Friday, January 13, 2006
Two Models Compared
This was taken from A Biblical Philosophy of Ministry by J. Hampton Keathley, III, who used material prepared by M. C. Harman, Barcroft Bible Church, Arlington, Virginia. I unabashedly copied and pasted directly from this URL: http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=533
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| CATEGORY OR ISSUE | TRADITIONAL MODEL | BIBLICAL MODEL |
| Concept of Church | Organization | Organism |
| Believers | “Members” (as in a club) | Disciples of Jesus Christ (members of the Body) |
| Involvement | Spectators (observing action) | Participants in the action, ministers |
| Head | The people | Jesus Christ |
| Authority | Constitution plus “proof texts” | The Whole Word of God |
| Government | Democracy (of and by the people) | Theocracy (of God via Word and H.S.) |
| Selection of Leadership | Election | Appointment (depending on God to raise up gifted men and cause us to recognize them as leaders) |
| Basic Ministry | Conducting services | Equipping, meeting needs |
| Place of Ministry | Church building (at stated times) | Anywhere (all the time) |
| Primary Concern | Programs, things, buildings, etc. | God’s glory, people |
| Objective | Build up the local church (club) | Build up the Body |
| Determining Factor | What the people WANT (peace at any price) | What the people NEED (according to the Word) |
| Great Commission | Get converts (addition) | Make disciples (multiplication) |
| Field | Our own area | The world |
| Purpose of Assembling | Entertainment, evangelism in the service | Stimulate to love and good deeds; encourage and equip the saints |
| Emphasis | Meetings, setting and breaking records | God, individuals, families, quality plus quantity |
| Pastor-Teacher | Administrator, speaker, visitor, employee (belongs exclusively to this church) | Teacher, counselor, shepherd, equipper (belongs to body, works primarily with this assembly) |
| Attitude toward Pastor-Teacher | The “minister” (professional) | One of “many” ministers |
| Board | Administrators, decision makers, occupied with facilities, etc. | Multiplicity of leadership; unified; working together to equip the saints for ministry. |
| Resources | Human ingenuity, available funds, etc. | Word, prayer, H.S., spiritual gifts, and ministries |
| Methodology | What we’re used to, feel comfortable with | Whatever the situation demands as long as it is true to God’s Word and honors the Lord |
| Procedures | Beg, plead, cajole, etc. for workers | Trust God to raise gifted individuals (if HE isn’t interested; WE won’t be) |
| Leadership given to | Anyone willing | Faithful, available, teachable people |
| Finances | Needs dealt with only with available funds | Determine needs, then TRUST GOD to work through His people |
| Staff | Hired employees who carry out the policies set by the people through the Board | Associates for full-time involvement; a TEAM to assist in functioning of the Body |
| Salaries | Determined by “what I make” or “what I think” (staff viewed as employees hired by men) | Determined by biblical principles (e.g., 1 Tim. 5:17-18). Staff viewed as those sent by God to whom the assembly bears responsibility |
| Attitudes | Conditional acceptance | Unconditional acceptance |
| Ultimate Concern | Our church; what others think | Exalting Christ; what God says |
| Result | Rev. 3:1b Like the church at Sardis: you are alive, but you are dead | Eph. 4:11-16 Body built up to maturity functioning as God intends |
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