Paul and I just finished reading through Mark Driscoll’s and Gerry Breshears book Vintage Church. It came at just the right time as we are thinking through and writing our partnership class (which is Revolution’s membership class, we aren’t fans of the word member).
The book covers what a Biblical church looks like. With so many people questioning what a church should include, it is good to have a book that I believe clearly lays out what a church does and is.
The book addresses leadership and preaching in some strong tones because so many within the emergent conversation have called those into question. While I agree that we need to rethink the pastor as a CEO model, I think it is dangerous and wrong to completely throw out leadership in the name of community (which is something that several have said is the future of the church).
Preaching is another area that has been questioned. In fact, George Barna has gone so far to say, “If a church owns a building, meets regularly, has a paid pastor, or any leader who preaches a sermon is pagan.” This fails to take into consideration, basically everything in the New Testament.
Part of the confusion about what a church is has come from books like Reggie McNeal’s Missional Renassaince where he says, “If 3 guys are meeting in a pub, drinking a beer talking about God, this is a church.” No. This is 3 guys drinking a beer talking about God, not a church. This position always points to Matthew 18:20, but the popular interpretation of that verse does not mean what we want it to say. Matthew 18 has to do with church discipline, not 3 guys hanging out with Jesus drinking a beer.
Chapter 7 on church discipline is worth the whole book. This is something that is often missing in churches. Not because a church needs to be mean or point out sin in each other’s lives. But because a church needs to hold each other accountable, pray for each other, encourage each other to live a holy life and restore those who have sinned.
This was a great look at what Revolution is trying to become.
Our first partnership class will be this August, so be on the lookout for that.
Posted in book review, church, community, jesus, leadership, preaching, revolution church, theology Tagged: george barna, gerry breshears, mark driscoll, missional renassaince, paul ingram, reggie mcneal, revolution church, vintage church
