disclaimer- I don't know much about the simple church movement, I have read about it and my conclusions are my own. if you feel the need to give me more information about this movement please feel free to do so.
here are the values I found...
As in any decentralized, spontaneous movement, a variety of values are expressed in simple church. Due to the influence of some key groups and Acts 2:42-47, three overarching values have emerged in many circles:
Paul Kaak and Neil Cole originally articulated these values using the organic metaphor of DNA:
D - Divine Truth : Truth is the foundation for everything. By Divine Truth, we mean the dynamic and living presence of Christ and His Word. A recent variation refers to the "D" as "Divine Connection" and views the Word of God and prayer as two primary means of maintaining that connection with God. The DNA metaphor is thus extended to include four overarching values instead of only three.
N - Nurturing Relationships : Healthy relationships are what make up a family. Love for one another is to be a constant pursuit of the family of God. This is the most basic of Christ's commands.
A - Apostolic Mission : Apostolic means, simply, “sent.” Just as Jesus was sent on a mission, so we are sent out on a mission for Him. Our mission is to go into the world and disciple the nations for their good and God's glory
here are some criticism I found...
Leadership: Who are the leaders and what is the leadership structure? Is the simple church understanding of leadership biblical? Is there enough control to prevent abuse, cultism, and heresy? Are the lay leaders in simple churches qualified for the care of others?
Longevity: According to sources within the movement, the average lifespan of a simple church is only 6 month to two years. This leaves critics to wonder how Christianity can survive in such a transient movement. What will be the long-term impact of simple church when it lacks the sticking power of more traditional forms of church?
Teaching: It is rare for simple churches to have sermons or bible classes in the formal sense. Critics wonder when teaching occurs and how people are formed educationally and doctrinally in simple churches. Without concentrated teaching, sermons, and bible classes, how will believers be educated?
Orthodoxy: Without denominational control or pastoral oversight, who will maintain orthodoxy among simple churches and its participants. Isn't it a breeding ground for people with wild theologies who would get drummed out of more traditional and more orthodoxy churches?
Cultural Accommodation/Syncretism: Has simple church sold out to a culture that sinfully refuses to go to church? Is simple church just caving in to postmodernism? Does simple church promote the West's tendency to worship the individual and individualism?
Relationship with Established Churches: Is simple church another movement pulling people away from congregational churches? Is simple church a threat to more traditional models? Do simple church practitioners condemn or criticize other forms of church? Can simple churches and traditional forms of church work together?
my own thoughts...
I just cant see how following a movement can help us as a church. we need to listen to Christ and not books. the only book we should follow is the bible. I know there are a lot of build a better church books out there with really good ideas, but that works for that church. I cant see how a movement that worked in Nashville, Tennessee can work anywhere besides that place. ive seen youth pastors use what worked in other places fail when the ideas failed.
please if anyone has a better more educated view on this go ahead and give it to me.
4 comments:
Well, I'll throw this out. Have you read the book? None of what you wrote here is in it.
Anyway, it's not a "movement" nearly as much as philosophy of ministry. I'm sure you have one as well. And the Bible doesn't spell out how it should be done, either. That's not it's purpose.
It also sounds like you see CLC as going this way as you address it at the end. Last question...did you ask any of the leaders at your church about the approach and these questions before posting it online?
I have to agree with @Bobby. I have read the Simple Church book and don't really find anything of what you wrote in it.
It seems easy to sit and say we need to only follow the Bible...it has everything we need in it to build a church.
Really????
Where in it does it say how long a church service should be?
Where in it does it say we should have a youth pastor?
Where in it does it say a pastor should or should not wear a tie on Sunday Morning?
Where in it does it say we have to do church on Sunday Morning? Wednesday Night?
I guess I could go on and on. The main premise of the book is that church needs to get simple...there needs to be simple steps unlike traditional and denominational churches, which I might add are failing.
Are these churches you so much want to pattern your ministry by really Biblical based?
So, I think I figured out part of the confusion here. Let's see if this helps.
I was chatting with Katie yesterday, who was an intern when the staff went through the book, Simple Church. She had to write a 35 page paper on the book. What I didn't know, which she informed me of, is there is a definite difference between what you would find online as the "simple church movement" and the book Simple Church. They are two completely separate things. Thus if it seems like we're on 2 different pages, that's because we have been.
"Simple church movement" is apparently used online as almost another name for some emergent church concepts. Whereas Simple Church, the book, is not in this genre at all. Now, that being said, I probably wouldn't throw away everything in the first one either, but that's a completely different conversation.
Hope that helps a little!
@ Bobby...that is eye opening for me as well...I didn't realize there was a difference.
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