Liquid or Solid Church?

I just read an article about the liquid church. The gist of it went like this: “We don’t need the church gathering anymore, because real church consists of interconnected people and Christ flowing through those relationships”. While there is some truth here, the idea throws out the proverbial baby with the bathwater.

Of course the church is liquid—an expression of the Holy Spirit through all of us who believe. This liquidity exists every day and in every interaction. We should celebrate the informal relationships and connections. If a believer is plugged into the life of Christ, church happens through them wherever they go. I like to say, (quoting someone I don’t remember) “We don’t go to church; we are the church”.

However, if we leave it at that we are missing gathering and belonging. Now, you may not “gather” like I do: That’s great! I love the idea of house churches, or cell based ministries or any way for people to get together to share the life of Jesus. But it needs to happen intentionally and there must be commitment to one another. Equipping gifts need to flow. Corporate worship needs to be experienced. Authority should be in place. Evangelism needs to be encouraged. Church cannot be about people like each other—who like each other—just getting together. In fact, if there is not someone not like us, not at our maturity level, and who we don’t particularly like in the community, I don’t think we are really being the church.

There is no question in my mind that God sets up a leadership structure, and a gathering structure, for the diverse people of God throughout the Bible. From the family structure of the patriarchs, to the formation of the nation of Israel, and all the way through to the New Testament era: Paul, Peter, and finally John’s words to the 7 churches in Revelation.

Are there problems with structure or authority or the gatherings? Yes, in fact, from the very institution of these institutions. Challenges always have and always will exist within the organized live sex chat cams church, but this does not give us an option to give up on it. I deeply believe that God wants us to try and work out those issues within the context of committed relationship.

To illustrate, I recently talked to a couple that didn’t feel the need to get married. They mentioned divorce, family dysfunction, and other issues marriage could bring. Why, they reasoned, is there a need for a piece of paper and official recognition? And the answer is: there is a need for an official marriage because it honors God. There is a need because we get to work out our problems in context of committed relationship.

Being a committed part of a local church (in whatever form it takes) and purposing to show up and contribute is simply a part of Christian growth. Stability, family and community are a part of the church. We serve one another. We teach each-others kids. We are there when a spouse dies.

Believers who have these kinds of relationships already established—many times developed through church networks they used to belong to—forget that there are thousands of people coming to Christ who have no such networks built. How are these new people going to find those connections if there is not a Christian community to belong to? I find it odd that those who grew up with the blessing of children’s ministry and summer camps and extended family are not willing to help extend that blessing to a new generation (new believers), as well as to the next generation (kids).

What I’m not saying is that the church gathering has to look or feel traditional. What I’m not saying is that there is no need to recognize and celebrate Liquid Church. What I’m not saying is that the organized church doesn’t have major problems. What I am suggesting, however, is that we pause to consider what we are doing before totally throwing out Biblical principles of the Church.

Liquid and solid: My diet needs both. Let’s grab a hold of one without letting go of the other.