community. After more than 17 years, it never happened.
After distancing myself from Churchianity, I realized that revival isn’t the answer. Revival is good, but it isn’t what needs to happen—at least not for long-term lasting results. The real need is to reform back to the founder’s original intent.
Jesus said, upon this rock, I will build my Ekklesia. Over the generations, the meaning of that word changed drastically, and the original intent of what Jesus wanted to build was all but lost.
Over the last few decades, the meaning of Ekklesia has begun to resurface. Because of the hundreds, if not thousands, of years of shifted purpose, it is still somewhat of an anomaly. What is the Ekklesia that Jesus wanted to establish on the earth?
I have participated in discussions, attended conferences, read books, and heard numerous teachings. These have provided me with lots of good information, but the question remains: What does the Ekklesia look like today?
I have realized that it doesn’t look like today’s church system–at least the church in the United States. It doesn’t look like the organized corporate structure of ministries with a hierarchy system of leaders, solely focused on counting attendance, building buildings, having programs, and raising more funds for the next project.
Over the last three years, I have spent many Sundays away from the local church. Some of my family and friends think I have entered into a crisis of faith or have backslidden, but I don’t see it this way.
About a year ago, I attended a local service at one of the places I would visit semi-regularly. On a particular Sunday, I greeted one of my friends at the door and started a conversation. We began to discuss everyday topics, but our conversation quickly changed to things God had been showing us.
For over an hour, we sat near the entrance of the building and talked. At the same time, the routine of “churchianity” was going on in the “holy room” they called a sanctuary. Songs were sung. Announcements were made. A sermon was preached. Blah, blah, blah.
I will have to admit that more than once during that conversation, I felt guilty for not being “in church.” Years ago, I would have called people out for not being in the “house of God” listening to the “man of God” who is preaching the “Word of God.”
But there was something unique about this conversation. I couldn’t draw myself away from it. It was uplifting and encouraging. We were sharing the things of God in a way that was so different from the normal “Churchianity” service.
Over the last three years, I have attended several services, sung many songs, and heard a boatload of sermons. Sadly, I don’t remember anything that was said or done–they were all just regular church services. But I remember sitting on the couch that Sunday, talking with my friend about what God was saying to us.
Once the service was over and people began flowing out of the “holy room,” I remember the looks I received. It was as if they were saying, “Well, look who’s here! Why weren’t you in church?” Complete with the good-ole-churchianity-judgemental-look.
And in that moment, I immediately heard this voice in my head that said, “Now brother, you know you…Forsake, not the assembling.”
Ugh. I had forsaken it. I was guilty. I knew God was disappointed in me, but I had experienced so much more by talking with my friend than I would ever get in listening to someone talk about their opinion of something they read in a book or heard someone else teach.
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 NKJV
Then, many months and sermons later, I remember thinking how I would like to relive that day of discussion with my friend. I can’t recall a single church service I’ve attended in the last three years that I would like to be a part of again, but that discussion day was different. What was it?
I took a few minutes to review the scripture I had used and heard used so often to condemn people for missing a church service.
“You know, brother, the Bible says we are not supposed to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.”
I remember how they would say the word “some.” It was emphasized with such a judgemental tone. Don’t you know you are one of the “some?” God is not pleased.
But that’s where they always stopped, and that’s where I had always stopped too. But this time was different. I read a few words that I didn’t recall were there. “But Exhorting One Another.”
That is precisely what happened in our conversation that Sunday morning. Yes, I missed out on the corporate, pre-planned, organized, scheduled, and historically dictated order of a gathering, but I had gathered with a friend, and the two of us exhorted one another.
Churchianity has taught us that we all gather in a big room, sit in rows, and follow a set process of worship, culminating with the “man-o-God” exhorting (or at least preaching to) everyone in the room. But that is NOT what the scripture says the assembling is to be.
After months of pondering that memorable Sunday, I have come to the personal conviction that what my friend and I experienced was, at least in a significant portion, the Ekklesia, and what the larger crowd of people in the “holy room” experienced was just church as we have become accustomed to.
Jesus is our example.
Some will say, well, Jesus attended the temple gatherings. Yes, He did, and He was still under the law and was fulfilling the law. But he met with people in so many different places outside of the temple. He met along the road, in houses, by the well, in boats, on the shore, in the fields, at a wedding party, and so many more. Plus, His most incredible days were everywhere but the temple.
When Jesus was in the temple, he ticked everyone off. He overthrew tables, healed people, and elevated the blood pressure of every religious-spirited person in sight. He infuriated them so much that these so-called godly men wanted to become murderers.
It’s time for reformation
After years of seeking revival in the church, I believe Jesus wants to reform what we know as “church” into what He intended as “Ekklesia.”
The average CEO/pastor-managed church organization spends 90 percent or more of all contributions on buildings, staff salaries, debt payments, and church programs and events and less than 10 percent on ministry that will impact their community or the world.
What if God could use 100 percent to change the culture? What if, instead of building the “man-o-God’s” vision for the world, we, the Body, would hear God Himself and come together to complete His vision? An Ekklesia is a family, a united body working to impact the world and win nations–not just individuals.
Unfortunately, this will not happen as long as we continue to function in the world of churchianity, where the size of the building, the number of butts in the seats, and the amount dropped in the plate are tracked as the most critical success metrics.
But what if that model is reformed to look more like it did in Jesus’s day? What if it was more about believers gathering, encouraging one another, hearing the voice of God, and doing what He wants done in the world in which we live?
I’m not talking about a home church movement, either. Sadly, too many are just disgruntled church members who left another church and want to start their own church, following the same model as everyone else.
But what if the Body reformed to encourage each other, put our resources into helping others, and impact the world where we live and work? What if, instead of giving to the next building fund, we found a young believer with a call to impact the world in medicine, and we contributed to them being able to go to college and fulfill God’s purpose for their life? What if, instead of “tithing to the storehouse, bless God,” we helped change the culture in the local education system or helped a homeless family get back on their feet? What if we don’t just throw a few bucks at them but get involved personally in changing their lives?
This is a difficult concept that many will not want to hear. Most of us are content to attend church for a couple of hours a week and check off the church box. If we see someone with a real need, we tell them to call the church or pastor. But what if what Jesus wants is more from us? What if Jesus actually wants each of us to engage personally?
I believe He does want more from us, but for that to happen, it will require more than a rip-roarin’ church service. It will require a return to His original intent for the Ekklesia. It will require the body of Christ to move from spectator to active participant, and by active participant, I mean not just volunteering to park cars or serve coffee on Sunday morning. It will require us to forget the foolishness of the clergy-laity division, a concept not found in the Bible. It will require us to step out and begin to fulfill the ministry that God put in EVERY ONE of us–not just going to a church service and watching someone else do ministry.
A Final Thought
I believe it is time to return to the original intent of the Ekklesia. As we look for God’s direction for transitioning from traditional Churchianity, we will find glimpses of true fellowship and purposeful engagement with His will. We will become a united body actively transforming communities and nations. Inspired by Jesus’ example, let’s embrace this call to reformation and usher in a new era of impactful ministry.
